DILEMMA: Training for two different fall events...

[OakLeaf]

I'm doing kind of the same thing - training for a tough two-day back-to-back century event in late September and a half marathon in October. I don't have a job or kids, so overtraining really isn't an issue for me, but I probably don't devote much more time to my training than you do.

What's your goal for these events? Just to finish? Is the century competitive, or tougher terrain than you're used to? Or can you just maintain on the bike, from where you are now, and meet your goal there?

Alternate days is working for me. The only strength work I'm doing is what I do in my aerobics classes, plus another session of Pilates or yoga. I take a good long time to stretch after each run, and I'm trying to get better about stretching after a ride. Neuromuscular work, I do a little now and then throughout the day, when I'm reading, working on the computer, or just not doing anything else. I would NOT consider your farm work to be "stretching"! But I think at this point in time you definitely don't want to do any strength work on top of that, as long as you're practicing healthy lifting and bending and using your core when you do your chores. Make time for stretching, foam roller and Thera-Cane - injury prevention is really important since you need to be building miles pretty quickly.

I don't think doing the "bricks" will help you, since you're not training for a tri or duathlon. If I were you, I'd opt for longer runs over a short run plus short ride, since it seems like running mileage is really what you need to focus on right now.

I'm doing my long ride and long run on successive days, with my recovery day after that. Back in the spring I think it was Wahine who confirmed that that's a good way to do it.

Ack, you've made me realize how little time I have left to train. Also how little time I have left to be "under 50" which was the motivator for all this to begin with.

[indigoiis]

Hey, thanks. Okay, I like that long ride, long run, rest day thing. I could do:

Sat.: Long run
Sun: Long ride
Mon: rest
Tue: 1/2 Commute in, full back
Wed: full commute in, 1/2 commute back
Thur: short run
Fri: short run

Since I have my kid Wed/Thurs nights and every other weekend, that would work well for me.

It's okay to concentrate one type of training over 2 days? (e.g. ride/ride, run/run)?

[limewave]

It seems to me like doing long run followed by long bike the next day would trash my legs. I think I would just alternate weeks for the long run and long bike. So that one week would be long run on Saturday, easy ride Sunday. The following, easy run Saturday, long bike Sunday.

Either way, you are getting your endurance training so you don't necessarily need to fit in every single training session for both.

And, I see all your run workouts are right in a row: Th, F, Sat. Could you alternate that? Maybe long bike on Saturday and then run on Sunday? My body doesn't handle running like that. I can only do two days of running before I need to do something else to be productive.

I am no expert, that's just my two cents.

[indigoiis]

You raise a good point.
My only problem is that on the days I have my daughter, I need to get her to our house, which involves using the car, and then get her to school next day, which is car to city bus. So my only good commute days have been Mondays or Tuesdays when she is with her Dad. But maybe I can change our schedule this year... Also, she is older now and on the verge of driving and also rides, so perhaps we can come up with a shorter half commute that includes her riding. It's just hard to find a balance. Evening is tough because we all go to bed so early and so that is our together time. But I guess I must make it work and find a way to train if I am to have a pleasant and fun !FIRST! half marathon.

[katluvr]

I thinking making a goal of how many times/miles you want to do each is important. Then each week it may change on how you feel and what your schedule is. If you can find a 1/2 marathon program that is mostly 3 days of running and incorporates "cross training" then fill that in w/your biking.

For me, the biking endurance is easier. I can do just a few LONG days in the saddle and be fine. Running, mileage increase needs to be slow and you do trash your legs more...so an easy ride day before and rest or easy ride day after.

Just my 2 cents worth!

I'll be sorta doing similar...training for Sept. tri, then Oct "bike vacation" so lots of miles and MOUNTAINS and the my marathon is not til Feb. But I'll have to keep running, at least slow mileage. But it is do-able. I am not fast or competitive--and I know finishing the run is tougher for me.

As for one helping the other. I don't think biking helps with running--it may help your aerobic capacity and it is a good "active rest" day. But running helps running. (my opinion).