Triathlon Training Schedule for Beginners - Laying the Foundation for Success

One of the most important things to consider as a beginning triathlete is an appropriate training schedule for your current level of development, the race you're planning to run, and the amount of time you have to prepare (both the total time remaining before race day, and the amount of time you can devote to training on a weekly basis).

Your Current Level of Development

The best place to start when laying out your triathlon training schedule is by doing an honest assessment of your current fitness level and preparedness to compete in each separate event. This is one place where it can be extremely helpful to get some outside help: an experienced competitor may be better able to objectively assess your fitness and preparedness levels than you; it's hard to be objective about our own performance.

You may even want to book a session or two with a professional triathlon or endurance training coach; there's really no substitute for having a realistic baseline assessment before you set out to train for your first triathlon (or even your first several events).

The Race

Once you know where you are, you need to know where you're going; what are the challenges facing you in the race you're preparing for? What's the distance of the swim? Is it going to happen in a pool or in open water? If open water, is it going to take place in a lake, or in the ocean? Plan to do as much of your training as possible in conditions as close as you can make them to the actual conditions you'll be competing under.

What about the bike and running courses? Are they hilly or pretty flat? If it's winter now and the race is in the summer, you may want to at least drive the bike and running courses (if you can); doing this can be a great help in visualizing and mentally preparing for what you'll be up against in the actual race.

Time

All races are races against time, and your training is no different: today is whatever day today is, and the race is on whatever day the race is on; the difference between those two dates is the total time you have to prepare.

Also, if you're like most triathletes, you have a day job, and maybe a family, and maybe other social obligations, and yet somewhere in all of that, you have to find time to train, consistently, every week. This can be a whole different level of challenge. You may need to give up some things you're used to doing to make time for training (and for recovery from training), so be prepared for that.

Be Prepared

The bottom line is, know where you're at, know where you're going, and be prepared to do the work and make the sacrifices you'll need to make along the way. One way to make sure you're prepared is to read as much as you can about the process, so you know what to expect.

I've been putting together a series of "lenses" on Squidoo that deal with these issues; one of them is titled "Triathlon Training Schedule for Beginners" - you might like to have a look at that lens, and the others I've also done (they're all linked together; look for the block near the bottom of the lens).

Triathlon Wetsuit Rental - A Good Option for Beginners

A triathlon wetsuit rental is a great option for beginners and other athletes who cannot afford to buy a decent quality triathlon wetsuit. The rent rates are usually affordable and the suits are typically of good quality. You are allowed to keep the suits for the whole season, which means that you will be able to train in the rental suits and can, thus, get comfortable wearing the suit. In fact, a triathlon wetsuit rental is the best option for those athletes who want to take part in an event just to try it out as an experience factor and do not mean to use a wetsuit again for ages.

So what all do you need to know before going for a triathlon wetsuit rental? Well, you would need to do your research on the types and categories of triathlon wetsuits, of course. You need to know that you could have either full sleeved or sleeveless triathlon suits, the full sleeved providing more buoyancy and warmth and the sleeveless being better in warm conditions or when you need to get in and out of the suit more easily. The categories are based on the quality of the wetsuits, the best being category 4, which are the most expensive kind with the most technological and design innovations. Category 2 and 3 are decent quality suits and give considerable amount of hydrodynamicity and flexibility at a reasonable cost, while category 1 gives you the basic functionality at a basic cost. You could get most types and categories at a triathlon wetsuit rental.

There are some things to be kept in mind when you go for a triathlon wetsuit rental. First of all, understand that fitting is important (very important), if you want your wetsuit to serve its purpose (that is provide you speed and flexibility). Hence, wear the suits and see. Make sure that they are a snug fit, so that water cannot get in and cause drag (which will reduce your speed). There should not be any wrinkles or portions that hang over. Also, try getting in and out of the suit a few times both to ensure the suit's quality and to make sure that you are comfortable with it. Make sure the neoprene is in good condition (look for tears and such), since the previous user could've been careless.

The best folks to approach for a Triathlon Wetsuit Rental would be the people who organize the triathlon events. Major races usually provide the renting options and these suits are typically good quality. Other independent triathlon gear shops with good records are also reasonable options.

Ways to Avoid Injuries for Triathlon Beginners

Beginning to train for a triathlon can be as hard as it sounds. Well, it means changing your usual everyday routine and adding some time on the track, on your bike, at the gym, and in the water. But those are not the only things you must consider. You should also think of the possible risks that might happen before during and after your training.

You must remember this: injuries do exist but can be prevented. And the most common are caused by over-training, wrong set of gears, and improper practices. Here are 5 ways to prevent injuries from taking away your triathlon dream:

Stretching ? Before you begin your training, you must do some stretching. This would release the tension of your tightened tendon and muscles. There are some studies conducted that people who do not stretch before and after stretching are more prone to injuries. Some also argue about the necessity of stretching but taking outmost precaution would certainly lead you from disregarding this argument.

Training duration ? You simply cannot go from 0 to 5k in an instant. You must take it gradually. Over-training often causes injuries. Make sure you take one step at a take and not take on giant leap towards your goal. Keep your training plan realistic. In this way, give your body the time to adapt to the training.

Rest ? After training for several hours on one day, your body needs to rest. Again, a good rest would give your body the time to adapt to the training. This would prevent from over stressing your muscles and tendons that can result to injuries.

Footwear ? There is a particular shoe for running and cycling. And this should be taken seriously. The most punished part of your body during training and the actual triathlon itself are your feet so make sure that you have the proper footwear for your run and for your bike. Also remember that friction blister is common to those who wear old shoes, shoes with inadequate soles, and improper shoe fitting.

Gears ? If you have the history of ankle injury, keeping your ankle protected with braces would be a good idea. Tendonitis, a common effect of over training could be avoided if you wear proper ankle braces. A nice swimwear would give you better movement on water. And since you also have your swimwear on during the entire race, a good and well-fitted one is a must have.

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