20 replies to this topic

[Heids27]

Just wondering if anyone knows of any good beginner tri training programs on the web or in any current magazines etc?

Ive had a bit of a search in past threads but havent been able to find an actual program. I've never done a tri before but have been doing alot of running (2 half marathons in last 2 months) and now looking at doing an enticer or short distance tri. I have a bike and can swim but havent done much of either lately. Swimming would definitely be my weakest leg.

I've looked at joining a club but keen to find a bit of a beginner program in case i cant make all the club sessions. If anyone knows of any good ones or has one they wouldnt mind sharing id be very grateful

[ratdog]

Heids27, on Aug 25 2009, 08:32 AM, said:

Just wondering if anyone knows of any good beginner tri training programs on the web or in any current magazines etc?

Ive had a bit of a search in past threads but havent been able to find an actual program. I've never done a tri before but have been doing alot of running (2 half marathons in last 2 months) and now looking at doing an enticer or short distance tri. I have a bike and can swim but havent done much of either lately. Swimming would definitely be my weakest leg.

I've looked at joining a club but keen to find a bit of a beginner program in case i cant make all the club sessions. If anyone knows of any good ones or has one they wouldnt mind sharing id be very grateful

Have a look at this site, it has a few good programs and great advice.

Join a swim squad and practice your stroke, check out this site for swimming technique tips.

[Mouse]

Triathlon Geek also has some good training plans.

If you are running well already, I would go for a sprint rather than an enticer. I agree with Ratty in regards to squads but the difference between the best and worst swimmer is usually minutes but on the bike and run it can be hours!

[Heids27]

Thanks Ratdog and Mouse i am checking out those sites now

Mouse: Re doing the sprint tri - i would like to, however the race im looking at doing is on 18 October which doesnt leave me too long to get the swim and bike legs happening? The programs im looking at so far all seem to be around the 16 week mark...do you think feasibly 8 weeks is enough time to prepare for a sprint distance?

I think the race is 400 swim/15k cycle/4 k run whereas the enticer is 200/10km/2km...i guess im worried i wouldnt be ready in time?

[TynoMite]

Heids27, on Aug 25 2009, 01:23 PM, said:

I think the race is 400 swim/15k cycle/4 k run whereas the enticer is 200/10km/2km...i guess im worried i wouldnt be ready in time?

TriNewbies has a 10 week sprint program
And a Getting Started article:
http://www.trinewbies.com/tno_getstart/tno...tarticle_01.asp

If you can do a half, you have more than enough endurance to do a sprint tri.
In this case it comes down to your swim.
If you can swim 100m already, go for the 400/15/4.
Or wait til you do 2 or 3 swim sessions and decide and see how you're tracking.

EDIT:
OK, so based on your location and distances, you're doing the Raby Bay Gatorade tri.
I would say definitely go the longer distance.
Things to consider -
Raby Bay is usually a very busy race location. You'd want to be comfortable with a crowd.
There's also a Bribie Tri on that day with a 300m/13km/3km distance. (http://www.bribietri.com/)
How that might affect either crowd I don't know.

Edited by TynoMite, 25 August 2009 - 06:44 PM.

[Frognastie]

Try Multisport Tri Mag - It has a good Clinic guide in each issue which covers all the basic's and gives some execellent tips as well.

Good luck

[getfitfast]

TynoMite, on Aug 25 2009, 07:35 PM, said:

TriNewbies has a 10 week sprint program
And a Getting Started article:
http://www.trinewbies.com/tno_getstart/tno...tarticle_01.asp

I've been off running a while due to an injury...but have recently taken up learning to swim and bought my first bike...

Am I just dreaming or totally crazy about thinking of doing a tri...

The website above is great...

Any suggestions for a sprint event mid next year?

Any newbie triathaletes in the Beecroft / Epping area?

gff

[FitzCameron]

I've been thinking about this as well - for me, I have been swimming an average of 3 x week for 5+ years (1Km a time) and running heaps so the bike leg will be potentially my weakest leg.

I haven't been on a bike for ages and am considering a sprint in November 500m swim (easy) 20Km bike (not sure) 5km run (again easy)

all of these I can do separately - any opinions on putting them all together????

Pretty much all of the websites I see say that for most people the bike leg is the easiest - whilst it will be straightforward for me, has anybody done say a 20Km with minimal (read potentially zero) training and how does this affect the running component?


FC

[WrongGenes]

FitzCameron, on Oct 6 2009, 10:30 AM, said:

all of these I can do separately - any opinions on putting them all together????

Hey FC,

Beginning of last year I did my first triathlon (enticer distance which was something like 300m swim, 10k ride and 2k run). Enjoyed it so much I have kept going and just last weekend I did my first half ironman on the Gold Coast.

With what you can do now separately and the training you should be able to easily do a sprint distance triathlon like you have described. The bike is usually the "easiest" leg and if you are a runner you should be able to get through it even though you lack practice.

The only tip that I have about your bike leg is that you might want to practice at least one brick session in training where you go for a ride and then a run straight after. You don't have to do the whole distances, but the idea is to get used to your legs feeling funny on the run after the bike - they eventually do improve.

Apart from that just try and relax on the day and have fun - make sure you get there with plenty of time to have a good look around and familiarise yourself with where you go when - if in doubt ask a marshall, they will always be very helpful.

I remember on my first one I was pedalling around on an old $100 mountain bike, waving and smiling - good times

[FitzCameron]

I bit the bullet and signed up for the sprint on 8th November. time to (literally) dust off the bike and see how it goes....

FC

[Phoenix]

ratdog, on Aug 25 2009, 10:24 AM, said:

Join a swim squad and practice your stroke, check out this site for swimming technique tips.

Mr Smooth is great. There are some excellent swimers at work who have been trying to coach me through stroke correction through their words of wisdom, butthis site allows you to visualise the stroke very well. Can't wait to jump back into the pool now.

Edited by Phoenix, 08 October 2009 - 08:07 PM.

[SirPlod]

I reckon that if you can run a half, you’ll be able to do two sprint Tri’s back to back and still have enough gas in the tank to run home with your bike on your shoulder.

When I did my first Sprint Tri last year I couldn’t run more than 1.5km without a walk break.

My training for the sprint Tri was something like –

Couch to 5k program
10 km ride every second or third day
5 or 6 sessions of 500m in the pool (total)

I finished with no problems –and this was carrying about 25 kg or so too much.

Many people who do sprint Tri’s practically doggy paddle the swim.

I reckon you’ll be absolutely fine to do it tomorrow if you can run a half. Unless you’re going for a pro time?

[Paul Every]

getfitfast, on Oct 6 2009, 09:59 AM, said:

I've been off running a while due to an injury...but have recently taken up learning to swim and bought my first bike...

Am I just dreaming or totally crazy about thinking of doing a tri...

The website above is great...

Any suggestions for a sprint event mid next year?

Any newbie triathaletes in the Beecroft / Epping area?

gff

GFF, check out Northern Suburbs Tri Club http://nstc.org.au/

It is small, friendly club based around St Ives/Terrey Hills. Swim coaching (focusing on technique more than straight squad hit out) is regularly conducted by Pete Jacobs (current Aust Long Course and Ironman Champion).

NSTC's next club tri is on Sunday 18 October http://nstc.org.au/f...c.php?f=1&t=434 The events are low key and welcoming to newbies, with a pool swim, handicapped timing giving everyone a crack at line honours, and attract a spread of ages and abilities.

It might also be worth checking out Hornsby Tri Club. Their Friday night biathlons should kick off soon now daylight saving has commenced.

[Paul Every]

SirPlodAlong, on Oct 8 2009, 04:53 PM, said:

I reckon that if you can run a half, you’ll be able to do two sprint Tri’s back to back and still have enough gas in the tank to run home with your bike on your shoulder.

I'm with you, SirPA.

I think more than a few tri newbies on this site become unnecessarily intimidated by their first triathlon(s).

If you enter the sport from a running background you will have endurance to burn for triathlon.

My rule of thumb for runners selecting a debut triathon:

If you can nearly run the total distance of the triathlon, as long as you have your swimming together enough to complete a bit over half of the swim distance in a training, you should finish fairly easily on race day, even with a limited bike preparation.

So if you are a half marathon runner who can swim 400 metres in the pool, you can easily do 750/20/5 on race day. Or if you are a marathoner who can swim 800 metres, you can comfortably finish an ODTri of 1.5/40/10.

You can think, worry and wonder about your first tri for ages, but if you run and swim, the quickest and most enjoyable way to become comfortable and improve with triathlon is just getting out and doing some races. Everthing else will follow from there.

[EverReadyBunny]

Hi FitzCameron,


If anyone has gone into things with minimal training I am a culprit. I entered my 1st tri at Newcastle called an Enticer and from memory all the distances were around what you are about to do.

I figured how far could 20km be on the bike and sure enough I had no problem doing it. Okay I confess maybe a couple of rides would have been good just so I would know to change gears.

I finished with no problems, although my chain did come off - that was totally user error and the grease mark on my forehead remains a mystery to me. I still recall my friend asking how it happened and my answer the chain came off and my friend then asking what did you put it on with your forehead. Funny when the chain came off I looked around for someone to help me before I realised it was up to me to sort it out and so I did.

Anyway jump in and enjoy. That's what life is all about.

By the way you have time for a couple of rides if you want

[ratdog]

Paul Every, on Oct 8 2009, 04:48 PM, said:

I'm with you, SirPA.

I think more than a few tri newbies on this site become unnecessarily intimidated by their first triathlon(s).

If you enter the sport from a running background you will have endurance to burn for triathlon.

My rule of thumb for runners selecting a debut triathon:

If you can nearly run the total distance of the triathlon, as long as you have your swimming together enough to complete a bit over half of the swim distance in a training, you should finish fairly easily on race day, even with a limited bike preparation.

So if you are a half marathon runner who can swim 400 metres in the pool, you can easily do 750/20/5 on race day. Or if you are a marathoner who can swim 800 metres, you can comfortably finish an ODTri of 1.5/40/10.

You can think, worry and wonder about your first tri for ages, but if you run and swim, the quickest and most enjoyable way to become comfortable and improve with triathlon is just getting out and doing some races. Everthing else will follow from there.

This is Coolrunning Gold.

+1

[getfitfast]

Paul Every, on Oct 8 2009, 05:26 PM, said:

GFF, check out Northern Suburbs Tri Club http://nstc.org.au/

It is small, friendly club based around St Ives/Terrey Hills. Swim coaching (focusing on technique more than straight squad hit out) is regularly conducted by Pete Jacobs (current Aust Long Course and Ironman Champion).

NSTC's next club tri is on Sunday 18 October http://nstc.org.au/f...c.php?f=1&t=434 The events are low key and welcoming to newbies, with a pool swim, handicapped timing giving everyone a crack at line honours, and attract a spread of ages and abilities.

It might also be worth checking out Hornsby Tri Club. Their Friday night biathlons should kick off soon now daylight saving has commenced.

Thanks Paul..great information...

I got my bike last week and had a coaching session on Saturday at Cenntenial Park..I really felt intimdated my all the swish cyclist...am I the only one who feels this way..

I think the running fraternity is so great..not sure I will get the same in the tri fraternity...

will check these sites out..

gff

[Heids27]

Hi everyone!
Well im doing the enticer this weekend...i probably should have gone in for the spirnt distance one but i felt more ocmfortable re the swim leg just trying the enticer first up. I ahve been swimming twice a week for 6 weeks now so hoping i will be ok!

I figure if i like this one and do ok in it then i will try for the sprint distance next time!

Does anyone have any swim tips for the tri leg...im scared of getting kicked in the head or something?!Probably inevitable but any tips from old hands??

[paigebaby]

You will be fine Heids27. I entered my first enticer last year with no bike riding experience (except riding to school as a kid) and not being able to run 1km without a walk break.
I finish no problems (very slow) and since then have done a couple more.
Just enjoy the day and soon you will be addicted.
With the swim, just hang back a bit at the start and let all the speedy ones go first then you will have clear water. What little time you lose at the beginning of the swim you will more than make up for on the run to transition and the run leg itself.

Edited by paigebaby, 14 October 2009 - 02:53 PM.

[twosheds]

Heids27, on Oct 14 2009, 01:09 PM, said:

Hi everyone!
Well im doing the enticer this weekend...i probably should have gone in for the spirnt distance one but i felt more ocmfortable re the swim leg just trying the enticer first up. I ahve been swimming twice a week for 6 weeks now so hoping i will be ok!

I figure if i like this one and do ok in it then i will try for the sprint distance next time!

Does anyone have any swim tips for the tri leg...im scared of getting kicked in the head or something?!Probably inevitable but any tips from old hands??

I did my first swim at Mooloolaba this year. Find your "inner bitch" just keeep swimming. I dont usually kick when swimming- but kicked in the tri just to get some space. Its not as bad as people tell you- have a good time
Im doing my first full tri on Sunday too- the sprint distance- bit nervous but should be fine. You should come and join the squad at Oxley Pool - Monday Wed, Friday am 5:30am if it suits - Its fun to train with a squad-
twosheds

[getfitfast]

Paul Every, on Oct 8 2009, 05:26 PM, said:

GFF, check out Northern Suburbs Tri Club http://nstc.org.au/

It is small, friendly club based around St Ives/Terrey Hills. Swim coaching (focusing on technique more than straight squad hit out) is regularly conducted by Pete Jacobs (current Aust Long Course and Ironman Champion).

NSTC's next club tri is on Sunday 18 October http://nstc.org.au/f...c.php?f=1&t=434 The events are low key and welcoming to newbies, with a pool swim, handicapped timing giving everyone a crack at line honours, and attract a spread of ages and abilities.

It might also be worth checking out Hornsby Tri Club. Their Friday night biathlons should kick off soon now daylight saving has commenced.

Hey..I have cheked out NSTC..sounds like a good club to get started with..my main focus at the moment is learning to cycle with confidence.

I have also come across the Hills Tri club..

Does anyone have any views on which is more suitable for an older newbie?

Hills is a lot more convient for me..but I'm really looking to find a group that will be suitable for me..

gff