Training for a triathlon can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t need to be. When it comes to triathlon training, consistency is key. Find a schedule you can commit to and start training early. Don’t know where to start? Try using the beginner friendly plan + tips below to get you started!

Triathlon Training Tips

• Find some friends to train with! Finding a local running or triathlon group to train with will help motivate you in your training. The Halifax Triathlon Club is a great resource to help kick-start your training and make some new friends. The Halifax Triathlon Club hosts weekly Brick Workouts & Open-Water Swims during the summer.

• Brick Workouts are a great way to help your body adapt to the specific stress of a triathlon race. Brick workouts combine two different disciplines (Swim/Bike/Run) into a single effort with minimal time between.

• The swim leg of a triathlon can often be the most stressful. Make sure to dedicate some open water swim time in the build up of your plan. Try practicing using a wetsuit if you plan on racing with one. Finding some friends to practice a mass start together with is also a great idea to help develop your race day abilities.

• Try mixing up your run workouts with a few hill repeats! Find a hill close to you and try doing a few repeated efforts to help build your running strength.

• Practice makes perfect. As you get closer to race-day your training should more closely reflect what you plan on doing during the race. Make sure to practice training at race pace, as well as race specific skills like mass-starts, transitions and nutrition/hydration strategies.

  • Transition: Time in transition counts towards your overall race time, so don’t forget to practice transitioning between the swim, bike, and run. Brick workouts are a great time to master your transition skills.

  • Nutrition: Make sure to consider how much water and nutrition (electrolyte powder, gels, etc.) you will need for the race and try putting your plan to practice during training to make sure it works.

  • Race pace: As you progress through your training plan, try to execute some harder training sessions at the pace you think you can maintain during the race. This helps your body adapt, but is also helpful to know how hard you can push yourself. Just remember, you still need to have the energy to finish all three disciplines.

• Listen to your body! If training mileage starts to build up, listen to your body if you start to sense an injury might be coming on. Taking a few days to recover will help stop things from getting worse and improves your chance of making it to the finish line on race-day.