Training Program

     I have known for a long time that my training is eradicate and it has not been tested in a lab.  I have achieved huge gains in my tri times by doing what I do, but it is time to take it to the next level.  I had originally planned on waiting until December to begin an official training schedule but the more and more I think about Ironman St. George the more and more I want to do really well.  It almost consumes my entire thought process. 
     Believe it or not, there are tri programs and coaches who are eager to provide coaching, training schedules, nutrition plans and software to help any triathlete to achieve their goals for the correct price.  The choice of my training plan actually came down to coaching and training software.  Most coaches use Training Peaks software to map plans and track workouts and diets.  It is a nice program that is pushed by USA Tri, but it isn't very flexible.  If for some reason a workout is missed or only part of the work out is finished, Training Peaks does not update future workouts.  The training is lost, and this doesn't work for me. It is important to me to have a very flexible schedule.  With my thesis approaching and the desire to spend some time with my lovely wife, it is unacceptable for me to have a training schedule set in stone. 
    I am also not interested in having phone conversations or daily emails from a coach.  I would like to be able to get a hold of them if I need to, but I would rather not have contact.  I could learn a lot from a personable coach, but I don't want to fake my way through a conversation just to have a conversation and I feel that's how most of the discussions would happen. 
    For these reasons, I have decided to use MarkAllenOnline for my coaching needs.  Mark Allen is an Ironman hall of Famer from the 90's and a legend in the Ironman circles.  His knowledge of how to train and how not to train has been tested in numerous Ironman races and 6 Kona titles.  Mark paired up with Luis Vargas, another Ironman competitor and software designer to create a different type of training program.  Through collaboration, they developed the eGrip coaching engine; an adaptable training software that shuffles workouts based on performance and completion of previous work outs.  They also provide email support (with quick responses, I already tested it) if I ever needed anything, or wanted to discuss strategy.  In addition to meeting my exact needs, eGrip has a maintenance program that I can start now and start to organize my workout.  In December, I will be able to transition to my full blown training schedule with a base line of training data already established. 
     Mark Allen has a little elevator slogan; "Train smart, get results."  I think it makes perfect sense and the smartest thing I have done for my results is to jump on board.