Scarab Tri

Coaching

Simon Clapham - ScarabTri Head Coach

Simon says,

"If I had to restrict myself to one piece of advice; it would be to remember that triathlon is not an evenly balanced sport. Generally speaking the swim takes up about 20% of the total time, the bike 50% and the run 30%. Those averages will obviously depend on your ability in each discipline, but you get the idea.

The point is that training should mirror the event; many triathletes do one of several things;

1) They avoid the training the discipline they like least
2) They over-concentrate on the discipline at which they are weakest
3) They train all three equally

In my opinion you should try to train 50% on the bike, 30% on the run and 20% on the swim. If you have a strength, reduce that percentage by 5% and add it to your weakest.

Unfortunately when you reach a certain level of general fitness, training on one discipline will not carry any benefit on the other two. Training must be specific.

14hrs per week of running won’t make you swim faster. Sorry.
My other advice would be to make sure you HAVE FUN.
If you cross the line and think ‘never again’ I would see that as a failure, even if you were to win the race.

Priorities

1) Finish the race
2) Finish the race wanting to race again
3) Improve your time from the last time you did the race
4) Improve your position from last time
5) Win a medal

Terrific if you can do all five, but remember to work from 1 - 5 and not 5 - 1.