THEY CAN’T SWIM AND/OR FEAR THE WATER
This is most likely the biggest single factor that prevents many people from becoming triathletes. Humans are just not comfortable in the water because they are simply out of their element and for many beginner triathletes, it’s a whole new world once they let go of the side of the pool.
Non-swimmers who are in over their heads for the first time tend to panic and thrash around once they no longer have something to hang on to. Basically, that’s what makes people sink, or at least “feel” like they are sinking and going under.
Once a new swimmer does get up the courage to learn a basic front crawl and head to the other side of the pool they are soon gasping for breath. their lack of proper technique drains them of energy very quickly.
What people really need is a change of attitude when it comes to swimming. Swimming works best and no longer causes fear and apprehension once the process of swimming is simplified. We all have natural flotation buoys in our bodies in the form of lungs full of air. If you were to completely relax, roll over onto your back and tilt your head back into the water you would not sink. Actually, you would just lay there and float.
Most of us can’t do that when we are new to the pool because we are simply to nervous and afraid of the water. We thrash around, water goes up our nose and we panic and lose proper body position and begin to sink.
Take it one step further and float on your front and relax and move your arms to propel yourself. Make a conscious effort to press your upper body toward the bottom of the pool. The air in your lungs will try and push you back up, but won’t be able to, so your legs will rise instead and suddenly you become more stream-lined and your heels may even come out of the water for the first time.
All you are really doing is floating and moving your arms and kicking a little if you want. Once this concept is grasped, it’s amazing how easy it is to get to the other side of the pool.
It simply does not matter if you are a 280 pound man or a 120 pound woman, once you are able to relax in the water, your swimming will improve virtually overnight.
Many people who could “never” swim have conquered this basic fear and have gone on to become Ironman triathletes. It’s all of matter of wanting something bad enough that you simply push your fears and self-doubts aside and do whatever it takes in order to learn how to swim.
TRAINING TO BE A TRIATHLETE WILL TAKE TOO MUCH TIME
Training for a triathlon does not take as much time as some people tend to think. If a novice triathlete might hear how it takes 24-30 hours a week of training when preparing for an Ironman.
People who tell you that are most likely extending that perception of training time just to make themselves look like superman. Don’t fall for that. Yes, you will have to work and put in the time and dedication to become a triathlete and perhaps and Ironman one day, but you can do it on a lot less than 25 or 30 hours a week.
First of all, everyone is different and it all depends what your skill levels are at the beginning. Can you swim? Are you a runner? Do you have weight to lose? Do you have a young family? These are important considerations when it comes to deciding how much time to allot to your triathlon career and how you will set up your training program.
The most time consuming element might well be learning how to swim, but once that is accomplished it’s very possible to prepare for an Ironman with around 12-14 hours training a week. This is especially true in the early months of your training for a big race that is many months away.
For instance if you are beginning training in October for an August Ironman, it makes no sense to be doing 3 hour runs and 5 hour bike rides 10 months before the race. As a matter of fact, the majority of your training for the first 5 or 6 months should be spent working on technique. For instance, developing a good spin technique on the bike, a long, smooth swim stroke, and perhaps working on hill running efficiency.
This does not require much more than 12 hours of training per week if that. A good spin workout on your bike can be done in an hour or even less. The average person can easily swim 2000 meters in an hour or less if they are already able to swim, but as mentioned this may require more time if it is new skill.
I mean, how far do you want to swim anyway when you are almost a year away from your Ironman?
There is really no need to be running for over two hours in any one session until later on in your training when you begin to increase your distance in the final few months of training before your taper begins.
Even if a novice Ironman were to spend 4 hours a week swimming, 6 hours biking, and 4 hours running, that is still only 14 hours a week. That is still too much early on in your Ironman training as proper attention must be given to sufficient rest in order to avoid over-training or injury.
So I guess the real question is, can you find around 12 hours or so in your average week to commit to triathlon training?
Yes, you do have to commit time and effort to reach the Ironman finish line. It’s not a given. It would not be such a spectacular accomplishment if it were easy, but keep it in perspective.
Probably something like 90% of novice Ironmen go into their first Ironman race over-trained and tired. Most of this is caused by preconceived notions that they must train like gladiators 6 days a week for 6 months.
Don’t believe if for a minute.
IT’S TOO EXPENSIVE TO BE A TRIATHLETE
This is another big misconception.
Triathlon has evolved to become a huge sport on a world level. This in turn has spawned a booming business in triathlon bikes, wetsuits, accessories, nutritional products, and clothing of every type. So of course new triathletes feel that many of these goodies are necessary to become a triathlete.
However if you were to step back a quarter of a century when the Hawaii Ironman was just beginning to explode into prominence, there were very few choices for triathlon gear and as a result it was not that expensive to take up the sport.
The biggest expense was traveling to Hawaii and accommodations once you got there because basically, it was the only game in town until Ironman Canada came onto to the scene.
Triathletes were doing the toughest race in the world at the time on $300 bikes with none of the triathlon accessories available today. They didn’t have to buy fancy triathlon clothing and wetsuits because there were none to be had.
So in other words, triathlon is only as expensive as you choose to make it these days. If you fall into the trap of believing you need all the gear available then yes, it can be expensive. If you believe you really need a $5000 bike then yes, it can be expensive. If you live in Calgary and travel to the other side of the world to do an Ironman instead of doing Ironman Canada or Couer D’Alene, then yes it can be expensive.
So, is becoming a triathlete expensive? Yes it can be, but only if people let it be.
People can think of many reasons why triathlon is not possible for them even though it is very much on their minds, but often it’s more because they doubt themselves than for any other reason.
Often all it takes is a leap of faith and believing in themselves and the fears and doubts are soon left in the dust and all things become possible.
The author has been an endurance athlete for over 30 years. He has competed in over 30 marathons, 2 — 50 mile races, 14 Ironman triathlons and countless shorter races.
Over 5 years ago he created a website called “Ironstruck.” The main purpose was to provide training and racing tips for the beginner triathlete and novice Ironman. You can visit Ironstruck here…… http://www.ironstruck.ca
The author has also written three triathlon books. Two are for those who have an Ironman triathlon in their future. “Ironstruck…The Ironman Triathlon Journey” and “Ironstruck? 500 Ironman Triathlon Questions and Answers” have been well received by the tri community.
His latest book “Triathlete In Transition” is for the very beginner triathlete and is also being well received.
