Training Tips -- Introduction to Training
Your first triathlon is approaching fast and it is time to start getting ready. Let's start with a few basic tips: If you are not exercising regularly, consider consulting with your doctor before starting any training program.
Focus on technique during your first few weeks of training. It takes concentrated effort to become efficient in three different sports. As you train, your body will become more coordinated, stronger and better prepared for the longer workouts to come.
Don't be tempted to add time or distance to your workouts on the days when you feel good. The most common cause of injury is doing too much too soon. Be patient, allow your body to adapt and rest when you are supposed to.
Have fun while you train! Encourage a friend to train with you. You will enjoy your workouts more if you have company, and you are more likely to stick to your training schedule if you have a partner.
Most sprints consist of a .75 kilometer swim (about half a mile), a 20 kilometer bike ride (about 12 miles) and a 5 kilometer run (3.1 miles).
As you get ready to start training, it is a good idea to have all of your equipment checked: take your bike in for a tune-up, find the right pair of goggles that won't leak, break in your running shoes. A triathlon is challenging enough without having to deal with a broken bike, foggy goggles or blistered feet.
While in the skills training weeks, keep the intensity low. Work at a rate where you can carry on a conversation (have fun trying to do that while swimming!).
Written by Marion Burch Cimbala and Heather O'Keeffe Gardner to help women prepare for the Danskin Women's Triathlon
