The Basic Plan

I am starting to look at a few training plan options out there, and it looks like a 20-24 week plan is going to be the time frame we are looking at. I have a book that I have enjoyed a lot linked on the side of the page, The Perfect Distance by Tom Rodgers. There are tons of triathlon books out there but I have really enjoyed this read. Less for the specific skills and training info, but more for the philosophy of how to tackle this while being a person with 50+ hours of commitments already each week. One of the first and most important points of the book is that unlike sprint and even Olympic Distance you can’t fake your way through a Half-Iron. It will take a plan physically, mentally, and nutritionally.
That being said I am looking at Nov-March totally about running and getting ready for ING, with cross-training on the bike and pool at least once a week to maintain some basic levels there. ING Georgia will be March 29th. I have Spring Break for the family on April 6-10, and then the official training begins.
I am looking at extending a 20 week plan to 24 total weeks by adding a 4 week “easier” base program before the real 8 week base begins May12. That will follow with 5 weeks of Build, and then 6 weeks of Peak to finish ready to go Sunday September 27th, 2009. Next step is to find a good plan that gets me to an easy marathon distance over a 16-20 week plan.

Recap and Regroup

For those who are not friends of mine reading the blog here, a little history. I decided to try triathlon in 2007 after a few beers and wings on St. Patrick’s Day. A friend of mine and I had been discussing and said let’s do it, and set a goal of finishing the Sandestin Triathlon in August of that year. We did, and also included the Mountain Lakes Triathlon in Alabama and the Peachtree City Triathlon in the rotation that year. That was three sprint distance races (the Sandestin Race is a bit longer but no matter) in 2007. Also included was the Peachtree Road Race 10K in Atlanta. This was my first 10K in a while and served as the warm-up for the triathlons later in the year. I really enjoyed the races and thought that I could try some more the next year in 2008.
Shortly after the last race of the season in 2007 my career underwent a major change. I was in the banking industry that was suffering, and the company I worked for closed their doors. That led to a job and career shift back into the software world where there was steady income. That whole transition took some of the wind out of my sails, but more importantly took my free time for training away. In my previous career I was in 100% control of my schedule, where now I was back in an office from 8:30 to the end of the day. Cutting out of the office at 3 for a ride and run was no longer an option.
My racing partners had agreed to try and step up to the Olympic distance in 2008 and we were scheduled for the NYC Triathlon as our race in July of 2008. Due to poor motivation, an existing back injury, and lack of training I had to back out at the last minute. It was then I had a choice: Give up on the work I had completed last year or get back into the game. In late June I decided to at least continue the sprint distance races and crammed to get back in condition for Mountain Lakes Triathlon in August of 2008. I completed the race without much of a problem (other than a completely detached left crank on the bike for 10 miles) and we signed up for the Sandestin Triathlon again. The weekend of Sandestin was also when Hurricane Fay hit Florida so the race was cancelled. By this point in time I was feeling back in decent shape and decided to go ahead and enter an Olympic distance race in September to make up for the missing Sandestin. The Tugaloo Triathlon was a great race, it was hot and hilly which made for a great challenge, but overall had a great time. My 2008 season went from not much training at all up until June to cramming for two sprints and completing an Olympic distance race in three months time.
Now we are one month removed from the last race of the year and looking for the next challenge. It will take much more organization than before as you definitely cannot cheat a 70.3 race. My plan is to try and get up to half-marathon distance by the ING Georgia Marathon at the end of March and keep that as my run base thru the rest of training. That will allow me to focus a little harder on the swim and bike as the season unfolds. Running has always been my weak spot, so hopefully having that base early will help. Let’s see how it goes.

In the Beginning…..

After a few years of joking about being the "least fit triathlete in America" with my casual racing friends I have decided to drop the title. Why? I have now committed to step up from a handful of Sprint races and one Olympic distance race to tackle a Half Iron race next September. There is a group of us who will be doing the Augusta GA Ironman 70.3, and for most it will be a step-up up to this distance.
So to re-christen my title, I am no longer the least fit triathlete in America. I am now and forevermore The Seasonal Triathlete. I have a family with two young children, a full time job and the trappings that go along with being a regular person. I don't have unlimited funds, lots of spare time, or sponsors. I am in good enough shape to finish an Olympic distance race and feel fine, but am definitely not a fitness freak. I race to have fun, have a goal, and challenge myself physically.
This blog is more for me to keep track of training, progress and as a reference for me mentally and physically as I move to September 2009 and the races. If anyone starts reading and is entertained, educated or moved to do a race, all the better.
So the goal is Sunday September 27, 2009, Ironman 70.3 Augusta. 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13 mile run.