How many hours for OLY training

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eliwashere

2009-07-22 10:03 AM

Master

2158

Subject: How many hours for OLY training

So I am starting to train for my first olympic distance tri.
I was wondering how many hours per week people put in when training for an oly?
I am looking to get by on about 6 hours a week.

I know this might go better as a poll, and it may have been done before. If so, please point me in the right direction.

Thanks!

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trix

2009-07-22 10:10 AM

in reply to: #2301359

Elite

3315

Miami

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

you are not going to get an answer you are looking for.

it all depends on your goals. do you simply want to finish? do you want to perform well in AG, overall, what sport requires more time vs others. what is your base like? as you can see lots of questions to answer, best to take a look at some plans on this site, 16 and 20 week beginner and intermediate and see how many hours per week they have built in them.

Edited by trix 2009-07-22 10:12 AM

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JohnnyKay

2009-07-22 10:22 AM

in reply to: #2301359

Not a Coach

11473

Media, PA

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

You can probably "get by" on about 6 hours per week. But, as noted above, people will put in a wide range of volume depending on their goals.

Why not check out a plan and see if you can find one appropriate for your starting point and your goals?

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trishie

2009-07-22 12:22 PM

in reply to: #2301359

Pro

5169

Burbs

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

I would definitely find a plan and adjust that as necessary. BT has a few good ones !

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smilford

2009-07-22 12:29 PM

in reply to: #2301359

Master

2355

Houston, TX

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

I'll do just as many hours for a OLY as a lot of people do for IM training..

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BikerGrrrl

2009-07-22 12:32 PM

in reply to: #2301805

Champion

10020

, Minnesota

Bronze member

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

I get by on less than 6 most weeks, but I am not very good. I am still hoping to reach a sub-3:00 hour Oly. Def depends on goals. Do you have any base or is this from scratch?

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trix

2009-07-22 12:36 PM

in reply to: #2301359

Elite

3315

Miami

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

see like i said you are gonna be all over the map....

some people do 5 hrs some 10 hrs some 10-15 hrs. best to grab a plan. everyone has different goals. personally i range 12-14 hrs

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smilford

2009-07-22 12:53 PM

in reply to: #2301359

Master

2355

Houston, TX

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

Yea, it all depends on your goals.. how much previous training you've done.. how many years you've been doing it... etc. That's more what dictates your training hours for a race.. not so much the distance.

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juniperjen

2009-07-22 1:02 PM

in reply to: #2301359

Master

4119

Toronto

Bronze member

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

All good responses. Another thing to consider is if one of the sports is a big weakness - are you new to swimming/biking or running? You'll likely want to build a bit more on your weaknesses.

Check out the BT olympic plans they usually say the average hours per week.

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newbz

2009-07-22 1:20 PM

in reply to: #2301900

Champion

7233

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

for sprints through HIM training my workout total times stays around the same, and likely would for IM as well, roughly 14-22 hours a week depending on where in the year i am, in season between 16 and 20.

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mmrocker13

2009-07-22 1:32 PM

in reply to: #2301359

Pro

5011

Twin Cities

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

Well, for one, it depends on your abilities... Obviously someone who runs a 6 min. mile is going to accomplish more in an hour than someone running a 12 min. mile. Depends on your goals, as well, to some extent. And your ability and how long you've been involved in your sports.

FWIW, I do just fine on 4-6 hours a week (I'd say I average somewhere around top 10%, give or take). When I'm training for a half marathon concurrently, I may have some longer weeks due to long runs, but if I hit an 8 hour week, I have had a HUGE week for me.

My training consists largely of average intensity "junk" training. Were I to want to up my level of competition, the TIME woudln't change as much as the intensity would. And when I was racing more seriously, that's baout what I did. I rarely put in more than 6 hours or so.

A good book, IMO, on efficient training is Time Saving Training for Multisport Athletes by Rick Niles.

Edited by mmrocker13 2009-07-22 1:33 PM

Pector55

2009-07-22 1:34 PM

in reply to: #2301359

Champion

5376

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

I never gave this much thought but for me, my hours are increasing as I become better conditioned and can take on larger distances. Eventually, I would think the time will taper as I establish my endurance and begin focusing more on speed? In terms of heart rate, it seems as though you either want to push yourself to go further or faster each time.

I'm sort of doing my own training plan despite it being my first time. I'm sure I'll get scolded for that but I'm going off of what I feel my body can handle and a heart rate monitor.

I'm at 8 hours now but I don't always record time for pool or running drills, stretching, and cool down milage.

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supa-powa

2009-07-22 3:47 PM

in reply to: #2301359

Expert

658

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

I train about 12+ hours each week for olympic distance.

F1longhorn

2009-07-22 6:38 PM

in reply to: #2301359

Expert

1139

Austin

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

I did my first Oly on 6 or less hours a week and finished in under 3 hours. Right now I'm anywhere from 6-7 hours a week.

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jsselle

2009-07-22 8:37 PM

in reply to: #2301359

Expert

1046

Fountain Hills, AZ

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

Interesting question.... I never really thought too much about this...
I THOUGHT I put in about 8 hours a week, and think this is a reasonable number for real word recreational triathletes, although I am only a ~ 3 hour Olympic racer. I would have guessed this:

Two or three 35-minute to 45-minute swims >> 80 to 135 minutes
One long bike and one short bike (or spin) >> 180 to 220 minutes
Two 5-milers and one 5-to-10 mile run >> 140 to 180 minutes

Total is about 450 to about 535 minutes, or 7.5 to 9 hours per week

BUT,

I normally blow at least one week a month for work, life or something else.... with only a few hours of training, so I actually average below this range... I checked my training log, added it all up, and it comes up to 63 hours 45 minutes running, 53 hours biking and 22 hours swimming so far this year.... or right at 5 hours per week.

Wow ... I guess I need to step it up a little!

eliwashere

2009-07-22 8:59 PM

in reply to: #2301359

Master

2158

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

Thanks everyone,
I'm not looking for a magic number, just trying to get a general feel.
I agree that there is a WIDE range of what people will do for every distance. I guess I should have prefaced saying that I consider myself a recreational triathlete. I am a clyde and come in at just over an hour for sprints.
I am looking to be around 3 hours for my first Oly.

Most of the books I have read about training for running and biking are based upon many more hours than I can give and keep balance in my life right now.
However, a fair number of recent books and articles are using the idea of doing a higher percentage of high intensity work when you are training less than 10-12 hours a week since you have more built in recovery time.
I was just reading a blurb about Chris Carmichaels book about bike training in 6 hours or less a week.

Thanks for the feedback and input. It is good to hear about others.

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KenyonTri

2009-07-23 9:13 AM

in reply to: #2302797

Master

2299

New York

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

~15hrs/wk

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Bioteknik

2009-07-23 9:26 AM

in reply to: #2302797

Expert

1123

Falls Church, VA

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

eliwashere - 2009-07-22 9:59 PM Thanks everyone,
I'm not looking for a magic number, just trying to get a general feel.
I agree that there is a WIDE range of what people will do for every distance. I guess I should have prefaced saying that I consider myself a recreational triathlete. I am a clyde and come in at just over an hour for sprints.
I am looking to be around 3 hours for my first Oly.

Most of the books I have read about training for running and biking are based upon many more hours than I can give and keep balance in my life right now.
However, a fair number of recent books and articles are using the idea of doing a higher percentage of high intensity work when you are training less than 10-12 hours a week since you have more built in recovery time.
I was just reading a blurb about Chris Carmichaels book about bike training in 6 hours or less a week.

Thanks for the feedback and input. It is good to hear about others.

well that makes a difference, as a newbie will have to probably put in some better hours to get a bit faster, but at least you've got some experience.

Just to add some in to the pot of answers, I was doing about 6-8 hours before race tapers started making my weeks look pretty slack, and I just did an off-roader, and finished in MOP

I hope to build up to 10-12 for next season though.

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trix

2009-07-23 9:43 AM

in reply to: #2301359

Elite

3315

Miami

Subject: RE: How many hours for OLY training

based on one of the books my training so far has been

3 weeks load, 1 week restoration 16 week plan

i am in week 3 restoration and i can tell you doing 12 mile bike, 3 mile run, seemed so short yesterday i felt as if I should do more. than again last week when i did 24 bike, 6.5 mile run i felt i was ready to give up.

like others have said for a newbie, spending longer distances for your body to adjust makes a big difference.

for my first oly i was running 4-6 miles, and during the race the last 3 miles were a chore. now i run 6-7 miles as a regular run.

Edited by trix 2009-07-23 9:46 AM

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eco81

2009-07-23 11:06 AM

in reply to: #2301359