Indoor Training only possible?

No, well not really.

Running on a treadmill and running in the real world are two different beasts.  When I first starting working out I was going 45 minutes, pretty hard on a treadmill.  When I went out to the real world I could barely run.

Gym training is great, but I wouldn't rely on it as my main source of training.  I too love training in the gym compared to outside.  The odd thing is I love the outdoors.   I think the gym lets me get into a zone better.


Edited by JC5066 2009-08-13 4:23 PM

Can you do it ALL indoors? Well yeah, you can. I know some guy who trained for a tri ALL indoors- didn't even ride outside- and finished his sprint just fine. Sure, he didn't win anything, but he finished.

If you are cycling outdoors on the weekend and running afterwards you are getting SOME outdoor time, which is good.

I know for me, when it gets dark ealier I'm in the gym during the week as I can't ride or run in the dark.

With that said, I started doing tris to get OUT of the gym. Not really understanding why you wouldn't want to be outdoors? And anyways, this is a seasonale sport... when it gets dark and cold outside you will be inside... so why not use the warm sunny months to train outside more?

well what is it about the outdoor training that you don't like.... we might have some alt. idea's that will keep you outside

I know several people who do sprint and olympic distance tris (and finish MOP) who do almost all of their cycling indoors on a trainer.  Maybe they will do a longer ride outside every couple weeks.  For a lot of people, its just hard to do your riding outside (schedule, traffic, weather, etc.)  I do a mix of both b/c I find that I need time on the road just to get better at my coordination of shifting, drinking while I am riding -- I can be a klutz. 

But I can't imagine doing all my running inside -- so boring!  And its just so much more fun to run outside!

So to answer your question, sure you can probably do a tri, especially a sprint distance, with all indoor training.  There are no rules about training -- only recommendations.  Most people prefer to train outdoors so that is the advice that they will give.  And most people will tell you to train like you race (which is good advice) and the race will be outdoors.

Yes.

Yup.  Plissken just posted about a guy that won an IM with all indoor training on the bike. 

If that's your thing, you can do all your training inside. 

Hello:

Thanks for all of the responses.

Citysky:  My team teaches that.  Who knows.

Gaarry:  This is what I do not like:

1)  There are no free towels to use
2)  There is no bathroom to run to in case of 'anything.'
3)  My good gym friends and teachers aren't there (I have a big social network at the gym.  I have a tri team but it's not the same.  There is no 'hanging out in the locker room' talking and eating bananas on the benches while waiting for the next class (we have a really nice locker room - nice gym.))
4)  I might get raped/beaten/lost on the bike and likewise - have big mechanical problems/flat tires/get hit by cars/etc. on a bike.  (The weekend bricks I spoke of would be with my team only.  I am actually terrified of biking alone here in NYC.)  I used to bike all the time miles back and forth to school in college, but that was with a really sturdy mountain bike.  These flimsy carbon road bikes are nothing!
5)  Did I mention that I miss my friends/trainer friends/front desk people/fun lifeguards?  The gym is a big social event for me.
6)  I burn probably double the amount of calories in the gym.  I can work out for 4.5 hours on a Saturday swimming - taking two spin classes - doing weights, etc. and having to change to two different outfits due to sweat.  Once I started tri training and doing it outdoors, I started to put on weight because it was a serious decrease in my level of activity.
7)  No sunburn inside.  No sunblock needed.
8)  If my knees start to hurt from running, I can just go take a spin class and still get in some cardio instead of having to call it a day and go home.

I'm sure I could come up with others.  I am a gym rat!  The gym is one of my fav places to be!

Anyway, great encouragement to hear about the IM guy who trained on an indoor trainer - I need to get one of those.

Yours truly,

dbw27

Rocky IV... Look who won and you think outdoor training was coincidence?

I'm fairly keen to do most of my cycling indoors next year. I actually enjoy it, and plus there aren't crazy people trying to kill me in cars, no flat tires and don't have to worry about the weather. 

I hate running inside so would never even contemplate using a treadmill.  

Clearly the most irrefutable evidence so far.....'I must break you'  YES!

I know of two 30 something women who did all of their tri training indoors...between spin classes/bike trainers, indoor pool, indoor track/treadmills they both completed IM Wisconsin. They didn't set records and I'm sure that lead to some very long, boring training sessions, but it can be done.  

Plus, if they can do all their training indoors for an IM, sprint or olys should definately be doable.

Personally I couldn't do it, I love training outside, but YMMV. 

This user's post has been ignored.

Staying indoors can allow you to build superb fitness and strength, but unfortunately, it doesn't allow you do to certain things... on a trainer, you will never find the balance on the bike for example, especially in an aero position. You won't find the right pacing for the bike (a trainer will give you constant resitance).

Running on a treadmill is not the same as running on the road either... and swimming in a pool won't prepare you for waves and navigational issues of OWS...

So, being fit is not everything that counts...

No it's not really true.  I've heard more like 2, but still; how many times have you ran outdoor where the ground was completely flat and the elevation never changed, at all?

Have you ever ran outdoor where the ground moved beneath you?  You don't need propell yourself forward on a treadmill where you do in the real world.   You only need to move your legs fast enough to keep from going backwards.

IMO, as I stated above, a treadmill is not the same as running outdoor.  It's a great alternative when you can't get out and run, just don't expect a great treadmill routine to equal a great real world run.

can you do it if your goal is just to complete the distance and not really compete? yes. Will it be optimal training? no

but any training is better than no training; hence do whatever motivates you to tri!

I much prefer to be outside, but can you train in gym?  Absolutely.  One fitness center I use has pool on lower level and nice stationary cycles with 1/8mi running track on upper level.  Last winter I did indoor bricks there, and intend doing the same this winter.  As a nice touch they have some stationary bikes with programmable courses (varying resistances/speeds) to better simulate road work. 

but the point of tri training is to train for a RACE.  the races are in the sun.  there is no locker room at a race.  you can't drop the run and ride your bike instead.

to get/stay in shape the gym is fine.  but it doesn't sound much like you'd like to even be AT a triathlon.

and trust me on this -- your "flimsy" carbon road bike is MUCH more structurally sound than your commuter mountain bike

Absolutely you can do it. 

My wife hates riding in city traffic so she only does spin classes and some on the trainer.  She will be competing in her 3rd tri next weekend and will be just the third time she has taken the road bike on the road.  She ain't winning any awards but she did finish MOP for the bike.

I was thinking the same thing.

Anyway, I forgot to include on my OP - the one thing I think is important about outdoors training is in terms of cycling; by training in doors you'll limit your ability to develop your cycling skills specially on racing conditions in which you are sharing the road with other fellow competirors. I think as athletes we are to be responsible that we are 100% capable of handling those conditions for our safety and that of our fellow athletes. I hate to say this but many triathletes in general exhibit terrible handling skills and this can result in unesserary accidents. Yes you can get fit by riding your trainer or doing spin classes, just make sure you also have the skills to ride outside with others...

I'm curious also why you want to do triathlons.  

I'm going to speak to the social aspect... I completely understand giving up the social aspect by going to do your tri training outside, a lot of which may be solo.   People will suggest you can join group rides, run with others, but I understand it's not the same as it is with people you are already good friends w/ and have been working out w/ for awhile.  I was heavily involved in a women's boot camp.  For 18 months I worked out with these girls 5 days/week at 5:30am.  They are some of my closest friends.  We motivate, encourage, smack talk, suffer & laugh endlessly together.  I push each other immensely and I work FAR harder with those girls than I ever would on my own.  And giving some/all of that up for tri training has been the single hardest part.  But, I set some goals for myself that I wanted bad enough that I eventually had to decrease my boot camp time w/ the girls & a trainer I think the world of, to get the tri training in.  It was tough, b/c the time at boot camp is what revved me up and made me want to go do the tri training.  Without it it was really tough to stay motivated.   But I was crystal clear on my goals.  And I knew that for awhile I could have both (just slightly less boot camp), and that in time if I wanted I could eventually go back to 5 days/week boot camp.   So for me, in the name of my goals, I found a way to make it work.  That is, I decreased my 'gym time' a little bit for awhile, and when *I* felt in order to pursue my goals that I needed to stop my gym time all together, I did.  In the final months of IM training I kept saying over & over, 'i can't wait to go back to train under scott and alongside the girls.'  It was ok with me that I was desperately missing it, b/c i knew it was only temporary.  I also started organizing Girls Night Out specifically with those girls (over some other non-boot camp girlfriends) to give me the fix i needed of being able to be with them.   You need to figure out what you want, and if it's that you truly want both, being a gym rat and training for tris, find a compromise.   

unless you're expecting a podium spot, i think you'll do fine training indoors.  a lot of pros do quality workouts on treadmills and trainers b/c you have so much control over the workout parameters.  i don't think you can become a great open water swimmer b/c its very different than swimming in an uncrowded, clear pool.  your bike handling skills will suffer too.  but you'll have the fitness to complete the event.

while i certainly don't think treadmill running is the same as outdoor running, i do think the treadmill is a good substitute for outdoor running.  its convenient, easier on your body, and if you think its too easy, bump up the pace or the incline and make it as hard as you want.  and somebody said you don't have to propel yourself forward on a treadmill.  how else do you stay in the same place with the belt moving backwards?  i realize you need to pound the road on some of your runs to build up your bones and joints, but i wouldn't hesitate to use the dreadmill if you need to.