Double or long Single Training Cycle

Aloha Matt,

My choice would be a two cycle plan. It is very difficult to reach a competive peak and maintain
that for a long period of non-racing. Better to ease off a bit and then come back up to or above the
previous level.

If you think that you might have other races spanning the period between "A" and "B" then those will
help keep your level up and may be included in your training plan. I like to do that for both
motivation and enhanced exertion. Nothing like a race to take you up a level in fitness.

Good luck.

Ken @ Kauai

<MJuric> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm in the process of planning next years training schedule. I have a late fall "A" race and a
couple of early and mid season "B" races. The question is, is it better to have a long single
cycle schedule peaking for the fall "A" race or a two cycle training schedule that builds into one
of the mid season "B" races, drops and builds for the final "A" season? Pro's cons of each method?

~Matt

This last season I did a what you are calling a double cycle. My "B" race was a half IM, about 6
weeks out from my "A" race, a full IM.

That 2nd cycle was tough from a focus stand point. I trained for the half as if it were a full, did
a three week taper, went into a three week hi volume cycle again, then another three week taper.
That second period of hi volume is what got me, no enthusiasm for it. I'd do it again tho.

I guess a lot depends on how far apart the two events are.

MK

MJuric wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I'm in the process of planning next years training schedule. I have a late fall "A" race and a
couple of early and mid season "B" races. The question is, is it better to have a long single
cycle schedule peaking for the fall "A" race or a two cycle training schedule that builds into one
of the mid season "B" races, drops and builds for the final "A" season? Pro's cons of each method?

~Matt

(M Kochanski) said:

This last season I did a what you are calling a double cycle. My "B" race was a half IM, about 6
weeks out from my "A" race, a full IM.

That 2nd cycle was tough from a focus stand point. I trained for the half as if it were a full, did
a three week taper, went into a three week hi volume cycle again, then another three week taper.
That second period of hi volume is what got me, no enthusiasm for it. I'd do it again tho.

I guess a lot depends on how far apart the two events are.

MK

My races are much further apart, around 21 weeks, and should allow for another complete
cycle. I do have a "b" or "C" race inbetween the early season "B" and the fall "A" race that
may cause the kinda of issues you had. I may drop that one all together or treat it more
like a "test" with little or no taper.

~Matt

Quoted message said:

MJuric wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I'm in the process of planning next years training schedule. I have a late fall "A" race and a
couple of early and mid season "B" races. The question is, is it better to have a long single
cycle schedule peaking for the fall "A" race or a two cycle training schedule that builds into
one of the mid season "B" races, drops and builds for the final "A" season? Pro's cons of each
method?

~Matt

IMKen said:

Aloha Matt,

My choice would be a two cycle plan. It is very difficult to reach a competive peak and maintain
that for a long period of non-racing. Better to ease off a bit and then come back up to or above
the previous level.

If you think that you might have other races spanning the period between "A" and "B" then those
will help keep your level up and may be included in your training plan. I like to do that for both
motivation and enhanced exertion. Nothing like a race to take you up a level in fitness.

Good luck.

Ken @ Kauai

I think you may be right. I had laid my season out using one long cycle. As I looked at the
amount of time I was looking at of constant building, without a break, it looked a bit
daunting. I figured it might be easier to digest if I built to the early seaon "B" race.
Took a bit of time to recover than built to the "A" race. The length of time between races
appears to allow that. I also have a "C" race put in the middle of the cycle between teh "B"
and "A" taht I'll probably go a bit easier on and use it as an indicator of where I'm at.

~Matt

Quoted message said:

<MJuric> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm in the process of planning next years training schedule. I have a late fall "A" race and a
couple of early and mid season "B" races. The question is, is it better to have a long single
cycle schedule peaking for the fall "A" race or a two cycle training schedule that builds into
one of the mid season "B" races, drops and builds for the final "A" season? Pro's cons of each
method?

~Matt

matt, if you've got 21 weeks between events, no question, you need to peak twice! anything over
about 11-12 weeks gap you should peak twice rather than try and maintain. make one of those early
season "B" races an "A" race, and kick ass at both!

MJuric <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

(M Kochanski) said:

This last season I did a what you are calling a double cycle. My "B" race was a half IM, about 6
weeks out from my "A" race, a full IM.

That 2nd cycle was tough from a focus stand point. I trained for the half as if it were a full,
did a three week taper, went into a three week hi volume cycle again, then another three week
taper. That second period of hi volume is what got me, no enthusiasm for it. I'd do it again tho.

I guess a lot depends on how far apart the two events are.

MK

My races are much further apart, around 21 weeks, and should allow for another complete
cycle. I do have a "b" or "C" race inbetween the early season "B" and the fall "A" race that
may cause the kinda of issues you had. I may drop that one all together or treat it more
like a "test" with little or no taper.

~Matt

Quoted message said:

MJuric wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I'm in the process of planning next years training schedule. I have a late fall "A" race and a
couple of early and mid season "B" races. The question is, is it better to have a long single
cycle schedule peaking for the fall "A" race or a two cycle training schedule that builds into
one of the mid season "B" races, drops and builds for the final "A" season? Pro's cons of each
method?

~Matt

(Ryan Bates) said:

matt, if you've got 21 weeks between events, no question, you need to peak twice! anything over
about 11-12 weeks gap you should peak twice rather than try and maintain. make one of those early
season "B" races an "A" race, and kick ass at both!

I think thats probably the way to go. The later season "A" will be my longer race and I really
wanted ot make sure I had the "base" to do it. I also wanted to take the build up REALLY slowly and
give myself plenty of time for recovery and adjustments to my plan. Thats why originally I was
looking at a single cycle. After doing some "replanning" It looks likes I can have a similar slowly
built season with a small break with the two cycles. The main difference would be each cycle would
be a bit more rapid build than the single. First cycle woudl be a build to the early season "A"
shorter than the Late season. Transition and slight drop then build to the second season "A"

~Matt

Quoted message said:

MJuric <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

(M Kochanski) said:

This last season I did a what you are calling a double cycle. My "B" race was a half IM, about 6
weeks out from my "A" race, a full IM.

That 2nd cycle was tough from a focus stand point. I trained for the half as if it were a
full, did a three week taper, went into a three week hi volume cycle again, then another three
week taper. That second period of hi volume is what got me, no enthusiasm for it. I'd do it
again tho.

I guess a lot depends on how far apart the two events are.

MK

My races are much further apart, around 21 weeks, and should allow for another complete
cycle. I do have a "b" or "C" race inbetween the early season "B" and the fall "A" race that
may cause the kinda of issues you had. I may drop that one all together or treat it more
like a "test" with little or no taper.

~Matt

Quoted message said:

MJuric wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
> I'm in the process of planning next years training schedule. I have a late fall "A" race and a
> couple of early and mid season "B" races. The question is, is it better to have a long single
> cycle schedule peaking for the fall "A" race or a two cycle training schedule that builds into
> one of the mid season "B" races, drops and builds for the final "A" season? Pro's cons of each
> method?
>
> ~Matt