The winter is a great time to lay down the building blocks for the season ahead. Whatever you aims and goals are for the coming season, starting off with a clear plan is one way to try and help you achieve those goals.

Dermott Hayes wrote in an article for 220Triathlon back in August 2021, that as with any aspect of fitness it’s necessary for the individual to find what’s right for them. He believes we can all benefit from laying down strong fitness foundations over the winter months. A well-structured base phase should ensure that the bulk – around 70-80% of training time – is spent within an easy-to-moderate intensity. This allows for a gradual increase in duration or distance, without fear of injury by jumping in too quickly.

If you want to read the full article here is the link:

https://www.220triathlon.com/training/training-plans/free-3-month-winter-training-plan/

Maximise on this off-season time by:

Setting your goal for the next season, this will help when you are putting together a plan.

Build your fitness up gradually, allow your body time to rest if you have raced this season. If you are a newbie to Triathlon start your training gently.

Write out a training plan and keep a log in a training diary, so you can monitor your progress.

This will help to motivate you to train whatever the weather. It’s good for the soul to get outside and exercise in the fresh air.

A training plan is very personal and what works for one person does not work for everyone. Try and discover what works for you. What time of the day do you prefer to train. Seek advice from a trainer, or look to join a Triathlon Club, where you will be surrounded by likeminded people. Finding a training partner is another way to help you stay on track and keep motivated over the winter months. The internet is a great resource when you are trying to devise a training plan.

Use the time to mix it up a bit. Work on weaknesses if you have any. If you know hill climbing on your bike is a weakness work on that over the winter. Give some thought to your training kit and make sure you have some kit that will keep you warm and dry. You will soon be looking for the indoor cycling option of your outdoor experiences are a freezing or wet slog.

Give some thought to your nutrition. The winter is quite often a time for eating stodge and you have the biggest eating festival of the year in December. Christmas is a great opportunity to relax and unwind. That aside, maybe you could use this off-season time to focus on better nutritional habits.

Planning is key, but flexibility is important too for those days that don’t quite go according to plan.

Do You have a Winter Training Plan?