Training doesn’t have be complicated. You can head outside and simply go for a ride or run and enjoy it. There is Nothing wrong with that. It’s important to be able to simply enjoy the activity for the activity’s sake. When you want something more, something with a little more focus and more goal-oriented, that’s when you talk to a coach or personal trainer, or consult your favorite training plan book.
Along with a host of coaches and exercise physiologists, we all agree that periodization is a key component to successful, guided training. There’s no doubt that consistency also plays a large role, and incorporating recovery into a trianing plan pays big dividends.
Is there a one-size fits-all category for periodization? Not really. Each person has a different goal set, and a different set of life demands that effect the ability to train. Time constraints or different race and fitness goals will drastically affect the way a periodized schedule will look. It’s up to the coach and athlete to get a feel for where those recovery periods are.
I’ve attached a short, 4-week beginning triathlete plan that simply applies duration to the plan. Intensity levels, intervals, and skill development are left out. In this beginning phase, it’s important to simply make training part of your life. That in itself will take some time to figure out. Adjustments will need to be made, and you may need to find a pool or body of water that you can begin swimming in. Please feel free to download and tweak.
If you want a complete training program, something periodized and tailored to your goal set, contact me at “coachB at brandonnugent dot com”.
Or you can purchase a complete 8, 16, or 32-week program from this site.
Happy training!
-Brandon
