Expect Epic Results from an Epic Training Experience
Most triathletes are familiar with the idea of a destination race, but what about destination training? The destination training “spring season” for 2013 may be wrapping up, but maybe it’s something you will want to consider for early summer 2013, or spring 2014. Here are some advantages and considerations should you want to make this a part of your plan.
Advantages
New Environment.
Trade in your usual training routes (and partners!) for a new landscape. Even traveling just a couple hours from home can expand your training opportunities to longer climbs, cleaner lake water, and fresh scenery.
Intensity and Focus.
Remember, this is a training trip! The only similarities that destination training has to a vacation are that you have to travel to get there, and you’re away from your 9-5 job for a few days. You’ll have the opportunity to rack up training volume unlike any other time in your season, doubling or possibly even tripling the number of training hours in a normal week. This may be as close as you’ll get to the life of a pro triathlete!
Eat!
Destination training isn’t the time to be dieting. With your increased training load comes a need for higher caloric intake, and eating as you would in a typical week will lead to an inevitable bonk during a workout. You certainly don’t want to overdo it, but in a focused training week it’s OK to eat some of those things you typically try to avoid.
Camaraderie.
Why train alone? In addition to the cost benefits of traveling with friends (see consideration #2), you’ll have a great time training with like-minded athletes. It is always a bonus to get other perspectives, hear other’s experiences and is just fun being able to do what we love to do with a good group of people!
Preview a race course.
Nothing new on race day, right? There is a huge value in getting to ride and run an Ironman course before it really counts. You may read about the course online or hear about it from fellow athletes or coaches, but nothing beats experiencing it first-hand. Experiment with gearing, learn locations for special needs, see the transition area, get familiar with the town – all of this will help to ease the stress of race day.
Zoom Performance is holding a training weekend in Madison, WI, June 28-30, 2013. This can be a perfect introduction to destination training if you’ve not done it before, and it is a must-do for anyone racing Ironman Wisconsin! Contact us for more information
Considerations
Logistics.
Destination training is at least as, if not more, complicated as planning for a destination race. Where will you go? How will you get there? If you fly, will you ship your bike or take it on the plane? Do you have all your swim/bike/run gear? What will your workouts look like? Where will you ride/run/swim? Research your destination and reach out to the local tri clubs and/or shops in the area. They can provide route suggestions and would probably invite you along on a group workout. Trisports in Tucson, AZ has a dedicated “Training Destination Specialist” that can help with anything from recommending bike routes to finding lodging.
Cost.
Figure a budget, considering things like travel, meals/groceries, lodging, and car rental. Find some triathlete friends and travel as a group – you’ll get to split most of the expenses, and you’ll have a better time if you have others to push and challenge you through your workouts.
Remember, this is a training trip! (See advantage #2). You will be training, eating and sleeping – not much else, unless you’re there long enough to build in a rest day. There’s a good chance you’ll be more tired when you return than when you left, so you may want to think about one extra day off once you’re home – relax, recover and get a massage before delving back in to your normal work/life/training routine.