Two HIMs 3 weeks apart

Forum guidelines BT super discount
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Two HIMs 3 weeks apart Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2012-01-01 11:23 AM

Member
169
1002525
Subject: Two HIMs 3 weeks apart
Just looking for some insight on what to expect for those that may have done something similiar.

My A race for 2012 is a HIM that I've done twice before. I'll probably be following the BT 20 week intermediate plan. I'm looking for a PR (just 5:15, so I'm not too fast, maybe a bit better than MOP). Three weeks later there is a brand new HIM less than 1 hour from home, so I'd really like to do that as well. My performance expectations would be low for this race.

Any tips on what to do in that 3 weeks between? How do you think the second HIM will feel? I know there's really no right or wrong answer here, but just looking for advice from past experiences.

2012-01-01 3:38 PM
in reply to: #3964787

User image

Expert
697
500100252525
Northern CA
Subject: RE: Two HIMs 3 weeks apart

I know a few athletes who regularly have schedules like this even doing things like competing in a 70.3 one week and doing an IM the next (yes, they are crazy).

What they do is peak for the first race and just maintain/recover for the second.



Edited by MacMadame 2012-01-01 3:38 PM
2012-01-02 10:44 AM
in reply to: #3964787

User image

Elite
3060
200010002525
N Carolina
Subject: RE: Two HIMs 3 weeks apart

I did something similar in 2011.  Set Up Events put on the White Lake Half two weekends in a row in early May.  I was signed up for the first weekend and "raced" it even though the swim was cancelled.  I went back and "raced" it again one week later and did the full 70.3 miles.  I did no workouts in the week between.  On the exact same course here are my results:

Bike:  39 seconds slower on race #2.

Run: 3 minutes slower on race #2.

Hope this helps.

Alan

 Edited for typos.



Edited by japarker24 2012-01-02 10:45 AM
2012-01-03 11:50 AM
in reply to: #3964787

User image

Expert
1168
10001002525
Vancouver (not Canada) Washington (not D.C.)
Subject: RE: Two HIMs 3 weeks apart
Last summer I raced two HIM's two weeks apart. I started biking and swimming right away and running about 4 days after the race. My second race for me was more of an intense training day so I didn't focus on much of a taper.

I stupidly ran a fast for me (20:06) cross country 5K in between which caused some IT band issues. I ended up walking at mile 8 on the second run because of knee pain and it was disappointing because I was at 60 minutes at that point.

If I did this sort of thing again, I would train pretty easy for a week and then increase volume but not necessarily intensity leading into the final two weeks before the race.
2012-01-05 5:08 PM
in reply to: #3964787

User image

Elite
5316
5000100100100
Alturas, California
Subject: RE: Two HIMs 3 weeks apart
It can be done, it is not ideal, unless you have a massive endurance history, don't expect the 2nd one to be great.  You will be mostly recovered, but your reserves will be a bit low still.  You won't have that dig deep place to go to towards the end of the race, so it will probably just be a bit flatter. 
2012-01-07 8:30 PM
in reply to: #3964787

User image

Master
1588
1000500252525
San Francisco
Subject: RE: Two HIMs 3 weeks apart

How well did your body recover after doing HIM's previously?  Since most people reverse taper after a race, you'll likely do that and just then go back into a taper before your second one. 

Personally, I'm one of the crazy folks who likes doing back to back races (back to back weekends and back to back days).

New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Two HIMs 3 weeks apart Rss Feed