How many days a week should I train for a triathlon?

If you are a beginner, running three times per week is a good place to start—eventually moving up to four or five times per week depending on your race distance. For intermediate and advanced athletes, running five or six times per week can provide increased speed.

How often do triathletes train?

The truth is that most age group triathletes excel with around 9-14 hours per week of training. You can accomplish a lot with 10 hours a week if you stay focused, put everything into your intervals and cut out all the junk miles and wasted time like long bike stop groups and hanging out in the locker room to talk.

How long should you train for a triathlon?

When to begin: In general, if you are aiming to complete your first sprint triathlon, plan for at least 12 weeks of training prior to your event. If you are very healthy, physically fit, and familiar with swimming, biking and running, an 8-week build program could be sufficient.

How do you get in shape for a triathlon?

Depending on your current level of fitness, you’ll likely need at least 8 –12 weeks of consistent training before a super sprint (400-meter swim, 10K bike, 2.5K run) or sprint distance triathlon (750-meter swim, 20K bike, 5K run). Each week, plan to train 4–6 hours of total exercise time over five days.

How heavy should triathletes lift?

Advanced lifters should be able to lift 85% or higher of their 1 rep max, but as a general guideline, you should aim to lift the heaviest weight that you can maintain throughout the sets, without compromising form.

Can you train for a triathlon in 4 weeks?

Sprint Training Plan: The Program This sprint training plan begins six weeks prior to your first sprint triathlon. Before starting, you should be generally aerobically fit and able to swim, bike and run. Weeks 4 and 5 continue to focus on race-pace fitness, and will give you practice running off the bike.

How should a beginner train for a triathlon?

If you’re not already going to the gym a few days a week, start your training with four weeks of doing some type of cardiovascular exercise two to three times a week, just to build your base. “As a beginner triathlete starts their training, I suggest doing two swims, two bikes and two runs per week,” says Ms.

How many hours a week should you train?

Get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity. The guidelines suggest that you spread out this exercise during the course of a week. Greater amounts of exercise will provide even greater health benefit.

Can you backstroke in a triathlon?

Triathlons allow swimmers to utilize any stroke and as many different strokes as preferred to propel themselves through the water. Not only can the competitive strokes be used but others as well, e.g. sidestroke, elementary backstroke, trudgen crawl even treading water.

Is training for a triathlon healthy?

Although it remains true that people who exercise are generally healthier than those who don’t, a study published this month in Mayo Clinic Proceedings and a study presented last week to the American College of Sports Medicine find excessive training for ultramarathons, Olympic-length triathlons and other endurance

Do you swim in a tri suit?

In a triathlon you want to wear what is called a triathlon suit or a triathlon kit (a top/bottom combo) designed to be worn in the swim, the bike, and finally the run. In other words, you do not take it off! With the exception of the wetsuit (if needed), you need not put on any other piece of clothing.

How difficult is a triathlon?

For most, the hardest part will be either the swim or the run. The swim is obviously the most challenging leg of the event if you don’t know how to swim (see below)​. The run poses problems especially if you carry more weight than you should, and have been sedentary for many years.

Is a triathlon the same as an Ironman?

All Ironman races are triathlons, but not all triathlons are Ironman races. A Triathlon refers to a race that consists of three disciplines completed back to back; swimming, cycling and running. There are other triathlons that cover the same distances, but these are simply called ‘Iron-distance races’.