I’ve competed in countless triathlons and have helped coach many people to achieve their goals. Whether tat’s for a new PB or just to get fit enough for their first attempt. It’s not easy and in many ways takes a lot more work than running a marathon.
When it comes to training for any sport it’s generally best to have some support through a coach or fellow athlete. But for some people, busy lifestyles simply make that very difficult.
For them the question is…
Can You Train Alone?
We understand that you may like the idea of training alone. Not everyone wants to pay a trainer or would like to work out timing with a friend for daily training. While training alone is possible, you’ll find that it actually works better to have a partner to train with and here’s why:
- It keeps you motivated. Having a training partner who is as into training as you are is a great way to stay motivated. Even more so, if they are more inspired about it than you are. Knowing that you have to wake up every day or other day to train with your partner helps to keep you accountable. It’s easy to hit the snooze button when you’re training alone but when you have someone waiting to go with you, it’s hard to back down.
- If you’re training with a coach, you can better understand what you may need to improve before the triathlon. If you decide to train with a coach, they can help you to improve on your problem areas before the triathlon happens. For example, you may be a great swimmer but your running needs some improvement before you actually participate in the race. An experienced trainer will know how to help you train your weak points and get in the right condition for the race.
- Get inspired from someone who wants to achieve their best in the triathlon. Chances are that your partner is probably wanting to do well in the triathlon, just as much as you are. Choosing to train with someone who is motivated to do their best can go far in helping you to be motivated to do your best.
- You can get feedback on your training style. Perhaps you’re doing your best in training but there are ways that you can improve. Training with an experienced partner means that they can give you feedback on things you could improve and how to get the most out of your training time.
Stick To Your Training Plan
You don’t have to do a training plan that you don’t like but whichever training plan that you choose, once you’ve gotten started, you want to stick to it. From choosing to work with a training coach to make sure that you do it right to finding plans online, there are several different types of triathlon training plans available for you to make your own.
What you don’t want to do is switch up your training plan in the middle of it. The point of having a training plan is to prepare your body for the challenge and to make sure that you have the condition you need to complete the triathlon. If you switch up your plan, you are essentially starting from zero each time that you do and could end up messing up the stamina and endurance that you have built up. Sticking to your plan can help you to stay motivated.
Triathlon Gear To Consider
Before you start training for a triathlon, you’ll want to consider all the gear that you will need. Remember, a triathlon isn’t just about throwing on a pair of running shoes and voila, you’re ready for the race.
You’re going to want to make sure that you have the right gear for each part of the triathlon. Here is a look at the gear you’ll most likely need:
- Cycling part: You’re going to need a good bike. You don’t need the most expensive one, but you’ll want to make sure that it’s up for the challenge. Don’t forget comfortable cycling clothing and shoes.
- Running phase: Make sure to wear lightweight running wear that isn’t loose. You’ll want to pay close attention to the running shoes that you wear to ensure that your feet stay pain free and you can complete the race in them.
- Swimming race: You’re going to need a good pair of swimming goggles (check out our buyer’s guide), a cap, and in some cases, a wet suit.
Before buying your gear, make sure that everything fits perfectly. You don’t want to run, swim, or cycle a triathlon with ill-fitting gear.
Conclusion
Are you ready to start training? It may take time, effort, and money, but once you’ve completed a triathlon, you can rest assured that you’ll feel invincible. It’s certainly worth it!
