The Triathlon thread - Ironman, 70.3, Olympic, Sprint
Discussion
boothy1987 said:
Alright folks
I've basically decided today that I want to start competing in triathlons, specifically sprint triathlon. Obviously understand that in order to be at a level to do that I'm going to have to put a lot of effort in to training. The reason this has come about is that i'm basically fed of getting injured playing football and figure that there isn't much point being distinctly average at football when I could focus on this and be pretty good at it. Might seem like a big assumption but this thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... and the feedback put the idea in my head and being a competitive swimmer when I was younger means I've got the most difficult discipline already semi mastered (just need to get the endurance levels back up)
I'm out injured at the moment with patellar tendonitis so now is probably a good time to get cracking with the swimming as it seems to be regarded as the best exercise while recovering from this injury. I'm hoping someone will be able to give me advice on how I should structure my training once fit, in terms of how many times a week should you train each discipline? Is joining a club the best way to go?
Is weight training pretty much out of the question when training for a triathlon due to overworking the body? Or can it be squeezed in alongside?
Sorry for all the questions but I'm a complete newbie to all this so not really sure where to start
There's no shortcuts with Triathlon training really, and to get in a decent shape i'd say you need to try and do 2 sessions of each discipline per week if you want to get decent. No, weights are a good thing! Just try and do one total body session a week, incoprating core work etc, and it will help loads. That's what i try and do. So my week will look something like this at the momentI've basically decided today that I want to start competing in triathlons, specifically sprint triathlon. Obviously understand that in order to be at a level to do that I'm going to have to put a lot of effort in to training. The reason this has come about is that i'm basically fed of getting injured playing football and figure that there isn't much point being distinctly average at football when I could focus on this and be pretty good at it. Might seem like a big assumption but this thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... and the feedback put the idea in my head and being a competitive swimmer when I was younger means I've got the most difficult discipline already semi mastered (just need to get the endurance levels back up)
I'm out injured at the moment with patellar tendonitis so now is probably a good time to get cracking with the swimming as it seems to be regarded as the best exercise while recovering from this injury. I'm hoping someone will be able to give me advice on how I should structure my training once fit, in terms of how many times a week should you train each discipline? Is joining a club the best way to go?
Is weight training pretty much out of the question when training for a triathlon due to overworking the body? Or can it be squeezed in alongside?
Sorry for all the questions but I'm a complete newbie to all this so not really sure where to start
Monday - Cycle training (1 hour)
Tuesday - Swimming intervals (1 hour)
Wednesday - Running intervals at the track (1.5 hours)
Thursday - Swimming & weights (1 hour)
Friday - Cycle then run (brick training (1 hour)
Saturday - Long run (1-1.5 hours)
Sunday - Rest
It's quite hard, but once you geti nto it and start entering some competitions it becomes enjoyable.
But DEFINITELY join a local Tri club. I'm a member of mine, and really active with it. 3 of those sessions above are with the club, and it's good to get tips and train with other like minded people.
Your performance in that 5k showed you're definitely got some good legs on you and with your swimming background clearly you could do well.
I can only echo what Nick has said. Triathlon is about training and making sure you balance out all the disciplines.
To be honest I have dropped doing weights as well. I do one session a week on a saturday morning and it's a tri specific set. I don't think I could fit any other sessions in really and I doubt it will be beneficial in performance terms.
How's your cycling? Brick training (as Nick has said) is important. You did a great 5k time in that race but you need to practice running off the bike as it will slow your running up.
I don't have a club that I can attend near me sadly but there are plenty of internet resources out there which will give you a good start as well as some pretty helpful magazines.
I can only echo what Nick has said. Triathlon is about training and making sure you balance out all the disciplines.
To be honest I have dropped doing weights as well. I do one session a week on a saturday morning and it's a tri specific set. I don't think I could fit any other sessions in really and I doubt it will be beneficial in performance terms.
How's your cycling? Brick training (as Nick has said) is important. You did a great 5k time in that race but you need to practice running off the bike as it will slow your running up.
I don't have a club that I can attend near me sadly but there are plenty of internet resources out there which will give you a good start as well as some pretty helpful magazines.
2/10/2 duathlon at castle combe on Sunday 25th Nov if anyone is interested. www.dbmax.co.uk for details
Iceman82 said:
Your performance in that 5k showed you're definitely got some good legs on you and with your swimming background clearly you could do well.
I can only echo what Nick has said. Triathlon is about training and making sure you balance out all the disciplines.
5K run?I can only echo what Nick has said. Triathlon is about training and making sure you balance out all the disciplines.
You'll/He'll/whoever will soon get bored going around doing sprints and super sprints. You could probably go out now and get around a super sprint fine. There'll be people there in mountain bikes and doing breaststroke. If you have a swimming background you'll find it easy.
If you want to do olympic and longer distance you need to do loads of work. I was a decent 5k runner and swimmer but doing 10K after 40k hilly bike course and 1500m open water carnage is a completely different world and Olympics are easy compared to the longer distance events. Presumably with your 5K time you'll be aiming for 10K in under 40 mins? Look at local triathlon results and your run will put you near the front but you'll need 1500m swim in under 24 or so minutes and 40k bike around 1Hr depending on the course. The times vary hugely depending on the course and the temperature, weather and how many other people are in the event and how well it's organised.
I came from a swimming background and found doing long open water swims was the best training for Triathlon. Getting used to swimming in a tri and wetsuit in water with poor visibility and being able to see turning points sometimes long distances away is hugely important. It's very different from flogging up and down a warm 25/50m pool. The swim is the worst discipline to be good at really. Look at results from events you plan on entering. The swim times are all close together and you're not at it for very long. If it's a pool based swim you'll find it hard to pass people even if it's a good event which starts you with people of roughly the same speed.
What's important in triathlon is to try and not think you need all that gear in 220triathlon magazine. If you're competing next summer, get a wetsuit and trisuit now in the sales. Get a road bike, maybe attach some aerobars and spend the winter riding it. Keep up your running.
Decide what events you want to do now and train appropriately for them. Perhaps in your first year enter a few super sprints then a sprint and finish the year with an Olympic and see how you enjoy the different distances?
If you have a partner or children you'll find it very difficult to dedicate enough time to the training properly without pissing them off. It starts to take you over especially if you're following structured plans. You'll be sneaking off to get a run in or swimming in some murky lake somewhere when you ought to be doing something else. It's worse than having an affair
Edited by el stovey on Friday 12th October 09:57
el stovey said:
5K run?
You'll/He'll/whoever will soon get bored going around doing sprints and super sprints. You could probably go out now and get around a super sprint fine. There'll be people there in mountain bikes and doing breaststroke. If you have a swimming background you'll find it easy.
If you want to do olympic and longer distance you need to do loads of work. I was a decent 5k runner and swimmer but doing 10K after 40k hilly bike course and 1500m open water carnage is a completely different world and Olympics are easy compared to the longer distance events. Presumably with your 5K time you'll be aiming for 10K in under 40 mins? Look at local triathlon results and your run will put you near the front but you'll need 1500m swim in under 24 or so minutes and 40k bike around 1Hr depending on the course. The times vary hugely depending on the course and the temperature, weather and how many other people are in the event and how well it's organised.
I came from a swimming background and found doing long open water swims was the best training for Triathlon. Getting used to swimming in a tri and wetsuit in water with poor visibility and being able to see turning points sometimes long distances away is hugely important. It's very different from flogging up and down a warm 25/50m pool. The swim is the worst discipline to be good at really. Look at results from events you plan on entering. The swim times are all close together and you're not at it for very long. If it's a pool based swim you'll find it hard to pass people even if it's a good event which starts you with people of roughly the same speed.
What's important in triathlon is to try and not think you need all that gear in 220triathlon magazine. If you're competing next summer, get a wetsuit and trisuit now in the sales. Get a road bike, maybe attach some aerobars and spend the winter riding it. Keep up your running.
Decide what events you want to do now and train appropriately for them. Perhaps in your first year enter a few super sprints then a sprint and finish the year with an Olympic and see how you enjoy the different distances?
If you have a partner or children you'll find it very difficult to dedicate enough time to the training properly without pissing them off. It starts to take you over especially if you're following structured plans. You'll be sneaking off to get a run in or swimming in some murky lake somewhere when you ought to be doing something else. It's worse than having an affair
Top advice. I was referring to the poster, rather than myself, as he has just completed a 5k run in 18 minutes or so and wanted to progress onto sprints from that basis.You'll/He'll/whoever will soon get bored going around doing sprints and super sprints. You could probably go out now and get around a super sprint fine. There'll be people there in mountain bikes and doing breaststroke. If you have a swimming background you'll find it easy.
If you want to do olympic and longer distance you need to do loads of work. I was a decent 5k runner and swimmer but doing 10K after 40k hilly bike course and 1500m open water carnage is a completely different world and Olympics are easy compared to the longer distance events. Presumably with your 5K time you'll be aiming for 10K in under 40 mins? Look at local triathlon results and your run will put you near the front but you'll need 1500m swim in under 24 or so minutes and 40k bike around 1Hr depending on the course. The times vary hugely depending on the course and the temperature, weather and how many other people are in the event and how well it's organised.
I came from a swimming background and found doing long open water swims was the best training for Triathlon. Getting used to swimming in a tri and wetsuit in water with poor visibility and being able to see turning points sometimes long distances away is hugely important. It's very different from flogging up and down a warm 25/50m pool. The swim is the worst discipline to be good at really. Look at results from events you plan on entering. The swim times are all close together and you're not at it for very long. If it's a pool based swim you'll find it hard to pass people even if it's a good event which starts you with people of roughly the same speed.
What's important in triathlon is to try and not think you need all that gear in 220triathlon magazine. If you're competing next summer, get a wetsuit and trisuit now in the sales. Get a road bike, maybe attach some aerobars and spend the winter riding it. Keep up your running.
Decide what events you want to do now and train appropriately for them. Perhaps in your first year enter a few super sprints then a sprint and finish the year with an Olympic and see how you enjoy the different distances?
If you have a partner or children you'll find it very difficult to dedicate enough time to the training properly without pissing them off. It starts to take you over especially if you're following structured plans. You'll be sneaking off to get a run in or swimming in some murky lake somewhere when you ought to be doing something else. It's worse than having an affair
Edited by el stovey on Friday 12th October 09:57
For me I did sprints this year. 2013 is going to be olympic distance (maybe with one or two sprints as well) and tehn 2014 possibly IM.
nick s said:
There's no shortcuts with Triathlon training really, and to get in a decent shape i'd say you need to try and do 2 sessions of each discipline per week if you want to get decent. No, weights are a good thing! Just try and do one total body session a week, incoprating core work etc, and it will help loads. That's what i try and do. So my week will look something like this at the moment
Monday - Cycle training (1 hour)
Tuesday - Swimming intervals (1 hour)
Wednesday - Running intervals at the track (1.5 hours)
Thursday - Swimming & weights (1 hour)
Friday - Cycle then run (brick training (1 hour)
Saturday - Long run (1-1.5 hours)
Sunday - Rest
It's quite hard, but once you geti nto it and start entering some competitions it becomes enjoyable.
But DEFINITELY join a local Tri club. I'm a member of mine, and really active with it. 3 of those sessions above are with the club, and it's good to get tips and train with other like minded people.
Thanks for that, and Iceman tooMonday - Cycle training (1 hour)
Tuesday - Swimming intervals (1 hour)
Wednesday - Running intervals at the track (1.5 hours)
Thursday - Swimming & weights (1 hour)
Friday - Cycle then run (brick training (1 hour)
Saturday - Long run (1-1.5 hours)
Sunday - Rest
It's quite hard, but once you geti nto it and start entering some competitions it becomes enjoyable.
But DEFINITELY join a local Tri club. I'm a member of mine, and really active with it. 3 of those sessions above are with the club, and it's good to get tips and train with other like minded people.
That looks quite similar to what I'd planned out in my head last night, although I've never heard of brick training before
I'd ideally like to keep two weight sessions in a week. These would mainly be core/upper body work as I figure that the legs are getting enough of a work out every single day plus squats are a bugger for my tendonitis.
How many calories do you have to put away daily while training? I'm on the slim side as it is and I don't want to start wasting away
Will also need to sort myself out a bike (probably through the cycle to work scheme) but know nothing about bikes or what makes one better than the next. Cycling will be my weakest discipline by a long way
el stovey said:
5K run?
You'll/He'll/whoever will soon get bored going around doing sprints and super sprints. You could probably go out now and get around a super sprint fine. There'll be people there in mountain bikes and doing breaststroke. If you have a swimming background you'll find it easy.
If you want to do olympic and longer distance you need to do loads of work. I was a decent 5k runner and swimmer but doing 10K after 40k hilly bike course and 1500m open water carnage is a completely different world and Olympics are easy compared to the longer distance events. Presumably with your 5K time you'll be aiming for 10K in under 40 mins? Look at local triathlon results and your run will put you near the front but you'll need 1500m swim in under 24 or so minutes and 40k bike around 1Hr depending on the course. The times vary hugely depending on the course and the temperature, weather and how many other people are in the event and how well it's organised.
I came from a swimming background and found doing long open water swims was the best training for Triathlon. Getting used to swimming in a tri and wetsuit in water with poor visibility and being able to see turning points sometimes long distances away is hugely important. It's very different from flogging up and down a warm 25/50m pool. The swim is the worst discipline to be good at really. Look at results from events you plan on entering. The swim times are all close together and you're not at it for very long. If it's a pool based swim you'll find it hard to pass people even if it's a good event which starts you with people of roughly the same speed.
What's important in triathlon is to try and not think you need all that gear in 220triathlon magazine. If you're competing next summer, get a wetsuit and trisuit now in the sales. Get a road bike, maybe attach some aerobars and spend the winter riding it. Keep up your running.
Decide what events you want to do now and train appropriately for them. Perhaps in your first year enter a few super sprints then a sprint and finish the year with an Olympic and see how you enjoy the different distances?
If you have a partner or children you'll find it very difficult to dedicate enough time to the training properly without pissing them off. It starts to take you over especially if you're following structured plans. You'll be sneaking off to get a run in or swimming in some murky lake somewhere when you ought to be doing something else. It's worse than having an affair
Thanks mate. My two biggest fears with this are getting battered/drowned during an open water swim and coming flying off the bike at over 20mph and losing all my skin You'll/He'll/whoever will soon get bored going around doing sprints and super sprints. You could probably go out now and get around a super sprint fine. There'll be people there in mountain bikes and doing breaststroke. If you have a swimming background you'll find it easy.
If you want to do olympic and longer distance you need to do loads of work. I was a decent 5k runner and swimmer but doing 10K after 40k hilly bike course and 1500m open water carnage is a completely different world and Olympics are easy compared to the longer distance events. Presumably with your 5K time you'll be aiming for 10K in under 40 mins? Look at local triathlon results and your run will put you near the front but you'll need 1500m swim in under 24 or so minutes and 40k bike around 1Hr depending on the course. The times vary hugely depending on the course and the temperature, weather and how many other people are in the event and how well it's organised.
I came from a swimming background and found doing long open water swims was the best training for Triathlon. Getting used to swimming in a tri and wetsuit in water with poor visibility and being able to see turning points sometimes long distances away is hugely important. It's very different from flogging up and down a warm 25/50m pool. The swim is the worst discipline to be good at really. Look at results from events you plan on entering. The swim times are all close together and you're not at it for very long. If it's a pool based swim you'll find it hard to pass people even if it's a good event which starts you with people of roughly the same speed.
What's important in triathlon is to try and not think you need all that gear in 220triathlon magazine. If you're competing next summer, get a wetsuit and trisuit now in the sales. Get a road bike, maybe attach some aerobars and spend the winter riding it. Keep up your running.
Decide what events you want to do now and train appropriately for them. Perhaps in your first year enter a few super sprints then a sprint and finish the year with an Olympic and see how you enjoy the different distances?
If you have a partner or children you'll find it very difficult to dedicate enough time to the training properly without pissing them off. It starts to take you over especially if you're following structured plans. You'll be sneaking off to get a run in or swimming in some murky lake somewhere when you ought to be doing something else. It's worse than having an affair
Edited by el stovey on Friday 12th October 09:57
the second of which is very very likely to happen knowing me.As for being able to dedicate time, I don't have a partner or children so not something I have to worry about. I'm free from 5pm every week day and if I'm dropping the football then won't have much on at a weekend, so shouldn't have much trouble fitting training in
el stovey said:
and 40k bike around 1Hr depending on the course.
a 40k bike leg in an hour? That's almost Elite times! I'd be seriously surpirsed if he could get down near that! I thought i was doign well with my 40k time down to 1hr 10-12 ish mins! haha.el stovey said:
If you have a partner or children you'll find it very difficult to dedicate enough time to the training properly without pissing them off. It starts to take you over especially if you're following structured plans. You'll be sneaking off to get a run in or swimming in some murky lake somewhere when you ought to be doing something else. It's worse than having an affair
This!! I am now getting comments from the GF about always training, and am starting to have to think about balancing it a bit better. I really don't see how i could ever train for an Ironman or similar! nick s said:
This!! I am now getting comments from the GF about always training, and am starting to have to think about balancing it a bit better. I really don't see how i could ever train for an Ironman or similar!
That's my concern as well!! I honestly think it's going to be tough on my free time so I would imagine I will only be able to do it once and then after that return to Olympic distance. Iceman82 said:
nick s said:
This!! I am now getting comments from the GF about always training, and am starting to have to think about balancing it a bit better. I really don't see how i could ever train for an Ironman or similar!
That's my concern as well!! I honestly think it's going to be tough on my free time so I would imagine I will only be able to do it once and then after that return to Olympic distance. boothy1987 said:
Thanks mate. My two biggest fears with this are getting battered/drowned during an open water swim and coming flying off the bike at over 20mph and losing all my skin the second of which is very very likely to happen knowing me.
If you swim in an open water event you most likely will come into contact with other swimmers. It's up to you where you position yourself at the start though but if you're quick you'll be passing people all the time and everyone will be following slightly different tracks. If you're really against crashing into people you can start a little back or off to the side and just accept that you might be a bit slower over the distance. I usually aim to do that but when I hear the wave is about to go, I get carried away and head right into a position at the front where all the action is. the second of which is very very likely to happen knowing me. It's never that bad though, I've had my legs grabbed and hit in the head etc but it's nothing bad. Just make sure your goggles are secure under your cap. I wear one over the goggles and then put the event one given to me on top if it's cold.Best use your speed at the start and try to get into clearer water. if you're completely surrounded by swimmers there's little you can do to get ahead. I was swimming in a lake event recently when we caught up with the wave in front. I passed some guy doing a nice easy breaststroke, I felt sorry knowing he had at least a hundred fired up swimmers about to arrive on him who can't really see where they're going.
el stovey said:
Triathlons are brilliant. I can't wait till they pick up again next year. Anyone doing any winter events?
I'm thinking about one at box hill, the ball buster or something. It sounds grim!
Me and a few mates are doing the Wildman. Supposed to be a tough one! Although probably not quite as tough as the ballbuster!!I'm thinking about one at box hill, the ball buster or something. It sounds grim!
http://www.humanrace.co.uk/events/duathlon/wildman
boothy1987 said:
Alright folks...
I'm out injured at the moment with patellar tendonitis so now is probably a good time to get cracking with the swimming as it seems to be regarded as the best exercise while recovering from this injury. I'm hoping someone will be able to give me advice on how I should structure my training once fit, in terms of how many times a week should you train each discipline? Is joining a club the best way to go?
Is weight training pretty much out of the question when training for a triathlon due to overworking the body? Or can it be squeezed in alongside?
Sorry for all the questions but I'm a complete newbie to all this so not really sure where to start
Ouch!!! I feel your pain - I suffered from that a couple of years ago and it's bloody unpleasant… mine was caused through football too. I'm out injured at the moment with patellar tendonitis so now is probably a good time to get cracking with the swimming as it seems to be regarded as the best exercise while recovering from this injury. I'm hoping someone will be able to give me advice on how I should structure my training once fit, in terms of how many times a week should you train each discipline? Is joining a club the best way to go?
Is weight training pretty much out of the question when training for a triathlon due to overworking the body? Or can it be squeezed in alongside?
Sorry for all the questions but I'm a complete newbie to all this so not really sure where to start
No doubt you know them already, but the inclined squat exercises do help (but take time) and running in a pool seemed to help too. I eventually ended up getting bi-patellar tendinopathy and it was the best move I made…. knee pain has totally gone now (no longer woken in the middle of the night with pain) and I'm running, cycling and faster than I have before. All the best with the rehab and training…
And by the way 18:37 for 5k is seriously top going - just make sure you get some proper running shoes, rather than plimsolls, from a decent running shop (i.e. they fit you for your running gait/style) - your knees will thanks you for it!!!
Live coverage of the IM World Champs on at the mo' at http://kona.ironman.com for anyone that wants to tune in . . . pro guys & girls have gone off 10 or so mins ago and age groupers about to start in about 15 mins 
Rebecca Romero (Olympic medallist in rowing and cycling) is competing in age group after qualifying from her first ever Ironman. Her blog is a good read:
http://www.rebeccaromero.co.uk/blog/
http://www.rebeccaromero.co.uk/blog/
dangerousB said:
Live coverage of the IM World Champs on at the mo' at http://kona.ironman.com for anyone that wants to tune in . . . pro guys & girls have gone off 10 or so mins ago and age groupers about to start in about 15 mins
Thanks. 
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