Managing Training for all 3 Aspects of a Triathalon

Thanks! I actually do use one of the programs listed on that site, but somehow I still feel as though it's not enough. I wouldn't technically say I'm new to the whole thing, but more new to doing all three sports together. I think I may be just so used to focusing on one sport at a time that I feel all over the place in my training. I recently graduated from college where I played both soccer and swam on the college teams, so I'm not terribly out of shape. It's just now I feel so scattered with my training program.

PS - 2 x week "balanced" (each discipline twice a week) is enough, depending on your goals. I almost never swim twice a week, for example, but haven't drowned yet.

The topic you raise is exactly what I think is most challenging about triathlon - since most of us have a relatively limited number of hours per week to train, it's almost impossible to be ideally trained in any of the individual disciplines. I think it's good to start out with a relatively balanced plan for a while, and then see where you're improving, and where you've hit a plateau. Personally, I also came from a swimming background, and I find I can maintain or slowly improve my swimming doing it only twice per week, but I don't feel like I make as much progress at running unless I'm doing that 3x per week.

-Matt

Edited by MLJ 2008-09-08 3:55 PM