Winter Training starts...and a Concept of Operations for the year.

Winter training has started...today! I actually got up and went to the gym. I've been sleeping in every day since June. Last year, I started winter training at about 185 pounds. This year....193! Wow, and yes, the extra is all fat.  I have a long ways to go. But my A races will be in August this year, so I have plenty of time, and I'm not going all-in right away because I don't want to be mentally burned out come the end of June, right when I need to be hitting it the hardest.

I haven't figured out the races for the year, but I know I'll focus on the August races that I love so much because I'll be home in August (yeah!) instead of gone on USMCR training.

So, November through January training will be focused on getting a good base of aerobic conditioning in, with a focus consistent biking and running while also lifting weights with just a touch of swimming to keep muscle memory.  Goals for the period November to end of January:

  - Run 27 miles per week (30 miles running is a perfect week, with 27 being an average week)
  - Bike five days per week for a total of 6 hours in November, building to 9 hours biking at the end of January.
  - Lift weights three times per week to build triathlon specific strength.
  - Swim 500 yards after each weights workout to maintain swim technique and muscle memory.

That's my Phase I of Winter Training.

Phase 2 starts February 1 and then goes through April 30, which is close to the end of spring and the start of real outdoors training. I used to end Phase 2 at the end of March in conjunction with the university spring break, but the weather never cooperates, so I'm adjusting.  During Phase 2, the focus becomes on building muscular endurance, meaning workouts of 80-120% of race distance at 90% efforts in varying lengths of time to build the ability to hold a race pace.

Phase 3 begins in May and runs through the end of July. This is race specific training at the 80-120% race distances. I'll add bricks and some sprints. I'll add open water swims (twice weekly). The local bike race series is during this time, too.

Phase 4 is the primary race season...August.  I know I want to do the Rexburg Rush Triathlon and the Bear Lake Brawl, both of which are in August. So, August is mostly about maintaining whatever endurance I built up during the year. There is also a rest period of about a week when we go to Yellowstone for some backcountry fishing.  Hopefully I can hang onto the physical and mental endurance til the end of September and do the Utah Xterra.

That runs down my concept of operations for the year.