2008 Training plan help!

I'll bite. 

It seems that the July 20th Oly A race could be too close to your Aug 10 HIM A race to afford proper tapering without interfering with the all important last 3-4 weeks of your HIM plan.  I would hesitate on having the Oly as an A race or even doing it at alll - unless it will work out to be a nice training day with your HIM schedule...though can you restrain and go easy?

An oly taper (1-week?) may interfere with any remaining key big runs or rides on your HIM plan.  And if you go all-out on your oly, you may need to recoup some the week after, possibly limiting any remaining big volume workouts before the 1-2 week HIM taper.

Unless you have a personal coach to guide you through this period it could work.  And I guess it depends on the HIM plan you have and what the last 4 weeks look like. BUT if this is not your first HIM and you have a lot of weekly volume already, then this may work out fine.

Yes, do that. You can do the Oly at that time, but I wouldn't recommend a full/any taper (i.e., giving it "A" or even "B" race status). Good luck . Sounds like a fun series .

When we race we race and give it our all. The big difference for me as to the race is if there is a taper and how long it is. For me for an Oly is means a week-10 day taper if an important race  and usually a recovery week to follow time.  That blocks out 2 weeks from your HIM training.  

It does sound like a fun series but being your HIM is your first and your A race, build around that and fit the races in. Often my coach will put B and C races at the end of what would be a normal rest week any how so I get an easier week before the race but it doesn't jeopardize my flow into my A race.  I'm different than most as I do 2 build weeks then a rest week. So I can fit B/C races into my plan every 3rd week but only on certain weekends.

For the Oly, treat it as an 'easy' day.  Easy paces, zone 2 stuff max I would say.

You can see if any of your workouts a few days before and after the race will match times/distances for race day and use them for that.  Don't have race day be NEW workouts.  Maybe adjust your schedule so that you KEEP any key long run, swim or bikes for the early week before and later in the week after.  I would AT LEAST take the day before your OLY completely off.  2-3 days out, use the shorter workouts of your HIM plan.  Though I would have some very light workout 2-4 days after your Oly race. 

In essence, you will have to adjust your HIM schedule some the week before and after the race so that you have

• Oly race day will be matching HIM time/distance workouts (but zone 2) for the week of the race.  We are not creating additional workouts for race day. We do not a big total volume spike for race week!
• Some light workout a few days after the race and
• You are able to save any long sessions by rearrangement of the HIM plan
• Build a mini-taper with the day before the Oly completely off, with your lighter HIM workouts 2-3 days out.

The key to the Oly is to go easy!  You will want to go right back into the HIM plan a few days after the race.