Tag: training plans

Categories
2013

Road map to Ironman AZ: Part 3 – Training Progress Report

El Rio Verde

Three months ago I posted the hacked, Crossfit Endurance based training program that’s supposed to get me across the finish line at Ironman Arizona in under 12 hours.

I told you how important it is to strategically plan your weeks and prioritize your tasks so that you’re in the best position to show up, perform and hit your marks.

You saw my sample weekly training schedule that features one rest day on Mondays, and six days of training – four of which call for two workouts.

But like New Year’s resolutions, that’s all easier said than done.

Now that I’m a solid three months into the training program, and less than four months away from the big race, let’s take a look at how training is going and see whether I’ve been able to follow through on these commitments to becoming an Ironman.

Here’s my training progress report card, broken into five categories: Overall training schedule, Swim, Bike, Run, and Nutrition/Sleep/Mobility.

Continue reading “Road map to Ironman AZ: Part 3 – Training Progress Report”

Categories
2013

Road map to Ironman AZ: Part 2 – Training Program

Rain, road, map

I don’t care who you are, what you do, or how you like to spend your free time: smart planning, working hard to follow through and turning setbacks into opportunities will make you successful.

And if you’re dreaming of dominating an Ironman triathlon like I am, sticking to a smart training regimen is crucial.

But the funny thing about plans is that they almost always change. As much as we try to cover every angle, account for all hours of the day and avoid surprises, Life will inevitably distract us with a few curve balls to jumble up our schedules: an urgent project at work, a spontaneous trip to Vegas, a family emergency, an injury or my upcoming binge on the next season of Arrested Development (I’m fine with that).

So what’s the point of planning if the times always be a changin’?

Because the value of planning lies as much in the process as it does in the product.

Continue reading “Road map to Ironman AZ: Part 2 – Training Program”

Categories
2013

How to be That Guy at the gym

Pumping Iron for You

When I show up to the gym, I’m on a mission: to challenge myself, accomplish goals and complete that day’s workout quickly and efficiently.

My triathlon training incorporates about three strength-training workouts a week, and on these days, I try to spend as little time in the gym as possible. I’m not rude, but I’m not there to socialize. And given my affinity for obscure footwear and ragged, free exercise apparel, combined with facial expressions that say, “I’m about to puke,” or “Aaaaaggghhhh,” not many people stop me to chat.

And even though I’m OK being weird at the gym, this approach isn’t for everyone.

For some, the thought of making a plan and dominating goals may seem like too much work.

Perhaps working smarter, not harder sounds boring, and at the gym you’d rather focus on things like meeting someone, getting huge and hogging the mirror.

Then you – my friend – would be much better suited for the alternative, longer-lasting, less-intense and more vocal workout routine of That Guy.

Continue reading “How to be That Guy at the gym”

Categories
2013

Road map to Ironman AZ: Part 1

British despatch rider

If you’ve been following our #triforles training tweets, you already know we’re going full steam ahead.

And even though the race is still 11 months away, it’s never too early to map the route and jot down smart goals to set us on the right path.

So I laid out the key checkpoints on my road map to Ironman AZ to give a big-picture look at how I plan on dominating my goal: to finish Ironman AZ in 12 hours or less.

Here are the races I’ll be competing in this year:

Continue reading “Road map to Ironman AZ: Part 1”

Categories
2013

Make a plan, be the sunshine

Each week of training brings something new. A new PR, new approach, new ache, etc., etc. The past two weeks have been especially full of take-aways for my own personal growth in training and I think much of what I’ve learned/decided to set in place moving forward can be applied to anyone at the starting lines of their own training adventures. So, without further ado, here are my key headlines from the past two weeks:

Make a planCalendar
Obvious, right? Of course it’s important to have a training plan set in place not only when going after a long-distance race like an Ironman, but even if you’re training for your first 5k, half-marathon or sprint tri. Regardless of experience level, we’re all starting somewhere. If your goal is to get off of the couch and complete your first 5k race, or you’re working your way up from sprint distance to Olympic distance triathlons, you have to have a plan for how you are going to get from point A to point B – and it can’t be something you just throw together day-to-day or week-to-week on a whim. Do your research. Map out each month. Set benchmarks. Set goals. And most importantly, establish your support system. We’re all going to have “down” weeks when we’re just not feeling into it and we need to be reminded why we’re doing all of this. Make sure you have someone to tell you “hey, you wanted to do this for a reason. Let’s get some ice cream, and then suck it up and push forward to your goal.”

Continue reading “Make a plan, be the sunshine”