Projo Running Blog

In between installments of "Frantic Fred's" Triathlon Training 101, Fred Bartlett will be providing additional training tips for those preparing for the Firmman Triathlon, Sept. 9 in Narragansett.

Triathlon Training Tip #2: Don't Go It Alone - Find Training Partners

Triathlon is an individual sport. Come race day after the mayhem of the swim, you're left alone to deal with the highs and lows of the day. In a half Ironman you have such a long period of time to complete the race by yourself (read no drafting on the bike) that you will have to experience these emotions.

That being said, you will have a difficult time - probably nuke yourself - if you do not establish and maintain some training partners to help you train in these upcoming months for the Firmman Half Iron on September 9th.

There are still a few of the old-school, train-by-yourself triathletes out there - you probably know who they are - but if you want to improve and attain your goals you need like-minded dedicated training partners.

The swim partner is a tough person to find. Most triathletes join local Masters swim programs to fulfill their needs to train with a group. However there are few Masters programs you can swim with in R.I. as they are fairly full of, you guessed it, triathletes and swimmers.

Check at your local pool for any Masters programs. If you are not in a Masters program then you need to find a triathlete partner to swim with. This person should be about the same speed as you are in the water and this allows you to do sets together.

You should have a written workout when you go to the pool to swim, and do the workout as written. There are few gains when you're on deck and you are asking your training partner what they want to do. I see this all the time as a swim coach. Have a purpose for each and every swim workout!

On the bike, it is a different story. You should have 1or 2 people that are triathletes to train with that have goals of doing half Ironmans or longer. More than two usually causes more problems with flats, time schedule issues and bad days out on the road training.

Your long rides should be done with your training partners. The secret to being a better biker, though, is to call your local bike shop, find out when they have their group rides and ride with that group on occasion.

Keep your ego in check, as single-sport athletes can really hammer, and expect to be barely able to keep up in the back. You will ride a lot more miles with a group, learn bike-handling skills, find new roads you never knew about and make friends after being accepted. Just don't go out there with an attitude of being faster, better and more fit than they are. You're not by a long shot.

Keep quiet, listen, learn, do work up front when you're there. Do not sit in the back the whole time, nor monopolize the front as it's their group ride.

Also on your easy, recovery days, finding a slower cyclist, perhaps a significant other, will help you go slow, recover, spin and help them as well, as their level will go up riding with a faster rider. Sit up on these rides - no aero bars - and enjoy the sights!

On the run, there are running groups around you can join, but a good set of training partners includes three people. Your main one is someone who is about the same speed and pace that you are - this is someone who you can do the long runs with - the other one much faster - a pure runner would be helpful for you both, as you would train with them on their easy days, your hard days.

Runners run almost everyday. You should know some much faster runner. Ask them if you can run with them on their recovery days. Runners, by in large, are very helpful!

The third person to train with would be a slower person who would help you go easy, recover after your hard workout days - an active recovery for you so to speak. This, in turn, would help them as they would be running faster with you at your recovery pace.

In conclusion, find training partners or groups to train with. You will nuke yourself if you do not. Triathlon is such a hard sport, no one is an island. The time, miles and joint efforts of a group are easier than muddling through it all alone. You will improve greatly with like-minded training partners, not so much alone. Unless you're turning professional, then it's all about the journey. Why do it alone? No one will know what you have been through. Your training partners will, however!

Quoting my good friend Harry Chapin's song Greyhound: ``It's got to be the going, not the getting there that is good!"

Aloha, be safe and healthy! Frantic Fred

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