A few days ago I was speaking to a close friend of mine that is now training for his first half-ironman at age 54. Good on him for quite an accomplishment. We talked about his schedule and he told me all about his swim workouts, bricks, stretching and massage, new nutrition plan, and more. Then I asked if he was using cross-training such as strength training for triathlon. He told me in no uncertain terms that he did not have any use for something like that and could not afford to waste his time in that way.You are about to be convinced that a
triathlete strength training workout plan is totally necessary for your peak performance.
Triathlete all too often become preoccupied with putting in the miles, or building their base, to the point where many of the subtleties of a tri training program become disregarded or ignored. I have heard people say that strength training is unexciting and not as exciting as a quick run or long bike ride. However you may feel about any single aspect of training, it is valuable to be disciplined and not neglect something important that will benefit your training and performance I hope you are still with me here.
What is a triathlon strength training workout.
Too many people put bodybuilding and strength and resistance training in the same package. A lot of of my clients told me that they did not want to get bulky by lifting weights. Let me assure you, that will not be the case. You will simply want to use weight training to improve you in individual areas and do not need to overdo it. Many professionals highly recommend a full-body workout two times per week for about 30 minutes. That is it, no need to do much more.
I believe in a functional program. For that reason all the exercises will help you function or perform better in your other sports or regular daily routine. To illustrate, you will want to choose exercises that are similar in position and range of motion that you would typically use for swimming, biking or running, not all the elaborate gizmos in the gym that cause you to bend over awkwardly or use an isolated movement.
Why you need a triathlon strength training workout.
Triathlon Strength Training Techniques.
To begin with, you will want to use a strength training workout for triathlon that is well designed and offers muscular balance. If you do not have the experience of arranging an exercise program, consult a personal trainer to at least get you headed in the right direction. Machines in the gym are fine to use for some exercises, but I appreciate full-body, body-weight movements to help with balance and stability. Decide on a couple of sets and get a good burn going on by the time you get to 12-15 reps. Move promptly and minimize rest between each different exercise to challenge your cardio conditioning. Have a personal trainer or fitness instructor help you put together a routine and change it every two weeks or so.
Core conditioning for a triathlete strength training strategy.
Getting in tune with your own body, you will find that core strength and stability are needed in all elements of triathlon. Not only do you use core muscles in any movement, swimming, biking, and running motions require a effective base to operate from. Avoid the ordinary sit-up and crunch type exercises. I love abdominal exercises that require both strength and balance to promote solid core stability. The base of all your triathlon movements is a strong core.
Triathlon training involves a strong athlete, and by adding to your current training plan with a good strength program is the very best way to easily boost your performance without adding tons of training time. Be sure to decide on a specifically designed strength training workout for triathletes so that you get all the positive aspects without risking the possible dangers of strength training. With your newly added strength and endurance, you will shortly be setting personal bests and feeling better doing so.