Triathlons are becoming more popular all the time, with more and more people using them as fitness goals. They are great for kickstarting an active lifestyle and setting yourself a benchmark.
If you’re not very fit yet and want to go from couch to triathlon, you have quite a journey ahead of you! Don’t be put off though – it can actually be lots of fun too.
However, the biggest benefit of setting yourself the couch to triathlon goal is that it could trigger a lifestyle that will benefit you for the rest of your life.
In this article, we’ll be covering:
- Getting Started On Your Couch To Triathlon Journey
- 3 Essentials For Choosing Your First Race
- 5 Top Tips For Your Couch To Triathlon Training
Are you ready to take your first steps from couch to triathlon?
Let’s jump into it!
Getting Started On Your Couch To Triathlon Journey
If you can already swim and currently exercise regularly, you are ready to start triathlon training. Most fit people can be triathlon-ready in about six weeks.
However, if you are starting from scratch, you will need to give yourself a few months to work on your fitness. This means running, swimming, and cycling at least three days a week.
Once you have built up a base fitness level, you will be able to start your six-week triathlon training plan.
If you are not a particularly good swimmer, the process may take a bit longer. You’ll need time to take some swimming lessons and get some practice in the pool before your race.
3 Essentials for Choosing Your First Race
#1: Research Your Options
The first thing to do is find a race you fancy taking part in. A quick Google search will bring up local triathlons, as well as ones further afield.
Once you find one you like the look of, check the race’s website and get all the course information. As you are going from couch to triathlon, you should avoid triathlons with ocean swims. Waves and currents add a new level of difficulty to the race.
Many people find the swim the most challenging part of a triathlon. You should only enter a triathlon if you consider yourself to be a strong swimmer. That doesn’t mean you need to be a fast swimmer, but you need to be confident of safely completing the distance.
If you are nervous about your swimming ability, you may want your first triathlon to start in a swimming pool rather than open water.
Similarly, try to avoid races in mountainous areas as a beginner, as the run and bike ride will be challenging.
#2: Choose A Distance
As this is your first triathlon, you may want to commit to a couch to sprint triathlon. A sprint triathlon is one of the shorter distances on offer, but is still long enough to be a challenge for a novice!
Another thing you should pay attention to is the cut-off times. The cut-off time is the maximum time the race organizers will allow you to complete the course.
Some triathlons have vans that pick up stragglers who haven’t managed to finish in time. The cut-off time is usually two-and-a-half to three hours for a sprint triathlon.
#3: Make Sure You Have Enough Time To Train
You need to make sure the date of the race fits in with realistic expectations for your progress.
If you already have a decent fitness level, you can sign up for a triathlon that is only 6 weeks away. However, if you’re not there yet, choose a sprint race at least 3 months away and add in a few extra weeks to build a base fitness level.
When you’ve found the right race for you, sign up and pay straight away. Once you’ve committed to the race, you’ve made your first step from couch to triathlon and you can start training!
5 top Tips For Your Couch To Triathlon Training
#1: Get Organized
Being organized is an essential part of going from couch to triathlon. You will be training for three different sports and learning how to transition between them during the race.
A great way to stay on track is to schedule your workouts at the same times each week. This way, you will know that you will do enough exercise leading up to the race. To make it even more effective, get a friend to join you so you are accountable.
#2: Get A Training Plan
After you have built up your base fitness, you can start your 6-week training schedule. You can find training schedules online, but you may want to get a triathlete coach to create one specifically for you.
As a beginner, you can expect to swim, run, and ride at least twice a week. This will take you from couch to sprint triathlon in six weeks.
This may seem pretty easy, but some days the intensity will be more than you are used to.
#3: Fuel Your Body
While training for a triathlon, you need to ensure that you are eating enough. This is no time to skip meals, as you need lots of energy to exercise and for your body to recover.
Eat within an hour after each workout, with quality carbs and protein.
You also need to eat proper meals. The best way to do this is to prep your meals in advance, to ensure that you have food on hand when you need it.
It’s time to embrace the Tupperware life!
#4: Buy The Correct Kit
This is your first triathlon, so there is a good chance that you won’t have all the necessary things associated with multisport racing.
You will need a swimming wetsuit if the swim is outdoors. These wetsuits keep you warmer in cold water, but they also give you buoyancy, so swimming is a little easier.
Make sure you get a good pair of swimming goggles. These need to be comfortable and watertight, so you can see where you are going while avoiding people’s feet as they kick close to your face.
Most triathlons require a road bike. Check the race rules to ensure yours meets the requirements regarding maintenance and so on. If it doesn’t, you won’t be allowed to race.
If you don’t have a road bike, you may be able to use whatever you have. Bear in mind, though, that you may not be very competitive against the faster roadies in the race.
You may want to choose to use clipless pedals on your bike. These will give you an advantage, but take some getting used to.
You won’t be allowed to compete if you don’t have a helmet. Therefore, make sure you get a good one that fits and is comfortable.
The next thing you need is a good pair of running shoes. Get these at the start of your training, as it will give them time to break in and form to your feet.
#4: Join A Club
There is a huge social scene in the triathlon community. Most people train with buddies, as training in groups can help the miles go by faster!
If you struggle to find a friend to join you, you may want to join a club. There are often many options locally to find training partners.
Many areas have at least one cycling club. A quick online search or a chat with your local bike shop will give you some good options. Look for a club that caters to all abilities; this way, you know you won’t be left behind.
Riding in a group safely takes practice, and there is some etiquette to learn. You will soon pick up the rules, but you may want to keep some distance between yourself and the other riders to start off with. If you clip the wheel of the bike in front of you, you can cause a catastrophic accident within the group.
To improve your swimming, you can tag onto a swimming program. These will be available at your local pool and provide coaching. This way, you will hone your technique and get fit in the water.
There is a good chance that there will be a running club local to where you live. They are easy to find and are usually friendly to new people, no matter your fitness level.
Alternatively, you can join a tri-club. Tri-clubs usually organize the races, so you won’t find it hard to find one. Tri-clubs have access to all sorts of resources, from trainers to nutritionists. They often get discounts on equipment too.
These clubs are great for harvesting information and making sure you stay on track from couch to triathlon. They also host many other social events, so you may even find a whole new group of friends.
Time To Get Started!
People who are disciplined in their training are more likely to find success on their couch to triathlon journey. There will be times when you just don’t feel like training, but you will be glad you did once you get started!
Triathlon training can be great fun, and when you start to see and feel results, you’ll enjoy it more and more. A couch to triathlon journey can spark a healthier and more active lifestyle forever!
