It doesn’t seem to matter if you’re on foot, behind the steering wheel, or even holding a game controller in your hands- you love the feeling of crossing the finish line. A triathlon is the perfect challenge for you. You technically cross 3 finish lines, in a row, and get to prove your prowess in the water, on wheels, and on foot.
Here’s what you need to know to start training for a triathlon.
What is a Triathlon?
Triathlons are all about challenging yourself to swim, bike, and run to the best of your ability. While you compete against others technically, many people participating in triathlons are really just there to beat their best time or prove to themselves they can do it.
There are several variations of distances for triathlons depending on skill level. The sprint version is the shortest and is recommended for beginners.
In a sprint distance marathon, you will:
- Swim 0.5 miles
- Bike 12.4 miles
- Run 3.1 miles
It’s wise to look up the rules of triathlons before you begin training so that you can best prepare yourself.
How to Start Training for a Triathlon
If you’ve never participated in a long distance race before, it’s wise to start with a 5k. Then, when you’ve had that experience of running long-distance during a crowded event, start with a sprint triathlon. You can work your way up to an Olympic distance triathlon!
Once you’re ready to start your triathlon training, you should:
- Start realistically: swim one day, run the next, cycle another
- Include resistance workouts in your fitness plan to build stronger muscles
- Work your way up- add a few endurance days where you do multiple workouts
- Plan days of rest so your muscles can recover and grow
- Find a personal trainer or group with a similar goal to train with
- Create a nutrition plan so your body gets the macros you need
- Download a guide that walks you through a month or two of triathlon training workouts
Once you’ve started on these steps, find a tri you want to try! Sign up, mark your calendar, and keep working toward that awesome goal.
What You Need to Start
The first thing you need to train for a triathlon is time. You’ll need to be prepared to workout about five days of the week, and these workouts will last 45 minutes to 2 hours. There will also be instances as you train for the big event that you need to practice endurance (so your workout may be several hours long!) As the event nears closer, you will taper your training.
Besides finding the time, the basic gear you’ll need for a triathlon includes:
- Swimsuit
- Basic goggles
- Swimmer’s cap
- Towel
- Bike
- Bike Helmet
- Running Shoes
- Water bottle
Last but not least, you’ll need the facilities for triathlon training and your body to be in shape for reaching this goal. Get started at Gold’s! Begin with our FREE 8-week shred guide to get your body ready for this incredible challenge. Many of our clubs have 50 meter pools to help get you started in your training!
Gold’s Gym SoCal is an association of separate clubs—click here for info.
