70.3 low volume plan - only one 2+ hour ride?

Training
1

Hi,

I’ve been a big fan of TR for many years- successfully completed a 70.3 in 2019 using their plan. Have also meaningfully increased my ftp and comfort on the bike through TR.

Life happened since 2019 - I’m back at it and having fun. I’m now 2 months out from my race and about to start the specialty phase.

What I’ve only just now realized is that my plan only has me riding one 2:45 ride that is 3 days out from my event. Besides this one long ride (that seems too close to the race??), the longest it has me riding is 1:45.

Shouldn’t I have a few longer rides under my belt as part of a 70.3 training plan? I have faith in the TR algorithms but I am genuinely surprised and a little concerned.

Does anyone have any insight as to why there aren’t more 2+ hour rides in the plan?

2

  • The plan adapts and for Endurance rides this has a big effect on the length of time.

  • Indoor rides are much more efficient than outdoor.

  • The plan will get you through the race but you are not limited by it, longer aerobic rides outdoors are a good addition or substitution as suits you.

  • Remember that these are not individual sports, triathlon is a single sport with multiple disciplines - it’s how you fare in the combined swim bike and run, not seperate sports that will determine your race time

5 Likes
3

I’d reach out to their support about this. It is possible it will adjust as you get closer but I’d suspect something with the taper week is out of sorts, shouldn’t be that duration as the baseline

I wouldn’t stress about the lack of longer rides though, but if you get in your head about it add some low intensity longer duration rides as fatigue permits

4

As long as you’re comfortable with your position on the bike and your fueling strategy you’re probably ok.

I use TR to train for some bikepacking events that last 12-18hr moving time, multiple days in a row and I seldom ride longer then 3hrs.

I use Tailwind hydration @ 100-120g carb per hour and weigh around 200lb.

Low volume probably won’t get you on the podium but it could get you the point of finishing feeling strong.

5

Hey there!

Part of why you have shorter Endurance sessions on your TR Calendar right now is probably due to your current Progression Levels. As @JoeX said, your plan will adapt as you work through it, and your Endurance workouts will likely change.

If you’re capable of doing a longer Endurance ride right now, you could sub one into your plan and complete it. Once you’ve done that, your PLs will update, and your plan will adapt to give you longer Z2 rides from that point out.

You can find a longer Endurance workout to sub in by using TrainNow, Workout Alternates, or by searching our Workout Library.

You can also adjust the duration of your workouts in your Plan Builder plan. Here’s how to do so:

Finally, while longer rides can be a good part of your overall training, they won’t necessarily make or break your race. This article has some more info on why:

Hope this info helps you out – feel free to let us know if you have any additional questions!