Triathlon - gym training?

Any thoughts on whether gym training (ie weight training) would be beneficial for triathletes? There is a great argument in the nutrition thread over weight training for endurance cyclists...but what about when running and swimming are involved?

Bart

Yes. Very good for the off season. Trinewbies.com has a program geared for endurance athletes.

Am guessing you are refering to endurance swimming and endurance running. Personally I believe (along with people who know far more about this such as my former coach Lydiard etc..) that weight training is generally a big no no, for endurance runners. Unless you are a field athlete or sprinter (those people truly are a different breed to endurance runners!) don't waste your time on weights (although I'd admit to giving weights an experimental use mainly out of curiousity IF I was ever to go and take 800m running seriously, but I'm not. Don't have the sheer speed for that, and besides you aren't talking about a 800m track race are you?).

As for swimming, have a little less experience with that at the top level (although I've been a swim coach, that was just at the lower level). But I'd guess it would be similar here to, are you going to be a 50m breaststoke swimmer? I'd guess not, you are probably looking at long distance open water swimming? And I'd say you are probably not right at the very elite level (were they are willing to give massive time investments such a weight training a go even if they are only going to get half a second improvement from it). In that case ignore swimming.

As for cycling, well that has been discussed at length else where here. But my conclusion is that if the cycling is for triathlons (as I'd guess from you asking about running and swimming) then don't bother with weight training (unless you are an elite athlete looking for the tinest little edge, in which case maybe... ).

I totally disagree with the prior post.
I think strength training offseason and during the season will enhance performance.
I have read a number of triathlon training books and they all recommend strength training.
This past year was my first year of doing tris. I did not do any strength training. I started strength training at the end of September. I know that my swim times have gotten faster and I feel stronger on the bike. I feel very good.
According to the tri training books strength training will help prevent injury and make you faster and have more endurance.
I am strength training 2 or 3 times a week now. I will do at least one day a week of strength training even during tri season.

This subject is highly debated. I have read several scientific articles (at work now, but if you are seriously interested I will dig them up for you) saying that it has little to no benefit. That said, several high end coaches recommend it – Joe Friel being one of them.

If you are going to do it then do it at the right time. Koffee had a good thread on this (have it bookmarked at home as well – let me know).

i guess you should ask yourself what your weakness is? i've done only biking so long, that i've pretty much ignored any upper body strength training. my legs are relatively strong, but i'm lacking in strength from the waste up. i, for one, would benefit greatly by working on core strength training.

i guess you should ask yourself what your weakness is? i've done only biking so long, that i've pretty much ignored any upper body strength training. my legs are relatively strong, but i'm lacking in strength from the waste up. i, for one, would benefit greatly by working on core strength training.

I did this for the past season, and I saw my swim times get gradualy worse. Swimming is hudge upper body strength that can be benifited my upper body strenth. Cycling, if you are doing alot of climbing, a stong upper body can bennifit, while obviously lower body weight training greatly bennifits your abbility to push bigger gears harder and still come off ready to run. Upper body strength unfortunatly adds mass, which affects your running, though lower body strength makes you faster, and you will recover faste commig off the bike. I am all for weight training for triathletes, but you have to find a balance between too muc, and not enough.