What are the benefits of practicing triathlon?

It is a type of athletic event that is very different from the others since it involves specific physical and mental factors. It must be appreciated that since there are three different disciplines (swimming in open water, cycling and that they are carried out in this order), not all bodies are prepared to perform physical work on varied terrain, that the adaptation conditions are totally different and that the Necessary material also has specific characteristics.

• Triathlon fashion It consists of two transition periods: one between water and cycling, and the other between cycling and running. A good transition helps reduce energy consumption and control time, which is essential in this type of test.
• Those who are dedicated to this type of competition are usually people with great physical qualities and significant mental strength.
• cardiovascular training focused on developing firm muscles: legs, from cycling and running, as well as arms, chest and back, due to swimming.

A challenge

Those who choose to dedicate their efforts to this type of competition are usually people with great physical qualities and significant mental strength, since when forces fail the mental element must take over.

When there is not a single discipline but, as in this case, there are three, adaptation to the conditions implies a clear determination of self-improvement. It is a great personal challenge and this factor is currently one of the attractions of this competition.

The athlete who decides to dedicate part of his time to the preparation must be clear that it is not a "superficial and simple" training. In this case it implies time, effort and change of habits.

Initially, you need to be aware of your individual limits as well as your health status. Therefore, it is recommended to do a stress test.

In this way, real and precise values ​​of the level at which the preparation begins will be obtained. This same study, including parameters such as oxygen consumption or lactation, is useful to be able to monitor the training carried out.

The importance of training in triathlon

It is essential to follow a structured training program in which not only adequate physical but also mental preparation must be taken into account. It must be considered that it is above all a cardiovascular training and that the triathlete develops firm muscles both in the legs, for cycling and running, and in the upper part, that is, arms, chest and back, due to to swimming. It is also a sport that does not fall into monotony, since three types of exercises are carried out, which also include mental resistance.

Each person is different and each training plan should be personalized and supervised by a technician. The previous work should contemplate a follow-up and control of the athlete's evolution, which includes noting the heart rate, subjective sensations ... Taking into account these parameters for each session, information on improvement and adaptation to effort will be obtained. During the training period, you have to listen to all the sensations and signals that our body sends and not reach unhelpful limits.

THE HELP OF THE PULSOMETER

One of the most used parameters to assess the evolution of adaptation and improvement in a simple way is the heart rate. The heart rate monitor is the element that will offer us this information. For triathletes it is advisable to use an underwater one that indicates, by voice, the swimmer's heart rate. They work by means of an infrared sensor attached to the earlobe that perceives the heartbeat. Thus, this parameter can be obtained and controlled in the three disciplines of the triathlon and with it work with real data.

The importance of transitions

Most triathletes focus their training on improving the three disciplines, but what is known as "transition time" must also be valued. What do we mean by it? Every triathlon consists of two transition periods, the one between the water and the bicycle and the second, which would be the one between the bicycle and the race. A good transition can help reduce energy consumption and also control time, which is essential in this type of test.

When you get on the bike, it is advisable to start lightly so that the body warms up and gradually gets used to the new activity. Then you can increase the pace and, in the last kilometer, it is also advisable to reduce it a little to prepare for the second transition to the race. This is the hardest part of the test: at first the legs seem to be unresponsive but soon they start working. The ideal is to set our own pace and not obsess over others. It's about getting to the finish line, about being a finisher.

AN ADVICE

In order to make transitions smooth, it is important to reduce the number of tasks such as leaving things in order, placing your shoes on the pedals or wearing a single piece of clothing for swimming.