Okay, probably a silly question if you are training for triathlon but I’ll ask it anyway! Many triathletes believe they can get away with swimming the absolute bare minimum yards/meters in training because the swim portion of the race is so much shorter compared to the bike and the run portions. However, there are many reasons to swim more.

Confidence. The more you swim, the more confidence you build when you have to translate your pool swimming to open water. There isn’t a wall to rest at each 25 meters in open water, so being confident in your ability to swim is key.

Fatigue Resistance. For an athlete that didn’t grow up with a swim background, the more swimming done in training, the less fatigue the swim portion of the race will take out of the body. No one wants to be gassed coming out of the water and then have to bike and run already feeling tired. By swimming more you’re building your resistance to fatigue.

Aerobic Fitness. Swimming gives a huge boost to overall aerobic fitness. By working on muscular endurance, breath control, and pacing, the body is getting more aerobically fit with each swim session.

Hills. You either love them or you hate them, right? Whether you enjoy a good climb, or dread the sight of one, there is no denying that incorporating them into your training will make you a stronger rider. Let’s talk about all the benefits of hill training and then you’ll find four workouts to try.It’s important to have a thoughtful approach to incorporating hills into your training, especially if you are not used to riding them! You can train on hills year round, in every phase of training, but the types of sessions will vary. If you aren’t used to riding hills, I recommend planning a route that has a couple of hills. Just ride and get a feel for how your body works differently when climbing. How does your cadence change? Are you comfortable seated or standing while climbing?

Endurance riding is one of the most important training sessions that you can add into your training because of the massive benefits it provides. Specifically I am talking about zone 2 training. It’s often overlooked because it’s not fancy, and dare I say, boring? The work requires a certain amount of concentration to stay within the proper power zone to get the most benefit.