How long should you train for an Olympic triathlon?

For a beginner who has some recent background in fitness or sport, we suggest you give yourself at least 16 weeks to get fit and ready for an Olympic triathlon. The sooner you start, the more time you have to build up your fitness gradually. Fitness adaptations take weeks and months to occur, rather than days.

Is an Olympic triathlon hard?

Triathlon is probably the most difficult athletic discipline. It combines three sports which, when taken individually, are already among the most demanding: running, cycling and swimming.

How do beginners 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.

What do you need for an Olympic triathlon?

Seasoned triathletes usually have a specific list of triathlon items — and a specific way of laying it all out. The Must-Have Triathlon List:

1. Wear your triathlon clothing and shoes.
2. Bike.
3. Bike Carrier.
4. Bike Shoes.
5. Swim Goggles.
6. Wetsuit, if needed.
7. Bike helmet.
8. Sunglasses.

What is a good time for a first triathlon?

For the beginner triathlete, it will take about 1 hour 50 minutes to complete their first sprint distance triathlon. If we break down the average sprint triathlon time, this should take the novice triathlete around 2 minutes per 100 m in the swim. 1 hour for the bike leg, and up to 30 minutes to complete the run.

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.

What is the hardest part of a triathlon?

The hardest part of triathlon is the constant mental game your mind is playing with you. It starts right when you hear the word triathlon for the first time and never stops. Most people fear open water swimming and see that as a barrier to even start triathlon.

Which is harder a marathon or triathlon?

A marathon is a set distance but a triathlon varies. So let’s assume you mean a full Ironman triathlon- then the answer is easy: the triathlon is harder, due to the need to train 3 sports, with the run distance being the same as the stand alone marathon, but coming after a swim, and bike in the triathlon.

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.

Can you walk in a triathlon?

You can walk during the running portion of a triathlon, but please don’t “crawl.” In typical legalese style, the ITU defines crawling as “the action by an athlete of bringing three or more limbs in contact with the ground, either together or in any sequence, to enable forward propulsion” [source: ITU].

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

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.

Should you wear socks in a triathlon?

While you won’t need socks for swimming, you’ll likely want to keep your feet dry and comfortable through the cycling and running legs of your triathlon. In fact, even the professionals had to work their way up to wearing no socks for their races.

Do I need a triathlon race belt?

During the race you will normally need to wear a race number so a number belt can be really useful as you will need to change the position of the race number during each stage. Usually on your back for the bike stage and on the front for the run stage.

Do you wear anything under a tri suit?

The answer is no. You should not wear underwear (except a sports bra) under your trisuit in a race. Additionally, your underwear could retain water and counteract the quick drying properties of your suit.