I love watching and playing team sports of all kinds: volleyball, football, basketball, baseball. They all float my boat. I thrive on the camaraderie, the competition, and the general atmosphere that surrounds team sports. Individual sports like golf, running, or biking have never really been my thing. Sure, I’ll run on a treadmill when trying to drop some weight, and occasionally I like to accompany my husband while he plays a round of golf, but I don’t really have the mindset for individual sports. I’m not what you would call a go-getter, or motivated, or even ambitious; I just like to have fun. To me, running (especially alone) is not fun, and neither is riding a bike. In fact, the only time I rode a bike as a child is if someone would go with me.
My dislike for running may explain my completely disgraceful lack of aerobic fitness, but before this summer, I had never been inspired to attempt to reconcile that dislike. However, in September, I was put to utter shame by my forty-something parents, who raced in a triathlon a mere 10 weeks after beginning a training program. Their respective commitments to training and learning race techniques as well as the story of their competition day made me want to get off the couch and run somewhere. I’m not saying that’s what I did, but I thought about it. And as the saying goes, it’s the thought that counts, right?
Maybe training for a triathlon isn’t for me; like I said, I prefer team sports. But the one thing I have heard from nearly every person I know who has done a triathlon is that doing so has the potential to be life-changing. If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and thought to yourself, there must be more to life than what I’m doing at this very moment, there’s a chance you may be a closet triathlete. According to my parents, training for and racing in a triathlon gives your life perspective, meaning, and provides a natural high unlike any other. The good news is, training doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be spending all day, every day working out and wearing spandex (unless you want to). You can live your normal life and work your training into your current schedule, and be ready for a triathlon in as little as eight weeks.
If you’re not convinced you can be a triathlete, consider this: I’m not talking about an Ironman here. An Ironman triathlon, which is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run, is most definitely not something a couch potato can be ready for in eight weeks. Not to burst any bubbles, but “couch potato” and “Ironman” are pretty much mutually exclusive. A sprint triathlon is what I’m talking about here, and pretty much anyone who is physically healthy and willing to dedicate a few hours a week to training can be a sprint triathlete.
A sprint triathlon is comprised of a half-mile swim, 15-20 mile bike, and 3-4 mile run –much more manageable than the scary Ironman distances. Training is also considerably less intensive, and is relatively easy to fit into anyone’s schedule. My dad works long hours as an investment banker, and commutes at least an hour each way every day, yet he was able to work out at least once a day in preparation for his first sprint triathlon in September.
Triathlon training plans vary a great deal, but most rely on the wisdom that anyone working toward a triathlon should train in all three areas: swim, bike, and run. Since swimming requires the most technical skill, many wannabe triathletes tend to concentrate on that. While learning how to swim efficiently is definitely important—not drowning should be your first priority when considering an ideal training plan—one of the most fundamental differences between triathlons and other races is the transition, and transitioning well is what many newbies fail to practice at before their first race.
There are two transitions, T1 and T2, in every triathlon. T1 comes between the swim and the bike, and T2 comes between the bike and the run. Many first-time triathletes are shocked by the difficulty they experience in each transition, and each is characterized by its own challenges. T1 is often marked by dizziness and disorientation due to inefficient breathing or confusion from swimming in open water, while T2 can be alarming because of the rubber-leg sensation that often accompanies going from pedaling a bike to running on solid ground.
The best way to prepare for transitions is to do “bricks” during training, which involves doing two different activities during one session. Going directly from one activity to another aids in becoming accustomed to the transitions, and will go a long way in preparing a couch potato for their first sprint triathlon.
As with any new endeavor, you must find a training plan that suits your life. Making time for exercise is essential to your health no matter what, and training for a tangible goal, like your first triathlon, might be just the thing to get you off the couch and into some spandex. Come on, you know you want to wear ‘em!
About the author: Writer. Reader. Mother. Wife. Friend. Daughter. Sister. Foodie. Listener. Watcher. Cleaner. Laundress. Laugher. Read more from this author
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