BT Beginner IM plan

I really can't help but I know that for me that would not be enough.
What I have been doing for my HIM (I think it could work here too) is that when the plan calls for say a 2 hour ride I figure 20mph so that would be 40 miles. I then ride 40 miles no matter how long that takes me.
So if the plan called for a 5 hour ride I would ride 100 miles (would most likely take me more like 6-7 hours).

Never used the plan but I think the theory with the "beginner IM" plan is to 1. Avoid injury and 2. Finish the race.  So it will probably play things VERY conservatively--hence the low number of long rides.  I believe all the plans talk about what kind of athlete the plan is designed for...I would take a look at those descriptions and see if you fit the mold.  If you were doing a TON of training before starting the plan and just picked the beginner one because it was your first race, it might not be the plan for you.  Does that make sense?

On a somewhat related note...people get injured when they don't trust the plan and try to cram more training in!

I'm in the same boat as Pegasus1731. We'll find out more on race day. I followed the plan loosely, but stayed ahead of long bike rides hitting six hours several weeks before they had you hitting it. I felt like this worked better in case you had a problem and needed to "try again" a time or two. Six hours for me is 100 miles, and I had 3 rides at or greater than that.  This gave me 3 times to really nail nutrition/pacing/hydration etc. I'll let you know how it works!

Jake

See, that is exactly what you are NOT supposed to do.  The idea of training by TIME is to train by TIME.  If it says 2 hours, ride 2 hours.  By riding longer than that you are setting yourself up for injury.  The planned times factor in a buildup.  If you end up riding 3 hours just to go 40 miles you may be overextending yourself.

The exception to this rule is swimming.  Swimming is fairly universally done by distance...the time for the swim sections is just a rough guesstimate.  For swimming you generally go by the distance of the workout.  But the runs and bikes don't put distance for a reason...because you are supposed to go however far you can go in the TIME alotted for the workout.

Ok--so how many long ride

If you have picked the correct plan for your athlete type and goals, then however many the plan calls for.

Right... but one has to wonder... if you are going to do a 7 hour 112 mile bike ride... is only riding 5 hours in training enough.

For someone going that speed, they are basically cutting around 30 miles off their longest ride.

I know that most if not all people when training for an IM do 2-3+ 100 mile bike rides beforehand.

If the plan maxes out at 5 hours of riding.... then that means this guy will not get ANY 100 mile rides in. Which sounds like a bad idea.


The HIM plan I'm following right now has swimming by time, and I can tell you that I don't pay any attention to it. It has me swimming generally 3 hours a week... which equals 6 miles for me. I trained that much for a 3 mile OWS, but I'm not doing that for a 1.2 mile swim. What's the point? Especially if I can come out of the water fresh, with only training around 2 hours a week.

The OP did not specify what the time for the longest ride was...just that there were 4-5 rides over 4 hours.  There very well could be a 7 hour ride in there.

I was merely pointing out that the beginner IM plan is geared towards, well, beginners...and is likely to take a much more conservative approach.

As for swimming...I would not consider 3 hours a week too much for a HIM.  I would call it not enough...3 hours is "maintenance" in my swim book.

Right...I think the plan has two 5 hour rides, one 5.5 hour ride and a 6 hour ride, as well as maybe two/three more in the four hour range. The plan does specify that, "even if you have a goal “just to finish” and you have limited hours available per week, you would still rather finish in 12 hours instead of 16 and you are willing to make some changes to transform from just training for an event to becoming “The Complete Athlete.”

I had 2 80mi, 2 90mi, and 2 100mi rides

Edited by Pegasus1731 2009-08-19 4:59 PM

I know you are talking about the IM plan, but I watched quite a few of my friends do the BT HIM plans this year..in my opinion way to much swimming and not long enough time wise for runs and bikes as we are middle age women. They all adjusted them to run and bike longer.

You know you and it is fine to take a plan and make some changes that make sense. It is a generic plan and in the end you need to trust yourself.

I do not see a big risk in riding longer for injury more for recovery purposes.

I have had two different coaches for my two Ironman races. Last year I did probably 5-6 90+ rides and this year my longest ride has been 85. Different philosophies and beliefs in the what and whys of how to train. I do what they say and they explain the why behind things so I go with that and trust them.

My 85 mile rides are over 5:30 and I expect my bike to be over 7 hours and I have no doubt I'll be okay.

I am follwoing the Beginner HR plan rather than the Beginnner RPE plan and there is a 5+hr ride and 4 6+hr rides in the plan.

Well, the 20 Week Beginner IM Plan (the one it seems the OP references) appears to have just one 6 hour ride and one each at 5:00 and 5:30.  Personally, I think that's pretty light.  Definitely a bare minimum, that's for sure.  I did at least five rides over 6 hours, two of them with major climbing, three of them 100+ miles.  Honestly never considered doing fewer than three rides of 100 or more miles...at 6 hours max, this plan could easily have someone never get beyond 95 miles in training.  I know some folks think that's adequate, but I can't imagine not having at least tested my nutrition/hydration for a century ride (or longer) before my IM...for me, that's more than 6 hours of riding in training.

I used the BT Beginner 20 week program and pretty much stuck to it. 

Yes, it is light on rides and I did NO rides over 100miles.  I did however get in 2 rides that were 150km (93.75 miles).  I could probably have done with more cycling as it is my worst of my 3 but I was happy with the end result. 

I was initially worried because there are only 2 really long rides scheduled and if it rained hard or the wind blew (we live in a very windy area) that I would have to cancel one of them, so I rearraged the program that I would have 3 longer rides just in case (just as well).

Overall the program worked very well for me and I was really hapy with the end result.  My time was 13 hours 32.  Better than I was aiming for.  There were 2 of us in our area that stuck to it and we both did better than we had thought we would. 

Good luck.

"... Overall the program worked very well for me and I was really hapy with the end result.  My time was 13 hours 32.  Better than I was aiming for.  There were 2 of us in our area that stuck to it and we both did better than we had thought we would..." 

If you don't mind me asking, how would you describe you fitness level going into the program?

"... and this year my longest ride has been 85... I do what they say and they explain the why behind things so I go with that and trust them."

Would you mind sharing some of your current coach's rational? (I remember another one of your posts where you stated that you're putting in less hrs but feel better than the 1st time around.)

I have done a handful of 80-milers (4/4.5 hrs) & don't feel particularly spent. In my 2 wks before I begin my 2 wk tapper (this is my 1st IM), I will squeeze 2/3 100 milers particularly b/c of this thread. (It's like I told all my friends so a 'no finish' is NOT an option!)

Well for me spending an extra 15-30 minutes on a bike is not going to hurt me. It's not like running and you can advance a lot faster.
I come from a marathon background and know what I can and can't handle. I'm also very happy with the long rides I come off the bike feeling great.