Triathlon training for an idiot

[ASC1951]

Have signed up for a sprint triathlon in May.

Do make sure you don't turn into one of those triathlon robots, Karen. I see them out on Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, little groups of two and three, generally within 30 miles of their bases; nose down, bums in the air, wearing head to toe adverts and with the social skills of woodlice. If they are going to ignore everything and everyone around them, they really need to be turning the pedals a lot faster than my modest pace.

 

[Garz]

I wasn't suggesting neglecting any discipline or spending 80% on one.

My point is that anyones weakest discipline is likely to be the one least enjoyed and there would be a tendency to neglect this one which would be a mistake.

No?.. but you were suggesting spending "most of your time on" the weakest which depending on how you gauge this, in my book means probably more than required in all fairness.

 

[ttcycle]

Karen good luck with this!! I found a book which was about a beginners training for a sprint triathlon-absolutely useless that I can't remember what it was called but the plans were basically to split the training up so that one day you rested in one discipline and practised another, it is worth putting a fraction more time into the running though to get it up to scratch.

 

[heliphil]

and make sure you are OK with the transitions......

 

[monkeypony]

I'm also training for my first triathlon. My training currently consistst of:

Day 1) Weights + 30 min light cardio
Day 2) Swim
Day 3) Weights 30 min light cardio
Day 4) Ride
Day 5) Weights 30 min light cardio
Day 6) Run

I'm seeing slow but steady improvement in my times for all the disciplins
I'll start stringing the disciplins together in a month or so when I can ride in the open air in the evenings rather than using the Turbo.

 

[montage]

Oh so you have time on your hands? Awesome! Here goes then:

WEEK 1
Monday
Swim - light
Run - light and short
Tuesday
Bike - hour ish, easy
Wednesday
Swim - endurance swim
Run - hit the hills or interval train
Thursday
Bike - intervals - do your intervals at a higher cadence than usual rather than shift up too many gears
Friday
REST
Saturday
Swim - speed session
Run - 20 mins gentle
Sunday
long gentle ride...club run?

WEEK 2
Monday
Swim - light
Run - 30ish mins tempo run
Tuesday
Bike - work on power
Wednesday
Swim - endurance swim
Run - hit the hills or interval train
Thursday
Bike - race specific workout
Friday
REST
Saturday
Swim - speed session
Run - long run with race pace intervals
Sunday
bike - race specific

WEEK 3
Monday
Swim - Open water if it is an open water race
Run - 20 mins gentle
Tuesday
Bike - work on power
Wednesday
Swim - endurance swim
Run - hit the hills or interval train
Thursday
Bike - race specific workout
Friday
REST
Saturday
Swim - lake swim, otherwise do the same as week 2
Sunday
bike - race specific
Run - 30 mins straight after bike

WEEK 4
Monday
Swim - endurance
Run - intervals of race pace and easy
Tuesday
Bike - work on power
Wednesday
Swim - intervals
Run - hit the hills or interval train
Thursday
Bike - race specific workout
Friday
REST
Saturday
Swim - speed session
Run - long run with race pace intervals
Sunday
bike - race specific

Then begin your taper


This is a good 4 week cycle, based on one in the Triathlon Plus magazine. If in doubt, just stick to:

Monday
Swim
Run
Tuesday
Bike
Wednesday
Swim/Bike*
Run
Thursday
Bike
Friday
REST
Saturday
Swim/Bike*
Run
Sunday
bike

*= one of these should be swim and one should be bike

 

[karen.488walker]

That looks nice and simple montage. As I'm just getting my fitness back up am going to keep it light for a couple of weeks just to get used to training 6 x week. Am going to suscribe to a mag . Any recs??

 

[montage]

Triathlon plus is good, but not worth it if you have cycling plus as they pinch each others material.
Only one I have read mind