Hit the ground running in the new year with these triathlon resolutions
As we head into a new year, triathletes shift from analysing their past season to setting ambitious goals for the upcoming year. Here are ten triathlon resolutions you can make in 2020.
Mix it up: training and racing
Mastered the sprint distance? Double up and race an Olympic distance triathlon. Are you “comfortable” doing the half Ironman distance? Challenge yourself will a full Ironman. Or maybe you’re one of those endurance junkies that do a number of long course races in the season. In the new year, try going down in distance to develop your speed. Then, later in the season, come back up to the longer distances, you may surprise yourself with the speed you’re able to sustain.
Recruit a friend or family member into triathlon
Together we are better. Share your love for the outdoors, triathlon and challenging yourself with others. By getting a friend or family member into triathlon you’ll also be able to spend more time with loved ones.
Try something new
While you can change up the distances you do, you can also change the type of multisport races you do. There are duathlons, aquathlons (swim/run), aquabikes and off-road triathlons. The change in stimulus will give yourself a new challenge, physically and mentally.
Don’t hit the snooze button
Those early morning swim practices… That’s what I’m talking about. Unfortunately, you’re not going to get better by lying in bed. Take the time the night before to prepare everything you’ll need to get out the door and make those 6 AM lane swim sessions.
Learn to take care of your bike
Does your bike really deserve that? You pee on it, forget to clean it, and if you’re honest, you aren’t all that sure what you’ll do if you have a mechanical on the side of the road.
Well, take the time in the new year to learn. Bike shops across Europe hold clinics on the basics of bike maintenance. Your bike will thank you and you may save yourself (and your wallet) a few trips to the bike shop in the new year.
Set goals: many goals
This one is self-explanatory, but it deserves recognition. Don’t just set a big goal of completing an Ironman for the new year, set multiple smaller goals to build towards your big goal. Be SMART with your goal setting, make sure your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound. I like to call them Micro Goals
Keep a training log
You may have Training Peaks but by keeping tabs on where you are in training is always a good idea. It’s helpful to look back on past key workouts to see where things may have gone wrong or if you set a big PB, it’s motivating to see just how far you’ve come.
Join a training group
Have you reached a plateau in your training or race results? Consider joining a training group. Across the Uk and europe, there are a number of master swim programs, cycling and running clubs.
Training in a group may help keep you accountable towards your goals and opens the door to meeting new people in the community.
Listen to your body
Triathletes are used to massive training weeks, and because of the sheer volume of training, we can run the risk of injury. Sometimes too much of a good thing can become a bad thing. In the new year, convince yourself that you can take a day off here and there if you feel an injury coming on. An intermittent or weekly day off is better than needing to take weeks and months off at a time.
Compete at a destination race
There’s a certain feeling of travelling to a race, somewhere you wouldn’t normally go to. Like Kona for example… or pick somewhere you’ve always wanted to go and use it as a family holiday as well as a race.
Sisu Racing Triathlon Coach