It is time to start training with a purpose, time to train with a specific goal in mind. To just finish would be great and I will be just as happy to when I do as achieving any specific time. But looking forward, beyond my first IM I must start to plan more specifically. By selecting a specific time, I can have a better understanding of where I am during my training and how far off I am of my goal pace in any of the three disciplines.

Completing this exercise means I now have a “race pace” for training sessions which require me to be, at or around race pace. My goal is complete Ironman Kentucky in 12 hours; I have broken this down further into a 1:20 minute swim, a 6:30 bike and a 4:10 marathon. Individually this absolutely seems doable; however, when everything comes together it may be a little bit more difficult.

It would seem almost intuitive that my individual training sessions would need to be at a pace faster than my race day pace. However, how fast? I have scheduled into my training program an endurance day, which is the greatest percentage of any given workout. This is where I will be better able to understand how close I am to achieving my goals. Come the spring time, completing 6-7 hour bricks will be the closest simulation I come to race day, I know if I am off during those workouts, I may need to readjust my goals.

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