Xterrra Training

[Grondpad]

As a newby to triathlons I am looking for a training program. I have only done 2 sprint triathlons and have my sights now set on doing to Xterra Buffelspoort next year January.

 

Can anyone recommend a decent training program for the Xterra? Or do you just follow a standard Olympic distance program?

[rudi-h]

Xterra is a lot tougher than Olympic distance tri's, so you've got do a li'l bit longer rides & runs for this one. Otherwise I'd say the training is the same.

 

Buffelspoort is rocky and if 2010 repeats itself, very muddy. The run is also very steep, so make sure to get some hills / steps into your route.

 

Not much of a program guy myself, but as with any event, start of with longer and slower runs and cycles for base fitness and remember to throw in a good number of brick sessions. About a month from the race, I would start with some serious interval / threshold sessions as well as a few full race distance training sessions.

 

Don't know how good a swimmer you are, but if you're a crappy swimmer like me, do the 1.5km distance often (1-2 x per week). Not so much because I get faster, but it becomes less effort, thus you're fresher on the bike leg.

 

Good luck with the training - Xterra is awesome!!!

Edited October 29, 2010 by rudi-h

[ridesleeprepeat]

yoy've got do some open water swimming too... 'Start Skok' can puch your heart into the red, difficult to get it back down once you start banging out the bike. Focus on quality over quantity for xterra. Do difficult sessions but try control heart rate. In my experience brick sessions are over rated; you don't go hard enough on the bike and are usually too poked to tap out the run after. Rather do double sessions. Long bike with efforts in the morning, 45 - 1h temp run later in the afternoon. Or 1 hour temp bike followed by a run session with some long controlled intervals in the afternoon.

 

Running off the mountain bike is a lot easier than running off the road bike/tri bike. just my experience.

[Grondpad]

Thanks for the feedback gents.

 

Where do you do your open water swimming? At Buffelspoort dam?

[Brian Fantana]

Sharpening your technical skills on the mtb is critical as well. If your technical skills are like second nature your bike leg will be very smooth.

[reteid]

try and do trail runs as there is a big difference between pounding tar and running offroad.i have done a few tri's and two ironmans and i got a huge surprise at grabouw x terra on the run.ok it was warm etc , but the run was difficult as i did not do enough offroad running leading up to the event.once you have done xterra it is difficult to hit the tar and the roadbike again.the swim is always a bitch (the start) as it is a free for all.as i am a strong but not fast swimmer i try to start on the side of the bunch as the start in the middle of the fast starters is just too hectic for me.you have to be calm and in good shape when you start the bike section.good luck.

[Weight Weenie]

Also thinking bout doing this, maybe we can train together Grondpad ?

[Danger Dassie]

Also been considering this, although my swimming ranks up there with 'flounder'

[Weight Weenie]

Well I'll only be doing the sprint distance, you okes ?

Whats the entry fee ?

[stewie911]

Did the sprint this year, because of lack of swimming ability.

 

Probably finished in the last 30% of the swim field and found it really difficult working through the field on the bike(some bottlenecks and lots and lots of mud)

 

Training wise: Work a bit on your technical skills for the bike.

Get some open water swims before hand.

Do some hill training for the run.

 

Entry fee should be around R150 for the lite

[Weight Weenie]

Ok well I'm in for the Xterra Buffelspoort Lite - who's joining ?