The Method
The Method is ironguides' unique, effective training program for multisport athletes of all abilities. Based on the same principles that have generated a Hawaii Ironman winner, multiple Olympic medallists, ITU Triathlon World Champions and World Cup winners, The Method ensures optimal training for each athlete, no matter your background.
Download Triathlon Secrets, our 80-page eBook describing The Method and its principles in full. You'll learn about:
- The Big Three common mistakes in training today
- The body's Five Systems and how they impact your training
- Why Repetition is so crucial to improvement
- How Order & Structure in your training spell the difference between winning and walking on race day
- Simple Training Intensity Levels you can use today!
The Big Three Errors
The Method is unlike any other training method you've tried. Based on Marc Becker's experience as a multiple top-ten Ironman performer, sub-four hour half Ironman, sub-1:50 non-drafting short course triathlete and multiple top-forty Hawaii Ironman finisher and the principles behind the training of other top international athletes, The Method helps you avoid the three most common, detrimental errors in training today:- Single-minded focus on aerobic conditioning to the exclusion of other very important attributes
- Inappropriate training volume, resulting in the pattern of rapid improvement, staleness, and inevitable slowing down
- Obsession with data and loss of intuitive feel for one's own body
The Five Systems
The Method views the body as a highly complex organism of Five Systems that constantly interact to determine the effectiveness of your training. By controlling these interactions and taking into account the hormonal effects of each type of training you do, The Method ensures the highest training efficiency and rapid, optimal recovery. - Strength training uses sport-specific methods and tools to enhance the effectiveness of certain training sessions, combining aerobic and strength training without risking aerobic overload, while enhancing recovery.
- The Method's strong focus on Neuromuscular training means you train motor skills acquisition - and get the aerobic conditioning anyway!
- Speed training is a staple of The Method - in the right way, for the right duration, at the right time!
- The Method injects appropriate levels of Lactate Tolerance training to ensure optimal race preparation.
- Endurance work in doses designed not to overload you, while preparing you for your event.
Repetition
The Method relies on a high level of repetition to help you train more than just your aerobic conditioning. By repeating certain training sets over a number of weeks, athletes learn to:
- Improve motor skills: Via certain specific sessions using widely available equipment, you literally "program your red meat computer" (as Head Coach Marc Becker likes to remind athletes!).
- Train concentration skills: By shifting emphasis from aerobic levels of effort to form, repetition encourages you to develop greater levels of focus and concentration that will help you in racing and increase effectiveness of ensuing workouts
- Develop intuitive understanding: Over time, athletes who train with The Method develop a keen ability to literally feel how they are doing on any given day.
- Better anticipate training: For Age Group athletes especially, The Method provides a predictable, structured routine you can adhere to without compromising sound training principles, while making more efficient use of you time
- Track performance: Method athletes don't need to undergo physiological testing or test themselves over race distances in training - instead, you training ensures that you can track your improvements in each sport every week.
- Accurately gauge fatigue: The iterative process means you learn quickly to determine if on one of "those" days you are truly tired and need rest, or are merely "off."
- Build consistency: A few simple guidelines ensure athletes come to accurately interpret their body's signals over time and to better apply these to maintain training consistency.
Order and Structure
Method training plans are set up in a very specific order, using a structure that permits higher quality training without compromising recovery. In a Method plan, all sessions are set up so that each complements the other: By following the order of training as indicated in your plan, you enhance the efficacy of the previous and following training sessions because you optimize recovery and mitigate less desired effects.Simple Training Intensity Levels
The Method doesn't rely on one particular tool or piece of equipment to guide your training levels. Instead, athletes are encouraged to use simple, intuitive intensity guidelines.The Method does not discourage the use of heart rate monitors or power meters - whatever context best conveys the desired training level to you is the context that will help you best achieve your goals. Download Triathlon Secrets, our 80-page eBook describing The Method and its principles in full.