Training for 2 different disciplines 2012 - possible?

dru

Hi people,

Looking at what to target next year in 2012

This year I've dabbled in a bit of sportive riding , some time trialling and recently cyclocross and track bikes.

Anyhow,

The short list for next year has got 4 main targets

1. Complete Marmotte 2012
2. Complete Dragon Ride Grand Fondo (gold standard)
3. Sub 23.00 10 mile TT
4. Sub 1 hour 25 mile TT

With the Dragon ride and Marmotte being in June and July respectively, I hoping that I can start my training in November and get a strong base for me to work on.

My theory is that before June I will be able to get a reference 25 mile TT time in (only did 10 mile ones this year with pb of 24.50) and then after the Marmotte then work purely on TT and speed work.

This year I did a few 100 mile sportives in under 7 hours and did the middle Dragon in Gold Standard time, but I appreciate that the course for this year will be significantly hillier.

I've just ordered a powertap and hope to get my training schedule sorted soon, but do you think that I will be able to mix the long and hilly with the short, fast and hard targets I've listed above or am I heading for disaster?

Opinions more than welcome!

Ta,

Dru

Alex_Simmons/RST

Dru wrote:

I've just ordered a powertap and hope to get my training schedule sorted soon, but do you think that I will be able to mix the long and hilly with the short, fast and hard targets I've listed above

Yes

Dru wrote:

or am I heading for disaster?

No

LikeUStoleIt

i'd say that working to improve your 25m TT ability is perfectly aligned with a successful marmotte.

the climbs are not steep (apart from the first ramp on AdH, and maybe the last bit of the galibier), and you're going to be doing 4 of them for with a 'rest' interval in bewteen.

they are essentially 4 sub-threshold efforts of an hour or thereabouts.

so working on increasing your FTP (=25m TT) is ideal.

just remember to get some long rides in as well, ideally including some blocks of threshold work.

good luck!

ozzzyosborn206

chances are if you mix some speed work in with your long rides, then once you have recovered from the marmotte, and a week or two of speed you will be flying off the back oof such a hard event, thats normally how my body works anyway

Tom Butcher

Just completing the Marmotte isn't that hard anyway - if you don't have any goal time you could just concentrate on your 25 time and throw in a few longer rides in the run up to the Marmotte.

dru

Tom Butcher wrote:

Just completing the Marmotte isn't that hard anyway - if you don't have any goal time you could just concentrate on your 25 time and throw in a few longer rides in the run up to the Marmotte.

The marmotte will end up with a target time, but that is likely to be set onlt once I've had my testing done and started work with a coach to find out what are realistic times/goals to aim for.


Which then begs the question - does anyone have any personal recommendations for a coach which will help me achieve these goals?

Rodrego Hernandez

There are plenty of coaches around, ranging from qualified sports scientists who know a bit about cycling to ex-racers with limited grasp of the scientific. Best bet is to have a search on the web and check out what might be most suitable and then contact a few.

ut_och_cykla

Shop around- find out what background they have, how 'up to date' they are - whether they use Watts or pulse or tea leaves....I can't recommend the one I used I'm afraid - as it all started well but it ended in tears (well I cried on the event which I did complete but only just). I reported repeatedly that I was seeing no improvement but there was no dialogue, no reassessment etc. Waste of money on the whole although I did learn a lot about how to cycle slowly at a high cadence......
From what I've seen Ruth Eyles who writes on here sometimes seems pretty sound....

Pokerface

I'm training for 4 different disciplines for 2012! Track sprinting and endurance, time trialliang and road racing.

Hard to be good at all of them, but I find that a lot of the training overlaps and being good at one thing helps you get good at another.

As everyone else has said - all your goals are achievable and complementary. Just work hard at it!

Alex_Simmons/RST

Dru wrote:

Which then begs the question - does anyone have any personal recommendations for a coach which will help me achieve these goals?

We have coached a number of riders to successfully complete Marmotte with their target time goal in mind as well as provide sound advice on pacing based on their fitness level.

Latest was a 50yo client who did it under 6.5hrs without a priority start.

It is certainly possible to model it (which I have done for several riders) and come within 10-15 minutes of predicted times.

Drop us a line if you are interested in working with someone, we'd be happy to help out.

oldwelshman

Tom Butcher wrote:

Just completing the Marmotte isn't that hard anyway - if you don't have any goal time you could just concentrate on your 25 time and throw in a few longer rides in the run up to the Marmotte.

Hmm really? tell that to the english guy I saw fall off his bike 2km from the fininsh and got carted off to hospital 3 years ago !!
May not be hard for everyone but for others it is very difficult.

Pokerface

oldwelshman wrote:

Tom Butcher wrote:

Just completing the Marmotte isn't that hard anyway - if you don't have any goal time you could just concentrate on your 25 time and throw in a few longer rides in the run up to the Marmotte.

Hmm really? tell that to the english guy I saw fall off his bike 2km from the fininsh and got carted off to hospital 3 years ago !!
May not be hard for everyone but for others it is very difficult.

Yeah, but 2km from the finish is more or less completing it. 8)