3 Tips to Avoid Triathlon Racing Burnout

These numbers are based on preparation and recovery time of an experienced athlete beginning from a trained base not an off-the-couch athlete with no foundation of training. A novice first or second year triathlete will want to halve those numbers and probably take out the Iron distance racing altogether.

More: 6 Tips to Plan your Triathlon Race Season

Most athletes will want to use a mix of distances to prepare for their longer events. In this case, one-third of the above numbers is usually appropriate, such as this combination of races:

  •  1 Iron distance
  • 1-2 Half distance in preparation for Iron
  • 2-4 Olympic or Sprint races around Halves leading up to Iron distance.

Even if you are a "participant" stick to these numbers if you do Iron distance races as there is no "easy" way to finish long-distance races. You may be having fun, but they will still knock you around physically. Remember, active recovery is king, regardless of the distance of the race.

More4 Rules of Ironman Training

Have a Coach Give you Some Perspective

Ideally, you'll have a coach who you can talk to on a regular basis and will know you well enough to recognize when you're over raced. However, friends and significant others can also lend valuable feedback. Over-raced athletes won't recognize they are over raced. They have their schedule laid out and get very committed to sticking to that schedule.

More: You Hired a Coach, Now What?

Over-raced athletes will present numerous tells physically and emotionally. Your friends, family, or coach will notice if you're fatigued, stressed, or burned out long before you will. As an athlete, you need to have the confidence to listen to them and take time to recover and maintain the fun of racing.

Remember, its always better to be a bit conservative and keep the fun and excitement in racing. This will keep you loving triathlon for many years to come.

More: How Triathletes Reduce Their Risk of Running Injuries

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