Hopeful Triathlete

Also i plan on being a competitive triathlete post college.

And during cross country i would bike 45~70 mpw

We hate triathletes almost as much as crossfitters here.

OP

Are you self-centered?

Do you revolve your life around your personal training?

Do you like to talk about you and your training to others?

Do you feel only hot looking women with hot bodies and also do triathlons are the only women acceptable to you?

Do you think you can win local road races, and beat the 15:20 guy, and tell people this, even though you've never broken 17:30?

Are you certain a 2:17 marathon is do-able for you, and tell people this, even though you've never broken 2:55?

Are you willing to spend a couple grand on a triathlon destiny "vacation" ?

Do you shave your legs, chest and arms?

Does more than 80% of your wardrobe consist of triathlon and Ironman apparel ?

Do you justify your slow running times, with long winded stories of your training?

Do you eat tofu regularly?

If most , or all of these apply, then you have all it takes to be a triathlete.

This is why I love LR. :)

Love love love wrote:

This is why I love LR. :)

GTFO^

AZ wrote:

OP

Are you self-centered?

Do you revolve your life around your personal training?

...

Blah, blah, blah...

OP,

One good thing about triathlon training is you can do a bunch more training than you would otherwise without getting injured. You say you are pretty durable, so I would focus on the running training if that is your primary goal. Triathlon training is great cross-training, but for now make sure that you're not leaving your track race out on the bike.

If you are looking at triathlon as something for the future, the thing I would do immediately is get in the pool and get comfortable. Swim twice a week for half an hour to an hour, and work on getting your feel for the water. Don't do anything too intense while you're training for track, but a couple short sprints and some moderate 50s would help you get used to swimming fast.

You should probably bike a little bit, but I would only do it once a week for now, and no more than 15 miles at a time. Throw in some pickups, but biking isn't as technical as swimming or running, so you will be able to pick that up quickly.

Ah, didn't see that you've already been swimming. If you want, you could add in some biking, but not too much. Make sure in the pool you are focusing on 1) technique, and 2) speed. Sprints are very important because it is then that you use your best technique, and then that you use the most of your muscle fibers.

Thank you for the feedback! When i go to the pool i will usually do 30~60 minutes per time. I'll do 4/5ths to 2/3rd of it split between breast stroke and free style and then use the kickboard for the remainder. I feel like the hip, glute strength and lower back too has helped. Plus the increased flexibility and upper body strength. Would you say i continue doing laps or do more intervals at faster pace? I'm not the greatest swimmer, i started swimming rather than aqua jogging in december. I've always been able to swim and such growing up around water my whole life, but swimming for fitness is obviously much different. I can tell I've gotten better, but it is definitely the low point of the 3.

Real tri guys will not train with breaststroke. Save that for post workout massage time......swimming is a great way to get extra cardio work in, you should swim a mix of intervals and distance swims, just like you would run on the track, but you can do more, because there is far less abuse on your body.

Look at the USAT list of coaches online, and see if you can get some advice from one, without breaking any rules in your collegiate body. Obviously talk to your coach if you haven't already. Maybe your coach can consult with a USAT coach to help prepare you for the transition? Most triathletes are a pretty friendly bunch but it can be intimidating at first, so I would suggest start asking a lot of questions to a lot of different people. Find some professional athletes online and start emailing them to ask for advice. Get ready to move to a town that will support you with training resources and sponsors.

I have never done a triathlon, though I once trained for one. A normal week for me was:

Monday 6:30 am 60min run easy 8:00am Swim 60min easy 10am nap 5pm 90min run easy

Tuesday 6:30 am 60min run easy 8:00am Swim 60min easy 10am nap 5pm 120min bike easy

Wednesday 6:30 am 60min run easy 8:00am Swim 60min easy 10am nap 5pm 90min run easy

Thursday 6:30 am 60min run easy 8:00am Swim 60min easy 10am nap 5pm 120min bike moderate

Friday 6:30 am 60min run easy 8:00am Swim 60min easy 10am nap 5pm 60 min run easy

Saturday 8am 120 min run moderate 12pm nap 5pm 30 min bike

Sunday 8am 300min bike moderate 2pm nap 5pm 30 min run

The most mileage I completed in one week was about 120miles running 250miles biking and 10 miles swimming. The biking was a piece of cake once I got my 1st century under my belt. I was able to hang or pass anyone who rode with us on our group rides. The running I was able to get rather quick our long run on Saturday would be something like 6:40 pace for 18 miles. The swimming was miserable!!!!! I was never able to do more than a couple of laps without needed to stop and rest. I think my problem was I never invested in a swim coach. I recommend you do. Also I don't recommend doing as much training as I was if you want to compete well, I was just enjoying it a lot. (not so much with the swimming)

Tri-Guy X Man wrote:

Real tri guys will not train with breaststroke. Save that for post workout massage time......swimming is a great way to get extra cardio work in, you should swim a mix of intervals and distance swims, just like you would run on the track, but you can do more, because there is far less abuse on your body.

Why not train with breaststroke? Sounds good to me. I'll incorporate more intervals. :)

triathleta wrote:

Look at the USAT list of coaches online, and see if you can get some advice from one, without breaking any rules in your collegiate body. Obviously talk to your coach if you haven't already. Maybe your coach can consult with a USAT coach to help prepare you for the transition? Most triathletes are a pretty friendly bunch but it can be intimidating at first, so I would suggest start asking a lot of questions to a lot of different people. Find some professional athletes online and start emailing them to ask for advice. Get ready to move to a town that will support you with training resources and sponsors.

Awesome post! :) my spring break starts next week so when I have more time I am definitely going to do that. I know a lot of professional runners are always open to questions. They've been very helful with my training always offering tips and advice.

Holy f@&k

Bump from 3rd page

Hopeful Triathlete wrote:

Bump from 3rd page

You have to ask yourself what you want out of this:

-Do you want to workout even more than you already do and obsess about it even more?

-Do you want to go fast?

If you want to go fast, then cut the volume in half and GO FASTER. You will then discover the meaning of hard work and lament the wasted hours leading up to mediocre race times.

If you want to workout all the time with the equivalent of drinking buddies, then it sounds like you are already there. Good job.

Pick one. You can only pick one.

when i come home from work, i pick up my cat and smell his a$$. i can tell what time he pooped. wish i could make money with this skill.

pop_pop! wrote:

Hopeful Triathlete wrote:

Bump from 3rd page

You have to ask yourself what you want out of this:

-Do you want to workout even more than you already do and obsess about it even more?

-Do you want to go fast?

If you want to go fast, then cut the volume in half and GO FASTER. You will then discover the meaning of hard work and lament the wasted hours leading up to mediocre race times.

If you want to workout all the time with the equivalent of drinking buddies, then it sounds like you are already there. Good job.

Pick one. You can only pick one.

OP, do not believe anything this poster says. There is plenty of aerobic benefit and strength that is necessary by long hours of training.