Q: “I am training for IM Couer D’Alene (racing in 6 weeks), and I haven’t done an IM distance swim yet. Do I need to add this to my program?“

A: Coach Patrick: There are two distinct schools of thought on this question…and on the concept of volume as related to IM training. There’s the old school do the miles (and often more) and there’s the new school do what you have to do to get ready (but not more). If you’ve been reading my stuff, you know that I have personally done both, and that I advocate the latter. It’s more conducive to health, life, etc.

Anyway, to get back to your question. I don’t think folks need to do 2.4 miles to get ready to swim 2.4 miles. If you are logging 3x one hour weekly swims, you are in a good place. If some of those swims have had longer sets (i.e., 10×200, 4 x 500, 5 x 400, 2 x 1000), then you are in an even better place. And if you have included some time trial swimming (i.e. 30 mins or 45 mins straight, no stopping), then you are ready.

I can say you are ready b/c the biggest challenge on IM day isn’t the pace / effort, it’s the mental challenge of continuously swimming for 2 x 1.2 miles (or, in the case of IM Arizona, 1 x 2.4).  Folks tend to lose concentration / technique much quicker than they fatigue. They are disoriented in the water, struggling to site, etc., and with the loss of perception from having their head under water, things go to hell pretty quickly. Oh, and people are punching, kicking and grabbing you.

Instead of trying to replicate race day conditions, instead focus on continuous swimming that will give you that same mental challenge (first 1/2 takes for ever, second 1/2 flies by).  Combined with consistent swims, this approach will have you ready on race day!

Good luck!

Patrick