Long Course Triathlon Base Training (20 weeks) + Race Taper (4 weeks)
Author
Adam Hodges
All plans by this CoachLength
24 Weeks
Typical Week
1 Day Off, 1 Other, 3 Swim, 3 Run, 3 Bike, 3 Strength, 1 Brick
Longest Workout
1:15 hrs swim
4:00 hrs bike
2:30 hrs run
Plan Specs
triathlon half ironman intermediate advanced masters hr based
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Summary
Includes Structured Workouts
Structured Workouts automatically sync with compatible devices and guide you through workouts in real time.
Learn More about Structured Workouts.
This plan provides a complete blueprint to help triathletes develop their endurance base in preparation for a target event with a 1.2-mi swim, 56-mi bike, and 13.1-mi run. Olympic distance triathletes can also use the plan by reducing the duration of the weekly long bike and long run sessions according to their needs. It assigns volume based on training hours and intensity based on heart rate training zones. The plan provides instructions and workouts to determine your individualized training zones, so no prior knowledge is needed.
The training adheres to the philosophy of building the aerobic base while simultaneously emphasizing the proper neuromuscular patterns needed to prepare the athlete for higher intensity training later in the season. The plan also integrates a complete strength training program, moving from a general strength phase to a maximum strength phase to a muscular endurance phase.
The plan consists of five 4-week base training blocks that progressively build volume following a 3-up/1-down periodization schedule. The fourth week of each training block is dedicated to recovery and field tests. Triathletes who prefer a 2-up/1-down periodization schedule can easily adapt the plan by removing the second week of each 4-week training block for a 15-week base training program.
By the end of the 20-week base training progression, many triathletes will be ready to taper for their target event—and a 4-week tapering block is included for them. Other triathletes will be ready to move into a higher intensity build phase before their target event. For them, a separate 8-week Event Training Plan is available that picks up where the 20-week base training progression ends. Still others may choose to repeat some of the base training blocks if they have a longer season that requires more base training.
The plan—like any training plan—represents an initial draft, rather than a final document set in stone. You will write the final version over the coming months as you glean feedback from your training each week and adapt your training to your specific situation and goals. The plan provides guidelines each week on how to adjust the next week’s volume in relation to your previous week’s volume, so you can start with your current training volume and progress accordingly. After all, no matter where you want to go, you must start from where you are.
Consult the Alp Fitness website (alpfitness.com) for supplemental videos, tools and resources to use along with this plan. Train smart!
Stats
Sample Day 1
You should do this time trial in a fasted state. Do not eat for at least two hours before the test. Ideally, do the test in the morning after not eating since dinner the night before (about a 12-hour fast).
The course can be flat or up a steady 5-10% grade, but avoid a course with rolling hills. Choose a familiar course that you can return to each time you do this workout.
Do an easy warm up until you break a sweat.
Once you are warmed up, continue picking up your speed to increase your heart rate by about 5 beats per minute every 3 minutes while breathing only through your nose.
Continue to increase your pace until nose breathing becomes too difficult; then back off just enough to keep nose breathing for another 10-15 minutes. Record this 10-15-minute interval on your GPS/HR device.
NOTE: There is usually only a 2-4 bpm difference between easy breathing and unsustainable nose breathing.
RESULTS: The average HR you recorded during your 10-15-minute nose breathing interval represents your Aerobic Threshold Heart Rate (AeT HR).
IMPORTANT: All of your endurance base workouts should be at or below your AeT HR. So make a note of your AeT HR in your mind.
MORE BACKGROUND INFO: The AeT HR may or may not correspond directly to your Zone 2 HR range based off your lactate threshold (LT) heart rate. As your base develops, your AeT HR should get closer to your LT HR. Once these two are within 10% of each other, then you will be ready for higher intensity anaerobic work.
Sample Day 1
"Feel good speed" 25s with 25 recovery after each one before starting next one. This is designed to be a continuous fartlek-type swim.
Maintain good form on the fast 25s. Keep the recovery 25s easy so you are fully recovered for the next fast 25.
If you are in a 50-meter pool, sprint the first half and recover over the second half.
In your post-workout comments, indicate how you felt with a letter grade:
A. Felt amazing; superhuman
B. Felt fairly good; decent workout
C. Felt a bit flat or off (e.g., heavy legs)
D. Had to stop early; didn't have it today
F. Could not train due to illness or fatigue
Write down any factors that may account for your rating above (e.g., took a nap yesterday, motivated by nice weather, had poor night's sleep, working longer hours this week).
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Zones based on T-Pace*
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Zone 1 = Very easy
Zone 2 = T-pace + 10 sec
Zone 3 = T-pace + 5 sec
Zone 4 = T-pace
Zone 5a = T-pace
Zone 5b = T-pace – 5 sec
Zone 5c = Maximal effort
*T-pace is your lactate threshold pace.
See https://www.alpfitness.com/how-to-determine-your-swimming-pace-zones/
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**The workout builder doesn't have an option for T-pace zones. The"RPE" number is intended to be read as T-pace zone (not RPE).
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Swimming Drills:
https://www.alpfitness.com/tag/swimming-drills/
Sample Day 2
You should do this time trial in a fasted state. Do not eat for at least two hours before the test. Ideally, do the test in the morning after not eating since dinner the night before.
The course can be flat or up a steady 5-10% grade, but avoid a course with rolling hills. Choose a familiar course that you can return to each time you do this workout.
Do an easy warm up until you break a sweat.
Once you are warmed up, continue picking up your speed to increase your heart rate by about 5 beats per minute every 3 minutes while breathing only through your nose.
Continue to increase your pace until nose breathing becomes too difficult; then back off just enough to keep nose breathing for another 10-15 minutes. Record this 10-15-minute interval on your GPS/HR device.
NOTE: There is usually only a 2-4 bpm difference between easy breathing and unsustainable nose breathing.
RESULTS: The average HR you recorded during your 10-15-minute nose breathing interval represents your Aerobic Threshold Heart Rate (AeT HR).
IMPORTANT: All of your endurance base workouts should be at or below your AeT HR. So make a note of your AeT HR in your mind.
MORE BACKGROUND INFO: The AeT HR may or may not correspond directly to your Zone 2 HR range based off your lactate threshold (LT) heart rate. As your base develops, your AeT HR should get closer to your LT HR. Once these two are within 10% of each other, then you will be ready for higher intensity anaerobic work.
Sample Day 2
This Max Strength workout will develop more muscle fiber recruitment and prepare you for the Muscular Endurance work later in the season.
Do 4-6 sets of 1-4 reps with 3-5 min between sets. Weight should be about 85-90% of one rep max. Do not go to failure, but keep it challenging.
Rotate through the exercises as a circuit. This will allow for the required recovery between sets of a particular exercise while providing for a more efficient and beneficial workout.
Always maintain perfect form with attention to safety. If in doubt on how to do an exercise, consult a trainer in the gym or choose an alternate exercise.
GROUP 1
a. Cable twist up-down
b. Good morning
c. Dumbbell Single Leg Split Squat
GROUP 2
a. Seated row
b. Dumbbell bench press
c. Lat pulldown
GROUP 3
a. Power clean
b. Dumbbell Prone Rear Delt Raise
c. Dumbbell Standing Lateral Raise
When finished, spend some time stretching. Hold each stretch for 3 minutes.
STRETCHES
a. Seated hamstring stretch
b. Groin stretch
c. Standing Quadriceps Stretch
d. Calf stretch
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NON-GYM OPTIONS
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If you don’t have access to a gym, you can do alternative exercises with equipment at home like stretch cords, a TRX, and a stability ball. These options are provided below.
GROUP 1
a. Front/side planks (do sets of 30 seconds)
b. Good morning (use body weight)
c. Single Leg Split Squat (use body weight or water jugs using a bench or stairs)
GROUP 2
a. TRX high row
b. TRX chest press or push-ups*
c. TRX low row
*Push-ups can be done with feet on a stability ball for more resistance
GROUP 3
a. Body squats
b. Hitchiker (prone position with thumbs up)
c. Lateral raises (stand on stretch cord)
For descriptions and demos of alternative non-gym exercises, see https://www.alpfitness.com/category/functional-strength-videos/.
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LINKS TO GYM DEMOS
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GROUP 1
a. https://exrx.net/WeightExercises/Obliques/CBUpDownTwist
b. https://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Hamstrings/BBGoodMorning
c. https://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Quadriceps/DBSingleLegSplitSquat
GROUP 2
a. https://exrx.net/WeightExercises/BackGeneral/CBSeatedRow or
b. https://exrx.net/WeightExercises/PectoralSternal/DBBenchPress
c. https://exrx.net/WeightExercises/LatissimusDorsi/CBFrontPulldown
GROUP 3
a. https://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/OlympicLifts/PowerClean
b. https://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/DeltoidPosterior/DBLyingRearLateralRaise
c. https://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/DeltoidLateral/DBLateralRaise
STRETCHES
a. https://exrx.net/Stretches/Hamstrings/Seated
b. https://www.exrx.net/Stretches/HipAdductors/LyingGroin
c. https://www.exrx.net/Stretches/Quadriceps/Standing
d. https://exrx.net/Stretches/Gastrocnemius/Wall
Sample Day 2
Perform 1-3 sets of 8-12 reps (or 30 second intervals) as a circuit—that is, rotating from one exercise to the next. Always perform exercises with perfect form. Add/subtract reps or time as needed to keep it challenging.
Add additional core exercises or make changes to this routine based on your needs and preferences.
For descriptions and demos of exercises, see https://www.alpfitness.com/category/functional-strength-videos/.
1. Superman
2. Front plank
3. Glute bridge
4. Side plank
5. Donkey kicks
6. Lying hip abductions
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ADVANCED ROUTINE
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1. Superman
2. Front plank with straight leg hip extension
3. Glute bridge
4. Side plank with hip abduction
5. Donkey kicks
Sample Day 3
Easy recovery bike to loosen you up for the key workouts of the week.
Bike at a very comfortable, conversational pace while breathing easily through your nose (no mouth breathing). This will correspond to Zone 1.
After you are warmed up, do 4 x 30-second isolated leg drill per leg. Spin with one leg; focus on smooth pedal stroke.
Focus on keeping your cadence at 90-110 throughout the ride.
When finished, hold each of these stretches for 30 seconds each:
1. Wall Bent Knee Calf Stretch
2. Wall Straight Leg Calf Stretch
3. Standing Quadriceps Stretch
4. Standing Forward Bend
5. Standing Hip Flexor Stretch
6. Groin Stretch
7. Squat
For instructions, see https://www.alpfitness.com/six-essential-post-run-stretches/
In your post-workout comments, indicate how you felt with a letter grade:
A. Felt amazing; superhuman
B. Felt fairly good; decent workout
C. Felt a bit flat or off (e.g., heavy legs)
D. Had to stop early; didn't have it today
F. Could not train due to illness or fatigue
Write down any factors that may account for your rating above (e.g., took a nap yesterday, motivated by nice weather, had poor night's sleep, working longer hours this week).
Sample Day 3
Easy recovery run to loosen you up for the key workouts of the week.
Run at a very comfortable, conversational pace while breathing easily through your nose (no mouth breathing). This will correspond to Zone 1.
Focus on keeping cadence between 168-190 steps per minute. If you count single steps, that's 28-30 left foot strikes per 20 seconds or 80-90 per minute.
After you are warmed up (broken a light sweat), do the following drills. Do each drill for about 40 meters. Repeat each drill 1-3 times.
1. Loosening Skips
2. Side Skips
3. Carioca, or Grapevine
4. Straight Leg Run
5. Butt Kicks
6. High Knees
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1. LOOSENING SKIPS
Notes: Skip lightly while keeping your arms relaxed.
Next, add forward arm circles.
Switch to backward arm circles.
Switch to forward arm circles with both arms.
Switch to backward arm circles with both arms.
Finally, open up the chest with a cross-chest arm swing.
Skip for 20-40 meters for each phase.
See video demo:
http://www.alpfitness.com/video-loosening-skips/
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2. SIDE SKIPS
Notes: Running takes place almost exclusively in the sagittal plane (flexion/extension) to propel the runner forward, yet muscles that operate in the frontal plane (abduction/adduction) play an important role as stabilizers. This drill builds strength and coordination among these stabilizing muscles.
For the side-to-side skip, skip side to side by bringing your feet together and then shoulder width apart. Let your arms cross over each other in front of the body as you skip.
See video demo:
http://www.alpfitness.com/video-side-skips/
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3. CARIOCA, OR GRAPEVINE
Notes: Running takes place almost exclusively in the sagittal plane (flexion/extension) to propel the runner forward, yet muscles that operate in the frontal plane (abduction/adduction) play an important role as stabilizers. This drill builds strength and coordination among these stabilizing muscles.
As you move sideways, cross one leg over the other in front and then behind. Hold your arms out to the side to begin; as you start to get the hang of the drill, use your arms as you would while running. When you get the hang of that, try adding a high knee with the leg that crosses over in front.
See video demo:
http://www.alpfitness.com/video-carioca-or-grapevine/
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4. STRAIGHT LEG RUN
Notes: The straight leg run is like the straight leg walk used during your dynamic warm up, only this time you are running. The straight leg run reinforces the important pawing motion practiced in the A-skip and B-skip. Start slowly and gradually increase your speed. Avoid the temptation to lean backwards—in other words, keep your upper body perpendicular to the ground as you run with straight legs. As your foot contacts the ground, finish with that same backwards pawing motion as you practiced in the other drills—squeeze the glutes and hamstrings as you pull back on the track.
See video demo:
http://www.alpfitness.com/video-straight-leg-run/
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5. BUTT KICKS
Notes: Pull your heels up directly beneath you, keeping the knee, heel and toe up throughout the drill. Use the same arm motion during this drill as you use while running.
See video demo:
http://www.alpfitness.com/video-butt-kick-drill/
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6. HIGH KNEES
Notes: The high knee drill works the loading phase of the run. The key to performing the drill correctly is to focus on driving the foot down and letting it spring back up off the ground (rather than lifting the knees). Use the same arm motion during this drill as you use while running.
See video demo:
http://www.alpfitness.com/video-high-knee-drill/
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When finished, hold each of these stretches for 30 seconds each:
1. Wall Bent Knee Calf Stretch
2. Wall Straight Leg Calf Stretch
3. Standing Quadriceps Stretch
4. Standing Forward Bend
5. Standing Hip Flexor Stretch
6. Groin Stretch
7. Squat
For instructions, see https://www.alp