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Training for an event like Triathlon can be very demanding, particularly if you are intending being competative.
Outlined below is my training program in preperation for the 2001 season. It the past I have worked on weekly programs. The trouble I have found is that if anything went wrong I felt a sense failure when I missed doing all the sessions in a week. So I trying a different approach this year. The idea is to plan the sessions I want to do each month, and just work through them. So pop back every month or so if you want to follow it.
I am also planning on publishing my summary of the months training, perhaps we could compare notes!
If you are new to triathlon and thinking of investing loads on
new kit, just beware. I tend to rush into things and bought a few
bits that I've lived to regret.
For what its worth here is my current kit list
- I use speedo futura, because they fit me. They don't need to
be flash, but the must fit well!
- Again Speedo because they fit well. I do now look for ones
made of a fabric they call 'Endurance' because it seems to last
longer. I go through a pair in about 6 months.
- Snugg, made to measure. Expensive (I paid 250ukp) but worth it to get a good fit. If I was to buy a new one now I'd probably go for an Orca, because they look cool!
Well obviously you are going to need a bike. I did my first tri
on a bike I bought for 30 quid from the free adds in the local
paper. I raced on it 4 times before I shelled out on what I
thought was a better one. Warning - get measured. Just because it
costs a lot doesn't mean its any good. I basically bought a good
frame that was just a bit too big. I have recently got ride of it
and will be buying a new one come the Spring.
You cannot race without one. They also make training a bit
safer.
You will need them to be comfortable, and easy to get in and
out of. Carnac are popular, but pricey. I have taken to wearing
Mountain biking shoes because they are easy to run in through
transition.
This is the ultimate in torture devices, they are boring and
hard work. However with the horrible winters we have in the UK it
can be the only way to get in some training without getting
soaking wet and freezing cold. When I first started I used a
turbo that I bought for 20 quid from the local free adds. I now
use a Tacx Grand Excel, again very expensive, but also very
flexible in what it can do. As it provided its resistance
magnetically, its very quiet.
The cheapest of the three disciplines, it is still worth spending
a bit to get a pair that fits well. I like Asics, again because
the fit well. I over pronate slightly and so need a shoe that
gives a reasonable amount of motion control. Best advice I've
ever been given is to go to a specialist running shoe and get
your gait looked at. My local shoe is Sports Shoes Unlimited, in
Bradford. They have a huge selection, and a good mail order
service.
My favourite bit of kit though is my Heart Rate monitor. I never
go out without it. I use it for all my running and biking.
Particularly useful for controlling your pace on long slow runs.
I use a Polar Accurex Plus and Interface Plus for downloading the
recorded data.
LSD - Long Slow Distance
Turbo - bike session carried out on a cycle trainer (turbo
trainer)
Tempo - Running at a brisk pace slightly slower than race pace
Pace - Run/Swim/Cycle at race pace
Fartlek - Speed play, mixing different speeds, surfaces and
stride patterns
Very Fast - Means, VERY FAST, flat out, eye balls out!
MHR - Maximum Heart Rate, I do all my cycling and running wearing
a monitor
After competing in the World Championships last April, I pick up
a niggling little injury that plagued me all season. As a result
I have put on loads of weight, and lost most of my base endurance
fitness.
My main priority at the moment is to recover some degree of
fitness so that I can train seriously. I have not trained
consistantly now for 7 months, although I did pick up the threads
briefly in September and October, I've lost all the benefit of
those sessions due to a total lack of training in November and
December.
My long term aims for the year are;
1: Reduce body weight by 12kg from 85kg to 73kg. I have put on a
lot of weight since November. This is a challenging target and I
expect it to take 5 months.
2: Train consistently, when I have trained consistently in the
past I have made progress, big surprise.
3: Complete a half Ironman race in under 6 hours (current PB is
6:02 so not much of a goal I know, but I am VERY unfit at the
moment)
Windsor (Olympic) (June)
Ironbridge (half-Ironman) (July)
Arran (half-Ironman) (August?)
Others I would like to do but are lower priority
Filey and Tadcaster, (sprints) (May)
Ripon (Olympic) (July)
Ilkley (Hard Sprint!) (September)
Hatfield
National Sprints (Sheffield)
Swim - 23 minutes for 1500
Bike - 70 minutes for 40k, complete a 10 mile time trial in less
than 30 minutes
Run - 45 minutes for 10 as part of a triathlon
(This would give a potential olympic time of 2:20 including
transitions)
Follow the links below to find exact details of the various training sessions