Before Ironman Honu 70.3 and Ironamn CDA I stopped lifting weights to focus on run, bike, and swimming.  I now think this may have been a mistake.  I understand it may work for some people, but each person is different.

In the weeks leading up, I felt weaker.  Not sick weak, but just strength.  My cycling power seemed to diminish around 10 -20 watts.  My core felt weak as well.  While I still continued to train abs, nothing can substitute for good old fashioned squats.  Plus weight came back on.  I think the metobolism boost that weight lifting gives you is very beneficial.

My weight did not fluctuate a lot, but it did go up 3-4 pounds (152).  But I'm sure my fat % went up.  When I went back to lifting weights my squats fell from 200 pounds to 150-175.  That's a huge drop.

For this next cycle I'm back to lifting to build strenght and confidence again.