Do you do Bricks during offseason?

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2006-09-26 8:46 AM

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Subject: Do you do Bricks during offseason?
As we go into winter, I was curious how many of you incorporate bricks into your offseason routine. Last year, I did various swim, bike, and run workouts at my healthclub independently until about April 1, at which time I began to work bricks into the mix. I'm wondering if a body needs variety and rest, or if I should just keep doing a few bricks year-round.

I'm especially interested to hear from those of you who have seen improvements in your times from year-to-year, and what your opinion was on the topic.

2006-09-26 8:50 AM
in reply to: #551778

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Subject: RE: Do you do Bricks during offseason?
I want to preface this by saying that I am, in no way, an expert... But, I have improved a lot over the past 18 months.

I do bricks quite a bit, all year round. I do this for a few reasons. One in particular is that it saves time. I can get in more workouts per week and more workouts per trip to the gym (during the cold winter months).

I have also recently began doing more runs off of the bike. Eventually, I would like to get to a point where I am running at least one mile immediately after every bike ride I do.
2006-09-26 9:23 AM
in reply to: #551778

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Not a Coach
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Subject: RE: Do you do Bricks during offseason?
Don't recall doing a single one last year.  But there's nothing wrong with doing them.  It's just another chance to get a short run done--which can only help for next season.
2006-09-26 9:26 AM
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Veteran
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Subject: RE: Do you do Bricks during offseason?
I was planning on throwing them into my winter workout.  I can't wait for the snow to hit!
2006-09-26 9:56 AM
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Elite
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Subject: RE: Do you do Bricks during offseason?

I do them with a lot more of a purpose in-season (almost exclusively bike-run).  For offseason I do them to break up the monotony... and I'll do them a lot more randomly (row-ride, bike-swim, raquetball-lift, etc).  Just watch the intensity/HR if you're in a base building mode.

bts

2006-09-26 10:32 AM
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Master
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Subject: RE: Do you do Bricks during offseason?
Bricks are a good idea to save time as you can add a second sport to your workout . I like to do a short 2 mile run or even a bike ride before I swim . Reverse TRI you might say . I also do 30-40 mins runs to and from my gym followed by some weight lifting.
I have found training for more than the distance of the Triathlon I plan to enter in practice has been the most benefitial to improving my time from last year.
I swim 1500m in the pool regularly . My longest TRI swim was 800m .
I ran 10 miles while my longest TRI running leg was 4 miles. Same with the bike. I biked on harder hills in training than
the courses I entered had. All this made the course feel a little easier and left me with lots of energy to complete the event
at a good clip.
I also concentrated a little extra time to my weakest sport (swimming) .


2006-09-26 11:20 AM
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Coach
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Subject: RE: Do you do Bricks during offseason?
Hazelmn - 2006-09-26 8:46 AM As we go into winter, I was curious how many of you incorporate bricks into your offseason routine. Last year, I did various swim, bike, and run workouts at my healthclub independently until about April 1, at which time I began to work bricks into the mix. I'm wondering if a body needs variety and rest, or if I should just keep doing a few bricks year-round. I'm especially interested to hear from those of you who have seen improvements in your times from year-to-year, and what your opinion was on the topic.
how do you define your off season?
2006-09-26 5:28 PM
in reply to: #551778

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Subject: RE: Do you do Bricks during offseason?
I'd say my offseason is the time in between my last race (usually mid-Sept) until when I begin a formal training plan for my 1st tri of the next year (tri is usually early June, so I begin a "program" sometime around Mar 1. The time in between (roughly Oct - Feb) is my "off-season", or may chance to do something different, such as really focus on my swim technique or do some weight training.

Should I keep doing bricks during that time?
2006-09-26 9:48 PM
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Champion
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Subject: RE: Do you do Bricks during offseason?

Last year I stopped doing them after my last tri in the Fall, and my coach had me start doing them again in February usually once a week. In the winter it meant trainer ride with a run afterwards. Not sure what the plan is for this year, but my guess similar.

 

2006-09-27 12:15 AM
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Master
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Subject: RE: Do you do Bricks during offseason?
No, I won't start doing any until next year.
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