70.3 Nice to Full IM Tallinn: Is an 8-week "push" realistic for a first-timer?
Hi everyone, looking for some perspective on a potential pivot in my season.
Current Context: I’m currently training for IM 70.3 Nice (June 28th). This is my main goal, and I’ve been training consistently for it since December (7 months) following (and starting earlier) Matt Fitzgerald’s "Super Simple" plan.
My Stats/Progress:
- Profile: 30M, 180cm, 84kg.
- FTP: 250W.
- Training: Most long rides are done on Zwift on the Nice course (~1200m ascent). I can comfortably hold 150W for 4 hours and follow it up the next day with a 2km OWS and a 21km run without feeling wrecked.
- Background: 1 Marathon, 1 Olympic Tri, and several half-marathons (all in the past 3 years)
The Idea: Since I’m training for a challenging 70.3, I’m considering signing up for IM Tallinn (one of the flattest courses) which is roughly 8 weeks after Nice.
The Plan:
- Complete 70.3 Nice.
- Take 1 full recovery week.
- Spend the next 4–5 weeks increasing volume (approx. 10% weekly) to bridge the gap to the Full distance.
- Taper and race Tallinn.
The Goal: Strictly "completion." I’m not chasing a specific time; I just want to cross the finish line feeling decent.
I usually follow plans strictly from the start, so this idea of "extending" a peak to a longer distance feels a bit foreign and maybe reckless. Is this a logical progression given my base, or is an 8-week window too short to jump from 70.3 volume to Full IM volume safely?
Would love to hear from anyone who has done a similar "double" or transitioned from a hilly 70.3 to a flat Full in the same season. Thanks!