**katandkevin**

[chw57]

I'm not around here enough... you're training for an ironman too!? Which one? 

[katandkevin]

I am. The intense 16 weeks started yesterday. I am doing IMFL in November. Yikes!

[chw57]

That's awesome! Do you have a coach? I'm trying to decide if I want to use a plan from a book, or hire a coach

[katandkevin]

I kind of have a coach. I am using a tridot plan and the head of tridot is the head of my tri team too. He is technically my coach, but some of my best friends have done multiple IM's and are more help than a coach to me. The plan is similar to what I have been doing for other races, all my workouts are an hour except for my long run and long ride.

If you have any questions about IMTX, let me know. Two of my really good friends did it this past year.

[katinthehat]

Jul 16, 2013 15:13:54 GMT -5 katandkevin said:

I kind of have a coach. I am using a tridot plan and the head of tridot is the head of my tri team too. He is technically my coach, but some of my best friends have done multiple IM's and are more help than a coach to me. The plan is similar to what I have been doing for other races, all my workouts are an hour except for my long run and long ride.

If you have any questions about IMTX, let me know. Two of my really good friends did it this past year.

hijack, but what team are you with?  I got into a tridot free for feedback program but opted not to do it.

[katandkevin]

Tri4him. I did the free for feedback program for the half ironman in April. I really like the training program and their online portal.

[katinthehat]

thank you! I've heard that Tri4Him is one of the better groups to join in terms of niceness, which you would hope would be true of a group called "Tri4Him!" If/when I do Oilman next year, I'm going to give some serious thought to joining a more training oriented group than just a social group.

[trigal]

Jul 16, 2013 13:12:25 GMT -5 chw57 said:

That's awesome! Do you have a coach? I'm trying to decide if I want to use a plan from a book, or hire a coach

Just thought I'd jump in here. You can totally do an IM without a coach! I self-coached my first two and I learned a LOT! I read tons of plans and books and just put together what made sense. It was nice to learn all that I did and I don't know that I would if I'd had a coach.

That said, DH is coaching me for this IM. I have more specific goals than before. For the first one, I just wanted to finish, but now I have a time goal, so I needed more specific training.

[chw57]

Thanks! That's really reassuring. I definitely just want to finish and not sweat to death (why did I pick texas again?)
I've already got Be Iron Fit and it's awesome. Do you have any other book recs?

[katandkevin]

I am glad we have a good reputation. . It is a great group to train with. We have a group that rides every Saturday morning and you have the choice of 22 or 38 miles. During the week I can always find someone to train with if I need it. The group I am part of is the south Houston group but I know there are ones in town too.

What made you decide not to do the free for feedback program? I am just curious.

[trigal]

Jul 16, 2013 19:40:42 GMT -5 chw57 said:

Thanks! That's really reassuring. I definitely just want to finish and not sweat to death (why did I pick texas again?)
I've already got Be Iron Fit and it's awesome. Do you have any other book recs?

I also read the Triathletes Training Bible and Going Long.

[katinthehat]

Jul 16, 2013 20:31:55 GMT -5 katandkevin said:

I am glad we have a good reputation. . It is a great group to train with. We have a group that rides every Saturday morning and you have the choice of 22 or 38 miles. During the week I can always find someone to train with if I need it. The group I am part of is the south Houston group but I know there are ones in town too.

What made you decide not to do the free for feedback program? I am just curious.

Mostly, I'm pretty cheap and I didn't want to front any money   Also, for online only coaching with minimal feedback, I wouldn't pay more than $100 a month.  A friend's company is offering this deal right now for just $250 and if I was going to pay for something, it would be for this - www.sonicendurance.com/TX-Fall-Race-Offer

That was kind of my price gauge for it.