Free training plan · IRONMAN 70.3

16 weeks to 70.3 Alcúdia-Mallorca

About ten hours a week, three recovery weeks and a two-week taper — dated back from race day, Saturday, 8 May 2027, and adjusted for the course.

18 Jan 2027week 1 starts (Monday)
8 May 2027race day
10 haverage week · peak 13 h
6:02median finish here (2026)

The plan in brief

  • This free 16-week training plan for IRONMAN 70.3 Alcúdia-Mallorca averages 10 hours a week, peaking at 13 hours in week 11, with recovery weeks 4, 8 and 12 and a two-week taper.
  • It starts on Monday, 18 January 2027 and ends on race day, Saturday, 8 May 2027.
  • A typical week has about 10 sessions — three swims, three rides, three runs and, in the first half, strength — with the time split roughly 45% bike, 30% run and 21% swim; the longest ride is 3:30 and the longest run 1:40.
  • Adjusted for this course: rolling bike course.
  • At the 2026 edition, 2,703 athletes finished; the median finish time was 6:02:10 (men 5:56, women 6:30), and the middle half of the field finished between 5:31 and 6:37.
10 haverage week (weeks 1–15)
13 hpeak, week 11
3:30longest ride · 1:40 longest run
+27form on race day (fresh, not flat)
The load, week by week
BaseBuild 1Build 2PeakTaper0h4h8h12hWeek 1 · Base: 8:40 hWeek 2 · Base: 9:10 hWeek 3 · Base: 10:05 hWeek 4 · Base · recovery: 6:35 hRWeek 5 · Build 1: 10:30 hWeek 6 · Build 1: 11:15 hWeek 7 · Build 1: 11:55 hWeek 8 · Build 1 · recovery: 7:35 hRWeek 9 · Build 2: 11:35 hWeek 10 · Build 2: 12:20 hWeek 11 · Build 2: 13:00 hWeek 12 · Build 2 · recovery: 8:05 hRWeek 13 · Peak: 11:30 hWeek 14 · Peak: 10:25 hWeek 15 · Taper: 7:55 hWeek 16 · Race week: 2:35 hRACEFitness65 → 85 · race-day form +2712345678910111213141516week
swimbikerunstrengthfitness (42-day load)R = recovery week
Hours per week by sport. Volume builds for three weeks and drops by about a third in the fourth (R), so the work turns into fitness; the line is fitness, a 42-day average of training load. The taper lets fatigue fall faster than fitness, so you start the race with positive form.

Five phases

Baseweeks 1–4

Aerobic engine and technique. Mostly easy, a little sweet spot, strength on Mondays.

Build 1weeks 5–8

Threshold work on the bike and run, longer weekends, longer bricks.

Build 2weeks 9–12

Race-specific: long efforts at 70.3 power and pace, the biggest weeks of the plan.

Peakweeks 13–14

Race rehearsals: full fuelling, race kit, race pace off the bike.

Taperweeks 15–16

Volume drops, intensity stays. Arrive fresh, not flat.

Adjusted for this course

Rolling bike course

About 803 m of climbing. Ride your long rides on rolling terrain and practise holding race power over the tops instead of spiking it on every rise.

Week by week

Every session with its duration and what to do. Key sessions are the ones to protect when life gets busy; the rest can move or shrink. Miss a few days? Pick the plan up where you are — don’t try to catch up.

1Base18 Jan – 24 Jan · Settle into the routine. Every session easy enough to finish wanting more.8:40
Mon18 Jan
Strength & mobility0:30

Squats, split squats, single-leg deadlifts, calf raises, planks — 3 sets of 8–12. Then 10 min mobility.

Tue19 Jan
Swim · technique0:45

Warm-up 300 m easy. Drills 8×50 m (catch-up, fingertip drag, 6-kick switch), 20 s rest. Main 6×100 m smooth at RPE 5, 20 s rest. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · hills0:45key

Easy 15 min. 8×30 s up a moderate hill, hard but smooth, walk/jog down. Easy to finish.

Wed20 Jan
Bike · sweet spot1:00key

10 min warm-up. 3×10 min at 88–92% FTP (RPE 6–7), 5 min easy between. Cool-down.

Thu21 Jan
Swim · aerobic0:45

Warm-up 300 m. Main 3×400 m steady (RPE 4–5), 30 s rest, breathing every 3 strokes. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · easy0:40

Easy Z2, conversational. 4×20 s strides at the end.

Fri22 Jan
Bike · easy0:45

Easy Z2 spin, indoors is fine. Smooth pedalling, 85–95 rpm.

Sat23 Jan
Long ride2:00key

Steady Z2 (65–75% FTP, conversational). Eat 60 g of carbohydrate an hour from the first hour.

Sun24 Jan
Long run1:00key

Easy Z2. Walk the aid-station minute if you like — it’s a habit worth having on race day.

Swim · recovery0:30optional

Optional, after the long run or later in the day: easy 1,200–1,500 m with a few drills. Loosens the legs.

2Base25 Jan – 31 Jan · Same week, a little longer. Consistency is the whole game in base.9:10
Mon25 Jan
Strength & mobility0:30

Squats, split squats, single-leg deadlifts, calf raises, planks — 3 sets of 8–12. Then 10 min mobility.

Tue26 Jan
Swim · technique0:50

Warm-up 300 m easy. Drills 8×50 m (catch-up, fingertip drag, 6-kick switch), 20 s rest. Main 6×100 m smooth at RPE 5, 20 s rest. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · hills0:45key

Easy 15 min. 8×30 s up a moderate hill, hard but smooth, walk/jog down. Easy to finish.

Wed27 Jan
Bike · sweet spot1:00key

10 min warm-up. 3×12 min at 88–92% FTP (RPE 6–7), 5 min easy between. Cool-down.

Thu28 Jan
Swim · aerobic0:45

Warm-up 300 m. Main 3×400 m steady (RPE 4–5), 30 s rest, breathing every 3 strokes. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · easy0:40

Easy Z2, conversational. 4×20 s strides at the end.

Fri29 Jan
Bike · easy0:50

Easy Z2 spin, indoors is fine. Smooth pedalling, 85–95 rpm.

Sat30 Jan
Long ride2:15key

Steady Z2 (65–75% FTP, conversational). Eat 60 g of carbohydrate an hour from the first hour.

Sun31 Jan
Long run1:05key

Easy Z2. Walk the aid-station minute if you like — it’s a habit worth having on race day.

Swim · recovery0:30optional

Optional, after the long run or later in the day: easy 1,200–1,500 m with a few drills. Loosens the legs.

3Base1 Feb – 7 Feb · First brick run off the long ride. Find your swim CSS pace this week (400 m + 200 m test) if you don’t know it.10:05
Mon1 Feb
Strength & mobility0:30

Squats, split squats, single-leg deadlifts, calf raises, planks — 3 sets of 8–12. Then 10 min mobility.

Tue2 Feb
Swim · technique0:50

Warm-up 300 m easy. Drills 8×50 m (catch-up, fingertip drag, 6-kick switch), 20 s rest. Main 6×100 m smooth at RPE 5, 20 s rest. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · hills0:50key

Easy 15 min. 10×30 s up a moderate hill, hard but smooth, walk/jog down. Easy to finish.

Wed3 Feb
Bike · sweet spot1:05key

10 min warm-up. 2×20 min at 88–92% FTP (RPE 6–7), 5 min easy between. Cool-down.

Thu4 Feb
Swim · aerobic0:50

Warm-up 300 m. Main 3×400 m steady (RPE 4–5), 30 s rest, breathing every 3 strokes. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · easy0:45

Easy Z2, conversational. 4×20 s strides at the end.

Fri5 Feb
Bike · easy0:50

Easy Z2 spin, indoors is fine. Smooth pedalling, 85–95 rpm.

Sat6 Feb
Long ride2:30key

Steady Z2 (65–75% FTP, conversational). Eat 60 g of carbohydrate an hour from the first hour.

Brick run0:10

Straight off the bike: easy, short strides, find your run legs.

Sun7 Feb
Long run1:10key

Easy Z2. Walk the aid-station minute if you like — it’s a habit worth having on race day.

Swim · recovery0:35optional

Optional, after the long run or later in the day: easy 1,200–1,500 m with a few drills. Loosens the legs.

4Baserecovery8 Feb – 14 Feb · Recovery week: about a third less. Let the first block soak in.6:35
Mon8 Feb
Strength & mobility0:20

Squats, split squats, single-leg deadlifts, calf raises, planks — 3 sets of 8–12. Then 10 min mobility.

Tue9 Feb
Swim · technique0:40

Warm-up 300 m easy. Drills 8×50 m (catch-up, fingertip drag, 6-kick switch), 20 s rest. Main 6×100 m smooth at RPE 5, 20 s rest. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · easy + strides0:35

Easy Z2 with 6×20 s relaxed strides.

Wed10 Feb
Bike · easy spin0:45

Easy spin with 4×1 min high cadence (100+ rpm). Keep it light — this is a recovery week.

Thu11 Feb
Swim · aerobic0:35

Warm-up 300 m. Main 3×400 m steady (RPE 4–5), 30 s rest, breathing every 3 strokes. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · easy0:30

Easy Z2, conversational. 4×20 s strides at the end.

Fri12 Feb
Bike · easy0:40

Easy Z2 spin, indoors is fine. Smooth pedalling, 85–95 rpm.

Sat13 Feb
Long ride · easy1:40key

Steady Z2. Practise eating every 20 minutes.

Sun14 Feb
Long run · easy0:50key

Easy Z2.

5Build 115 Feb – 21 Feb · Threshold arrives. If you have a power meter, test FTP on Wednesday (20-min test) and set your zones.10:30
Mon15 Feb
Strength & mobility0:30

Squats, split squats, single-leg deadlifts, calf raises, planks — 3 sets of 8–12. Then 10 min mobility.

Tue16 Feb
Swim · threshold0:55

Warm-up 400 m. Main 8×100 m at CSS pace (your 1,500 m time-trial pace), 15 s rest. 4×50 m fast/easy. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · threshold0:50key

Easy 15 min. 5×1 km at threshold (10 km race effort), 2 min jog. Easy to finish.

Wed17 Feb
Bike · threshold1:10key

15 min warm-up. 4×8 min at 95–100% FTP, 4 min easy between. Cool-down.

Thu18 Feb
Swim · endurance0:50

Warm-up 400 m. Main 3×500 m steady at CSS + 5 s/100 m, 30 s rest. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · easy0:45

Easy Z2, conversational. Run by feel, not pace.

Fri19 Feb
Bike · easy0:55

Easy Z2 spin, indoors is fine. Smooth pedalling, 85–95 rpm.

Sat20 Feb
Long ride + tempo2:30key

Z2 on rolling roads, with 2×15 min at 80–85% FTP in the second hour. 60–80 g carbs an hour.

Brick run0:15

Straight off the bike: 5 min easy, then steady (RPE 6).

Sun21 Feb
Long run1:15key

Z2, last 15 min steady (RPE 6). Take a gel every 30–40 minutes.

Swim · recovery0:35optional

Optional, after the long run or later in the day: easy 1,200–1,500 m with a few drills. Loosens the legs.

6Build 122 Feb – 28 Feb · Longer threshold blocks; the weekend gets bigger.11:15
Mon22 Feb
Strength & mobility0:30

Squats, split squats, single-leg deadlifts, calf raises, planks — 3 sets of 8–12. Then 10 min mobility.

Tue23 Feb
Swim · threshold0:55

Warm-up 400 m. Main 8×100 m at CSS pace (your 1,500 m time-trial pace), 15 s rest. 4×50 m fast/easy. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · threshold0:55key

Easy 15 min. 4×1.6 km at threshold (10 km race effort), 2 min jog. Easy to finish.

Wed24 Feb
Bike · threshold1:15key

15 min warm-up. 3×12 min at 95–100% FTP, 4 min easy between. Cool-down.

Thu25 Feb
Swim · endurance0:55

Warm-up 400 m. Main 3×500 m steady at CSS + 5 s/100 m, 30 s rest. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · easy0:45

Easy Z2, conversational. Run by feel, not pace.

Fri26 Feb
Bike · easy1:00

Easy Z2 spin, indoors is fine. Smooth pedalling, 85–95 rpm.

Sat27 Feb
Long ride + tempo2:50key

Z2 on rolling roads, with 2×15 min at 80–85% FTP in the second hour. 60–80 g carbs an hour.

Brick run0:15

Straight off the bike: 5 min easy, then steady (RPE 6).

Sun28 Feb
Long run1:20key

Z2, last 15 min steady (RPE 6). Take a gel every 30–40 minutes.

Swim · recovery0:35optional

Optional, after the long run or later in the day: easy 1,200–1,500 m with a few drills. Loosens the legs.

7Build 11 Mar – 7 Mar · The hardest week of the first build. Sleep is training.11:55
Mon1 Mar
Strength & mobility0:30

Squats, split squats, single-leg deadlifts, calf raises, planks — 3 sets of 8–12. Then 10 min mobility.

Tue2 Mar
Swim · threshold1:00

Warm-up 400 m. Main 10×100 m at CSS pace (your 1,500 m time-trial pace), 15 s rest. 4×50 m fast/easy. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · threshold0:55key

Easy 15 min. 3×2 km at threshold (10 km race effort), 2 min jog. Easy to finish.

Wed3 Mar
Bike · threshold1:15key

15 min warm-up. 3×15 min at 95–100% FTP, 4 min easy between. Cool-down.

Thu4 Mar
Swim · endurance0:55

Warm-up 400 m. Main 3×500 m steady at CSS + 5 s/100 m, 30 s rest. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · easy0:50

Easy Z2, conversational. Run by feel, not pace.

Fri5 Mar
Bike · easy1:00

Easy Z2 spin, indoors is fine. Smooth pedalling, 85–95 rpm.

Sat6 Mar
Long ride + tempo3:05key

Z2 on rolling roads, with 3×15 min at 80–85% FTP in the second hour. 60–80 g carbs an hour.

Brick run0:20

Straight off the bike: 5 min easy, then steady (RPE 6).

Sun7 Mar
Long run1:25key

Z2, last 15 min steady (RPE 6). Take a gel every 30–40 minutes.

Swim · recovery0:40optional

Optional, after the long run or later in the day: easy 1,200–1,500 m with a few drills. Loosens the legs.

8Build 1recovery8 Mar – 14 Mar · Recovery week. Short, easy, nothing to prove.7:35
Mon8 Mar
Strength & mobility0:20

Squats, split squats, single-leg deadlifts, calf raises, planks — 3 sets of 8–12. Then 10 min mobility.

Tue9 Mar
Swim · threshold0:45

Warm-up 400 m. Main 10×100 m at CSS pace (your 1,500 m time-trial pace), 15 s rest. 4×50 m fast/easy. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · easy + strides0:40

Easy Z2 with 6×20 s relaxed strides.

Wed10 Mar
Bike · easy spin0:50

Easy spin with 4×1 min high cadence (100+ rpm). Keep it light — this is a recovery week.

Thu11 Mar
Swim · endurance0:40

Warm-up 400 m. Main 3×500 m steady at CSS + 5 s/100 m, 30 s rest. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · easy0:35

Easy Z2, conversational. Run by feel, not pace.

Fri12 Mar
Bike · easy0:40

Easy Z2 spin, indoors is fine. Smooth pedalling, 85–95 rpm.

Sat13 Mar
Long ride · easy2:00key

Steady Z2 on rolling roads. Practise eating every 20 minutes.

Brick run0:10

Straight off the bike: 5 min easy, then steady (RPE 6).

Sun14 Mar
Long run · easy0:55key

Easy Z2.

9Build 215 Mar – 21 Mar · Race-specific: long efforts at 70.3 power and pace. Practise race fuelling on every long session.11:35
Mon15 Mar
Strength & mobility0:25

Maintenance: 2 sets of the same moves, lighter. Then 10 min mobility.

Tue16 Mar
Swim · race-pace sets1:00

Warm-up 400 m. Main 3×(4×100 m at CSS, 10 s rest), 60 s between rounds. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · race pace0:55key

Easy 15 min. 3×2.5 km at 70.3 run pace (a little slower than half-marathon pace), 2 min jog. Easy to finish.

Wed17 Mar
Bike · race power1:15key

15 min warm-up. 3×15 min at 75–82% FTP (70.3 race power), 5 min easy between. Cool-down.

Thu18 Mar
Swim · endurance0:55

Warm-up 400 m. Main 3×500 m steady at CSS + 5 s/100 m, 30 s rest. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · easy0:45

Easy Z2, conversational. Run by feel, not pace.

Fri19 Mar
Bike · easy1:00

Easy Z2 spin, indoors is fine. Smooth pedalling, 85–95 rpm.

Sat20 Mar
Long ride + race power3:00key

Z2 on rolling roads, with 2×20 min at 70.3 race power (75–82% FTP). Race-day fuelling: 70–90 g carbs an hour.

Brick run · race pace0:20

Straight off the bike: first 5 min easy, then at 70.3 run pace. Hold form, quick cadence.

Sun21 Mar
Long run + race pace1:25key

Z2 with the last 20 min at 70.3 run pace. Race-day gels.

Swim · recovery0:35optional

Optional, after the long run or later in the day: easy 1,200–1,500 m with a few drills. Loosens the legs.

10Build 222 Mar – 28 Mar · Bigger race-power blocks. The brick runs are where race pace starts to feel normal.12:20
Mon22 Mar
Strength & mobility0:25

Maintenance: 2 sets of the same moves, lighter. Then 10 min mobility.

Tue23 Mar
Swim · race-pace sets1:00

Warm-up 400 m. Main 3×(4×100 m at CSS, 10 s rest), 60 s between rounds. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · race pace0:55key

Easy 15 min. 3×2.5 km at 70.3 run pace (a little slower than half-marathon pace), 2 min jog. Easy to finish.

Wed24 Mar
Bike · race power1:20key

15 min warm-up. 3×15 min at 75–82% FTP (70.3 race power), 5 min easy between. Cool-down.

Thu25 Mar
Swim · endurance0:55

Warm-up 400 m. Main 2×1,000 m steady at CSS + 5 s/100 m, 30 s rest. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · easy0:50

Easy Z2, conversational. Run by feel, not pace.

Fri26 Mar
Bike · easy1:00

Easy Z2 spin, indoors is fine. Smooth pedalling, 85–95 rpm.

Sat27 Mar
Long ride + race power3:20key

Z2 on rolling roads, with 2×30 min at 70.3 race power (75–82% FTP). Race-day fuelling: 70–90 g carbs an hour.

Brick run · race pace0:25

Straight off the bike: first 5 min easy, then at 70.3 run pace. Hold form, quick cadence.

Sun28 Mar
Long run + race pace1:30key

Z2 with the last 20 min at 70.3 run pace. Race-day gels.

Swim · recovery0:40optional

Optional, after the long run or later in the day: easy 1,200–1,500 m with a few drills. Loosens the legs.

11Build 229 Mar – 4 Apr · The biggest week of the plan. Nail the fuelling, protect the sleep.13:00
Mon29 Mar
Strength & mobility0:25

Maintenance: 2 sets of the same moves, lighter. Then 10 min mobility.

Tue30 Mar
Swim · race-pace sets1:00

Warm-up 400 m. Main 3×(4×100 m at CSS, 10 s rest), 60 s between rounds. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · race pace1:00key

Easy 15 min. 3×3 km at 70.3 run pace (a little slower than half-marathon pace), 2 min jog. Easy to finish.

Wed31 Mar
Bike · race power1:20key

15 min warm-up. 2×30 min at 75–82% FTP (70.3 race power), 5 min easy between. Cool-down.

Thu1 Apr
Swim · endurance1:00

Warm-up 400 m. Main 2×1,000 m steady at CSS + 5 s/100 m, 30 s rest. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · easy0:50

Easy Z2, conversational. Run by feel, not pace.

Fri2 Apr
Bike · easy1:05

Easy Z2 spin, indoors is fine. Smooth pedalling, 85–95 rpm.

Sat3 Apr
Long ride + race power3:30key

Z2 on rolling roads, with 2×40 min at 70.3 race power (75–82% FTP). Race-day fuelling: 70–90 g carbs an hour.

Brick run · race pace0:30

Straight off the bike: first 5 min easy, then at 70.3 run pace. Hold form, quick cadence.

Sun4 Apr
Long run + race pace1:40key

Z2 with the last 30 min at 70.3 run pace. Race-day gels.

Swim · recovery0:40optional

Optional, after the long run or later in the day: easy 1,200–1,500 m with a few drills. Loosens the legs.

12Build 2recovery5 Apr – 11 Apr · Recovery week before the peak. Feeling flat midweek is normal.8:05
Mon5 Apr
Strength & mobility0:20

Maintenance: 2 sets of the same moves, lighter. Then 10 min mobility.

Tue6 Apr
Swim · race-pace sets0:45

Warm-up 400 m. Main 3×(4×100 m at CSS, 10 s rest), 60 s between rounds. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · easy + strides0:40

Easy Z2 with 6×20 s relaxed strides.

Wed7 Apr
Bike · easy spin0:55

Easy spin with 4×1 min high cadence (100+ rpm). Keep it light — this is a recovery week.

Thu8 Apr
Swim · endurance0:40

Warm-up 400 m. Main 2×1,000 m steady at CSS + 5 s/100 m, 30 s rest. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · easy0:35

Easy Z2, conversational. Run by feel, not pace.

Fri9 Apr
Bike · easy0:45

Easy Z2 spin, indoors is fine. Smooth pedalling, 85–95 rpm.

Sat10 Apr
Long ride · easy2:10key

Steady Z2 on rolling roads. Practise eating every 20 minutes.

Brick run · race pace0:15

Straight off the bike: first 5 min easy, then at 70.3 run pace. Hold form, quick cadence.

Sun11 Apr
Long run · easy1:00key

Easy Z2.

13Peak12 Apr – 18 Apr · Dress rehearsal: race kit, race fuel, race pace — find the problems now, not on race day.11:30
Mon12 Apr
Rest

Day off. Sleep, eat well, walk.

Tue13 Apr
Swim · open water1:00

Open water if you can (wetsuit): 2×15 min at race effort, sighting every 6 strokes, plus 3 practice starts. Pool fallback: 2×800 m at race pace.

Run · race pace0:55key

Easy 15 min. 2×4 km at 70.3 run pace, 3 min jog. Easy to finish.

Wed14 Apr
Bike · race power + spikes1:15key

15 min warm-up. 3×15 min at race power with a 30 s surge to 110% FTP every 5 min (passing, climbs). Cool-down.

Thu15 Apr
Swim · endurance0:55

Warm-up 400 m. Main 2×1,000 m steady at CSS + 5 s/100 m, 30 s rest. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · easy0:45

Easy Z2, conversational. Run by feel, not pace.

Fri16 Apr
Bike · easy + cadence1:00

Easy Z2 with 5×1 min at 100+ rpm. Fresh legs for the weekend.

Sat17 Apr
Race rehearsal ride3:00key

Dress rehearsal on rolling roads: race kit, race bike, race breakfast. 2×45 min at race power with exactly your race-day fuel and fluids.

Brick run · race pace0:30

Straight off the bike: first 5 min easy, then at 70.3 run pace. Hold form, quick cadence.

Sun18 Apr
Long run + race pace1:30key

Z2 with 2×15 min at 70.3 run pace. Last long run.

Swim · recovery0:40optional

Optional, after the long run or later in the day: easy 1,200–1,500 m with a few drills. Loosens the legs.

14Peak19 Apr – 25 Apr · Last block of real work. Confidence, not new fitness.10:25
Mon19 Apr
Rest

Day off. Sleep, eat well, walk.

Tue20 Apr
Swim · open water0:55

Open water if you can (wetsuit): 2×15 min at race effort, sighting every 6 strokes, plus 3 practice starts. Pool fallback: 2×800 m at race pace.

Run · race pace0:50key

Easy 15 min. 2×4 km at 70.3 run pace, 3 min jog. Easy to finish.

Wed21 Apr
Bike · race power + spikes1:15key

15 min warm-up. 3×15 min at race power with a 30 s surge to 110% FTP every 5 min (passing, climbs). Cool-down.

Thu22 Apr
Swim · endurance0:50

Warm-up 400 m. Main 2×1,000 m steady at CSS + 5 s/100 m, 30 s rest. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · easy0:40

Easy Z2, conversational. Run by feel, not pace.

Fri23 Apr
Bike · easy + cadence0:55

Easy Z2 with 5×1 min at 100+ rpm. Fresh legs for the weekend.

Sat24 Apr
Long ride + race power2:45key

Z2 on rolling roads with 3×20 min at race power. Last big ride.

Brick run · race pace0:20

Straight off the bike: first 5 min easy, then at 70.3 run pace. Hold form, quick cadence.

Sun25 Apr
Long run + race pace1:20key

Z2 with 2×15 min at 70.3 run pace. Last long run.

Swim · recovery0:35optional

Optional, after the long run or later in the day: easy 1,200–1,500 m with a few drills. Loosens the legs.

15Taper26 Apr – 2 May · Taper: about a third less volume, same intensity. Restlessness is a good sign.7:55
Mon26 Apr
Rest

Day off. Sleep, eat well, walk.

Tue27 Apr
Swim · sharpen0:45

Warm-up 300 m. 6×100 m at race pace, 20 s rest. 4×25 m fast. Cool-down 200 m.

Run · sharpen0:40key

Easy 15 min. 5×2 min at 10 km pace, 2 min jog. Easy to finish.

Wed28 Apr
Bike · openers1:00key

10 min easy. 3×5 min at race power, 3 min easy. 3×30 s fast. Spin out.

Thu29 Apr
Swim · easy0:40

Easy 1,500–2,000 m with 4×50 m at race pace. Leave the pool wanting more.

Run · easy0:30

Easy Z2, conversational. Run by feel, not pace.

Fri30 Apr
Bike · easy + cadence0:45

Easy Z2 with 5×1 min at 100+ rpm. Fresh legs for the weekend.

Sat1 May
Shorter long ride1:50key

Z2 with 3×10 min at race power. Check the bike: tyres, gears, nothing new from here.

Brick run0:15

Straight off the bike: 5 min easy, then steady (RPE 6).

Sun2 May
Long run · short1:00key

Easy Z2 with 3×3 min at race pace.

Swim · recovery0:30optional

Optional, after the long run or later in the day: easy 1,200–1,500 m with a few drills. Loosens the legs.

16Race week3 May – 9 May · Race week. Short, sharp, rested. Trust the work.2:35
Mon3 May
Bike · openers0:50

Easy with 3×4 min at race power, 3 min easy between.

Tue4 May
Swim · easy0:25

Easy with a few race-pace 50s.

Run · easy0:20

Easy with 4 strides.

Wed5 May
Rest

Day off. Pack your race bag from a checklist.

Thu6 May
Swim · shake-out0:20

Easy, ideally on the course: sight the buoys, feel the water.

Fri7 May
Bike · check ride0:30

30 min easy with 3×1 min at race power — check gears and brakes, then rack it.

Run · shake-out0:10

10 min easy with 3 strides.

Sat8 May
RACE DAYkey

Swim calm, ride your power, run the first 5 km slower than you want to. Eat and drink to plan.

Sun9 May
Recovery

Walk, eat, celebrate. No training for a few days.

How hard is “easy”?

IntensityEffort (RPE)BikeRunFeels like
Z1–2 · easy2–455–75% FTPconversationalMost of the plan. You could talk in full sentences.
Z3 · steady5–676–87% FTPmarathon effortComfortably hard; short sentences.
70.3 race pace6–775–82% FTPa touch slower than half-marathon paceThe effort you can hold for the whole race. Practise it until it feels boring.
Sweet spot6–788–92% FTP—Big aerobic gains for the time spent. Base-phase bike work.
Z4 · threshold7–895–100% FTP10 km race effortHard, controlled, a few words at a time.
Z5 · hard9106%+ FTPshort hill repsShort reps only. Full recovery between.

CSS is your critical swim speed — roughly your pace for a hard 1,500 m. FTP is the power you can hold for about an hour. No power meter or test yet? Ride and run by the effort column.

Questions

How many hours a week do I need to train for IRONMAN 70.3 Alcúdia-Mallorca?

This plan averages 10 hours a week over 15 weeks of training (peak 13 h in week 11) at the standard level. The 7-hour version is enough to finish strong if you already swim, ride and run regularly; the 13-hour version suits experienced athletes chasing a personal best or a World Championship slot.

What finish time should I expect at IRONMAN 70.3 Alcúdia-Mallorca?

At the 2026 edition, 2,703 athletes finished; the median finish time was 6:02:10 (men 5:56, women 6:30), and the middle half of the field finished between 5:31 and 6:37.

Why are weeks 4, 8 and 12 easier?

They are recovery weeks: volume drops by about a third so the training of the previous three weeks turns into fitness instead of accumulated fatigue. Most age-groupers who get injured or burn out skip them.

How long is the taper before a 70.3?

Two weeks. Week 15 cuts volume by about a third while keeping some race-pace work, and race week keeps you sharp with short openers. In this plan form (freshness) rises to about +27 on race day.

What if I miss a week?

Pick the plan up where you are rather than catching up. If you miss more than a week in Build 2 or Peak, repeat the previous week before moving on. Protect the key sessions (the long ride, the long run and one quality session) when time is short.

Do I need a power meter or heart-rate monitor?

No. Every session has an effort (RPE) description. If you do have one, set your bike zones from an FTP test in week 5 and your swim pace from a CSS test in week 3.

What are the longest sessions?

The longest ride is 3:30 and the longest run 1:40, both in the second build block, with race-pace efforts inside them. You never need to cover the full race distance before race day.

Want it to move when life does?metrica turns this into your own plan for IRONMAN 70.3 Alcúdia-Mallorca: built from your fitness and schedule, pushed to Garmin and Wahoo, and re-planned every week. The first week is free.
Make it adaptive

A general plan for healthy adults who already swim, ride and run a little — not medical advice. If you have an injury or a health condition, check with a professional first. Plain-text version: /races/im703-mallorca/training-plan.md.