Re: Triathalon Training - Triathlon Week

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

John Bianchi wrote:
> I did serveral triathalons while in college, but that was over ten
year ago.
>
> This year I began training to do a few sprint triathalons at the end
of
> summer. Time (both the aging process and the fact that
responsibilities
> have entered my life) has now shifted from trying to win my age group
to
> trying to complete the tri in a respectable time. I'm definitely not
just
> happy to finish the event.
>
> However, it seems the books and articles I read are either based on
trying
> to survive your first tri or couch potato to tri in 12 weeks or
written
> towards a semi-pro triathalete (And I certainly don't have the budget
to
> afford professional coaching).
>
> Right now I'm trying to do three sessions each week for each activity
(9
> sessions, plus two sessions per week in the gym) and many of the
articles
> and books suggest 4 sessions per week per activity.
>
> So, if I drop down to a 2 sessions per week per activity, how big of
an
> impact is that going to have on my overall time? For a typical
sprint tri
> (1/4 mi Swim; 12 mi Bike; 5K Run), I'm shooting for 70 minutes. Is
this
> reasonable on 2 sessions per week?
>
> What are you guys doing?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Darrin

Darrin- I am training for an Olympic Distance and will share with you
my schedule. I was a long distance runner all through school. Since
graduating I have slipped in my running, and am beginning to gain
weight! I decided to train for some local tri's in my area. I don't
plan on competing until next year as I have started too late. So I
developed my schedule as follows:

Sun: Off/Rest Day
Mon: AM- Swim (AT) PM- Bike (EN)
Tue: AM- Run (EN) PM- Bike (AT)
Wed: AM- Swim (EN) PM- Run (AT)
Thu: AM- Swim (EN) PM- Bike (EN)
Fri: AM- Bike (AT) PM- Run (EN)
Sat: AM- Brick (AT) PM- Swim (AT)

Mon and Thu are weight training days also. EN=Endurance AT=Anaerobic
Threshold. Saturday morning is an alternating brick workout
(swim/bike, bike/run) where I exercise at near peak performance
focusing also on transitions. When the winter hits, I will replace the
run with a cross country ski. I do not have a coach or club
membership. This is all done at or around my house. My local
university allows me to swim/weight-train at no charge. Also, this
schedule fits my daily routine.

I hope this helped. I plan on being a peak performance Spring 2005 and
making my competetors "run for their money' so-to-speak.

Aaron