Discussion
I haven't done one myself, but I did drop in on this seasons pre race-season training for the Brownlees and a few other english triathletes from the start of the year till around May. You need to train lots! 
Plently of time out on the bike, running and swimming (obviously). Obvious stuff like gradually increase your distances coming up to race days, but reduce them on a taper for last week or so. It's also good to train either side of the pace that you want to go on the day, so shorter fast sessions, and easier slower session.
Don't forget conditioning as well as the fitness stuff to help increase strength and reduce risk of injury so that includes gym work like squats and lunges, core work and some upper body stuff too as this will be important when you're in the water. I was going to their strength and conditioning sessions so know a lot about that if you have any questions, although this bit is often not done by amatuer endurance athletes as many don't deem it as important.
Chris
Plently of time out on the bike, running and swimming (obviously). Obvious stuff like gradually increase your distances coming up to race days, but reduce them on a taper for last week or so. It's also good to train either side of the pace that you want to go on the day, so shorter fast sessions, and easier slower session. Don't forget conditioning as well as the fitness stuff to help increase strength and reduce risk of injury so that includes gym work like squats and lunges, core work and some upper body stuff too as this will be important when you're in the water. I was going to their strength and conditioning sessions so know a lot about that if you have any questions, although this bit is often not done by amatuer endurance athletes as many don't deem it as important.
Chris
I have just taken Triathlon up this year Lucie. Can highly recommend trying to find a club as it really helps you as a beginner by ensuring you work on your technique and you normally get really good coaches helping you out. I can also recommend getting hold of a book called the Time Crunched Triathlete as I find it a real help you with training.
Regarding kit I did my first tri on a rubbish mountain bike and a hired wetsuit so you don't need to outlay on equipment before getting an idea of whether you enjoy it.
I definitely recommend it but it's pretty addictive!
Balders do you mind if I PM you about the conditioning training you saw with the Brownlees?
Regarding kit I did my first tri on a rubbish mountain bike and a hired wetsuit so you don't need to outlay on equipment before getting an idea of whether you enjoy it.
I definitely recommend it but it's pretty addictive!
Balders do you mind if I PM you about the conditioning training you saw with the Brownlees?
I made the same decision last year, and am nearly at the point where I can enter one 
My running and cycling are fine, but the weak point has been my swimming (this time last year my maximum distance was 50 metres before I was completely exhausted!). I'm nearly there with the swimming now, so am hoping to catch a sprint triathlon before the season finishes.
Not sure I've got any training tips, other than to say six months ago I started circuit training in the gym once or twice a week, which I've noticed has made good improvements in all three sports, as well as boosting my fitness levels. Circuit training (PHA for me) can be tailored specifically for triathlon, which is what I'm doing. I wouldn't say it's essential though.
If swimming is your weakpoint, I've made huge advances with one to one coaching in Total Immersion, so I'd recommend that. I see a coach near Egham who has an endless pool with underwater cameras and I'd highly recommend her.
I bought my first Tri wetsuit yesterday, and one piece of advice for those would be to get something decent. The girl in the shop showed me some cheaper ones on their "try on" racks, and most had holes from fingernails in them. Spend over £200 though on a mid range suit and they're apparently much tougher. She definitely wasn't trying to sell me a more expensive one, as I/we ended up going for the cheaper one of the two that fitted me best.
With all three sports, whatever your budget I'd recommend getting it fitted properly in a shop. Wetsuits vary quite a bit in fit, as I discovered yesterday, and this can cause shoulder injuries if it restricts around that area. However, getting a good fit especially applies to running shoes, which can cause an injury if not fitted properly. Go to a shop that films you running on a treadmill and advises you on shoes based on that. Likewise, the bike needs to fit you, and pay particular attention to saddle height - just a few mm too high or two low can cause knee problems (anterior for too high, and posterior for too low); I've played with my seat height and it's surprising how small a difference affects the knees, and how getting it right feels so spot on. So yes, you can start triathlon very cheaply, but do be careful to get things that fit properly to avoid injury, or just to ensure you enjoy it as much as possible.
best of luck!
My running and cycling are fine, but the weak point has been my swimming (this time last year my maximum distance was 50 metres before I was completely exhausted!). I'm nearly there with the swimming now, so am hoping to catch a sprint triathlon before the season finishes.Not sure I've got any training tips, other than to say six months ago I started circuit training in the gym once or twice a week, which I've noticed has made good improvements in all three sports, as well as boosting my fitness levels. Circuit training (PHA for me) can be tailored specifically for triathlon, which is what I'm doing. I wouldn't say it's essential though.
If swimming is your weakpoint, I've made huge advances with one to one coaching in Total Immersion, so I'd recommend that. I see a coach near Egham who has an endless pool with underwater cameras and I'd highly recommend her.
I bought my first Tri wetsuit yesterday, and one piece of advice for those would be to get something decent. The girl in the shop showed me some cheaper ones on their "try on" racks, and most had holes from fingernails in them. Spend over £200 though on a mid range suit and they're apparently much tougher. She definitely wasn't trying to sell me a more expensive one, as I/we ended up going for the cheaper one of the two that fitted me best.
With all three sports, whatever your budget I'd recommend getting it fitted properly in a shop. Wetsuits vary quite a bit in fit, as I discovered yesterday, and this can cause shoulder injuries if it restricts around that area. However, getting a good fit especially applies to running shoes, which can cause an injury if not fitted properly. Go to a shop that films you running on a treadmill and advises you on shoes based on that. Likewise, the bike needs to fit you, and pay particular attention to saddle height - just a few mm too high or two low can cause knee problems (anterior for too high, and posterior for too low); I've played with my seat height and it's surprising how small a difference affects the knees, and how getting it right feels so spot on. So yes, you can start triathlon very cheaply, but do be careful to get things that fit properly to avoid injury, or just to ensure you enjoy it as much as possible.
best of luck!
Have a look and see if you have a local tri club, then go along to the training sessions, you will meet like minded folk and training partners and they are usually a friendly bunch. You will also get details of any local events to get you started. The tri season is coming to an end now but aquathons and duathlons tend to run year round.
Ours does sea swims in the summer, pool work throughout the year, together with track and bike sessions.
If your looking to start with a sprint distance event and are already fairly fit then you should be fine. Going longer - olympic / half iron / full iron man then be prepared to put in the hours to get yourself ready. As an idea for a full / half iron man you would be looking to put in about 12-15hrs a week of mixed training.
It becomes addictive and expensive in no particular order pretty quickly!
Also, most people feel that the swim is their weak point ( it certainly is mine ) and concentrate on improving this over all else, however look at the amount of time you spend in the water compared to on the run / bike legs. You can make much bigger time savings by working on these elements of the event ahead of the swim - i know someone who did a full iron man swim using breast stroke and still managed a decent time as they had given over more time to the bike and run.
Ours does sea swims in the summer, pool work throughout the year, together with track and bike sessions.
If your looking to start with a sprint distance event and are already fairly fit then you should be fine. Going longer - olympic / half iron / full iron man then be prepared to put in the hours to get yourself ready. As an idea for a full / half iron man you would be looking to put in about 12-15hrs a week of mixed training.
It becomes addictive and expensive in no particular order pretty quickly!
Also, most people feel that the swim is their weak point ( it certainly is mine ) and concentrate on improving this over all else, however look at the amount of time you spend in the water compared to on the run / bike legs. You can make much bigger time savings by working on these elements of the event ahead of the swim - i know someone who did a full iron man swim using breast stroke and still managed a decent time as they had given over more time to the bike and run.
Raoul Duke said:
Also, most people feel that the swim is their weak point ( it certainly is mine ) and concentrate on improving this over all else, however look at the amount of time you spend in the water compared to on the run / bike legs. You can make much bigger time savings by working on these elements of the event ahead of the swim - i know someone who did a full iron man swim using breast stroke and still managed a decent time as they had given over more time to the bike and run.
This is very true. Also, swimming is so slow that the percentage differences between good and bad swimmers are less, so you make up less time in the water. I too have seen Tri results where a guy has come in as a poor swimmer and runner but utterly demolished everyone on the bike, and he came fifth! Personally, I can't even swim 1500m or even 800m for a sprint tri, which explains the amount of work I'm doing on the swimming... I need to get to the other end of the lake to start the bit I'm good at 
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