What is the average training volume of a long course event participant?
A survey of entrants in the 2000 Hawaii Ironman showed average weekly training volumes of 11,300 meters swimming, 232 miles cycling and 48 miles running. Eeek! This is an amazing training load for someone with a career, family or other responsibilities. (Can you say ‘obsessive/compulsive’?). While there is a vast difference of opinion on how to best prepare for an event as daunting as the Auburn Triathlon, there are some important training guidelines that are universal for all athletes.1. You must approximate the challenge of the event in training 2. You must avoid overtraining, burnout, injury and illness to have a successful event. These two tenets seem mutually exclusive! Indeed it is a difficult balance to prepare your body for a full-day event and not get overtired in training.
