Big Half

Sore Shins

so any of you guys up for this one - I'm signed up for full distance Ironman in Aug 2009 so i cant miss this one....

Richard 123

You planning to do a half IM a week before a full IM? 

Sore Shins

yeah you do have a point.... but i do some hefty mileage anyway... 10-13miles run 3 times a week... 20-30mile bike 2-3 times a week - swimming is my least trained as Capt Splash and his moronic assistants always spoil it when i doing my long swims

M...eldy

if you do hefy mileage anyway then even more reason to taper!

Sore Shins

yup - i know your right - im worried i haven't done the full distance 112mile bike split.

what is the 'usual' longest bike training session you guys do?

M...eldy

there is many a debate on this .....

some do over distance

Some do 100 milers

some dont reach the 100 in training


Its all down to the individual

Numerous 80's done at the right pace and recovery time will be worth more (IMO) than 1 x112

Sore Shins

yes, agreed, i don't expect to do just one 112 but i'm struggling to fit in more than 30 mile due to work and family 'stuff'

i guess i need to get my lazy ass out of bed much earlier at the weekend and do a double circuit before lunch.....

are you signed up for Ironman in Bolton?
have you done this Big Half previously?

M...eldy

We are mainly all going to IMCH

Not heard of the BigHalf

Are you following a plan?  you may want to get more than 30 miles in 

Sore Shins

Which one is IMCH

Regarding a Plan - not official one just one some other IM guys have done on the usual principle of Swim,Bike,Run,Weights increasing brick sess

is there a plan you have used which you recommend?

you say you havent heard of this one before - i thought it was a regular event - is it a new event / route

cougie

Have you any idea of what you are doing ? Would you run a half marathon the week before a full one ? This is far worse for you.
I like to get about three or more century rides in before an im.
I think you need some guidance - and if you can only manage thirty mile bike rides due to time constraints - then perhaps im distance is not for you ?
Your "hefty" bike distance really isnt hefty at all. You will need much more than that to be in decent shape.

M.ister W

Is this for real?  I'm doing that much bike mileage just to keep me ticking over, and I'm not doing IM this year.

Sore Shins

steady on cougie ... i was referring to hefty on the running side... i mean hefty as a 'normal' working bloke with a wife and two kids - you know how it is. im not a pro

i am NOT an Ironman , that is what i aspire to be, like you guys.

i am a runner plain and simple - however i do enjoy swimming and cycling the reason i'm changing to Triathlon.

managed to race 44 weekends in 2008 completing 20 half marathons too.

im looking to you guys for tips and guidance.

i am paid up for IM 70.3 in June and also IM in August full distance. so yes i will be increasing the 30mile sessions - as i said need to get up earlier...

what average weekly mileage are you guys doing?

M...eldy

as I have never heard of it I wouldnt know if it was a new one or an old one  

M...eldy

you probably need to be concentrating on time rather than distance at the moment

M...eldy

and you will have to put your life on hold for at least 3 months of peak training

you will be out for potentially 7 hours on the bike

You will sleep a lot more and you will eat twice as much


You need to at least have looked at a plan and have an idea of how it builds distances and try to loosely follow it

Sore Shins

as i say i'm looking for guidance and tips, i appreciate what you say and will take it on board.

from what you guys are saying looks like i need to get out on the bike more, alot more

i foolishly thought 30 mile was a decent base to work from.

feel like a right idiot now

M...eldy

30 miles IS a good base to work from but you need to start increasing it from NOW

10% per week as with running schedules and a set back week every 4th

Your running sounds fine, keep that ticking over and start to add one to the back of a medium bike once a week

You need to bike bike and more bike and then do a bit more biking !!

M...eldy

but.  Dont do this 1/2 the week before an IM. That would border on the foolish 

cougie

Lots of us are normal with jobs and families too - but you do have to make sacrifices to get the training in - as you raced so much last year - just swap the time spent travelling to races and racing and get some decent miles in on the bike. You will be on it for seven hours or more so you need to be able to cope with that kind of time.

M...eldy

Lots of us are normal

are you sure?

Plum

cougie

I may have phrased that wrong..

Sore Shins

Excellent advice guys i really appreciate it.

you're right i did spend an awful lot of time traveling to and from races last year. Spent a fortune too.

i was setting off early Sunday morning to get there for 9am starts and the further a field ones - paid hotel bills etc.

Definitely going to swap the travel miles to training miles.

the wife is sat next to me rolling her eyes at the 'eat twice as much' and 'are we normal'


regarding punctures - what do you guys recommend - puncture repair kits or spare tubes or both?

M...eldy

spares

its quicker

cougie

Definitely - you can take two tubes in a saddle pack - maybe buy a repair kit and patch at home if you start to get a few.

Sore Shins

thanks - cant imagine anything worse than puncture on the final lap.....


also - what fuel are you taking in on race day - 3 bike bottles and what else do you take?



im concerned as ive only gone marathon race distance of 4hr (running)

on a lighter note

This Pirate ship of yours sounds good....

Sacrifices....

Hopefully, i will complete the two UK IM this year then venture further a field IMDE, IMCH etc

good luck guys

cougie

There are several feed stations on the bike route - so you dont need to take all your requirements with you. You can use gels or energy bars. Proper im races will have websites withall the details of what food is available on the day - so it helps if you have used that in training.
Check out the psof website for race reports - they will answer a lot of your questions.

Sore Shins

cheers will do

Sore Shins

http://www.pirateshipoffools.co.uk/about.htm

cheers

[Deleted User]

Cougies advice of train a bit more and race a bit less is sound.  If you really want to fit in a long bike you can. I am aware tehre are a number of people who start at 4am so they can get it in.

 Waht is most important and how much do you want to sacrifice?

cougie

Your im Year will be completely different to what you are used to. You need lots of training and hardly any races. Look for some cycling sportif rides to do - the pirates were doing 70m yesterday and next month there is a 100m ride round here.