Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Iron Guilt

You know, I've been feeling guilty as of late.

I see the results of my bloggie peep's toils - their training volumes posted in their buildup to Ironman, and mine sooooo pales in comparison. The first step in the "healing" process is to fess up, right? I started the whole process a bit earlier than some, but not all - I was 30 weeks of Ironman focused training. Yea, you can question the "focus" part. Here goes:

Average swim volume per week: 3,545 yards. Result: 2.4 mile swim in 1:34 for a 2:29 per 100 meter pace, which I think is a 2:13 per 100 yd pace. I have a hard time complaining about that. I didn't even average the length of the Ironman swim per week! I wouldn't recommend that to everyone. Or, maybe I would. I did do 3 swims of 2.4 miles or more leading up to the race, however.

Average bike volume per week: 77.1 miles. I know, I know - "its all about the bike" - right. Result: 112 mile bike at a 17.4 mph pace. I passed 679 people on that ride. I did 5 centuries in 9 weeks - I'm sure that helped my bike a lot. Of course my advise is to ride long...often.

Average run volume per week: 16.6 miles. That there was my downfall. Not that I didn't finish. Result: 14:18 min/mile "pace" - where 749 people passed me back on the run. It was ugly, partly due to my stomach issues, but more probably due to my lack of run volume leading up to the race. Most of that 16.6 mile volume took place MONTHS before the race during my marathon train up. If you were to see my volume for the last, say, 12 weeks leading to CdA...you'd laugh. Longest "long" run between Feb and June - 11 miles.

Average Total Training Time per week: 8.5 hrs. Result: 14:32:23 We'll do better next time. Not that I could have had more fun. Weight for Ironman: 254 lbs. I'd really like to get that down to 225 lbs for the next one. I just have to want it bad enough...that's the big question...do I?

15 comments:

Kevin said...

Thanks for the feedback based on your experience. Definitely good info for me when I start my IM training next year.

Now that you've done it and know the results of your training, youll do even better next time

Sarah said...

Bigun, this is great info. Thanks for summing it all up as I head to volunteer at IMFL in November (and try, probably not very hard, to not sign up for 2009).

ShirleyPerly said...

TBH, I don't think you have anything to be guilty about. You did what you could to prepare yourself, got to the start line healthy and finished with plenty to spare. Heck, you'd probably be rich if you could sell that 8.5 hours avg training per week plan of yours and guarantee that folks would finish an IM in under 15 hours!

Dan Seifring aka "OBRATS" said...

Thanks for laying it out like that. I would sign up for your result any day. Great Job.

IronTriTim said...

Hey Bigun enjoy your rest, and enjoy the feeling of knowing you are an Ironman. Thanks for the figures my training is heading south currently. Babies seem alot of work!! :-) The run and swim are suffering but as you say its all about the bike, so I am also focussing on keeping that up if nothing else.

Fe-lady said...

Hey...there's always next time if you weren't completely satisfied!

I still think you did fantastically well!

Fe-lady said...

Oh and if you talk to Ironmomjenny....she will tell you that training is over-rated and that you can do better on less! :-)

Di said...

lazy ass.
;)
xoxoxoxo

Mike said...

I might even be able to convince my wife to let me do Ironman if it could be done on so little training :)

Great job with the race!

Supalinds said...

....I echo what your wife said. Hee hee, just kidding.

Dude - yes your training may not have been what you wanted it to be, but, you rocked the race. Coulda, shoulda, woulda doesn't matter when you are an ironman. Now, if you would have DNF'd maybe you could really look at that training and say - "I should have done more."

The good news: you have set yourself up for a major PR on your next ironman. Push the average to 10 hours a week and your bound to knock off an hour :)

The Stretch Doc said...

I'm not even gonna smack talk on this one.. :)

but I know you and me both got to kick it at IMAZ09!!!

rockon`

The Stretch Doc said...

I'm not even gonna smack talk on this one.. :)

but I know you and me both got to kick it at IMAZ09!!!

rockon`

TRI-ROB said...

I hate you and all your lazy-assed ironman-ness

Breathe..

p.s. Just kidding... hug me please?

Comm's said...

Well to make matters worse, Brian Pilgrim did CdA with you and then five weeks later had a Clyde podium finish at Vineman 140.6 (2nd Pl).

I think that in the future its still about the bike but you definitely need to bump up your running. If you don't get coached, let me know and I will work with you.

I ain't know speedster, but I have more miles in legs than most people and I am a clyde too. (Again...still...whatever)

SWTrigal said...

So basically I did all that training to save 5 minutes at IMCDA? That really sucks..
:)