Fitness Equipment � Train for Your First Triathlon

A guide to buying and using fitness equipment to help you train for a triathlon

The latest fitness trend to be taken up by athletes across the globe is the Triathlon, a gruelling combination of swimming, cycling and running. Part of the appeal is having a fitness goal to work towards, and because it involves buying specific equipment there is more motivation to keep you going rather than giving up at the first hurdle.

What Fitness Equipment do you need for Triathlon Training?

Triathlons are divided into three categories, and you will need appropriate fitness equipment for each one:

• Swimming: This is the easiest section to buy fitness equipment for, as you simply need a swimming costume, cap and goggles. If the swim takes place in open water you will also need a triathlon wetsuit.

• Cycling: Don't spend a fortune on equipment when you start training for a trithlon, as your level of fitness will dictate the type of cycle you need. Start with any bike you can get your hands on and build up to a professional model once you know triathlon is something you really want to do.

• Running : A decent pair of running shoes is the most important piece of fitness equipment for this section of the race, but you may also wish to invest in some decent quality running clothing to help keep your body cool.

How Can you Use Fitness Equipment to Train for a Triathlon?

The key to getting fit for a triathlon is to build up your strength and stamina over a period of time, so you're not training on over-tired or sore muscles. The best way for beginners to start is to incorporate all three sports into their fitness training regime, using the appropriate equipment to help.

These are some suggestions on using fitness equipment to help you train for your first triathlon:

• Swimming: The beginners races are normally held in swimming pools rather than open water, so your local pool is a good start. Aim for at least two swim sessions a week, building up your stamina and technique by increasing your distance each week. You will also benefit greatly from a weights training programme using fitness equipment like free weights or weights machines. This will give you strength in your arms and legs to enable you to swim more powerfully.
  
• Cycling: You should aim to do road training two or three times a week, again building up the distance as you get fitter. Focus on increasing your endurance, as the bike section is the longest and hardest of any triathlon race, and include hills into your route. If the weather is unsuitable for outdoors training, then it might be wise to invest in some indoors fitness equipment like a cycle machine that you can use at home.

• Running: One of the hardest things for triathletes to perfect is the transition from cycling to running. The best way to simulate this is to exercise on different pieces of fitness equipment like exercise bikes or rowing machines, then quickly switch to a running machine. Changing shoes is a technique that also needs to be learnt, so take all your running equipment with you to your fitness centre and practise changing from your cycle shoes into your running ones as you train.

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