Train for a Fast Ironman in 12 Hours a Week

How to Train for a Fast Ironman in 12 Hours a WeekBased on “Minimalist Ironman Training” by Matt Fitzgerald | January 2014

© 2014 TrainingPeaks. All rights reserved.

“Many triathletes can race a faster Ironman by following a well-constructed 12-hours a week program than they could

with a higher-volume approach.”

Minimalist Ironman TrainingTrain LessYou can prepare for a successful Ironman triathlon with a program that has an average training volume of only 12 hours per week and a briefly-maintained peak of 16 hours a week.

Race FasterBy “successful” I don’t mean “finishing alive”. I mean covering the distance as fast as your genetic potential allows.

Five Reasons this Works● Swim performance is about technique, not fitness● The swim just isn’t that important● Cycling fitness transfers well to running ● High-intensity indoor cycling is time-efficient and effective● A dozen century training rides doesn’t give you more endurance than 2 or 3


1. The swim is all about techniqueTechnique > FitnessAlmost all swim improvement comes from technique refinements. These occur instantaneously vs. swim fitness built through hours of training.

Use intervals and workouts to ingrain technique 1st and develop fitness 2nd.


Work on Technique● Get one-on-one stroke coaching from a qualified swim coach● Study freestyle technique● Fiddle with your stroke● Use swim aids● Perform drills for body position, rotation, efficient breathing, strong pull,

efficient kicking

2. The swim just isn’t that important

To complete the swim as fast as your innate ability allows, you’d have to train in the pool 2 hours / day, 6 days a week to shave off every possible second...

Or, you can get 90% of the way towards your fastest possible Ironman swim by swimming 1 hour / day, 3 days / week.


By the NumbersThe swim accounts for only ~10% of the time to complete an Ironman.

3. Cycling fitness transfers to runningTrim Back Run TrainingCycling fitness crosses over well to running.

Each week you only need:● 1 long run, e.g. 14 miles @ comfortable pace● 1 high-intensity run, e.g., 10:00 warmup, 5x(3:00 @ 5k pace, 3:00 jog

recoveries), 5:00 cool-down● 1 moderate, steady base run, e.g., 45 min @ comfortable pace*

*advanced athletes can add threshold progression or fartlek intervals● Optional: 1- or 2-mile transition runs after bike workouts


4. High-intensity indoor cycling worksThe Trainer is Time-Efficient and Effective

● Less setup and fewer stops● More intense: heart rate is always higher on trainer due to lack of coasting

or downhills● Controlled environment more conducive to high-intensity work

Proof PointsTop triathletes including Andy Potts and Tyler Stewart only ride outdoors 1x/week, and otherwise perform interval-based indoor sessions.

An Example of a Typical Week● 3 x 30-45 minute rides on indoor trainer● 2 x 30-45 minute indoor rides with challenging high-intensity work● 1 long outdoor ride on Saturday


5. You don’t need a ton of long ridesQuality over Quantity

● A dozen century rides won’t give you much more endurance than 2 or 3● Instead, do the hard threshold and interval training many athletes avoid● For your regular “long rides”, do fairly aggressive 2.5 to 3.5-hour rides

Building GraduallyWith the solid cycling fitness foundation built by this approach, you can incrementally increase the distance of your weekly long ride from 60 miles to 100 miles through the last 8 weeks of your training before your taper. You’ll cultivate endurance without sacrificing pure power, or wasting time.


Putting it All TogetherSample ScheduleBased on the principles above, here’s what a week of a minimalist Ironman training program could look like.


ResourcesOriginal article: “Minimalist Ironman Training”by Matt Fitzgerald (mattfitzgerald.org)

For more Ironman training adviceSubscribe to the TrainingPeaks Blog (trainingpeaks.com/blog)


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Train for a Fast Ironman in 12 Hours a Week