TRIATHLON GROUP TRAINING group training pros and cons, training for an Ironman

For many people triathlon group training opportunities is considered a big part of their social life and there's nothing wrong with that at all.

You can meet some pretty great people during your triathlon journey. People who have similar interests and goals as your own.

Group training is also a great way to ease into the sport and get pointers from others that can help you along. Or perhaps you have taken part in a few races and want tips on how to improve.

In most cases it can be much cheaper to train with a group as opposed to having coaching on a one-to-one basis.

SOME DISADVANTAGES

By it's very nature, triathlon is a solitary event in many ways. You could find yourself in an event like Ironman Canada with over 2500 other people.

Regardless of how many people are around you, how your ironman experience turns out will ultimately depend on how you handle the challenges of the day with the tools and skills you have.

Spectators, volunteers, and fellow triathletes can be very important to your success, but in the end it's up to you to find a way to the finish line. There is only so much others can do for you.

As a result, it's in your best interest to learn to do some training on your own and not count soley on triathlon group training.

As a matter of fact, I believe that much of the training that goes into preparing for an Ironman should be done on your own.

IRONMAN SWIM TRAINING

Most triathlon group training programs for swimming are structured about the same.

Normally swimmers are divided into groups according to level of ability. That usually means that people who are just learning how to swim are stuck in the slow lane.

The idea is that once you improve and get faster, you are moved into a faster lane. What usually happens is that people are not that happy about being relegated to the "beginner" lane and spend all their time trying to swim faster.

This is normally done at the expense of not taking the necessary time to learn proper swim technique.

I know that for a fact because every time I tried swimming with a masters group or any swim group for that matter that's exactly what happened to me.

I never grasped the basic principle of learning a proper swim technique and worried too much about going faster.

Normally by the end of months of triathlon group training in the pool my actual Ironman swim times stayed about the same.

Another problem I noticed is that a coach really can't train 25 people at a time properly.

It's pretty much an impossibility and chances are you won't get the instruction you need if you are struggling with your swim stroke.

TRIATHLON BIKE TRAINING

If you are a beginner cyclist and have no real experience on an honest-to-God road bike, then it would actually be a great idea to find experience cyclists to learn from.

For instance you might try joining up with a cycling club for a season. The experience can be invaluable.

They can help you with things like setting your bike up properly, proper spin technique, cornering and how to handle the hills.

It's always wise to do those exceptionally long bike rides with someone just so you can support each other in case of mechanical failure etc.

The main downfall of cycling clubs is that they will also do a lot of drafting as they like to bike together as a group. This is not a great thing for you to be learning or to be getting used to as it is not allowed in most triathlons.

Riding in a group and drafting also protects you from the wind and it's important that you get accustomed to being on the highway on your own, because that's what it will be like on race-day.

RUNNING AND TRIATHLON GROUP TRAINING

On a personal note I've tried about every type of run training there is over my 35+ year career. I've run with groups and one other person and by myself.

In the end I most likely did 95% of my run training by myself. I remember in my early days with the Calgary Road Runners that we had a basic rule when running as a group. The rule was that when we ran as a group "we only went as fast as the slowest runner."

That way nobody was ever left behind and I have to say that running that way was more of a social event for most of us. When it came right down to it, most of us ran on our own when a big Marathon was coming up.

You might think that a good alternative to triathlon group training is to run or bike with just one other person.

I tried that as well and it had several downfalls.

First of all when you are training for a big race like the Ironman and have a full week of work, training and family you can't afford to be waiting around for someone who is running late on a consistent basis.

If you set a time to meet someone for a workout and they are late or don't bother showing up, it can be a very frustrating experience.

It can mess up your training schedule and you have to make sure you set up these training dates with people you can rely on.

Also, and perhaps more importantly, no two people are ever in the exact same space when it comes to how they feel on any particular day when it comes to a training day.

You may feel like taking it easy and your partner feels great and wants to put the pedal to the metal. Or the other way around.

What happens is, you end up doing their workout, not yours. Be prepared for this and set ground rules in the very beginning so you know what to expect before you hit the road.

By the same token you can plan a long, slow run with someone well in advance. That way you can both be prepared for that long day and will be rested up for it and can even plan a rest day for the day after.

Basically when it comes to triathlon group training it's pretty difficult to get a group of people on the same page at the same time.

USE GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL TRAINING

It is possible to use the best of two worlds.

You can go to spin classes and join a group that way and learn the proper biking techniques.

You can even join a bike club for one season and once you feel more confident then begin doing most of your biking on your own. Or perhaps with one other person who is about the same skill level as yourself.

You can join a swim group for one season while you become accustomed to swimming and then strike out on your own. You may even decide to hire a coach for 5 or 6 hours of personal training.

You can pick a day once every week or two where you meet up for a group for a run, but do all the rest of your run training on your own. The group run can be an easier "social" day for you and will give you an opportunity to make some new friends.

Ultimately however, your goal should be to be come comfortable with being on your own out there because when race day arrives that is pretty much what you can expect.

When the gun sounds for the 2.4 mile swim it won't matter how much group training you've done, you will find yourself in your own little world out on the swim course and it's everyone for themselves.

On the bike you must keep a static distance of about 3 bike lengths away from other bikers unless you are passing, so again, you must fend for yourself.

In the run you can run or walk with others entered in the race, but you have to make sure you are running your race and not theirs.

Be ready to leave them behind if they are slower than you want to go, or let them pull away if they are running faster than you want to go.

Triathlon group training can be a lot of fun, but be sure to balance it with doing plenty of training on your own so you can become more used to race situations that present themselves in the longer triathlons when you will be fending for yourself.

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