FEATURES

Tackling Your First Sprint Triathlon....

Sunday, 21 February 2021 23:10

By Bethany Rutledge (Triathlete.com - February 27, 2019)

“If you can run or walk a mile, you can train to complete a sprint triathlon.” This statement, originally coined by Jim Boylan, the founder of the Atlanta Tri Club, has held true for almost all tri-hopefuls throughout the years.

But that doesn’t mean it’s easy, nor does it sound simple when you’re first starting out. From choosing a race to embarking on the first daunting weeks of training, here are some of our top tips for beginners.

Picking the Right Race

It can be overwhelming to choose your first race. Let’s look at the most important factors to consider....

Distance: Target a short race, like a sprint or supersprint. Resist peer pressure to go too long too soon, and give yourself some time to get comfortable with the distances.

Timing: A good timeline to train for a sprint is about 12 to 16 weeks, allocating an average of 30 to 45 minutes most days of the week. Could you complete one sooner? Sure, if you can swim, you could finish one tomorrow. But give yourself a few months to prepare well. Conversely, if your timeline is too long (like six months away with no intermediate goal), you’re likely to get bored and burned out.

Camaraderie: Tri-ing is more fun with friends! In many tri clubs, there are special target races, so you know if you sign up for one you are guaranteed an after-party. If you’re not part of a tri club, try putting out an informal poll on Facebook about popular races. READ MORE