BRICK Sessions are usually a form of Bike to Run session. It might be BRICK intervals of Bike - Run - Bike - Run or similar. Why do coaches insist on athletes doing them? Well, because you need to train the body to run off the bike. What does BRICK stand for? Bike - Run - sICK
Running off the bike is very different to just running. Especially in that first couple of kilometers at the start of the run.
Running in Triathlon is HARD.
However, I know of many athletes who have never practiced the skill in training. UN-believable! Why not?
Ok, well let me flip that question and try and sell it to you!
Why?
The run takes a massive toll on the body. You are tired before you start the run... you have used up glycogen stores in the body, there is an element of dehydration, you have been on a bike - which means tight muscles... you are tired mentally and basically, the last thing you want to do is a run time trial...
But hey, this is Triathlon! They don't call it IRONMAN for nothing... stand up, put you running shoes on and get ready...
Or... you can practice these sensations by doing BRICK sessions.
If you can teach the body to run off the bike, by doing BRICK Sessions, you could transform your triathlon performances.
Get race ready by running off the bike... in training. Some sessions might just be 5-10 minutes run off a bike session. Maybe its a mid-week time trial... just do transition... shoes on and run 4 minutes down the road at race pace and jog back.
Doing BRICK Sessions is also a great opportunity to practice your transitions. Worried about falling off? Practice on the turbo trainer!
Stuck for ideas? Try this session:
Bike on turbo:
10min Warm up into
4x [6min - 5min - 3min] as:
6min TEMPO BIKE (try and replicate relevant race pace)
into
5min RUN as 4min at 5k pace into 1min jog
3min spin on turbo
After doing all 4 reps do 4min cooldown
Remember perfect practice makes perfect. To race in Triathlon well... you need to do BRICK sessions
Paul is a Professional Triathlon Coach. Passionate about the sport of Triathlon. Paul empowers athletic achievements with quality individualised bespoke triathlon coaching.
Coach Paul is a British Triathlon Federation Level 3 Coach and a Triathlon Australia Performance Coach.
He is also an IRONMAN Certified Coach and a Level 2 Training Peaks Coach. F4L Triathlon Coaching offers triathletes and other endurance athletes a full coaching and training service that caters to all levels of triathletes. F4L offers professional triathlon and endurance coaching and the reliability triathletes and endurance athletes require. Each athlete is an individual, every athlete has different needs.
