Advice on Tri training.

rides4sanity

Posted this on a Beginner Tri Group Page but didn't get much response, thought try my faithful biker buds...

Y'all know 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?

Cyclink

Your question is a little too wide. Your best bet is to pick up a book on the topic (Friel, Carmichael, or other author) and then post specific questions after you have already read the basics and have some sticking points.

If you haven't even picked a distance yet, it's even harder to answer. Training for a sprint tri will be different from an Oly tri or an Iron Man.

rides4sanity

Training for a sprint is the aadvice I've been given. If I find that my swimming is not as sucky as I think I may up it. Thanks for the author suggestions. Being so new to the idea, I'm wasn't even sure what books were best.

TRHuston

I'm a bit slower of a runner than you, matched in biking and know how to swim, but not well. I did my first sprint tri in August. I felt that I definitely could've done a longer one after the race. I was most nervous about swimming, but you can get from point A to point B with any stroke you choose. My training plan included lots of "brick" work outs: doing the riding-transition-to-running at least 2X/week. This way you get used to the jelly legs after a hard pedal. As long as you are able to do all 3, it's just a matter of finding your stroke, cadence and pace. I know this is pretty vague, but if I can do it, trust me, anyone can. Also, don't forget to practice your transitions. It's basically the fourth discipline of a tri. Good luck!

IronmanPanda

Get yourself a swim lesson. Swimming is more form dependent than anything else. Alternately check out Total Immersion or Swim Smooth. Getting lessons was the best investment I made in my swimming.

Cgirlish

My first tri I did ...I didnt even know how to swim freestyle ... but was comfortable in the water since we had a pool growing up ... I would say you could do any distance you think you could make it thru swimming, since your bike and run times are good once you
get out of the water you will probably pass alot of people on those events.

You are already taking a step in the right direction and taking swim lessons, you will be doing an ironman before you know it

rides4sanity

Thanks all, I'm nervously excited about swim lessons.