Ultra Short Training At Race Pace

Hello to all! I'm 47 years old, from Germany and actually doing long and middle distance triathlon since 2002 where I accomplished my first triathlon (which was an Ironman) at the age of 34. I do quite well because I was divinely gifted with bike talent (which I didn't know 34 years long) and don't drown on the contrary to most other triathletes. This is mostly because I was in a swimming club when I was 14 years old. Much too old to become a good swimmer but old enough to learn the basic skills, which does not mean I "can" swim compared to "real" swimmers but compared to triathletes I do quite will (always a question of relation ...forums.usms.org/.../smile.gif) Anyway self-employed, with family, three children (though nearly grown now) and a sceptical mind I have challenged the typical long distance training (LSD) principles from the beginning, hence I always looked for different approaches re: training and was quite happy when the Tabata, Crossfit, HIIT "movement" emerged which led to the following: I reduced my average training time/week from anyhow low 10 hours/week to 4-6 hours/week and smashed my personal "records" with 44 and 45 years and do still feel there is still room for some improvements = getting faster. So I can say "intelligent" training works for me better than long & boring. By accident I came across USTRP today and read the whole thread and some of the things written by Mr. Rushall (but will try to fetch up with his essentials available from this messaging board in the next days) - and am delighted by this method! But at the same time I'm very uncertain if this would work for 1900 meters/1.2miles or 3800meters/2.4miles - especially with my experience: Without knowing this method I did the Tabata intervals (8x20sec all out with 10sec rest) and developed it further to 20 or 30x25meters at 30 seconds with 17-18 seconds for the 25meters. Strangely I feel as I could do this for hours BUT: Just one or two seconds faster (15-16 seconds) costs me incredible power/energy and more awful: if it comes to 100 meters I have quite problems to got under 1.20 - 1.15 would be not doable. Contemporary swimming some kilometers/miles in a slow tempo, for example 3,8km/2.4miles in an hour (55min with wet suit) doesn't cause me any problems. So I have the paradox situation that I can swim 30x25 with 17-18 seconds AND a long distance without any problems but lack speed on longer distances. Asking experts what they think I should do they say I need to swim more 200 and 400meters ... To come to an end: Are there any experiences with this method regarding longer distances = 1.500 meters or longer? Sorry for this very long story and hopefully you can understand my English. Greetings from Germany: Michael

Hello to all! I'm 47 years old, from Germany and actually doing long and middle distance triathlon since 2002 where I accomplished my first triathlon (which was an Ironman) at the age of 34. I do quite well because I was divinely gifted with bike talent (which I didn't know 34 years long) and don't drown on the contrary to most other triathletes. This is mostly because I was in a swimming club when I was 14 years old. Much too old to become a good swimmer but old enough to learn the basic skills, which does not mean I "can" swim compared to "real" swimmers but compared to triathletes I do quite will (always a question of relation ...forums.usms.org/.../smile.gif) Anyway self-employed, with family, three children (though nearly grown now) and a sceptical mind I have challenged the typical long distance training (LSD) principles from the beginning, hence I always looked for different approaches re: training and was quite happy when the Tabata, Crossfit, HIIT "movement" emerged which led to the following: I reduced my average training time/week from anyhow low 10 hours/week to 4-6 hours/week and smashed my personal "records" with 44 and 45 years and do still feel there is still room for some improvements = getting faster. So I can say "intelligent" training works for me better than long & boring. By accident I came across USTRP today and read the whole thread and some of the things written by Mr. Rushall (but will try to fetch up with his essentials available from this messaging board in the next days) - and am delighted by this method! But at the same time I'm very uncertain if this would work for 1900 meters/1.2miles or 3800meters/2.4miles - especially with my experience: Without knowing this method I did the Tabata intervals (8x20sec all out with 10sec rest) and developed it further to 20 or 30x25meters at 30 seconds with 17-18 seconds for the 25meters. Strangely I feel as I could do this for hours BUT: Just one or two seconds faster (15-16 seconds) costs me incredible power/energy and more awful: if it comes to 100 meters I have quite problems to got under 1.20 - 1.15 would be not doable. Contemporary swimming some kilometers/miles in a slow tempo, for example 3,8km/2.4miles in an hour (55min with wet suit) doesn't cause me any problems. So I have the paradox situation that I can swim 30x25 with 17-18 seconds AND a long distance without any problems but lack speed on longer distances. Asking experts what they think I should do they say I need to swim more 200 and 400meters ... To come to an end: Are there any experiences with this method regarding longer distances = 1.500 meters or longer? Sorry for this very long story and hopefully you can understand my English. Greetings from Germany: Michael