20-WEEK IRONMAN 70.3 TRAINING PLAN: HERE ARE THE FIRST 4 WEEKS
by OXB Staff on Jul 05
20-WEEK IRONMAN 70.3 TRAINING PLAN: HERE ARE THE FIRST 4 WEEKS

This training plan is designed for those who want to train for a half Ironman. The plan lasts 20 weeks.

Start with 8 weeks of base training, followed by 6 weeks of build-up training and 6 weeks of peak training. On odd-numbered training weeks, you’ll do 3 swimming sessions, 3 bike rides, and 3 runs.

Weeks 2, 6, 10, 14, and 18 include 3 swimming sessions, 2 bike rides, 3 running sessions, and one combined bike-run workout. Weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 include 3 swimming sessions, 3 bike rides, 2 running sessions, and one combined bike-run workout. There is a rest week every four weeks. The final 10 days constitute a “cool-down” period. The plan begins with 3.5 km of swimming, 2.45 hours of cycling, and 1.45 hours of running per week. The peak is reached in the 17th week with 6 km of swimming, 5.20 hours of cycling, and 3.07 hours of running.


Base Phase
: The first eight weeks of training make up the base phase. This phase is long enough to allow for a gradual, steady increase in training volume. The primary goals are to develop aerobic capacity and endurance. The small number of high-intensity workouts you’ll do during this phase will prepare you to handle the high-intensity workouts of the bulking phase.

 

Week 1

Monday

Rest

Tuesday

Cycling Power Intervals: 45 Minutes

Warm-up: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 4 x 20-second sprints at a high gear, with enough rest in between to reach a total workout time of 45 minutes (including warm-up and cool-down)

Cool-down: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Wednesday

Swimming: 1 km

Warm-up: 300 @ low aerobic intensity

8 x 25 fast, REST = 0:10

Workout: 2 x 100 @ moderate aerobic intensity, RECOVERY=0:05

8 sets of 25 leg raises, REST = 0:15

Cool-down: 300 @ low aerobic intensity

Fartlek Run: 30 minutes

Warm-up: Run for 5 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 6 x 30 seconds at maximum VO2 intensity with sufficient active recovery to reach a total workout time of 20 minutes

Cool-down: 5-minute run at moderate aerobic intensity

Thursday

Bicycle Basics: 1 hour

Warm-up: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 40 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Cool-down: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Friday

Swimming: 1 km

Warm-up: 300 @ low aerobic intensity

8 x 25 fast, REST = 0:10

Workout: 4 x 100 (25 easy/25 hard) — easy = moderate aerobic intensity, hard = threshold intensity, RECOVERY = 0:10

Cool-down: 30 @ low aerobic intensity

Running Basics: 35 minutes

Warm-up: Run for 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 15-minute run at moderate aerobic intensity

Cool-down: 10-minute run at moderate aerobic intensity

Saturday

Bicycle Basics: 1 hour

Warm-up: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 40 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Cool-down: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Sunday

Running Basics: 40 minutes

Warm-up: Run for 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 20-minute run @ moderate aerobic intensity

Cool-down: 10-minute run at moderate aerobic intensity

 

Week 2

Monday

Rest

Tuesday

Bike power intervals: 50 minutes

Warm-up: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 5 x 20-second sprints in a high gear, with enough rest in between to reach a total workout time of 15 minutes

Cool-down: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Wednesday

Beginner Swimming: 1 km

Warm-up: 300 @ low aerobic intensity

8 x 25 fast, REST = 0:10

Workout: 3 x 100 @ moderate aerobic intensity, RECOVERY=0:05

8 sets of 25 leg raises, REST = 0:15

Cool-down: 300 @ low aerobic intensity

Fartlek Run: 30 minutes

Warm-up: Run for 5 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 8 sets of 30 seconds @ maximum VO2 intensity with sufficient active recovery to reach a total workout time of 20′

Cool-down: 5-minute run at moderate aerobic intensity

Thursday

Bicycle Basics: 1 hour

Warm-up: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 40 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Cool-down: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Friday

Fartlek + Sprint Swim: 1 km

Warm-up: 300 @ low aerobic intensity

8 x 25 fast, REST = 0:10

Workout: 4 x 100 (25 fast/25 recovery), start at moderate aerobic intensity, increase intensity threshold, RECOVERY=0:10

4 sets of 25 leg raises, REST = 0:15

Cool-down: 300 @ low aerobic intensity

Running Basics: 35 minutes

Warm-up: Run for 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 15-minute run @ moderate aerobic intensity

Cool-down: 10-minute run at moderate aerobic intensity

Saturday

Total: 55 minutes

Workout: 45 minutes on the bike @ moderate aerobic intensity

10-minute run at moderate aerobic intensity

Sunday

Basic Swimming: 1.5 km

Warm-up: 300 @ low aerobic intensity

Workout: 1,000 @ moderate aerobic intensity

Cool-down: 300 @ low aerobic intensity

Running Basics: 40 minutes

Warm-up: Run for 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 20-minute run @ moderate aerobic intensity

Cool-down: 10-minute run at moderate aerobic intensity

 

Week 3

Monday

Rest

Tuesday

Bike power intervals: 50 minutes

Warm-up: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 5 x 20-second sprints in a high gear, with enough rest in between to reach a total workout time of 30 minutes

Cool-down: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Wednesday

Beginner Swimming: 1.2 km

Warm-up: 300 @ low aerobic intensity

8 x 25 fast, REST = 0:10

Workout: 4 x 100 @ moderate aerobic intensity, RECOVERY=0:05

8 sets of 25 leg raises, REST = 0:15

Cool-down: 300 @ low aerobic intensity

Farlek Run: 35 minutes

Warm-up: Run for 5 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 8 x 30 seconds at maximum VO2 intensity with sufficient active recovery to reach a total workout time of 25 minutes (including warm-up and cool-down)

Cool-down: 5-minute run at moderate aerobic intensity

Thursday

Biking Basics: 1 h

Warm-up: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 40 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Cool-down: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Friday

Fartlek + Sprint Swimming

Warm-up: 300 @ low aerobic intensity

8 x 25 fast, REST = 0:10

Workout: 4 x 100 (25 easy/25 hard) — easy = moderate aerobic intensity, hard = threshold intensity, RECOVERY = 0:10

8 sets of 25 leg raises, REST = 0:15

Cool-down: 300 @ low aerobic intensity

Running Basics: 40 minutes

Warm-up: Run for 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 20-minute run @ moderate aerobic intensity

Cool-down: 10-minute run at low aerobic intensity

Saturday

Biking Basics: 1.15 h

Warm-up: 10 minutes at a moderate aerobic pace

Workout: 55 minutes at a moderate aerobic pace

Cool-down: 10 minutes at a moderate aerobic pace

Sunday

Basic Swimming: 1.5 km

Warm-up: 250 @ low aerobic intensity

Workout: 1,200 @ moderate aerobic intensity

Cool-down: 250 @ low aerobic intensity

Basics: Running: 45 Minutes

Warm-up: Run for 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 25-minute run @ moderate aerobic intensity

Cool-down: 10-minute run at moderate aerobic intensity

 

Week 4

This is a recovery week. Your workout is lighter to allow your body to fully recover from your recent workout and prepare for the more intense workouts in weeks 5–7.

Monday

Rest

Tuesday

Bike power intervals: 45 minutes

Warm-up: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 4 x 20-second sprints at a high gear, with enough rest in between to reach a total workout time of 15

Cool-down: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Wednesday

Beginner Swimming: 1 km

Warm-up: 300 @ low aerobic intensity

8 x 25 fast, REST = 0:10

Workout: 2 x 100 @ moderate aerobic intensity, RECOVERY=0:05

Cool-down: 300 @ low aerobic intensity

Fartlek Run: 30 Minutes

Warm-up: Run for 5 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 6 sets of 30 seconds at maximum VO2 intensity, with sufficient active recovery to reach a total workout time of 20 minutes

Cool-down: 5-minute run at moderate aerobic intensity

Thursday

Bike Basics: 30 Minutes

Warm-up: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Cool-down: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Friday

Fartlek + Sprint Swim: 1 km

Warm-up: 300 @ low aerobic intensity

8 x 25 fast, REST = 0:10

Workout: 4 x 100 (25 fast/25 recovery), start at moderate aerobic intensity, increase intensity threshold, RECOVERY=0:10

Cool-down: 300 @ low aerobic intensity

Basics: Running: 35 Minutes

Warm-up: Run for 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 15-minute run at moderate aerobic intensity

Cool-down: 10-minute run at moderate aerobic intensity

Saturday

Bike Basics: 45 Minutes

Warm-up: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Workout: 25 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Cool-down: 10 minutes at moderate aerobic intensity

Sunday

Beginner Swimming: 1.2 km

Warm-up: 200 @ low aerobic intensity

Workout: 1,000 @ moderate aerobic intensity

Cool-down: 200 @ low aerobic intensity

Total: 55 minutes

Workout: 45 minutes on the bike at moderate aerobic intensity

10-minute run at moderate aerobic intensity

What should you wear when running and training for a triathlon as long as a half Ironman?
Oxyburn temperature-regulating apparel is designed to retain heat and wick sweat away. The energizing graduated compression improves blood circulation, helping the body regulate its temperature and keeping muscles in optimal condition, thereby delaying the onset of fatigue.

 


 

Work out in an OXYBURN outfit

Race Arm Sleeves – Lightweight, breathable, and comfortable. The seamless, anatomically designed construction provides an exceptional fit that minimizes distractions while moving. The layer in contact with the skin is made of Dryarn® polypropylene .

Road Leg Leggings – Made with a form-fitting, stretchy fabric, they ensure a perfect fit while you move. The breathable design helps keep your skin dry for consistent comfort even during intense exertion. The layer in contact with the skin is made of Dryarn® polypropylene .

THERMAL Jacket – Protects against light rain and wind with its warm fleece lining, while the technical fabric wicks away moisture to keep you dry. Stretch fabric inserts at the hem and cuffs, and a three-compartment pocket on the back.

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