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Biker to Runner to Swim lessons????
rides4sanity
Posts: 1,269 Member
So here is the deal. I've never done a tri, but I'm committed to doing (at least) one next season. Not sure of the distance right now, it all depends on the swim.
I'm a fair to decent biker (100miles 17-19mph depending on terrain), an okay runner (10k in 52-55min), but I just signed up for swim lessons. Now I can play with the kids and not drown, but I have no experience really swimming. Most beginner guides for training are way to low on the bike/run for me, but the swim will be a chore. Since the weather is declining my outdoor biking will naturally shift to shorter sessions on the trainer, leaving me more time to swim & run, but how many days for each? What type of workouts? Do I just focus on swimming most days until I get it and only run/bike once a week to maintain?
I'm crazy competitive and tend to overtrain without a plan (sometimes even with a plan). I don't want to just finish, I want to do well. I'm having a hard time developing a training plan / schedule, any suggestions?
I'm a fair to decent biker (100miles 17-19mph depending on terrain), an okay runner (10k in 52-55min), but I just signed up for swim lessons. Now I can play with the kids and not drown, but I have no experience really swimming. Most beginner guides for training are way to low on the bike/run for me, but the swim will be a chore. Since the weather is declining my outdoor biking will naturally shift to shorter sessions on the trainer, leaving me more time to swim & run, but how many days for each? What type of workouts? Do I just focus on swimming most days until I get it and only run/bike once a week to maintain?
I'm crazy competitive and tend to overtrain without a plan (sometimes even with a plan). I don't want to just finish, I want to do well. I'm having a hard time developing a training plan / schedule, any suggestions?
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I would recommend swimming three days a week if schedule permits; two at minimum. The first session of the week lets you establish where you are for the week, the second is where adjustments are made and the third is when you push forward. I am a fairly good swimmer and my first swim session each week is nothing crazy. There are plans available on beginnertriathlete that are 8 weeks long and have a swim focus if you are interested in that sort of thing.0
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So here is the deal. I've never done a tri, but I'm committed to doing (at least) one next season. Not sure of the distance right now, it all depends on the swim.
I'm a fair to decent biker (100miles 17-19mph depending on terrain), an okay runner (10k in 52-55min), but I just signed up for swim lessons. Now I can play with the kids and not drown, but I have no experience really swimming. Most beginner guides for training are way to low on the bike/run for me, but the swim will be a chore. Since the weather is declining my outdoor biking will naturally shift to shorter sessions on the trainer, leaving me more time to swim & run, but how many days for each? What type of workouts? Do I just focus on swimming most days until I get it and only run/bike once a week to maintain?
I'm crazy competitive and tend to overtrain without a plan (sometimes even with a plan). I don't want to just finish, I want to do well. I'm having a hard time developing a training plan / schedule, any suggestions?
It's really hard to find off season plans. I tend to overtrain too and it's why I have a coach now. Anyway I agree with Drew in that you should swim 3 times a week. I tend to swim M, W, F. Monday is a recovery swim from whatever brutality I put my body through that weekend. I focus on form and rhythm. It's a slower than normal swim, but long. Wednesday is form drills. Friday is where you put it all together for speed work and/or endurance swim. How much you bike and run on top of that is really up to you. In season I do all 3 disciplines 3x a week for the most part.0 -
Thanks y'all0
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If swimming is your weakness, the more time in the pool the better. Finding a masters swim group would be highly recommended. It sounds like you're a natural born athlete, so my guess is, with consistent training, a can do attitude, and a good masters group helping you figure it all out? You're going to be tearing up triathlons a-plenty next season.
As far as the bike and run: You're so far along with those that you'll easily be able to match your bike/run training to your triathlon. To wit: sprint tri? speed work. Half Iron? distance.
Good luck, good training, have fun. Triathlons are nothing but great.0 -
Beginnertriathlete.com has many good plans. Since swimming is your weak sport, I would choose a plan that is swim focused. Also, take some basic stroke lessons as those will probably really help you at this point.0
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Sifted through the information and may have a plan of attack... I'm going to use the 20 week Olympic - Swim Focus plan, knowing that I will struggle on the swim. If by some act of God I can ramp my swimming up fast enough to be confident at the distance I'll go for it. Otherwise I'll compete in a Sprint, but this will keep my running and biking at a level I'm happy with.
What do you think?0 -
Sounds good to me! Try and focus on technique as much as you can. I would say that the swim is 70% technique, 30% fitness. If you can pull yourself smoothly through the water, then adding fitness comes naturally.0
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Sounds good to me! Try and focus on technique as much as you can. I would say that the swim is 70% technique, 30% fitness. If you can pull yourself smoothly through the water, then adding fitness comes naturally.
x2. You'll get to the point you can swim 1500m if you work at it consistantly. That really shouldn't be an issue.0
This discussion has been closed.