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“Why?” That is the question some of my family and friends asked me when I told them I was going to participate in the Nelson Bay Challenge, a local sprint triathlon. “Aren’t you getting a little old to push yourself so hard?” That was another question, with concerns that I might actually kill myself during the training process or the race itself. I only had one answer – why not? I have always liked setting specific physical fitness goals for myself and I thought a sprint triathlon could help add some spark to my workout routine. Another perk………the training program could also help me win some prizes through Blue Points, the health and wellness program offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina to promote physical fitness activities.
Sprint triathlons are not the Ironman events that you see on TV that take place in Kona, Hawaii. However, they are still a very challenging event, especially for those who have never partaken in this great sport. A sprint triathlon generally consists of a 500 – 750 meter swim (almost 1/2 mile), a cycling course of 20 km (12.5 miles), and finally a 5 k run (3.1 miles). Whereas an Ironman triathlon consists of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run. Training for and racing in your first triathlon will require discipline, knowledge and hard work. Whether you are doing this to lose weight, improve your overall fitness, or just to become a better triathlete, you will need the necessary tools to help you with your goals. One of the biggest challenges to this sport is choosing the training plan for yourself, making time available, not over training and keeping yourself motivated. So, where does one start? Selecting and starting with the right training plan will be a very important decision that will allow you to reach your goals. Once you have made the commitment everything else falls into place and you soon begin to realize how great you will feel and the benefits you gain. Not only do you improve your overall health, it may qualify you for an additional discount on your North Carolina health insurance premium through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).
For me, I set some specific goals (finishing time for each event) and set up a 12 week training program to accomplish those goals. I was already a runner, so I had some cardiovascular capacity. I started my program with my normal running of 3 times per week. I added in a swim and bike for the first couple of weeks, then progressively increased my program until I was swimming and biking at least twice per week as well. On the final weekends leading up to the race, I would typically combine my workouts to resemble what it would feel like in the race. For example, I would bike for a distance, then I would immediately run. This type of training is called a “brick” and trains your muscles for the transition from sport to sport. For the last two weeks leading up to my race, I tapered my intensity off to avoid injury and burnout.Training came naturally for me in the run and the bike. But the swim was another story, as it is for most people who have really never competed in swimming. I had actually participated in a sprint triathlon 7 years before. Prior to that, I took part in one of the first Nelson Bay Challenges back in 1989. During both of those events, I thought I would never make it through the swim. The backstroke is not the typical swim 
style, but it is good for getting plenty of air! This time, I was determined to learn how to freestyle swim in a way that maximized my time and conserved my energy. I purchased a DVD called “Freestyle Made Easy” and trained using the drills twice per week. I didn’t increase the amount of time I was swimming, but I did improve my technique, which made all the difference in the world. In the race 7 years ago, my 750 meter swim time was 25 mins. This time, it was 15 mins! Now, I am not a professional triathlete or trainer. I developed my training routine by reading books and articles. You can refer to www.beginnertriathlete.com and numerous other websites for a more complete and professional list of programs for the couch potato up to the more advanced athletes. So, whether you are tyring to lose weight or are wanting to add some flavor to your boring workout routine, training for a sprint triathlon just may be what you are looking for. In these times, improvement in physical conditioning can help save on medical bills and health insurance premiums. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina offers a 15% discount to those with qualifying medical histories! See you at the race.