Triathlon Training 101

triathlonGiven your background, do you know which triathlon training program is going to be ideal? Where does one even get started? We all come from vastly different injuries, backgrounds, genetics and so on and so forth, so there is no one size fits all solution to planning for a triathlon as a result. Choosing the right triathlon training plan is a vitally important decision that we have to make. If we select the right one, it will combat injury and burnout while driving us to success. If on the other hand we choose the wrong one, we could end up burnt out or injured as a result.

Consider the following questions when it comes to choosing a training plan for your triathlon aspirations:

  • Are you coming from a background of purely one sport, such as purely cycling, purely swimming or purely running, and you are looking to minimize your injuries while adding additional flavor to your training program?
  • Are you coming directly from the couch, and are looking for a way to lose weight while making positive impacts and changes in your life?
  • Have you spend time training in all three of these disciplines in the past, or have you performed in triathlons casually in the past but are looking for more structure or an improvement in your performance?
  • Are you looking to become a triathlete just to pad your resume?

If you are just coming off of the couch, then you are probably still in the determining process where you are not sure if you want to make this lifestyle change or not. The concept of a triathlon is a bit intimidating, but it is worthwhile if you are serious about finding a new fitness endeavor. You are going to need a program that will make you feel motivated and give you some pride and a feeling of achievement. There are a lot of things to learn and get used to when it comes to training in these sports, but rest assured there is no reason why you have to train in all three sports all at once – Just take your time and improve your capabilities in each sport one by one instead.

What are your goals? Most people are starting at a sprint level, even if they have not done another type of fitness sport in a good long while. A sprint plan will help you try out the training regimen and see if this is what you are really looking for. Sprints are a good start because they get you physically active without requiring long distance running in the process. Generally you should progress like this:

  1. Sprint
  2. Olympic
  3. Half Ironman
  4. Full Ironman

Though it is useful to note that not everyone progresses to step four – And you should stop whenever you are comfortable.

Photo Credits: Diamondduste

Originally posted 2009-08-31 03:42:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Triathlon Nutrition Tips

caloriesWhen it comes to triathlon competitions such as the Iron Man, fitness alone is not going to be guarantee enough that you are going to win. It is absolutely vital that you develop good nutrition habits as well. This is one of the most important parts of planning for the ironman. The bicycling section is one of the hardest parts of the ironman competition, and preparing nutritionally is vitally important to your success. Here are some triathlon nutrition tips that will steer you in the right direction toward success in your endeavor.

1 – Triathletes are aware of their maximum heart rate, their power output, their average speed and many other arbitrary numbers such as these, but for some reason they fail to address how many calories that they are going to require per hour during their bicycling. You need to know how many calories you need as well as how many calories will be provided by a gel or a bar. If you are falling behind in your calories, those calories will add up and you will suddenly find yourself running on fumes at the end of a long race.

2 – Another vital part of preparing yourself nutritionally is knowing and meeting your fluid requirements during the bicycling portion of the triathlon. The maximum amount of fluid that you will be capable of using efficiently during the race is going to be based upon your race. You must be aware of how you can use or consume fluids based on your body size, body type and weight. You are going to need 10ml of liquid per 1 kilo of your body weight. If you weigh 70 kg, for example, then you need 700 ml of fluid per hour. This means that you need to be prepared to have and use this kind of fluid. 20 ml of fluid is about one gulp, so how many gulps are you going to need to consume in a period of an hour in order to keep yourself properly hydrated? The best way for you to plan is to try sipping a 750 ml bottle to see how long it takes you. Can you reasonably drink this much fluid in an hour? This is vital because learning how to keep yourself properly hydrated is vitally important as part of training to succeed in a triathlon competition.

3 – You also need to be aware of your calorie needs at all times. How much are you consuming in the span of an hour? Putting these calories back into your body while you are cycling is vital. There are gels and bars that you can consume to make this happen. You need to make sure that you are planning and preparing yourself to burn and regain the calories that you need throughout the process in order to perform at your best possible level during your triathlon.

Photo Credits: kisekino01

Originally posted 2009-06-18 17:42:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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