Week Two

Two weeks into training and challenges already. Namely...that this was a difficult time of year to control my schedule.

Fortunately, I have had the ability to keep up with all of the time/distance requirements....I have just been a little flexible about WHEN I do them. For example, 2 days of travelling over Thanksgiving did not give me time to get in full workouts, so I might have bumped something to another day. I have also taken a little liberty with the swimming...mostly because it is done on distance, and I have access to a 50-meter pool sometimes, yet the workouts are done as if you are in a 25-yard pool. But I am still making the distance, even if I am not following the exact workout. I know this kind of give and take is going to have to happen through the Christmas Holidays, but come January 3, I hope to not divert anymore....especially since the distances will get longer and I think making sure I am not over training is a good thing.

Because yours truly has nil in the way of patience. I have to remind myself that this is a 36-week program and I have 7 months and 4 weeks until the race. I do not need to be putting in 12-milers now, and would only hurt myself if I tried. But now that I am on this path....I want to get there...to be able to do it!!!

Below is a sample week from the training program. I have taken a little liberty with the swimming, as I mentioned, but otherwise this is essentially what I am doing....though I think I need to invest in a quality heart-rate monitor. It's my plan though....and so far I am feeling pretty good!

Ultra Distance TrainingWEEK #2 - 2nd Week of Orientation Cycle Swim 2:30 - Bike 3:20 - Run 2:15 -- Total: 8:05


Monday A shorter, easy swim with some additional stroke work to build overall strength and provide some variety.
SWIM 0:30
WARM UP
500 Swim -- Kick every 4th 25
MAIN SET
3 x 400 w/20 sec rest between repeats -- hold your HR at or below 75%
- each 400 should be done as follows: 100 Kick, 200 Swim, 100 IM
COOL DOWN
100 easy, holding perfect technique
DAILY TOTAL: 0:30


Tuesday The bike ride should be done first today; the run can follow either immediately after or later in the day, depending on your schedule.
BIKE 0:50
WARM UP
10:00 easy "gearing pyramid":
Begin in a very easy gear for 4:00, then switch to one gear harder
for 3:00, then 2:00, then 1:00 (10:00 total)
MAIN SET
3 x 8:00 @75% intensity w/2:00 @60% intensity after each
COOL DOWN completely, allowing your HR to get back under 60% by the end


RUN 0:35
Keep HR below 65%, and SPM (Strides Per Minute) at 80-90. Work on perfect posture and a relaxed upper body.
DAILY TOTAL: 1:25
WEEK-TO-DATE: 1:55


Wednesday
SWIM 0:45
WARM UP
200 Swim - 200 Kick - 200 Pull - 200 Swim
-- the second 200 Swim should be done slightly faster than the first
MAIN SET
4 x 300 w/20 sec rest between each
#1 & 3 - @60% intensity; #2 & 4 - @75% intensity
-- Keep your stroke count even throughout the set. The idea is to use as few strokes as possible no matter what speed you are going. This will lead to more efficient and faster swimming.


BIKE 0:40
WARM UP
10:00 easy spinning, gradually bringing your HR up to 65%
DRILLS
3 x 3:00 ILT w/30 sec rest after each set -- do each repeat as
-- 6 x (20 sec one leg, 10 sec transition)
15:00 straight time trial effort @75% intensity
COOL DOWN
spin easy through the end of the session
DAILY TOTAL: 1:25
WEEK-TO-DATE: 3:20


Thursday
SWIM 0:45
WARM UP
800 Swim -- every 4th length choice, rotate through in IM order
-- i.e. 2 x (75 free, 25 fly, 75 free, 25 back, 75 free, 25 breast, 100 free)
MAIN SET
8 x 150 w/15 sec rest after each
Hold HR constant at 65%, and try to keep your times even throughout the set. The goal here is to begin to learn a sense of pacing at a particular intensity level.
COOL DOWN
400 Pull, concentrating on rotating your hips and minimizing the number of strokes per length.
RUN 0:45
15:00 easy jogging, allowing your HR to get up to 60% gradually
20:00 "tempo pyramid" -- (4:00 @70% / 1:00 @60%);
(3:00 @75% / 2:00 @60%); (2:00 @80% / 3:00 @60%);
(1:00 @85% / 4:00 @60%)
Continue cooling down @60% through the end of the run
DAILY TOTAL: 1:30
WEEK-TO-DATE: 4:50


Friday As with last week, this is an optional additional swim to help you get used to getting back in the water. If you feel like taking a day completely off (especially after working out each of the previous 11!), then fine.
SWIM 0:30
10:00 easy warm up, gradually bringing your HR up to 70%
15:00 continuous swim -- record the total number of lengths that you
are able to complete, for future reference
6 x 50 cool down, w/10 sec rest after each
DAILY TOTAL: 0:30
WEEK-TO-DATE: 5:20


Saturday Saturday's ride will always be the longest effort of the week. For those who can ride outdoors year-round, it is important to perform the warm up and drills on a regular basis during the pre-season period -- you can finish the ride outdoors if this option is available. In addition, there will be times when the main set will guide you to a more efficient, more effective workout. Use your judgment to ensure that you're getting the desired workout without unnecessary risk of injury or burnout.


BIKE 1:20
WARM UP
15:00 easy spin -- use a gearing pyramid to gradually build to 75%
DRILLS
2 x 3:00 ILT w/30 sec rest after each;
2 x 4:30 VG Sets w/30 sec rest after each
MAIN SET
3 sets of (6:00 @70% - 1:00 @60% - 3:00 @75-80%)
w/3:00 recovery @60% intensity after each set
COOL DOWN, gradually bringing your HR back under 60% by the end
DAILY TOTAL: 1:20
WEEK-TO-DATE: 6:40


Sunday These two sessions should be done back-to-back, in either order. If you live in a warmer climate and can ride/run outside (or can do both workouts indoors), then put the bike workout first and follow immediately afterward with the run. In colder climates, if you don't have a treadmill available, then go ahead and run first before finishing off with a cool down spin indoors.


BIKE 0:30
Continuous spinning in your small chain ring,
holding your HR between 60-70% throughout


RUN 0:55
This long steady distance (LSD) run will increase in duration over the course of the season. After 5-10:00 of easy jogging to warm up, hold your HR constant at 70-75% throughout this effort.
Cool down completely after these two workouts with some light stretching.
DAILY TOTAL: 1:25
WEEK-TO-DATE: 8:05