Beginning Olympic Distance Triathlon: 5.25 to 8 (or 10) hrs/wk
Author: Gale Bernhardt
12 weeks - $54.95
Total Hours: 62

You might be a beginning triathlete or maybe you have a couple of races under your belt from previous seasons. In either case you are fit and are NOT a beginning athlete. Before beginning Week 1 of the plan you are capable of riding a bike 30 to 60 minutes two days a week and completing a long ride around two hours on a third day. You can swim 100 yards (or meters) nonstop and swimming for 30 minutes a couple of times per week is easy. You can run two days per week, one 30-minute run and a longer run of 45 minutes.
With the profile in mind, have a look at the plan preview. If the first couple of weeks of training look like training loads you can handle, this is your plan. Weekly training hours range from 5:15 to a maximum between 8:15 and 10:00. There is some flexibility built into the plan to accommodate individual differences. For example there is no time posted for the swim workouts. Obviously there can be big differences in swimming abilities between people with a competitive swim background and those just getting into swimming. Some of the run and bike workouts also have ranges built into the workouts.
The plan has a general pattern of cycling and strength training on Monday and Wednesday, heading to only Mondays as the plan progresses. Strength training is optional in this plan. If you decide not to strength train, you can replace the strength training time with more time on the bike on those days. If you are currently strength training, you can keep your current routine. Be aware and notice if strength training is taking too much energy away from your swimming, cycling and running. If this is the case, consider reducing the exercises, sets or repetitions to allow higher quality workouts during the aerobic sessions.
Swimming is shown on Tuesday, Thursday and some Saturdays. Running workouts are typically on Tuesday, some Thursdays and Saturdays. Long rides are on Sundays.
Friday is always a day off. If it works better for you to have a different schedule and move the workouts around, it can be done. Try to keep similar workouts 48 hours apart. In other words, it is preferable to swim on Tuesday and Thursday instead of Tuesday and Wednesday.
By Week 10 you are doing a training day that includes a morning swim followed by a 2:45 brick. The brick includes race-pace work.
This plan is in the book, Triathlon Training Basics.
What do you get with a training plan?

After purchase, your plan will be available in your own private online training log account. You'll enjoy these benefits and more:
- Daily e-mails with your next workout keep you on track
- Create your own routes or search our library of routes for tracking your workouts
- Map, graph and share workouts with your friends by e-mail, Facebook and view in Google Maps or Google Earth
- Upload workouts from one of more than 80 training devices (Garmin, Suunto, Timex, Polar, more) or easily record your workouts manually
- Track your fitness and gain confidence
- Complete nutrition tracking to monitor your diet
- Get support and answers on the Message Boards
Sample workouts:
Day #1
Endurance - 90rpm
Planned Time: 0:30
Ride in Zones 1-2 on a flat to gently rolling course at 90+ rpm. If you're unable to spin 90+ rpm coast and recover until you can.
Workout #2
AA
Planned Time: 0:30
After your designated warm-up, complete 2-3 sets x 15-20 repetitions (reps) of the exercises outlined in the Supporting Documents section titled Strength Training. Use a light to moderate weight.
Day #2
Custom
Planned Time: 0:0
Swim Workout #1:
Warm-up: 200 Swim, 200 Kick, 200 Drill
Main Set: 6-8 x 50 (10 second RI between swims.) Swim at Zone 1-2 RPE
Cool Down: 200 Your choice
Workout #2
Easy Run
Planned Time: 0:30
Run on a flat course - a soft surface would be best (grass, dirt or treadmill) - keeping heart rate in Zone 1.
Day #3
Fartlek
Planned Time: 0:30
Ride mostly in Zones 1 to 2 zones with a few short (10 to 20 second) accelerations placed throughout the workout, your choice. Relax and have fun.
Workout #2
AA
Planned Time: 0:30
After your designated warm-up, complete 2-3 sets x 15-20 repetitions (reps) of the exercises outlined in the Supporting Documents section titled Strength Training. Use a light to moderate weight.
Day #4
Custom
Planned Time: 0:0
Swim Workout #2:
Warm-up: 2 x (100 Swim, 100 Kick, 100 Drill)
Main Set: 3-5 x 100 (15-20 second RI between swims.) Swim at Zone 1-2 RPE
Cool Down: 200 Your choice
Day #5
Planned Time: 0:0
Relax
Day #6
Cadence - Zones 1-2
Planned Time: 0:45
Run a flat to gently rolling course in heart rate Zones 1 to 2. No need to "push" Zone 2. Within the run, check leg speed a few times by counting your left foot strikes for 15 seconds. The total should be 21 or more.