A while back, Coach Rich Strauss suggested the following strategy when working with Endurance Nation (EN). Sign on with EN with a planned Ironman race. Complete the EN off-season and their IM training. Race that Ironman like a brown belt. Then...take a year to get crazy strong on the bike building that power at functional threshold as high as you can. Same with the run--improve your Vdot pace to your best ability. Race shorter distances, up to the half Ironman. The next year, do another Ironman and race it like a black belt. That is my goal for 2010.
Within EN we're working out how exactly to execute this plan. What does it mean for me in the upcoming year? What is the best way to structure the season to put that advice into effect?
What does 2009 look like in terms of racing? Focus on training instead of racing with camps and epic weekends? How many races to do at each distance?
I'll keep you posted as my plans are set. I really want to go back to Ironman Florida in 2010, and try to break 13 hours. I don't want to fritter this year away. I'll be figuring out how best to do that.
I start the EN 2009 off-season program on December 1! That's step one!
