Ok, so it looks like some of you have set your goal to do a triathlon. Great job, that’s the first step. But how do you reach it? Training, right? But “how much training” is usually the first question.
To help determine your training program, you need to think of 2 things. What the distance of your goal (race) is and how you want to accomplish your goal (race). Is your goal to just finish the triathlon? Be an age group winner? Finish in the top 10 of your gender? Or be in the top 3? Once you answer those questions, it helps you to define your training program.
When I decided to do my first triathlon, waaaaaaay back in 1987, I was a beginner swimmer, experienced cyclist and competitive runner. I set my goal to just finish. It was a sprint distance, 500 meter pool swim, 20k bike, and 5k run. I reached my goal and finished, even with dropping my water bottle on the bike (having no water in 30c heat for the entire ride), and dropping my chain on the course! Because my goal was to finish a Sprint distance triathlon, that helped determined my training program.
Next, think about what your strongest and weakest event is in the 3 triathlon disciplines…that will lead you to your individual training, but that’s for next time!
