The back-to-back-to-BACK experts

[Paulo]

Since you girls and guys seem to be the experts at racing back to back, to BACK Ironmans, I thought this was the right place to ask this.

What are your thoughts about what kind of training you should do in the first 1-3 weeks after an IM race, if you're racing another one in let's say, a month?

Thanks! :-D

[BellaComerFord]

Hi Paulo

I recommend the day after the race to move as much as you can.  Walk, swim and ride a little if you can.  Not much, but enough to move the muscles.  That is the first step to recovering.  Then, each day just do abit more.  For about 7 to 10 days going easier than normal.  After about 10 days I am ready to go again!  But that might be a bit differant for others.

[doc]

our little celt , is very different but the advice is excellent .
lots of little sesssions ,
even these guys keep it to 15min to 20 min max .
now a lot stop running in the next week do a little swimming but are out on the bike doing 2 or 3 hrs .
WE DONT!
we believe, that the immune system has been severely stressed , so we opt out of long easy stuff ,
as it is not , allowing the immune system to recover ,
thats why we keep it , very short , all under 40min , except a swim session .
this is all broken up intervals so again ,doesnt stress the immune system ,
and swim lots of little sessions , get the blood around the body , no pounding , and helps active recovery so much, then
if we are backing up , we build back the aerobic component , into the program for the last 2 weeks and dont taper ,
yes you heard right , we dont taper for the 2nd .
thats the key

[drags]

Funny that.. one of Z german pro lady's was commenting on bella's back er up styles..
this chick did her first race since Lanzarotte this weekend and was saying how she still feels like shit!! How could Bella possibly back up after 3 weeks??  I asked her what she had been doing.. 'Nothing of course .. recovering'... well I guess z germans always know better but will never learn another way because of that very fact!!!
I think we need to send Chopper Reed to have a little pep talk with z german pros 'Harden the **** UP!

[Paulo]

Bella, Doc, thanks for the input!

I've been meaning to change my approach to IM recovery and I was just looking for some validation... er, I mean, advice! ;-)

Doc, no taper for the second race doesn't shock me that much, if you use the approach that Bella described, by the time the second race arrives, you're not doing a lot anyway, so taper from what? That actually makes sense to me.

As for your comments on doing a lot of easy riding after the race, they really hit home with me, I had a pro that went to coach an age-group camp after an IM, ended up doing too much "easy" riding and screwed himself pretty badly. You coach and you learn, I guess...

[BellaComerFord]

Luke, dont bother to educate "Z Germans"  !!
Us girls here dont mind if they are ****ing up in their recovery and races!!!

[chrissie]

Bella - as usual, you are SPOT ON!!!! My job is going to be hard enough as it is next weekend.....!

[EspenW]

Bella - as usual, you are SPOT ON!!!! My job is going to be hard enough as it is next weekend.....!

Don`t think so Chrissie.....u will crush them

Have a great race!

PS! Envision vote done

[drags]

Hard?? What germans are you worrying about??  I don't educate anyone... like I said.. they already know everything and like to advise me!! I just give them the 'ja ja'..

[doc]

and a little bootie meister shuffle