Triathlons consist of a swim, cycle and run, consecutively and vary in distance depending on the particular Triathlon being undertaken. It is advised to start with the shorter distances in order to gain experience, but it’s often the case that some athletes suit the shorter distances rather than the more extreme Ironman distances.
Training Programme designed by Sports Med Ireland exclusively for A Lust for Life.
Glossary: W/U=Warm Up, C/D=Cool Down, MB=Medicine Ball, KB=Kettlebell, DB=Dumbbell, AET=Aerobic Threshold, LSD=Long Steady Distance
MONDAY – AEROBIC SWIM 1200:
- Mixed w/u 200m
- 16 x 50m (25build/25 cruise)
- c/d 200m mixed
TUESDAY – AET RUN 30 MIN:
- 10 min easy warm up brisk walk
- 20 min jog at conversational pace
- Finish with yoga stretches (10 min)
WEDNESDAY – RECOVERY DAY
THURSDAY – GYM SESSION:
- 3 X 12 MB chop, squat, reverse lunge
- 3 X 12 Goblet squat, Push Up, DB Row
FRIDAY – TEMPO SWIM 1200:
- W/U 200 mixed
FRIDAY – MAIN SET:
- 5 X 100 build to moderate pace 20 sec rest in between
- 3 X 100M: 20 SEC RI C/D 200 mixed
SATURDAY – LSD BIKE 75 MIN:
- Steady pace bike spin
- 15 min easy with light breathing
- 60 min easy with increased breathing
SUNDAY – AET RUN 30 MIN:
- 10 min easy warm up brisk walk
- 20 min jog at conversational pace
- Finish with yoga stretches (10 min)
MONDAY – AEROBIC SWIM 1200:
- Mixed w/u 200m
- 16 x 50m (25build/25 cruise)
- c/d 200m mixed
MONDAY – GYM SESSION:
- 3 X 12 MB chop, squat, reverse lunge
- 3 X 12 Goblet squat, Push Up, DB Row
TUESDAY – RECOVERY DAY
WEDNESDAY – AET RUN 40 MIN WITH STRIDES:
- 10 min easy warm up brisk walk
- 25 min jog at conversational pace
- 8 x 60m strides with walkback recovery
- Finish with yoga stretches (10 min)
THURSDAY – TEMPO SWIM 1200:
- W/U 200 mixed
THURSDAY – MAIN SET:
- 6 X 100 build to moderate pace 20 sec rest in between
- 2 X 100M:20 SEC RI
- C/D 200 mixed
FRIDAY – GYM SESSION:
- 3 X 12 MB chop, squat, reverse lunge
- 3 X 12 KB deadlift, Lat Pulldown, Push Up Rotate
SATURDAY – LSD BIKE 1.5 HR:
- Steady pace bike spin
- 20 min easy with light breathing
- 70 min easy with increased breathing
SUNDAY – AET RUN 40 MIN:
- 10 min easy warm up brisk walk
- 20 min jog at conversational pace taking 1 minute walking breaks if necessary
- Finish with yoga stretches (10 min)
MONDAY – AEROBIC SWIM 1400:
- Mixed w/u 200m
- 16 x 50m (25build/25 cruise)
- 2 X 100:20 Sec rest
- c/d 200m mixed
MONDAY – GYM SESSION:
- 3 X 12 MB chop, squat, reverse lunge
- 3 X 12 Goblet squat, Push Up, DB Row
TUESDAY – AET RUN 50 MIN:
- 10 min easy warm up brisk walk
- 30 min jog at conversational pace
- Finish with yoga stretches (10 min)
WEDNESDAY – RECOVERY DAY
THURSDAY – GYM SESSION:
- 3 X 12 MB chop, squat, reverse lunge
- 3 X 12 KB deadlift, Lat Pulldown, Push Up Rotate
- 3 x 10 Single leg deadlift, Core Drill, Band row
FRIDAY – TEMPO SWIM 1400:
- W/U 200 mixed
- 100 front
FRIDAY – MAIN SET:
- 6 X 100 build to moderate pace 20 sec rest in between
- 3 X 100M:20 SEC RI
- C/D 200 mixed
SATURDAY – LSD BIKE 1HR 45:
- Steady pace bike spin
- 30 min easy with light breathing
- 75 min easy with increased breathing and 30 second hard effort every 9.5 minutes
SUNDAY – AET RUN 50 MIN:
- 10 min easy warm up brisk walk
- 40 min jog at conversational pace
- Finish with yoga stretches (10 min)
MONDAY – AEROBIC SWIM 1200:
- Mixed w/u 200m
- 16 x 50m (25build/25 cruise)
- c/d 200m mixed
MONDAY – GYM SESSION:
- 3 X 12 MB chop, squat, reverse lunge
- 3 X 12 Goblet squat, Push Up, DBl Row
TUESDAY – RECOVERY DAY
WEDNESDAY – AET RUN 50 MIN WITH STRIDES:
- 10 min easy warm up brisk walk
- 35 min jog at conversational pace with 1 minute walking breaks if necessary
- 5 x 60m strides with walkback recovery
- Finish with yoga stretches (10 min)
THURSDAY – TEMPO SWIM 1200:
- W/U 200 mixed
THURSDAY – TMAIN SET:
- 5 X 100 build to moderate pace 20 sec rest in between
- 3 X 100M:20 SEC RI
- C/D 200 mixed
FRIDAY – GYM SESSION:
- 3 X 12 MB chop, squat, reverse lunge
- 3 X 12 KB deadlift, Lat Pulldown, Push Up Rotate
- 3 x 10 Single leg deadlift, Core Drill, Band row
SATURDAY – LSD BIKE 2 HR:
- Steady pace bike spin
- 30 min easy with light breathing
- 90 min easy with increased breathing & 6 sec sprint/6 sec easy/6 sec sprint every 10 minutes
SUNDAY – RECOVERY DAY
MONDAY – AEROBIC SWIM 1400:
- Mixed w/u 200m
- 20 x 50m (25build/25 cruise)
- c/d 200m mixed
MONDAY – GYM SESSION:
C1 X 3 Sets
- MB Chop X 10
- MB Squat X 10
- MB Reaching Lunge X 10
C2 X 3 Sets
- Goblet Squat X 10
- DB Row X 10/10
- Push Up Touch X 8
C3 X 3 Sets
- 1 Leg Deadlift X 6/6
- Lat Pulldown X 10
- Superman Core X 10 sec
TUESDAY – AET RUN 50 MIN WITH STRIDES:
- 10 min easy warm up brisk walk
- 35 min jog at conversational pace with 1 minute walking breaks if necessary
- 5 x 60m strides with walkback recovery
- Finish with yoga stretches (10 min)
WEDNESDAY – RECOVERY DAY
THURSDAY – BIKE SESSION 35 MIN:
- 10 Min conversational pace
- W/U 5 min as 40 sec easy/20 sec moderate pace
- 5 Min easy to finish
- Then 5 X 6 sec sprints with 54 sec easy between each
THURSDAY – TEMPO SWIM 1400:
- W/U 200 mixed
THURSDAY – MAIN SET:
- 10 X 100 build to moderate pace 20 sec rest in between
- C/D 200 mixed
FRIDAY – GYM SESSION:
C1 X 3 Sets
- MB Chop X 10
- MB Squat X 10
- MB Reverse Lunge X 10
C2 X 3 Sets
- Kettlebell Deadlift X 10
- Band Punch X 10
- Single Leg Bridge X 10
C3 X 3 Sets
- Split Squat X 6/6
- Side Plank X 10 Sec
- Cable/Band Chop X 10
SATURDAY – LSD BIKE 2 HR:
- Steady pace bike spin
- 30 min easy with light breathing
- 90 min easy with increased breathing & 6 sec sprint/6 sec easy/6 sec sprint every 10 minutes
SUNDAY – FARTLEK RUN 45 MIN:
- 10 min jog at conversational pace
- 10 min warm up as very easy jog. 10 min jog at conversational pace
- 5 min brisk walk to cool down
- Then 6 X 30 sec faster pace with 1 minute easy in between each
MONDAY – AEROBIC SWIM 1600:
- 22 x 50m (25build/25 cruise)
- c/d 200m mixed
MONDAY – GYM SESSION:
C1 X 3 Sets
- MB Chop X 10
- MB Squat X 10
- MB Reaching Lunge X 10
C2 X 3 Sets
- Goblet Squat X 10
- DB Row X 10/10
- Push Up Touch X 8
C3 X 3 Sets
- 1 Leg Deadlift X 6/6
- Lat Pulldown X 10
- Superman Core X 10 sec
TUESDAY – RECOVERY DAY
WEDNESDAY – PROGRESSION RUN 60 MIN:
- 10 min very easy jog to warm up
- 35 min jog at conversational pace
- Build speed for next 10 minutes to finish fast
- 5 min very easy jog to cool down
- Yoga stretches to finish
THURSDAY – TEMPO SWIM 1600:
- W/U 300 mixed
THURSDAY – MAIN SET:
- 10 X 100 build to moderate pace 20 sec rest in between
- C/D 300 mixed
FRIDAY – GYM SESSION:
C1 X 3 Sets
- MB Chop X 10
- MB Squat X 10
- MB Reverse Lunge X 10
C2 X 3 Sets
- Kettlebell Deadlift X 10
- Band Punch X 10
- Single Leg Bridge X 10
C3 X 3 Sets
- Split Squat X 6/6
- Side Plank X 10 Sec
- Cable/Band Chop X 10
Conditioning:
20 Min bike as:
- 5 min moderate pace
- 10 x 10 sec sprint/50 sec easy
- 5 min easy to cool down
SATURDAY – LSD BIKE 2 HR:
- Steady pace bike spin
- 30 min easy with light breathing
- 90 min easy with increased breathing & a 30 sec sprint every 10 minutes
SATURDAY – AET RUN 30 MIN:
- 10 min very easy jog to warm up
- 20 min jog at conversational pace
- Finish with yoga stretches (10 min)
SUNDAY – AEROBIC SWIM 1800:
- Mixed w/u 300m
- 24 x 50m (25build/25 cruise)
- c/d 300m mixed
MONDAY – GYM SESSION:
C1 X 3 Sets
- MB Chop X 10
- MB Squat X 10
- MB Reaching Lunge X 10
C2 X 3 Sets
- Goblet Squat X 10
- DB Row X 10/10
- Push Up Touch X 8
C3 X 3 Sets
- 1 Leg Deadlift X 6/6
- Lat Pulldown X 10
- Superman Core X 10 sec
Conditioning:
20 Min bike as:
- 5 min moderate pace
- 10 x 10 sec sprint/50 sec easy
- 5 min easy to cool down
TUESDAY – AET RUN 60 MIN WITH STRIDES:
- 10 min easy warm up brisk walk
- 45 min jog at conversational pace with 1 minute walking breaks if necessary
- 5 x 60m strides with walkback recovery
- Finish with yoga stretches (10 min)
THURSDAY – BIKE SESSION 50 MIN:
- 10 min conversational pace
- W/U 5 min as 40 sec easy/20 sec moderate pace
- 5 Min easy to finish
- Then 5 X 30 sec sprints with 4.5 min easy between each
TEMPO SWIM 1800:
- W/U 200 mixed
MAIN SET:
- 5 X 100 build to moderate pace 20 sec rest in between
- 3 X 100M:20 SEC RI
- C/D 200 mixed
FRIDAY – GYM SESSION:
C1 X 3 Sets
- MB Chop X 10
- MB Squat X 10
- MB Reverse Lunge X 10
C2 X 3 Sets
- Kettlebell Deadlift X 10
- Band Punch X 10
- Single Leg Bridge X 10
C3 X 3 Sets
- Split Squat X 6/6
- Side Plank X 10 Sec
- Cable/Band Chop X 10
Conditioning:
20 Min bike as:
- 5 min moderate pace
- 5 x 30 sec hard/90 sec easy
- 5 min easy to cool down
SATURDAY – LSD BIKE 2 HR:
- Steady pace bike spin
- 30 min easy with light breathing
- 90 min easy with increased breathing & 6 sec sprint/6 sec easy/6 sec sprint every 10 minutes
SUNDAY – FARTLEK RUN 50 MIN:
- 10 min jog at conversational pace
- 10 min warm up as very easy jog. 10 min jog at conversational pace
- 8 min very easy jog to cool down
- Then 8 X 30 sec faster pace with 1 minute easy in between each
MONDAY – AEROBIC SWIM 2000:
- Mixed w/u 200m
- 16 x 50m (25build/25 cruise)
- c/d 200m mixed
MONDAY – GYM SESSION:
C1 X 3 Sets
- MB Chop X 10
- MB Squat X 10
- MB Reaching Lunge X 10
C2 X 3 Sets
- Goblet Squat X 10
- DB Row X 10/10
- Push Up Touch X 8
C3 X 3 Sets
- 1 Leg Deadlift X 6/6
- Lat Pulldown X 10
- Superman Core X 10 sec
TUESDAY – RECOVERY DAY
WEDNESDAY – AET RUN 40 MIN:
- 10 min very easy jog warm up
- 25 min jog at conversational pace
- 5 min very easy jog cool down
- Finish with yoga stretches (10 min)
THURSDAY – TEMPO SWIM 2000:
- W/U 200 mixed
THURSDAY – MAIN SET:
- 5 X 100 build to moderate pace 20 sec rest in between
- 3 X 100M:20 SEC RI
- C/D 200 mixed
FRIDAY – GYM SESSION:
C1 X 3 Sets
- MB Chop X 10
- MB Squat X 10
- MB Reverse Lunge X 10
C2 X 3 Sets
- Kettlebell Deadlift X 10
- Band Punch X 10
- Single Leg Bridge X 10
C3 X 3 Sets
- Split Squat X 6/6
- Side Plank X 10 Sec
- Cable/Band Chop X 10
Conditioning:
20 Min bike as:
- 5 min moderate pace
- 5 x 30 sec hard/90 sec easy
- 5 min easy to cool down
SATURDAY – LSD BIKE 1.5 HR:
- Steady pace bike spin
- 30 min easy with light breathing
- 60 min easy with increased breathing
SUNDAY – RECOVERY DAY
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