Triathlon entered, now what?

Triathlon Training – Where to start?

So a few weeks back I entered for my first triathlon and while I have carried on with my usual fitness routine, at the back of my mind since entering I have had the following questions – ‘Now what? How do I start? and  ‘What do I need to do?’

My triathlon isn’t until August, so thankfully at the moment I have time on my hands. But how do you get started for something that requires essentially training for three different disciplines? Now some of you may think well just go swimming, or go for a run or get on your bike. But to make this experience a positive and worthwhile one, what I really need is an effective training plan and a plan that is easy to follow, as well as advice on the right kit to buy etc.

After a speaking to my colleague who regularly takes part in triathlon’s he told me to start with this book:

Your First Triathlon by Joe Friel. This book is mean’t to help prepare a beginner for either their first sprint or Olympic triathlon. The book includes a 12-week training plan for total beginners and is pitched as requiring no more that 5 hours a week training time. Amazon is charging from £7 -£12 for the book and based on the positive reviews and recommendation this is one book I have just purchased. I am hoping it will answer my questions so I can get cracking with my triathlon preparation.

While purchasing the above book, I also saw this book…

Triathlon for Women: Everything you need to know to get started and succeed, by Charlotte Campbell. Again another book pitched at beginner triathletes but also for women, as what I have noticed is that triathlons appear very male focussed. Now I am not about to get my feminist stick out, but for example I need to by a bike and some new kit and well everything seems very male. The bikes look like men’s bikes (and no I am not after a pink bike with a basket) but as someone who doesn’t currently ride a bike, the whole process seems a bit daunting and the choice of female tri bikes and female tri gear seems rather limited.

I am hoping that this book will assist in my kit search as well as perhaps have some more female specific training plans and tips.

So come on Amazon hurry and deliver my books so I can get my triathlon train on!

 

My fab new toy

So this is my new toy which is definitely making me push harder.

It’s a timex ironman triathlon watch which I can use for both swimming and running. Right now I am simply using it for timing my runs. But it has many functions including lap timing for those who really want to drill down their stats and monitor their pace.

It is well worth the £20 I paid for it and can be ordered on Amazon.

Absent

Sorry for going all quiet last week – I was on my holidays! Which also meant that I was on exercise vacation too. So after a week of over indulging, today is the first day getting back to the routine (eeeekkkk) and surprisingly today’s 5k run was not too bad.

After telling myself to take it slowly, simply jog around the route to get back into it, I have completed my fastest 5k yet – in 27mins – which considering my first attempts at the start of the year, I have managed to knock off over 5 minutes from my initial running times. Very happy with that result and I am hoping to be able to sustain that time and perhaps push another couple of minutes off by the end of the year. 5k in 25 minutes here I come and hopefully 10k in under an hour…Hmmm!

Now I need to psyche myself up for tomorrow’s boot camp – really not looking forward that, given how my last session was beyond hard and I felt like crying like a baby – Oh what we do to ourselves in the name of fitness!

First Run Down

So first run of the week is completed. 5K done in 28 mins 44 secs. Not to shabby if I do say so myself. I am getting quite into the lunchtime running, as not only does it stop me pigging out in the cafeteria but it also gets me away from my desk and back outside away from the office stresses. A much more proactive way to spend 60 mins. BRING ON THE CHALLENGE!