Youth training for triathlons

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2009-05-24 9:42 AM

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Veteran
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Tucson, Arizona
Subject: Youth training for triathlons

My daughter is wanting to race in a youth triathlon this summer and I was wondering if anyone has some advice or experience with this.

For background, she's 12 and plays softball year round, so she is active but I wouldn't classify her in endurance activity shape.  The race is 250 m / 4 miles / 1 mile on July 5. 

What I'm concerned about is the repetition and pounding the body takes to train for triathlons on a young, developing body.  Is this a reasonable concern or can young teens handle this?

Thanks

 

2009-05-24 9:53 AM
in reply to: #2170545

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Resident Curmudgeon
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The Road Back
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Subject: RE: Youth training for triathlons
It's not an ironman. A young active person who can swim the distance can just show up and race a triathlon of that distance without specifice triathlon training. At least mine do. They get plenty of swimming, biking, and running in their normal active lives.

YMMV

Edited by the bear 2009-05-24 9:54 AM
2009-05-24 10:48 AM
in reply to: #2170545

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Extreme Veteran
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Subject: RE: Youth training for triathlons

IMO, that kind of distance is fine for young teens and pre-teens. My daughter is just turning 12 and has done the local kid's race every year for the last 4 years on fairly minimal training, and is having fun with it. You just don't want to push kids that age into a high volume, highly structured training program as that can lead to injuries and burn-out.

2009-05-24 10:56 AM
in reply to: #2170545

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Extreme Veteran
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Subject: RE: Youth training for triathlons
I agree with the above posters.  My daughter is 11 and has done around 10 tris and 5k's over the past 3 years.  She doesn't do any specific training, but does well and has fun in the races.  I wonder how many miles she rides and runs a week just playing in the neighborhood?

Chris
2009-05-24 11:29 AM
in reply to: #2170545

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Youth training for triathlons
Triathlon Canada has some good resources for youth training:

http://triathloncanada.com/en/page.ch2?uid=KidsofSteel

As the bear mentioned, if a child can already swim the distances, these events should require little to no training for most active youth.

Shane
2009-05-24 3:59 PM
in reply to: #2170545

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Expert
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St. Louis
Subject: RE: Youth training for triathlons
When I was 12, I was running 17-20 miles a week.

Just turned 17 last week and today I won a local triathlon.  Make sure she gets training.  Intense but short works are best.  BTW there are 13-14 year youth elite that really good and are pounding the pavement(it's all about good form).

If she can swim I would obviously just go tell her to bike bike bike, as that is the longest part of the race.

I played baseball for 8 years and I know that it definitely did not put me in great shape for anything(IMO).

2009-05-24 4:02 PM
in reply to: #2170545

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Youth training for triathlons
I researched it for a friend. Short of IM distance, or HIM distance, let 'er rip.

Otherwise, there are growth plate issues. I can post sources if needed. Let me know.
2009-05-25 5:50 AM
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Master
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Subject: RE: Youth training for triathlons
My son did a couple kids' races last summer. We bike enough as a family that no 'training' was required. With baseball, basketball, etc. the run was not a problem either. I did make him get in the pool a few times so that he had a good understanding of the distance, which was only 100m. If your family is active, the kids distances should not be a problem.
2009-05-25 11:04 AM
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Veteran
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Tucson, Arizona
Subject: RE: Youth training for triathlons

Thanks for the info everyone.  I figured that races like these wouldn't happen if there were issues having kids compete in them, but I'm a dad so I suppose I'm allowed some caution .

 

Thanks for all of the replies and advice.  Happy Memorial Day!

2009-05-25 1:07 PM
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Iron Donkey
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Subject: RE: Youth training for triathlons

I going to sign up my two older boys, ages 12 and 10, in a local tri for the first time near the end of August.  I'll probably just have them pedal a few times on their bikes while I do my IM run training sessions, and then get them to swim a little so they can feel more comfortable in the water and understand the front crawl better since we don't go to pools or beaches much together.

Good luck.

2009-05-25 7:53 PM
in reply to: #2170545

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Extreme Veteran
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Wauwatosa, WI
Subject: RE: Youth training for triathlons

agree with above comments that the distances shouldn't be an issue. Actually, there is more to worry about with overuse injury with single sport stuff... at least with triathlon there is swim/bike/run, so they aren't always pounding the same way all the time. She should be able to handle this easily.

2009-05-25 8:16 PM
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Member
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Whittier
Subject: RE: Youth training for triathlons
I was just asking my wife about getting my nephew into Tri. I found some information at USAT.

http://www.usatriathlon.org/content/index/2152
http://www.usatriathlon.org/content/index/2153
http://www.usatriathlon.org/content/index/2153

There are more sub links on each page. Hope this helps out. It has for me.

Cheers.
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