A triathlon requires a grueling triathlon training plan for an athlete to stay at the top. Every sport has its own set of training programs. Triathlon in itself has not just one, but it is a combination of three different disciplines – swimming, cycling and running. Generally, there is 1.5 KM of swimming, 40 KM of cycling and 10 KM of running. Therefore, the triathlon training plan requires a strict training and diet schedule. For starters, it can be quite intimidating, as they are required to train in all the three sports. Taking up a triathlon training plan will require certain answers like have you played any one of the three sports or have played all the three sports individually. Another important thing that matters is the goal of the trainee. Whether the goal is just for weight loss or the goal is to take up triathlon as more than just past time.
Whatever the goal may be, the first thing is that you have to train for sprint level initially. The sprint level triathlon constitutes of a 500 to 800 meter swim, 12 to 17 KM of cycling and a 5KM run. These sprint races are the best way to be acquainted with the world of triathlons. The trainees learn to maintain the right balance. The training required to excel in all the three sports is well managed after participation in the sprint level. At the same time, the triathlon training plan helps the trainees to build muscles, increase stamina and also lose weight. The participants gain strength both mentally and physically.
The next level is the Olympic triathlon training. It includes the 1500-meter swim, 40 KM of cycling and a 10KM run. A person aspiring to train for the Olympic level must train in a very organized manner. At this point, the tri-athlete learns to gradually, increase his distances in all the three disciplines. A person has to be very dedicated and strong both physically and mentally at this level to achieve his goal. Once the distances have been increased, the tri-athlete has to concentrate on increasing the speed in all the three events. The average training hours should be no less than 8 to 10 hours a week. The triathlon training plan will require the trainees to work out in the most disciplined of manners to achieve a level of endurance. Remember, endurance is the basic feature of any tri-athlete.
The next level of triathlon training is the half-ironman distance. They are meant only for those tri-athletes who are vastly experienced and have completed many races of Olympic distance successfully. At this level, a tri-athlete has to swim a distance of 1.2 miles, cycle a distance of 56 miles and then run for a distance of 13.1 miles. The training hours increase remarkably for achieving success at this level. A tri-athlete who can easily run a distance of 7 miles an hour, swim a distance of 5000 yards in a week and cycle between 25 to 30 miles thrice in a week is only fit for this race.
The last level of triathlon distances is the full ironman. It covers 2.4 miles by swimming, 112 miles by cycling and 26.2 miles of running. This requires an entirely different triathlon training plan, meant for only those tri-athletes who have participated in many half ironman triathlon races with success.
Related posts:
- Triathlon Training Program
- Free triathlon training
- Ironman triathlon training
- Half ironman triathlon
- 10k training plan
