Sprint Triathlon Program for Beginners

Have you ever wanted to "tri" a triathlon, but thought it was something beyond the reach of mere mortals? Well, we've got news for you: Even if your athleticism is on the moderate side, you can complete a triathlon, and in the process, you'll even find your inner athlete. Learn how to train for a sprint triathlon with this program, designed specifically for beginners.

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Triathlon Program for Beginners

A female tri-athlete pedals along a road overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Palos Verdes, California. — Ty Milford / Getty Images

This program works beginners up to a sprint triathlon. A sprint typically consists of the following legs:

750m swim (.47 mi) -- although sometimes 400 to 500 m (especially if the swim is in a pool)
20km bike (12.4 mi)
5k run (3.1 mi)

Although the event is called a sprint, don't let the name scare you. You'll actually be racing for more than an hour, so you won't have to "sprint" through the thing at full speed.

(Note: You should be able to run a 5K before starting any triathlon training program. Follow a solid 5K program designed to get new athletes up to speed.)

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Training Schedule

Runner spraying himself with water in race — Robert Daly / Getty Images

One of the first difficulties you might face when training for a triathlon is time. How do you fit swimming, biking, and running into a week, along with all the other necessities of life like family, friends, work, and well…sleep?

Good news: The following training schedule has you training at most 3.5 hours a week.

The following are some notes about this schedule:

You'll do each discipline (swim, bike, run) twice every week.
You have at least one rest day each week.
Every month includes at least one recovery week.
Feel free to move around the workouts. Make the schedule work for you.
Although not noted, try to stretch at least 10 minutes every day.
You may notice there isn't any strength training included here, but feel free to add some exercises if you can sneak it in.
Finally, be lazy when you're supposed to be lazy! Don't exercise on off days, and don't go all out in recovery workouts. Most importantly, try to get at least seven hours of sleep a night. You'll need the rest.

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Phase 1 (Weeks 1 - 8)

The following program allows beginners to build their fitness levels over a period of 16 weeks (followed by a three-week taper before the race). This isn't an 'I want to just finish the race' program, though. I know secretly, you want to race as competitively as possible. This program will allow you to do that.

Week 1

Day 1: Run, 20 minutes (Technique)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 25 minutes (Base Building)
Day 4: Bike, 45 minutes (Technique)
Day 5: Run, 25 minutes (Base Building)
Day 6: Swim, 20 minutes (Technique)
Day 7: Bike, 45 minutes (Base Building)

Week 2

Day 1: Run, 30 minutes (Technique)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 25 minutes (Base Building)
Day 4: Bike, 45 minutes (Technique)
Day 5: Run, 30 minutes (Base Building)
Day 6: Swim, 30 minutes (Technique)
Day 7: Bike, 45 minutes (Base Building)

Week 3

Day 1: Run, 30 minutes (Technique)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 30 minutes (Base Building)
Day 4: Bike, 45 minutes (Technique)
Day 5: Run, 30 minutes (Base Building)
Day 6: Off
Day 7: Bike, 30 minutes (Recovery)

Week 4

Day 1: Run, 20 minutes (Recovery)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 30 minutes (Technique)
Day 4: Bike, 45 minutes (Technique)
Day 5: Run, 25 minutes (Technique)
Day 6: Swim, 30 minutes (Technique)
Day 7: Bike, 45 minutes (Base Building)

Week 5

Day 1: Run, 30 minutes (Technique)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 30 minutes (Base Building)
Day 4: Bike, 45 minutes (Technique)
Day 5: Run, 30 minutes (Base Building)
Day 6: Swim, 30 minutes (Technique)
Day 7: Bike, 45 minutes (Base Building)

Week 6

Day 1: Run, 30 minutes (Technique)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 30 minutes (Base Building)
Day 4: Bike, 60 minutes (Base Building)
Day 5: Run, 30 minutes (Base Building)
Day 6: Swim, 30 minutes (Technique)
Day 7: Bike, 45 minutes (Base Building)

Week 7

Day 1: Run, 45 minutes (Technique)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 30 minutes (Base Building)
Day 4: Bike, 60 minutes (Base Building)
Day 5: Run, 30 minutes (Base Building)
Day 6: Off
Day 7: Bike, 30 minutes (Recovery)

Week 8

Day 1: Run, 20 minutes (Recovery)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 30 minutes (Technique)
Day 4: Bike, 45 minutes (Technique)
Day 5: Run, 25 minutes (Technique)
Day 6: Swim, 30 minutes (Technique)
Day 7: Bike, 45 minutes (Base Building)

Note: The type of workout displays in parenthesis ().

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Phase 2 (Weeks 9 - 16)

The following details Phase 2 of the program (weeks 9 to 16).

Week 9

Day 1: Run, 45 minutes (Technique)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 30 minutes (Base Building)
Day 4: Bike, 60 minutes (Base Building)
Day 5: Run, 30 minutes (Base Building)
Day 6: Swim, 45 minutes (Base Building)
Day 7: Bike, 45 minutes (Base Building)

Week 10

Day 1: Run, 45 minutes (Technique)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 15 minutes (Open Water)
Day 4: Bike, 75 minutes (Base Building)
Day 5: Run, 30 minutes (Base Building)
Day 6: Swim, 45 minutes (Base Building)
Day 7: Bike, 45 minutes (Base Building)

Week 11

Day 1: Run, 55 minutes (Base Building)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 15 minutes (Open Water)
Day 4: Bike, 75 minutes (Base Building)
Day 5: Run, 35 minutes (Base Building)
Day 6: Off
Day 7: Bike, 30 minutes (Recovery)

Week 12

Day 1: Run, 20 minutes (Recovery)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 30 minutes (Technique)
Day 4: Bike, 45 minutes (Technique)
Day 5: Run, 25 minutes (Technique)
Day 6: Swim, 40 minutes (Technique)
Day 7: Bike, 60 minutes (Hills)

Week 13

Day 1: Run, 40 minutes (Base Building)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 20 minutes (Open Water)
Day 4: Bike, 75 minutes (Base Building)
Day 5: Run, 20 minutes (Fartlek)
Day 6: Swim, 40 minutes (Technique)
Day 7: Bike, 45 minutes (Fartlek)

Week 14

Day 1: Run, 40 minutes (Technique)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 20 minutes (Open Water)
Day 4: Bike, 75 minutes (Base Building)
Day 5: Run, 35 minutes (Hills)
Day 6: Off
Day 7: Bike, 30 minutes (Recovery)

Week 15

Day 1: Run, 20 minutes (Recovery)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 30 minutes (Open Water)
Day 4: Bike, 45 minutes (Base Building)
Day 5: Run, 25 minutes (Technique)
Day 6: Swim, 15 minutes & then Bike, 45 minutes (Brick)
Day 7: Off

Week 16

Day 1: Run, 40 minutes (Base Building)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 30 minutes (Open Water)
Day 4: Off
Day 5: Bike, 60 minutes & then Run, 20 minutes (Brick)
Day 6: Swim, 30 minutes (Open Water)
Day 7: Bike, 45 minutes (Base Building)

Note: The type of workout displays in parenthesis ().

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Phase 3 (Weeks 17 - 19)

The following details the Phase 3 of the program (weeks 17 to 19). This phase has you gradually tapering your efforts. Tapering allows your body and mind to recharge from the previous weeks of hard training. Give your body some rest so you feel fresh come race day!

Week 17

Day 1: Run, 40 minutes (Base Building)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 30 minutes (Open Water)
Day 4: Off
Day 5: Bike, 60 minutes & then Run, 20 minutes (Brick)
Day 6: Bike, 30 minutes (Recovery)
Day 7: Bike, 45 minutes (Base Building)

Week 18

Day 1: Run, 40 minutes (Base Building)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Swim, 30 minutes (Open Water)
Day 4: Off
Day 5: Bike, 60 minutes & then Run, 20 minutes (Brick)
Day 6: Swim, 30 minutes (Open Water)
Day 7: Bike, 45 minutes (Base Building)

And It's Race Week!

Day 1: Run, 45 minutes (Recovery)
Day 2: Off
Day 3: Bike, 30 minutes (Recovery)
Day 4: Swim, 20 minutes (Recovery)
Day 5: Run, 15 minutes (Recovery)
Day 6: Off
Day 7: Race!

Complete this training program and you’ll find yourself quite possibly in the best shape of your life. You’ll also find yourself hopelessly addicted to the sport of triathlon.

Note: The type of workout displays in parenthesis ().