Train for Your First Triathlon

swimming

Determine What Your Goals Are

Figure out how long you want your first triathlon to be. How you start your training for your first triathlon will depend largely upon you and what shape you are in. Do you want to do a half sprint, a full sprint, or an Olympic triathlon? We will start slightly ambitious and go for a sprint length triathlon. Doing a 15 mile will allow you to test yourself, help you familiarize with the transition areas, and allow you to test your equipment.

Starting out

Obviously you are not going to be able to just walk out of your house and start running for five miles, or swim a half mile. You would spend yourself, not to mention possibly damaging your joints. You have to work into things, so you ease into it. Begin with a walk / run program. There are many websites out there with programs for this, and they are effective at getting you running in weeks. If you are overweight you may want to start out with riding a bike and losing a bit of weight before attempting jogging or running. Your joints will be grateful to you. Something else you can start out with is high rep strength training.

  • Never increase your training duration or distance more than ten percent over the previous week.
  • Always have one week a month be a rest week of sorts. This is extremely important.
  • Try to train for your single event three to four times a week.

Focus on either bicycling or running for between two to six months to build your aerobic capabilities. Once you have done one for the range given, then move to the other. Do not attempt to do two or even all three until you are in the kind of shape that will allow for it without hurting yourself.

Plan for swimming, running, and biking

Once you have yourself built up and ready from your previous training regimen, it will be time to train for all three sports at once. In general for a sprint triathlon, you will only have need to train two times a week in each of the three sports. That equates to six days with one rest day. You could also have one day where you do two of the three events, and then the next four days you only train for one. Then you can have 2 days off a week.

Thirteen weeks to race day

Despite what you might think you can lose weight in a weight lifting routine if you keep it serious and do not slack off. It would need to be a high rep / low weight routine so that you do not bulk up. Combine this with your jog routine. It will also help build bone density, and strengthen your joints. At first all of this exercise will leave you sore. After a few months you will feel better, you will be less sore, and you will have more energy.

Photo Credits: Photo Mojo

Originally posted 2009-10-13 03:03:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Preventing Injuries While Triathlon Training pt 2

runner

Preventing Injuries when Running

Running is actually the sport of the three that is most capable of causing injury. Running injuries are unfortunately quite rampant, and most runners have certainly received a fair share of running injuries. Here are some tips to improve your technique and your gear so that you can prevent injuries while you are running:

1 – Make sure that you are changing your shoes often, and never cut costs in the area of your running shoes. When you are in doubt about the condition of your running shoes, recycle them or throw them out, just do not plan on going running in them again. Unless you are running 10 miles a week on average, six months is far too long for you to keep a pair of shoes. You should always err on the side of safety, replacing your shoes rather than trying to get bonus miles out of them.

2 – Keep two pairs or more in rotation, especially if you are running on consecutive days. Keep running shoes that are intended specifically for running and never wear them for any other purpose or you will zap their cushioning prematurely, shortening their lifespan.

3 – Determine the type of runner that you are, and use this information for the right purposes. You might be a neutral runner, a pronator, a supinator, or a mix of different types. Make sure that you are buying running shoes that specifically match up with the type of runner that you are. You can get help from a podiatrist or a good sports medicine clinic as they will be able to provide you with information on what running shoes will be specifically well suited to meet your unique biomechanical needs.

4 – Add over-the-counter cushion inserts in order to add more arch support and more cushioning to your running shoes so that they are more comfortable and easier for you to run in.

5 – Run on trails whenever it is possible, and your legs will certainly thank you for the much softer and more comfortable surface. It will help your dexterity to have to dodge rocks, roots and twigs along the way as well.

6 – On days where you are feeling achy, skip the track or the trails in favor of either a rest for a few days or a run in the pool instead.

7 – Make sure that you are always warming up and regularly stretching to keep your body adequately warmed up and your muscles properly limber and flexible. It is crucial that you ease into any effort when running or during the other triathlon sport events as well. This tip is not only helpful for running in a triathlon then, but also cycling and swimming in a triathlon as well.

Photo Credits: Roberto Berlim

Originally posted 2009-09-25 03:10:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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