Your First Tri - How Much Training?

Sprint

12 weeks

Minimal athletic activity for 15 years

My 1st tri was a mini sprint in reverse order (5k run, 9mi bike, 100m swim). I trained for about 8 weeks beforehand.

Previous athletic background included running track senior year in college (sprints), the occasional 5k road race, and casual biking. When I started swimming at the beginning of those 8 weeks, I couldn't make it 100 meters without getting winded.

My first tri was a sprint and all I did was hop in the pool three times and do two 45 minute bricks.  I also raced in on a mountain bike.

I was a competitive swimmer as child and teen.  It's been 15+ years so I didn't expect to be fast, but I knew I could swim.  I had no biking experience other than spin class.  I had done several 5K's and running 5-10 miles/week had been in my repertoire for a few years.  I had also been a fitness professional for a decade so my cardio system felt prepared.

I started a little over a year ago and competed my first one after a month of training.  I was a good runner (typically very high in my AG at most running races) a strong cyclist since I spent a lot of time injured from running riding with fast cyclists, but poor swimmer.  I chose a small race to start out and thank goodness I did.  It was 411meters swim, 14 mile bike, 3.1 mile run.  I finished very well due to the other two sports.  It did not start well.  I went out too fast, wound up doing about 300 meters as back stroke because I got caught up in the fury and went out too hard and had a difficult time catching my breath. (Kind of like those kids at races that go out screaming fast and then you pass at about the mile mark) but I was definitely questioning why I would do this and not just stick to running.  One year later still chipping away at the swim.  Haven't raced yet this year.  

PS I still had a blast, the swim sets you up to pass a lot of people later so you got that going for you! 

for me starting training for a tri was not a zero to 60 measure so it is hard to say.

in high school i was already swimming and running competitively.  decided to do one and i rode a few rides and continued swim/run in the summer.  so consciously training for the tri 1.5 months - if you count the 5 years i'd been swimming and year i'd been running without thinking of tris that's a different number

after  20+ year hiatus i had a similar entry to tris.  i had been running for 4 years, still swimming nd biking recreationally and lifting 3 years.  when i decided i want to do tris - i bought a cheap road bike and actually trained for the tri for 7 months.

 

2. Signed up in Dec., did it mid-April, but only started serious training in Jan. So about 3.5 months

3. Complete couch potato and seriously overweight for most of my adult life too

Edited by MacMadame 2009-07-02 4:41 PM

My first tri will be a sprint on August 1st.

Average fitness level. Been training since jan and  basically make up my weekly schedule as i go along. Cycle to work 3x and average 2 runs a week. Mainly focusing on my weakest  (and most worrisome !!!)  discipline, swimming (breaststroke only). Aim to put in at least 20 more pool and 2 OW swims before the event.

June's totals:
Bike:     17h 00m        -  210 Mi
Run:       6h 11m 41s  -    34.21 Mi
Swim:     9h 15m        - 9291 Yd