jdzundel’s BodyBlog

I’m following a training program for my triathlons that calls for training 6 days a week - this I’m good with; I would do cardio training 3 times a day if I had room in my schedule for it.

The part that I’m less comfortable with is that I am doing a pretty rigorous set of strength training 2 days a week - Wednesday and Friday.  I want to be able to push myself and push myself really hard.  But, I’m finding that I am no where near recovered enough by Friday to be able to lift again.   The strength training is mostly core body strength stuff; but, there are LOTS of lunges (2 sets on each side of forward lunges and 2 sets each side of backward lunges).  The next day is a bike ride, so I’m working hard with my legs on the day between, too.

The question:

should I try and modify this in order to give my muscles time to recover?  Is my strength training doing me any good if I’m not recovered when I go into my second strength training session of the week?

How would you recommend rearranging my training schedule?  (right now, I am doing:

Sunday - run

Monday - day off

Tuesday - run

Wednesday - strength training & swim

Thursday - bike

Friday - strength training & swim

Saturday - bike + run (and, I generally swim a short bit before that)
Thanks for all suggestions!

Swim:  14 minutes or less ( 500 meters)
Bike: 45 minutes or less ( 12.3 miles)

Run: 31 minutes or less (3.1 miles)

Overall time: 1 hr. 30 minutes.

Wow… I felt the need to prove to myself that I am prepared to at least finish the tri in 2 weeks.  I did… it won’t be pretty; it won’t be fast, but I can do it - and that’s enough.  I am slow -and that’s fast enough for me!

The numbers:  1:41:43, 767 cal’s at 45% fat burning rate; Max hr = 166, Avg. HR =155

I’m pleasantly surprised that I was able to keep my HR so low.