This October is the triathlon that we train all year for. We have other races that come before and after this race but the US Open is the race of the year for us for a couple of reasons. One, it is the first long distance triathlon that we ever did, so we have to try and best ourselves from the year before. Two, this race pulls out some big name racers like Matt Reed, Hunter Kemper and Sarah Haskins, all of which are on the Olympic team this year.
So this year I have been arguing with myself most of the year about how I was going to train harder and get stronger than I was last year in order to beat my time, and keep it easy on the pocket book (i.e. personal trainer is out of the question). My solution was to buy a training program from Active.com. It was $35 dollars and comes with detailed training regimens for everything from strength training to fartleks. After the purchase I had a number of weeks before I finished the training program I was in and had a race to run so I didn’t study the program too much. I have now made it through the first week of the new program and have a couple of beefs with it already. First, there are three, yes three, hour long swim workouts a week (I finished the swim leg of the race last year in just over an half hour). Everyone knows that the race is neither won nor lost in the swim, the swim is just a way to get to the bike. As long as you make a decent showing in the swim you can make up lost time on the bike and the run. Second, the first long cycling workout for the program is a three hour ride. Keep in mind that this is an Olympic distance race, 1500m swim, 40K ride and 10K run. In three hours I can ride more than 50 miles, I understand the purpose of training with more miles then you intend to race, but double? Come on. Third, there are no designated brick days (workouts that consist of two principles one after the other for endurance training). Brick days are a necessary evil; they are nice to say you did them afterwards but miserable during the entire workout. You’re always either thinking “I still have to run 7 miles after this 30 mile ride” or “I just rode 30 miles and now you expect me to run?” Brutal!
Needless to say this training regimen will be going through some drastic revisions over the next 8 weeks.
2 comments:
Here's an arrow for your quiver: the fastest swimsuit in the world.
You should try my training schedule. Sit on butt and watch triathalon on TV,comment about how those people are in great shape and you should probably get off your butt and train for something, remember how much work that takes and try and figure out a way to lose weight while watching others work out. :-)
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