Triathlon Blog

Janet Wilson wrote an article with 7 tips for triathlon beginners:

As a beginner to triathlon, you probably have a lot of questions. The best advice I have for a beginner’s first triathlon is to take it easy and to have a good time - it’s not brain surgery and should be fun.

Here are seven tips for the triathlon beginner:

1. For beginners, triathlon training should be targeted to a shorter distance race - almost always a sprint triathlon. Sometimes you can even find a beginner triathlon advertised in your area. Today races fill up pretty quick, so pick a race and sign up now (this will also give you a goal race to keep you committed).

2. Come up with a triathlon training plan. There are some great beginner triathlon training plans available on the web.

3. Triathlon beginners usually need to work on their swimming. So the next step is to find a pool where you can train. If you can find one with a swim coach or masters swimming program that is ideal. Otherwise, try to get a more experienced triathlete or certified triathlon coach to help. You’ll find several additional swimming tips here on my site.

4. Beginner triathlon training mileage should be reasonable. You will be tempted to over train at the beginning, especially if you are already a strong athlete. Try to resist the temptation. Triathlon beginners should work on their weakest event the most, and just make sure they can finish the other events. You can build speed after you finish your first race.

5. Practice your transitions, but don’t go overboard. A beginner triathlon bike leg transition is especially good to practice by doing a few “brick” workouts - where you complete a bike workout and then go for a run before you cool down. But take it easy. Just make sure you have all your triathlon gear ready and that you know how you plan to get it on and off in the transition area. That is plenty of preparation for your first triathlon.

6. Listen to pre-race instructions carefully and ask questions if you have them. Everyone was a triathlon beginner once, so don’t be embarrassed to ask questions. It seems like almost every triathlon has some slightly different setup, so even professionals have to ask questions about things like where to rack a bike, how to get from the swim area to the bikes, where the bike dismount area is and other details. If you have questions, ask.

7. Relax and enjoy your first triathlon. Don’t forget to have fun during the intensity of the race. Take pride in the fact that you reached your goal. If you have any challenges (the most common are mechanical problems on the bike) just remember that this is your first race. Remind yourself that you are just “learning the ropes” - don’t add performance pressure until you have first proven to yourself that you can do it.

If you follow these seven tips you’ll have a great first triathlon - and be on your way to going from a “beginner triathlete” to a “competitive” one.

http://www.coach-janet.com Triathlon Coach Janet Wilson is a USAT certified triathlon coach and ACE certified personal trainer. Janet is an accomplished and nationally-ranked amateur triathlete and she coaches triathletes of all skill levels, from a triathlon beginner to Hawaii Ironman qualifiers. To learn more about triathlon training, swim tips, coaching programs or just great tips on how to stay in shape visit her website at http://www.coach-janet.com

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In her article, Top Ten Tips for a Fast Transition, Lynda Wallenfels explains the importance of a fast triathlon transition:

Newbie triathletes generally regard the transition area as a place to rest and regroup - a place to celebrate the completion of one leg of the race and prepare for the next. Sometimes, it feels like the gravity in transition areas is ten times normal with food, drink, sunscreen and friendly volunteers happy to chat.

Out on the race course everybody is pushing forward in the same direction but in the transition area, athletes are milling around in all directions and the sense of racing can disappear. How many hours of swim practice would it take to lop two minutes off your swim time? Probably hundreds, maybe even thousands. How many hours of transition practice would it take to lop two minutes off your transition time? Maybe only one!

What do you think?

Triathlete Magazine has the following suggestions for anyone preparing for their first triathlon:

1. Choose the event you want to compete in

This may be a local race, such as Boulder Peak, or you may want to jump into a national event such as the Chicago Triathlon. It is up to you, but make sure that it is something that excites you and motivates you to get to the start line. Look for an appropriate event soon, as the most popular events fill up very quickly. Finally, pick an event at least three months away so you have time to prepare for it.

2. Get a coach and a training partner

Once you have decided upon completing your first triathlon, drag a friend/partner/relative into it with you, and consider finding a coach. There are some good reasons for this. Training with someone is more fun and more inspiring. Those mornings your pillow is calling you back to bed, the knowledge that someone is waiting for you will make you get out of bed. Working with a coach is a good idea, as they will actively work to keep you motivated while guiding you through your first season.

3. Do some research

If you are going to invest time into preparing for a triathlon, you might as well do it right. Spend a day or two tracking down some triathlon resources. A great way to begin training for triathlon is to read one of the many triathlon-related books on the market. Your local library, or the neighborhood bookstore, is full of resources that can provide you with all kinds of information on triathlon. Everything from goal setting, guidelines for purchasing tri-related equipment and motivational stories are included in these books. Another useful source of information is the Internet. There are entire chat groups and hundreds of Web sites dedicated to triathlon, and many coaching services can be found online.

4. Finding facilities

You will need to find some facilities in which to practice. While running can be done outside almost all year round (dress appropriately!), biking and swimming are much tougher to do as the temperature drops and the snow builds. Most communities have at least one pool, and many gyms offer spin classes, which work well in lieu of outdoor riding. The local YM-YWCA will be a good, inexpensive choice, but depending on your schedule and budget there may well be other options. Pick a facility that motivates you to go, taking all factors into consideration; even if a gym has nice scenery and state-of-the-art machines, if you have to fight traffic after work to get there you may end up avoiding the place.

5. Developing a program

You’ve taken the hardest step — the first one. You’ve decided to begin training, but don’t train in vain. Train smart. You want to get the most you can from the time you are investing in training. More doesn’t always equal better.

Having a program to follow will help you to maintain your motivation, get you to workouts and develop your burgeoning talent. The best way to ensure that you are maximizing your training is to get a coach, but if that is not a viable option, it is possible to figure out your own training plan by doing some research.

One common mistake new triathletes make when starting out is training their best event. Running fast after struggling through a swim practice gives them a feeling of confidence. Nobody is equally strong in all three disciplines of triathlon, so focus more on your primary area for improvement so you become a well-rounded triathlete. For example, if you are a weaker swimmer, try to hit the pool three times a week and bike and run twice a week.

Read entire triathletemag.com article by Lance Watson.

I plan to use Lance Watson’s article as a guide as I prepare for my first triathlon. What do you think?