[absolution]

A client of mine has decided in her infinite wisdom that her next challenge is to complete and Ironman, possibly in Australia at the back end of this year. She has already run countless marathons including Great Wall of China, New York, London. She has also completed a 52 miler in one day.

I am helping her with her strength and conditioning as well as her nutritional plan. Anyone done this event (2.5mile swim, 120 mile bike and 26 mile run) or know of any good resources?

I need all the help I can get. I am trying to get her to take me with her as support. Not sure my wife would be too chuffed though.

[FK Pimp]

heading that way myself Abs.
Planning for it next year though (half iron in August as build up). Best resources I have found so far are on other tri related forums to be honest. With the addition of some stuff on CFE.

Main problem in most tri's I have found so far is running off the bike and nutrition. Is she looking to compete or complete?

[absolution]

Cheers. She is looking to complete. She isnt the quickest but the most determined person I know. She wanted to swim the channel a few years ago so steadily built up to 4 hours swimming in Greens Health club pool. I got her to enter the Lake Windermere swim and it was the cold she couldnt handle, not the distance.
I think we will be looking to enter 2 0r 3 tris through the year to build up the distance. Me personally, anything longer than 1 minute is too much. My hat goes off to all of ya

[FK Pimp]

What's her mara time?
If she has completed a 52 miler then I would expect her to complete without too much issue (as long as she gets her nutrition and pacing right).
How's her swimming? Was she wearing a wetty?

[absolution]

I think she is a 4 hour marathoner give or take. No, she wasnt wearing a wetty as you cant wear one in the channel attempt apparently

[FK Pimp]

Sounds like she shouldn't have too may problems comepleting. Obv need to train the three disciplines and the transitions (by that I mean the change from each discipline as well as the changing of shoes etc - bike to run is the hardest part).

technique - intensity - volume.
(Tech is most important in the swim, but worth having a look at the run and bike tech as well.)

That's my training plan basically (just starting the inensity stage and will be working in some valume in about a month). Following various training protocols that I think will work best for me. I'll be doing a mix of conditioning work outs all with at leats one aspect being geared towards one of the disciplines. Then add in a CFE workout - one per cycle at the moment then will build up to 2 per cycle - one tempo/TT and one intensity/threshold) and then will have a long effort up to race distance on one discipline per month (i.e. bike month 1, run month 2 etc). Personally I think this allows one to discover any issues with actually going long and is worth incorporating from both a physical and mental standpoint. I'll be treating the longer sessions like a race prep - 2 days off before and after. Your client may not need this as much as it sounds like she has a good backround in endurance.

hope that helps