Jon Boyle - 2006 Ironman Lake Placid - JP Fitness Forums

Lisa~ · 07-25-2006, 10:09 AM

I don't usually keep up with this forum, so I hope I'm not posting up something you guys already know about. But I do get Eric Cressey's newsletter and Jon Boyle's account of his first Ironman was inspiring. I thought you might enjoy reading it.

http://www.ericcressey.com/newsletter16.html

UpNorth · 07-26-2006, 10:26 AM

The maturity and abilities of that guy are truely inspiring.

emartin10 · 07-26-2006, 11:13 AM

That's just awesome, I can't wait to do an Ironman. Just sweet! It's cool to see some of the guys like EC talking about triathlon too. I get the feeling that most of them think we're idiots. Thanks EC for including that article!

E

Eric Cressey · 07-26-2006, 04:01 PM

I've actually got several endurance athletes as clients. They're actually a very dedicated crew that responds well to getting away from the classic endurance training myths. Makes my job fun.

emartin10 · 07-26-2006, 04:56 PM

That's awesome Eric. What types of myths are you getting away from? I have heard a lot of folks getting endurance athletes on a low carb diet and the response has been huge. Have you had any experience with that? Just curious...

E

Eric Cressey · 07-26-2006, 07:27 PM

Oh, where to begin?

Yes, that's one myth. They still need a buttload of carbs, so I hesitate to use the term "low carb" diet. I think that "lower carb" would be a better bet. He's eating more protein and fats than most endurance athletes (i.e., those who don't know any better).

Other myths I've encountered...

1. Lifting will make you slower.
2. Runners should only do machines and super-slow (that was his old coach's mantra)
3. "Plyometrics" have no uses for runners
4. It's about who can go the longest (correction, people; it's about who can go the fastest for a set distance)

Jon does a lot more interval work and steady-state training at lactate threshold than a lot of his counterparts who are banging their heads against the wall with classic Z1-Z2 steady state stuff. He still does some of the latter, but it's geared toward recovery and enhancing aerobic adaptations - not training him to go longer instead of faster - and at the wrong time of year.

emartin10 · 07-27-2006, 12:53 PM

Wow, thanks. I agree with pretty much all of that. I weight train more than all of my training buddies. They tell me I'm overtraining. And I totally agree with #4, that's huge and no one seems to get it.

I do intervals after most long runs. I've noticed a big improvement in my speeds - I had a better mileage split in my longer races than my shorter ones thus far this year...

Thanks for popping in here Eric, it's great to get someone else's point of view.

E

drew · 07-27-2006, 02:38 PM

I agree...that is good stuff! Thanks EC!

EC, for #3, what types of plyometrics do you recommend for triathletes? Also, what types of intervals do you have Jon do?

E, describe the intervals you do after your long runs...please!!

Thanks guys,

Drew

emartin10 · 07-27-2006, 04:29 PM

On most of my runs of 60 minutes or less, I will either do strides, which is anywhere from 30 sec - 1 min of a high tempo run and then 2 or 3 minutes of recovery, or will do 6 to 8 sets of 20 or 30 seconds of sprinting and then 1 minute of walking (HIIT) immediately after the run.

I have a 2 hour run planned this week with 3 minutes of tempo, 5 minutes recovery, so it varies. But the key for me is to always add some fast pacing and recovery just to make sure I'm accomplishing Eric's point #4 which is that it's not about how long you can go, but how fast you can go over a set distance. If I wanted to, I could just keep on trucking for ever at an easy cadence, but passing people in a race is just so much better

E

drew · 07-27-2006, 04:33 PM

Nothing beats passing somebody in a race! Especially if they passed you earlier and you are getting the last laugh!

Drew

emartin10 · 07-28-2006, 01:01 PM

Yeah, I kill everyone in the swim. Then all these badasses pass me on the bike, and I just LOVE passing them on the run. 3 sports guys, 3 sports. So much fun. I did more tempo work today, and it's just great. I think that has done more for my training than anything. In the pool, bike, and run for that matter...

E