How much is too much?

This is an interesting question. How much training, in any one discipline, is too much? Given that training in one sport, by definition, takes time and focus away from training in any of the others (one could argue "water jogging" is a two-for-one; having no particular expertise or experience, I'll pass on that debate at this time).

In addition to being an interesting question, it's also a largely irrelevant question at this time of year. Rare is the competitor who is plowing away at all three sports full-bore at this time of year. This is the time to "specialize", to work on any identified weaknesses in one of the sports. Additionally, being as this is the offseason one could also argue (and I am making that argument here now) that this is ideally the time to raise this question of "how much is too much?". Now is the time to find the answer, not once the training begins "for serious". Trying to structure a training plan while in the midst of that plan is a little like trying to change the wings on an airplane while in flight. It looks good on paper, but results are bound to suffer when tried in practice.

Suggestions on how to avoid "how much" are laid by one of the true gurus of the sport here. This should serve as a base guideline, while this follow-up story would be on the "don't" page of the "Do's and Don'ts of overtraining". Part two of the don't is the cautionary tale summary.

In future posts, I'll be laying out the guidelines around which my plan for next year will be based. Historically my race results in my age group break down something like this:

Top 50% swim split (half-way through the pack - half are faster, half are slower)

Top 33% bike split (one third are faster, two-thirds slower)

Top 20% run split.

I'd say my biggest limiters are run and bike endurance, and swim form - being a self-coached swimmer all my life will do that to you.

Peace.