Triathletes: How often do you train?

Oryx

I'm just starting into tri training, and its very hard to do all the required bike/swim/run/weight training in one week without becoming overtrained or divorced.

I'm curious as to how often others train. Just finding the time is a problem for me, and I'm not sure what to focus on most. I want to train smart cos I havent got the time to train long hours. So I'm interested in what y'all do, and what works best with anyone who has time contstraints.

Thanks.

catweazle

I train more or less every day but more often then not it is just a quick 45 minutes at lunchtime, where i work there is a gym next door. My worst time is at weekends when I should be putting in longer sessions, sometimes harder to make time for it then

MCOS

Hi Oryx this year was my first season at Tri and I averaged 8-9hours a week for training.

What I would recommend is to first pick and event and determine what you would like to get out of next summer. Do you want to do a sprint or an olympic distance tri? Just the one or will you give a few a bash?

How would you rate you swimming, cycling, running fitness?

IIRC you have Tough Guy under your belt so a sprint Tri will be a doddle to you

I found that focusing on swimming last winter did wonders for my swim confidence (I was a newbie in the pool) in the summer and now I love swimming. Like you I had run the DCM so I tried to get more cycling than running done over the winter too. I seemed to take to the bike though so I conentrated on Running again in jan, feb.

Even at 6 hours a week you can bias the training towards any of the discipline for example

Swim focus 6 hours
3 swims (45min each)
2 runs (30min+60min)
1 bike (90min)
1 core or xt (45mins)

Bike focus 6 hours
1 swim (1hour)
2 runs (30min+60min)
2 bike (1hr+2hr)
1 core (30min)

Run focus 6 hours
2 swims (45min each)
4 runs (30+30+30+60mins)
1 bike (90mins)
1 core (30mins)

Recovery focus 4.5 hours
1 swim (1hour)
1 run(1hour)
1 bike (1 hour)
2 core (45mins each)

2 months of that and you would fly through a tri

tunney

Oryx wrote: »

I'm just starting into tri training, and its very hard to do all the required bike/swim/run/weight training in one week without becoming overtrained or divorced.

I'm curious as to how often others train. Just finding the time is a problem for me, and I'm not sure what to focus on most. I want to train smart cos I havent got the time to train long hours. So I'm interested in what y'all do, and what works best with anyone who has time contstraints.

Thanks.

It doesn't matter what others do, I know some that train 30 hours a week, some that do 3. All you can do is what suits your goals and lifestyle. That being said if you are skipping weekend rides cause of hangovers........

Regarding over-training - you don't overtrain, you under recover. A subtle but important difference.

Oryx

MCOS, if I could thank you twice I would. Just the kind of help I was looking for. Six hours is about what I can give it now, but I need more structure now than for anything I did before.

tunney wrote:

Regarding over-training - you don't overtrain, you under recover. A subtle but important difference.

And its something I have trouble with.

I drink one can of cider a week. Its almost ceremonial. Cant remember last having a hangover.

MrCreosote

Averaged 8 hrs/week myself for olympic distance tris. It varied from 5-10 hrs during the year. Most weeks I'd have one day completely off.

It does feel like you're never doing enough in any one discipline, but it's better to think of it not as training for three separate sports, but for one-triathlon. Does it matter if you can do 40k in under 1 hour on the bike if you can't run after it?

For me the things that made the biggest difference were: cycling to work, and doubling up sessions- brick sessions or a cycle straight from the pool. Not always ideal but if there's only limited time...

Top notch post from MCOS there!

Best of luck with the training

airscotty

Im doing 3 swims - 2:45, 3 runs - 3hrs +/-, 2 bikes - 1long 3hrs, 1spin session 1hr, 2weights - 1hr

Though im a student so have a lil more free time at the moment.

Last year i was doing 2swims, 1 run and 1 cycle and got on really well so even if you could do that much you'd be flying!! Also combining training with traveling to/from work is a great help.

pgibbo

Some weeks I get 3 sessions of swim, bike and run. Other weeks I may not. A lot depends on life & work demands, etc. Enjoy training and know your weaknesses. Use the post from MCOS above to work on those weaknesses. Mine are the swim and bike so I try to ensure a level of consistancy with them and have a minimum of 2 of each per week, ideally 3 though. I also enjoy quick hit 20 to 30 minute gym sessions twice a week to supplement MA training. So it's early mornings and lunchtimes for me to keep things fair for my OH. No point doing it if you're not enjoying it!

Also, take the advice of people like hunnymonster, tunney, MCOS, et al. They know what they're talking about regarding triathlon and training, etc. Best of luck on your venture. I have no doubt you'll be bitten by the bug... :cool:

Bambaata

I train daily but i do miss the odd day due to family, lifestyle commitments. I try to limit those missed days. Sessions are varied so that i dont over stress the body and allow it time to recover.

That said i was away working at 6am the last two mornings and wasnt home until after 22:00 so ive missed two days in a row now :-( not happy with that at all but i had been told id be home before 7 both days! Bloody liars!!