2012 Training vs. 2011 Training

This year the goal was to go after the longer distance triathlons.  In August, I completed my first half-ironman event.  The training required was very different than previous years.  Last year my focus was still on mountain biking and sprint triathlons.  There was one Olympic distance triathlon early in the year, but that was more of an exception to the ultimate goal. 

Given how my training has changed, I thought I’d reflect back on my training time from last year.  The data below is percent change compared to the same YTD training in 2011.  It’s separated by training discipline.

Discipline	2011	2012	% Change
Swim Hours	4	31	675%
Swim Distance	7181y	69852y	873%
Road Bike Hours*	37	38	3%
Road Bike Miles*	450	565	23%
MTB Hours	33	67	103%
MTB Miles	315	712	126%
Run Hours	21	43	105%
Run Miles	114	200	75%
Race Hours	22	21	(5%)
Race Miles	243	256	5%
MTB Races	6	3	(50%)
Triathlons	5	5	0%

*Includes brick workouts

Obviously my focus was on the swim and run.  Some other things stick out as well:

Road bike hours barely increased yet mileage increased by 23%. 

Race hours decreased by 5% but race distance increased by 5%.  The races shifted from shorter mountain bike races to longer triathlons.  That is evident by the 50% drop in mountain bike races compared to 2011.  I wanted to do more mountain bike races, but I really had a ‘sour taste’ toward the Michigan mountain bike scene.  Some races I would need a license and other races I really didn’t want to be around some people.  I needed a break from the negativity.  Hoping to get back at it in 2013.  I do have a couple friends on the east side that I barely saw this season.