In Part II of Steve’s journey, he will describe how his diet and training got him to the finish line of his first triathlon and then the Ironman.
In 2017, I set out to do my first triathlons after using the Phil Maffetone training principles of low carb, high fat, low heart rate for a little over a year. I completed the Meech Lake Triathlon and then the National Capital Olympic Distance Triathlon. I wrapped up the season with the Canadian Half Iron Distance.
I trained, raced and fueled fat adapted for all of these races and it worked really well for me. I felt a remarkable transformation: much calmer and focused. I never had the energy highs and lows associated with carbs, and seldom if ever felt hungry. I did a lot of training runs and rides fasted (still do) and felt fantastic. I could almost say I did the Canadian fasted albeit inadvertently.
I was in ketosis for that half iron race and only had a fat-laden, bulletproof coffee pre-race. I’d made some of Phil’s bars and nut butter for the bike and in what I’ll call a “learning experience“: I wrapped that food so well that I almost crashed twice trying to open them! I gave up after half a bar and that was my nutrition for the race. What I found interesting was that I wasn’t hungry at the end of the race or immediately after. I certainly don’t recommend this strategy but I thought that it somewhat validated this approach to endurance.
Next on the list, of course, was the full Ironman and this is what ultimately led me to Julia and Team Triumph. I realized that this distance was a different animal altogether and the smart play was to get guidance. However, it was a bit tricky because I was looking for a coach who could put together a training plan that would adhere to the Maffetone principles.
After laying this all out, Coach Julia was up for the challenge and we began working on the plan together. She built a program that reflected her knowledge of Maffetone, what was required to finish an Ironman and my desire to train as close to Maffetone-based principles as possible. I won’t bore you with all the details but it was exactly what I was looking for!
What I’ve particularly appreciated and valued about working with Julia is that when we meet every few months any new tweaks, ideas or adjustments to our training plan exactly reflects our discussions and observations from the previous block.
There’s no question I was ready for Tremblant after following the plan. I want to emphasize that up to this point in my endurance experience the whole idea was to stay aerobic as long as possible, survive, establish a baseline to build on for the future, and that’s exactly what we did. In fact, up to the 30K mark of the
The race strategy we’d drawn up was perfect and I finished within 4 minutes of our best case scenario. In fact if not for an incredible adventure at T2 I would have beat it. Looking at the data afterward I stayed aerobic through the whole race until the very late stages of the run and didn’t burn ANY “matches”. I strongly recommend this method of training!
And now we move on to Ironman Lake Placid next year. We’re going to figure out a program to build speed and go faster while continuing to build an aerobic base and manage stress. Hopefully this time next year I’ll be able to report on another successful year with Team Triumph and we’ll have learned a lot more about this low carb endurance journey!
Steve Swanwick
In Part I, Steve explained how he got into triathlon and how he used a low carb, low stress and mainly aerobic training plan to train for a triathlon.
To read Part 1, go to https://pbest.ca/blog/93152/Completing-my-First-Ironman-PART-1-LOW-CARB-LOW-HEART-RATE-TRAINING
I just wanted to thank you and your team (Gabi! Brenda! Maggie! Dawn!) for making last weekend's event so amazing. I had tried to do a try-a-tri on my own last summer, and the experience was night and day.
Even though I didn't make every virtual session, I felt so prepared... I knew where to go for information, and I knew I had a team of people (coaches and our beginner tri group!) who were all there to support me.
It was interesting to watch Eric train on his own (without access to the TrainingPeaks workouts and without the weekly meetings to ask questions and learn more about proper form and race-day stuff). When we left on Sunday, he looked at me and was like "we're DEFINITELY doing the training with Julia if we decide to go for the olympic distance, right?".
So glad to have found this club and looking forward to many more triathlons in the near future!!! Tai Teleso
Julia is incredible, I once had a coach who told me to get good at biking and running as he couldn't do anything with my swim technique. Then I was introduced to Julia who is so patient and has an amazing ability to translate it all into a way I could understand. I knocked a minute per 100m off my open water swim times after only a handful of sessions with her. The team is also really welcoming, inclusive and most of all FUN!
Triumph is a warm and fun place for every level of triathlete. Whether you’re just getting started and learning all about triathlon or have been at it for decades, like some of us, you will find camaraderie and expertise in this group with Julia Aimers’ support and caring. She keeps up-to-date in so many areas of training, especially for women and including women’s issues whether it be nutrition or menopause. I highly recommend Team Triumph for swimming, biking, running or putting it all together in one package. There is no other place or group, I would rather be training with. So many of my close friends were met in this group.
A huge thank you to my Triathlon coach, Julia Cooper-Aimers. She took the time last week to drop off (from a distance because of COVID19 restrictions) some tri shorts I ordered along with a well-appreciated note to remind me that there will be ups and downs and that things will get better. She has gone above and beyond to support all of her athletes and our Team Triumph club, by providing almost daily strength, yoga, and spinning videos that have been uploaded to Youtube for anyone who needs a little motivation during these challenging times as well as many words of encouragement. I am grateful for her support and encouragement. ❤️
Anita Lacelle Taylor
Training with Team Triumph for 7 months (so far) made me faster and stronger while building nourishing connections with like-minded fitness nuts and shattering the expectations I had of myself. TT is a crew of inspiring people pursuing epic individual goals and encouraging each other along the way. Julia and her team have expert knowledge and provide a thoughtful evidence-based group program that works. I am privileged and thankful to have Team Triumph in my neighborhood and can't wait to get back to the pool!
Alex Bourne
I want to thank you for always putting our well-being at the forefront of your business model. You suspended face-to-face programs in a timely manner, leading the way in a fitness business world that took much too long to respond and put their members’ health and the community at risk. You « triumphed « in quickly acting to flatten the curve.
Your caring nature resulted in a series of innovative and fun virtual sessions and opened them to the community. I am missing the live interaction now that I am working for a few months but I appreciate that I can access the videos according to my schedule. Yin/yang session tonight, just what I needed.
Not to mention the check-ins, the home deliveries, the charitable events. Priceless.
Simone Rose-Oliver
