Opinion on IM training plans?

I, and every other coach on here take exception with that statement. I am not sure if you had a bad experience with a coach or what, but don't disparage and entire group of people on you personal experiences.

Now to address the OP's question, the BT plans are great. You should have no problem modifying them to fit your needs. Like Runnergirl said, you might need to tweak the number of workouts to fit your specific limiters (i.e. more bike time if that is a weakness). Vineman is a long way off, try picking an intermediate goal between now and then to work on.

I used the HIM to IM Bridge Plan for IMFL (same as Runnergirl).  I did similar modifications to the plan as Runnergirl - added longer runs (3 hours), more bricks, some Big Day training.  I liked the plan and will use it again this year for Redman IM. 

20 weeks is plenty of time to prepare for an IM.  The key is to start Day 1 of the plan rested, physically and mentally ready, and with a good aerobic base.  This is how I build my plans.  I start with the race day and back in the 12 weeks from the HIM to IM plan.  That gives me Day 1 of the IM specific trianing. From now until Day 1 is preperation for the IM specific training.  I'll use the winter maintenance plan to build a base and work on limiters (run lots), then a period of 'B' races and the appropriate training.  After that I take a couple weeks off. Then Day 1 of the IM specific training starts. 

Using your race date, Day 1 of a 20 week plan will be ~March 1.  During Jan and Feb I would do one of the Winter Maintenance plans.  Modify the 20 week plan according to your limiters.  Also, add a race or two that coincides with one of the recovery weeks in the plan. 

I'm going through this process now in preperation for next season.

TJ

denny,

For the Gold forum, the coaches will recommend schedule changes if you need it but they won't go in and modify the plan.

On switching workouts around yourself, there are some general answers here:
http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=629

Remember when you import the plan, you can stagger it forward or back by a few days if that makes the plan a lot easier to modify (less days to switch if your schedule differs), you will have to keep in mind that you will have to adjust the last week of the plan due to plan going over or under your race date a few days.  To see what may best fit your schedule, BEFORE you import, look at the 'calendar' view of the plan as it's laid out, then you can see better how many days to stagger it.

What I tell people that need to make weekly modifications, only do it by one week at a time just before the new week starts, this keeps things manageable and shouldn't take more than 10 minutes once you get the hang of it.  See Instructions.

We don't have the ability to set up a detailed plan exactly as your scedule permits with the click of a button, that would require, really, personal coaching...I haven't come up with a computer algorithm for that yet!  These plans are pre-built and they make assumptions on the athlete like any published plan...but should be relatively easy to customize with a few rules of thumb in the first link.

Hope this answers some of your technical questions.  Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

I didn't have a problem being motivated.  Knowing that I had my IM within a few months was enough motivation for me to stick with the training and not slack with it.  Every now and then I would mentally struggle with the whole aspect of "all I do is train I don't have time for anything else" type of thing.  But that's when my BT friends came into play who would inspire me daily  

I'm another BT'er who used the BT Ironman training plan to successfully train and complete my first IM.  But, since you've already done one IM, maybe my opinion is of no use.  Just saying....I thought the 20 week plan was spot on.

denny,

All of the info to use the BT plans (importing, customizing, printing and viewing, plan questions, HR zones, strength and core) you will be able to find at the top of the 'Programs' page where it lists the plans.  They will be the buttons at the top.  So if you are looking for information about using a certain plan, go back to the training plan page.

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/training/trainingplans-list.asp?h=1

haa! haa! You put that much more elegantly than I would have. Gang - I've said this 100 times and I'll say it 100 more: The top four things, in order, that will make you a faster triathlete:
1. aerobars
2. A coach
3. a power meter
4. race wheels

If you have #4 and you don't have 2 or 3, then you are limiting yourself. BIG TIME.
Zipps wheels will make you 2-4 minutes faster over 112 miles. Cost = $2100. If you want another minute or two, add in an aero helmet - cost is $300. Coaching will make you much faster than that! Cost over 10 months ($200 x 10 = $2,000).

What you learn from a good coach can be used over and over to get you faster and faster - I still use ideas from coaches I had 15 years ago and they still work! Please, don't downplay how much a coach will help you. If you have had a good coach then you would know what both Rocket Man and I are saying.

Peace