Triathlon - Trainning for atriatholn

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Elvish Legion

08-09-05, 11:11 PM

Ok well I am getting ready to start trainning for a tri. I've wanted to do tris since I watched to Sydney Olympics, my mom said she didn'tthink I could do it (I couldn't swim that far). But I want to prove everyone wrong. So I set out and say my doctor about my knee one last time before I start, he is sending me toa knee spec. So all that aside, what is the best way for a noob to start trainning for atri, I plan to do something short. This site (http://www.trifind.com/tx.html) has alist of tris and I figured I'd pick one that wasn't to long and just see how I did. Any advice? I'm an ex track, ex cross country, so I have a good idea of how to retrain my legs for the running (I am going to start running 7 miles a day, and around 20 on saturdays while taking wendsay and sunday off). My main concern is the swim, I can swim the distance but I haven't swam that far (1/4 mile or so) in a while, I used to swim a mile a day in the ocean in califorina.

Any advice, any books I should check out? I don't think I'll need a coach right now, if I get into it I'll look into a trainner.

Elvish

jdtschida

08-10-05, 07:14 AM

Hey, I'm in the same boat as you. I've been reading some of the articles at trinewbies.com. There are also a bunch of threads here that talk about how to get going as a new triathlon athlete. I know I was reading some other web sites too, just can't remember the URLs right now...

I'm going to be doing my first tri this September 3rd. 1/3mi swim, 10mi bike, 4mi run. For me the bike part is my best, then run, then swim. I've started doing "bricks", basically a hard bike ride followed by a run. Most articles suggest doing them about twice a week. I have never done any distance swimming, so I need to get going there, hope to get the gear I need before the weekend and hit the lake. :)

^*^BATMAN^*^

08-10-05, 08:08 AM

The best thing for swimming is to get a coach, havin a good stroke is super important. Other then that, for actual swimming, I would mix it up between doing laps in a pool(you can find workouts on the net), and open water swimming for endurance.

If you are unsure of your ability to swim long distances by yourself. Do it in the pool, were there are lifegaurds to watch you. I have been doing tris for a couple years, and have groun up in the water, as weel as I am a lifegaurd, even I dont do long distance swimming by myself, you never know what can happen.

TriBob

08-10-05, 10:31 AM

Triathlon 101 is a good intro book. It covers the basics and the relationship of cross-training.

KenMierke

08-10-05, 08:28 PM

TriBob

08-11-05, 08:33 AM

Books
The Triathlete's Training Bible by Joe Friel
The Triathlete's Guide to Run Training by Ken Mierke (www.Fitness-Concepts.com)

Videos
Total Immersion by Terry Laughlin (www.totalimmersion.net)
Evolution Running: Run Faster with Fewer Injuries by Ken Mierke and Joe Friel (www.EvolutionRunning.com)

I'll second these with some personal feedback. :)

Training Bible is well the bible for tri training; but, it can be overwhelming if you are new to structured training. I usually recommend it after your first season. Once you are hooked, you will have the enthusiasm to tackle it.

I recently got the Evolution Running DVD. Very good. After reading lots of stuff over the years and attending a tri clinic that included run evaluation I still picked up new things. Theory, verbal and visual explenation are good.

TI is good. If you can take a few swim lessons. Inexpensive. The personal feedback is well worth it to greatly reduce the learning curve.