Category Archives: Training

Interval Run for increasing speed

This week I had an interval run training on the plan as well as a threshold bike. I’ve swapped in some higher intensity work outs in the run up to the Bintan Olympic distance triathlon on May 18th. With a goal to do a sub-3 hour time on the course I’ll need to focus both on increasing my Bike and Run segments.

During the main set I averaged a low Zone three for the 4×4 mins and then a mid Zone 4 for the 4 x1 mins sets. It was a satisfying work out which I performed on a treadmill with a 1% incline.

In total I completed about 8.8KM in distance over the work out.

My friend also recommended “Macca sets” which I tried a while back but was not at a fitness level ready to complete. I’ll plan on doing the Macca Sets next week and report how it went.

Courtesy of: www.triathloncoaching.uk.com

Somehow treadmill training – even with an ipad in front seems interminably more difficult than running outside. So after some lackluster treadmill sessions in the past few weeks I decided to take the time in the morning to go to a nearby stadium to run.

So on the training plan today was doing a threshold run…. what is a threshold run?

A threshold run is quite simply running at the top of your aerobic zone. This is also known as your lactate threshold which is the pace at which lactate begins to build hence causing you to slow down. These runs typically last from 20-40 minutes can are performed typically up to 80% of Max HR. They are helpful for improving your aerobic capacity and speed.

I did my runs at GBK stadium which is a nice 1KM loop. My results were as follows:

1st 20 mins: AVG HR130 SPD: 8.6KM/H: Distance: 2.94
2nd Threshold 20 mins: AVG HR 158 SPD 10.6KM/H Distance: 3.54

Based on my age my Max HR is calculated as 186. This would mean that my threshold run was performed just over my target zone at 84% of Max HR. I’m still working on calculating my more accurate zone rates but based on PRE (Perceived Rate of Exertion) my estimate is the my aerobic threshold is at HR of 160.

One of the technical books I am reading for Ironman preparation is “Going Long” by Joe Friel and Gordon Byrn. The book is suited for all levels of triathlete attempting the Ironman distance and is written in a very accessible style. You can find the book on Amazon here. The book approaches all the disciplines separately for technique and training and also covers nutrition, strategy and injury.

In particular I like the way the book separates the goals and training for a first timer, personal best and kona athlete. In particular there were some interesting rules for first timers that I’d like to share (note i have not listed all 8 just the ones i found most interesting)

Rule 1: Don’t have to kill yourself in training to finish
Rule 3: Focus on key sessions and make the key sessions focused
Rule 4: Sleep is more valuable than training!!
Rule 5: Forget about anaerobic endurance and high intensity sessions
Fule 6: Recovery is your friend

I find most fascinating the emphasis on recovery (Rule 1/4/6). The key to a successful first time finish is the consistency in training and focusing on those long core workouts which will help build your base endurance to complete the full Ironman. This makes sense because perhaps one of the largest risks to training is injury/ illness caused by high intensity/ over load of training.

So bear in mind – while training is important you only reap the benefits of training when you are resting!

In one of the numerous books I read on training I often heard about the benefits of having a coach. My first reaction as is probably yours is why would an amateur need a coach? Are they not for professional athletes?

Having completed several marathons I generally consider myself as having a good understanding of endurance training but with triathlons i’ve found the complexity of the training increase a lot. By combining three disciplines and increasing total training days to 6 days a week (~10-15hours) a detailed yet flexible plan has been very beneficial.

So to get back into training i’ve now been working with James at http://www.triathloncoaching.uk.com/ for the past month. The approach is quite straight forward 12.50 GBP/ week for unlimited email support and a week by week review of my training and progress. James has been helpful with all my various questions from nutrition to morale support during my training.

With my sometimes unpredictable schedule with work it was important for me to have a flexible training program that adjusted based on my work out completion and also what disciplines I could do each week. The online system they use allows me to change each day based on what I am able to complete. For example if the original plan had a cycle mid week but i was travelling I can easily shift it to another day. The coaching benefit is that each week my following week program is revised based on my performance and progress thus far.

@12.50GBP a week it is quite an affordable program compared to most other services and so far a worthwhile investment in keeping me on training. It’s an efficient service that suits amateurs who are looking to complete their first long distance event.

Check out their services at http://www.triathloncoaching.uk.com/ if you are interested!

After 3 weeks finally got back on my bike. This morning to celebrate a fellow biker’s birthday we woke up at 4:45AM for a 5:30AM start on circuits. The plan was to cycle around Senayan stadium – approximately 800M a loop – doing interval sets.

Without a structured plan this morning I did the following:

5 x speed set
1 x rest
3 x speed set
1 x rest
3 x speed set

During speed sets HR went above 180 averaging speed of around 33km/h. A loop took approximately 1 minute 33 seconds. However as yet i could not break 1 minute 30 seconds for a single loop.

Later we went outside the stadium area to do loops around the carpark. Despite the lack of planning and structure it was a great discovery to find somewhere in the heart of Jakarta for some good interval training. Come March this will be at least a regular weekly visit for interval sets!

Google sat. map of the stadium:

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Last year I tried out the Insanity training program. Developed by the fitness fanatics at Team Beachbody in conjunction with veteran fitness instructor Shawn T., the program has promises to “reinvent your body” in just 60 days. Last year I only managed to get through half of the program (before being overwhelmed with getting married, moving countries and starting a company) however even with only half of the program I already started to see some results.

The core of insanity training is pushing interval training to the maximum with a series of exercises with a short 30 second break in between. Insanity is perfect for busy people who want results in a short space of time because it is:

1) SUPER CONVENIENT: You can do it ANYWHERE: all you need is a 3mx2m space to move around it, no equipment, no special room required.
2) SUPER TIME EFFICIENT: Each session takes just 60 minutes maximum and you’re completely exhausted
3) SUPER EFFECTIVE: Every 2 weeks you’ll do a fit test where you’ll do 8 exercises and if you follow the plan you cannot fail to make significant improvements.

So where’s the catch? It’s tough. I would not recommend the program if you don’t have a base level of fitness. Also while it is convenient it requires a major commitment. Training happens every day except Sunday.

I’m using insanity to kick start my 2013 – the beginning of the year is the easiest time to go off course on your goals. Before any new habits a formed and you are getting out of holiday mode. So I’ve found the best way to get into the right mode is to make things as easy as possible to get back on track. Check out my insanity progress at the link below.

Insanity Training Sheet

To complete an Ironman is a life long ambition and goal. It’s not something new to me but it has remained elusive in its accomplishment. I first heard about Ironman triathlons when I was watching ESPN in my hotel room while on holiday. I was in awe, shock and emotion by the sheer courage and dedication of a competitor who was over 60 and promised her late husband to complete the Kona Ironman on a bike which he had left to her. Later at Stanford one of my class mates was a real life Ironman competitor and hearing him talk of the hours and hours of training he had put in to complete the most amazing race in the world fueled my interest.

Finally over some festive Christmas drinks in 2005 my house mate and I decided to enter the UK Ironman to be held in August 2006. We gave up 7 months of alcohol, late night partying and put in hours of swim training, cycling and running in preparation. Then in july just a month away from the event I crashed my bike broke my wrist. I ended up at the Stanford hospital where the doctor reassured me that they could “pin” my wrist together so I could compete in the race. I kindly declined the US$10,000 option instead choosing to go on holiday in Thailand and nurse my broken wrist. Just as well because there was no way I would have kept up with my house mate Geoff who would go on and finish the event in under 13 hours.

4 years later I would line up to the start of the Hainan 70.3 (Half Ironman) and complete the grueling event in 6 hours 43 minutes. Despite my elation at completing the event all I could think of was doing “the real thing”.

Fast forward to 2012. I now have several Olympic distances under my belt, a handful of marathons and a 70.3. After many years of talk it’s time to give it another shot. This time I’ll have a great friend Tevis joining me in this epic journey of a year of training culminating in 3.8KM of swimming, 180 KM of cycling and 42 KM of running – hopefully finishing in under 17 hours to the Ironman classic words of “Adrian Li – YOU are an Ironman”.