Does your training program have everything?

Does your training program have everything?

by Emma Carney (AUS) -
Number of replies: 0

Dear Athletes,

A well-structured training program will honour your values and goals as a World Triathlon athlete. You are not there to simply make up numbers - you are there to become the best triathlete you can be. The program you are involved in should be athlete centric and you should receive support both on and off the training track should you need or require it.

This week we are looking at training programs and the detail required to ensure your training program is providing you with everything you need to develop as an athlete. While most of you will have coaches, who will guide you closely, it is very important that as an athlete you know and understand what you are working on. Understanding is the first step to mastering a skill and mastering a skill is the ultimate goal of elite athletes.

 General programming Requirements

Your training year should be periodised and move through general prep phase, specific prep, pre competition prep, taper, competition and recovery/management phases with a short period of transition between each. There is also a base level of general conditioning you should be working on. Depending on your development, this should generally be body weight exercises to start with.

The table below gives you a basic outline of this part of your training program.

 Swim, Bike and Run specific programming requirements

 With regard to the actual swim bike and run skills you need to develop as a triathlete, it is important you are developing these appropriately and in enough specific detail. It is also important you understand what you are working on in each session, why and how you need to improve yourself in that area. It is more complex than simply swimming, biking and running. Each discipline has some very fine skill requirements and fundamental skills you should be seeking to firstly develop, then master as you develop as an athlete. To illustrate this complexity, I have put together a table below which lists the various components of swim, bike and run training. This table can be added to, so is in no way exhaustive. Regardless the detail of development required in each discipline it is quite a long list at first glance.

With the individual disciplines, there is also a requirement for combined skill development.

it is not all about the swim, bike, run training blocks, you must also ensure you have included a focus on your wellbeing, both in racing and your life and future proofing your career with education/work and sponsor development.

While the above lists provide a large number of elements you should incorporate into your training plan, the lists are no way exhaustive. What this email is looking to provide you is an indication of the detail required to train well and for longevity – it is not a template of the absolute.

Next week we will have a look at how you may be able to put all this together.

Until then, train well!

Emma