Anonymous
01/06/2014 13:14
Subject: Want to try a tri
The great thing about a sprint triathlon is that the distances of the individual events are pretty short. In my experience, pretty much anyone can run a 5k (3 miles) or bike 20k (12 miles) with a little practice, especially if your goal is to jut finish and not go that fast.
Thus, per comments above, definitely start swimming as soon as possible unless you are/were a strong swimmer (a swim team kid). It may take you a few months to work up to swimming the 750 meters (15 laps at a full-sized pool) in a sufficiently relaxed manner that saves enough energy to do the run and bike. The good/bad thing about swim training for a triathlon is that you are working only on freestyle, so you can improve relatively fast, but have to be careful about overuse injuries.
The overall training plan should be a lot like training for a longer run (start at shorter distances and build up to the race). You will be mixing in workouts, such as running in the morning and bicycling in the evening.
Thus, per comments above, definitely start swimming as soon as possible unless you are/were a strong swimmer (a swim team kid). It may take you a few months to work up to swimming the 750 meters (15 laps at a full-sized pool) in a sufficiently relaxed manner that saves enough energy to do the run and bike. The good/bad thing about swim training for a triathlon is that you are working only on freestyle, so you can improve relatively fast, but have to be careful about overuse injuries.
The overall training plan should be a lot like training for a longer run (start at shorter distances and build up to the race). You will be mixing in workouts, such as running in the morning and bicycling in the evening.
Anonymous
01/05/2014 22:04
Subject: Want to try a tri
Anonymous wrote:I think with your base you're close to good to go. Are you looking to train for time, or just to finish?
If just to finish, here are my thoughts from a newbie (did my first last fall.)
1) Get in the water - this is probably the area where most people struggle. That said, if you did any swim team as a kid you don't need a lot of refresher in order to brush up your swimming well enough to do a tri. If you're going to be doing an open water tri, find a place to do some open water swimming before the race to figure out how to keep on track / manage any open water nerves. It's just a different beast from lap swimming, and you want to make sure you're psychologically ready to handle it.
Yes, yes, yes and yes! This is excellent advice. I completed my first tri in the fall without any open water swimming experience and nearly had an anxiety attack during the first 100 meters of the swim. Fortunately I was able to calm myself down and finish fine but there is something to be said about being ready to handle it. It also helped that about an hour before the race started someone mentioned to me that first timers sometimes experience anxiety on their first swim but it was definitely intimidating and had I known how I would react, I would have made more of an attempt to swim open water during training.
Anonymous
01/05/2014 13:54
Subject: Want to try a tri
I highly recommend Team Z. Super inclusive fun and diverse group. Lots of folks who have never done a tri as well as very experienced athletes who have finished several ironman races.
Google it and good luck!
Google it and good luck!
Anonymous
01/02/2014 15:28
Subject: Re:Want to try a tri
I recommend you visit beginnertriathlete.com. The website is very helpful with tips from some very experienced triathletes. In the forums, you can find answers to all your training and gear questions. They also have some free training programs. Its a great online community.
Anonymous
01/02/2014 12:06
Subject: Want to try a tri
I think this is the book I had about 10 years ago..
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=traithletes%20training%20bible
Traithletes Training Bible. Very helpful and straight forward. I have a friend in the DC tri club and she met some great people and they do workouts together.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=traithletes%20training%20bible
Traithletes Training Bible. Very helpful and straight forward. I have a friend in the DC tri club and she met some great people and they do workouts together.
Anonymous
01/02/2014 11:09
Subject: Want to try a tri
I did my first tri (sprint distance) last July. Great experience. I could have probably done an Olympic distance without a problem, but I have two little kids and felt like I was asking too much of my husband to put in more training time. Maybe this summer...
Check out beginnertriathlete.com. You can find all kinds of training plans there for free, print them out, or use their online tools to track your progress. There are articles and forums too with great info. I think I started in the beginning of March for a race in early July. At the point I started, I was running about 3-4 miles pretty regularly. I aimed for 3-4 runs a week (my weak spot), 2 bike workouts, and 1-2 swim workouts, with the workouts getting longer the closer I got to my race.
Where are you located? The Rockville swim center has a few different triathlon-focused swim classes which I gained a lot from and which kept me motivated.
Good luck!
Check out beginnertriathlete.com. You can find all kinds of training plans there for free, print them out, or use their online tools to track your progress. There are articles and forums too with great info. I think I started in the beginning of March for a race in early July. At the point I started, I was running about 3-4 miles pretty regularly. I aimed for 3-4 runs a week (my weak spot), 2 bike workouts, and 1-2 swim workouts, with the workouts getting longer the closer I got to my race.
Where are you located? The Rockville swim center has a few different triathlon-focused swim classes which I gained a lot from and which kept me motivated.
Good luck!
Anonymous
01/02/2014 11:03
Subject: Want to try a tri
I think with your base you're close to good to go. Are you looking to train for time, or just to finish?
If just to finish, here are my thoughts from a newbie (did my first last fall.)
1) Get in the water - this is probably the area where most people struggle. That said, if you did any swim team as a kid you don't need a lot of refresher in order to brush up your swimming well enough to do a tri. If you're going to be doing an open water tri, find a place to do some open water swimming before the race to figure out how to keep on track / manage any open water nerves. It's just a different beast from lap swimming, and you want to make sure you're psychologically ready to handle it.
2) Get on the bike. With biking it's all about time in the saddle. Again sprint tri's aren't that long distance wise, so it's more about getting comfortable / figuring out the pace that works for you, that you can maintain, and working the bike specific muscles.
3) Find a specific training guide - I know Athleta has some good ones online, but there are lots more. But for a Sept tri you don't need to worry about that too much now. At this point I'd just focus on getting some cross training in - finding/tuning up a bike, figuring out a pool you can get to, etc. And if it were me, I'd probably look for a race earlier in the year. With your base you don't really need that long of a lead time and Tris are FUN, but sept is getting close to the end of the season. So if you your first and decide you want to do more, waiting until Sept will make it harder to find another one before the next season.
If just to finish, here are my thoughts from a newbie (did my first last fall.)
1) Get in the water - this is probably the area where most people struggle. That said, if you did any swim team as a kid you don't need a lot of refresher in order to brush up your swimming well enough to do a tri. If you're going to be doing an open water tri, find a place to do some open water swimming before the race to figure out how to keep on track / manage any open water nerves. It's just a different beast from lap swimming, and you want to make sure you're psychologically ready to handle it.
2) Get on the bike. With biking it's all about time in the saddle. Again sprint tri's aren't that long distance wise, so it's more about getting comfortable / figuring out the pace that works for you, that you can maintain, and working the bike specific muscles.
3) Find a specific training guide - I know Athleta has some good ones online, but there are lots more. But for a Sept tri you don't need to worry about that too much now. At this point I'd just focus on getting some cross training in - finding/tuning up a bike, figuring out a pool you can get to, etc. And if it were me, I'd probably look for a race earlier in the year. With your base you don't really need that long of a lead time and Tris are FUN, but sept is getting close to the end of the season. So if you your first and decide you want to do more, waiting until Sept will make it harder to find another one before the next season.
Anonymous
01/02/2014 10:59
Subject: Want to try a tri
Great for you! I've done a bunch of tris. Do you want to train solo or with a group? For group training you could do the New Triathlete Program through the DC Tri Club (very little guidance but a lot of social opps) or Team Z (tons of training opportunities and a lot of coaching as well as social/race day support). DC Tri is a yearly fee for the club and a separate fee for NTP. Team Z is a monthly charge.
Regardless, based on your current fitness level, I would say that you could start doing some basic training now, but for a sprint you cold probably start really focusing in April/May for the race.
Regardless, based on your current fitness level, I would say that you could start doing some basic training now, but for a sprint you cold probably start really focusing in April/May for the race.
Anonymous
01/02/2014 10:31
Subject: Want to try a tri
Currently, I've run at least a dozen mud run/obstable course races (mostly 5K, but several 10-12miles). I take Zumba 4 days/week for cardio and weight lift 5-6 days/week. I stopped running for awhile due to stress fx in both shins but I can get back to it soon.
If I want to train for a tri-sprint in Sep how should I train? When to start doing sport specific training and how far in advance?
Any tips for a first timer during the tri is appreciated also.
If I want to train for a tri-sprint in Sep how should I train? When to start doing sport specific training and how far in advance?
Any tips for a first timer during the tri is appreciated also.