Triathletes?

johnnyhodge

Hey il be entering my 1st Tri in April. (Olympic). I feel great about the riding/running but need to focus on swimming. How often do you swim per week while training? Add me.

sydneybeachgirl

I might not be the best role model for swimming training for a tri as I barely train for the swimming swimming is my best leg so I just do 1session in the pool a week -as a cool down from all the other training
if swimming is your weak one I would recommend doing at least 2 sessions a week in the pool . Remember it is always easier to do more of what you are good at as that comes naturally so you have to put in the effort to work on what is difficult for you. Swap one of your run or brisk sets to swim.
Also if swimming is hard for you then I would recommend doing some mini-tris for training: do the whole swim leg you are training for then do half of your run (cos that is easy for you) and half of your cycle - so that you spend most of your time with the most challenging leg..
this is why I invest most of my time of the week on running training
happy triathlons!

sydneybeachgirl

Also - if this is your 1st EVER tri - you might want to reconsider doing the olympic distance...why not start with a shorter one? a Tri is challenging cos you have to do the 3 different exercises with fair amount of distance each, back-to-back.i

t is not like running 5Miles ...by the time you get there you must have swam about 5, cycled 20 and that combination takes a lot out of everyone..I wouldnt do my 1st EVER tri as a Olympic distance...but I am a weak girl

johnnyhodge

Hey thanks for the advice. Maybe the Olympic isn't smart....but I know I would be fine on the riding/running. We'll see

PollyWolly98

2013 was my first Tri season. My weekly goal was to have 2 workouts from each of the sports, with one of those being a brick. I also would recommend starting with a sprint distance, just so you can work out all of the transition issues before your Oly distance. I'm focusing on running though the winter and will start back to the Tri training in April. Good luck!

sydneybeachgirl

I think it is best to build up for longer tris -.if you want to start with an Olympic 1.5k Swim, 40k Bike, 10k Run then you gotta be hiper fit.
I usually swim 2KMs every time I go to the pool yet the 1st tri I did was a fun tri (100metres swim, 6km cycle and 1km run) You can imagine - 100metres swim when I usually swim 2000....it is so short that it is not even worth getting in the pool for BUT I realised that I have to pick my weakest leg (running) and chose the tri distance in accordance to that rather than focusing on my best leg.

A tri is hard...you have to do all 3 of them...i think it is much better to work your way up then enter an event and be disappointed in yourself..

ka97

I generally swim twice a week when training. Doing an Oly as your first tri is an ambitious start. You might want to check out beginnertriathlete.com. They have a ton of different training plans, most of them free, as well as lots of other information and resources that would be helpful.

PLoveElliott

I thought I would add in my 2 cents. I don't at all think doing an Olympic is too much; my first official event was a half ironman (did a lot of small distance tris while in training). Ambition is great...but you just need to make sure that you are prepared. You have plenty of time to train....but you must train smart! Make sure to get in your brick workouts. If swimming is your weakest event then try and swim at least 3 times a week. Swimming in a pool is fine...but as the time draws closer to the event make sure to try and get some open water training in. Swimming in open water is different than swimming in a pool.
There are books out there that break down the training that might be helpful for you to read and follow the training program (if you don't already have one). Feel free to add me if you like. I am back in training this year as well. Competing in a metric bike event, a half AquaBike and the MS 2 day bike ride.

DangerJim71

I also did a half Ironman as my first tri and it really wasn't that big of a deal but I was very well trained for it. So if you want to do an Oly I'd say go for it.

I swam 4 times per week in training but it was my weakest leg and wanted to make sure I was prepared. As part of that preparation I did a lot of open water swimming in all sorts of conditions from cold, to rain, to windy and rough. Race day turned out to be brutally rough with 60+ swimmers needing help out of the water. I was not one of them because I was prepared physically and mentally.

johnnyhodge

Thanks for all the posts everyone!

walkinthedogs

Look into joining your local Master's swim team if you have one. Every spring we have an onslaught of "tri" people, but our coaches work really closely with them to get their strokes as efficient as possible, plus it's a coached workout and that's always beneficial. Just another idea.