How do I Train for a Triathlon?

Any good online training guides? Should I use a personal trainer? Any online groups.. ANY absolutely ANY good information on triathlons would be appreciated. It's a huge goal of mine, and I want plenty of time to prepare and train for my first one! It's going to be my celelbration of making my goal! Two goals: Reach my ideal weight, and race in a Triathlon! Thanks, Leslee

beginnertriathlete.com slowtwitch.com kickrunners.com (they have a multisport forum) If you register there...put Tithers as your referral...I moderate teh MS forum... There are many basic online programs out there... Many sprints have you doing only a 400y swim, 13 mile bike...5k run. There are super/mini sprints that are less in distance. Good to get your feet wet! If you are new to swimming, a few lessons goes a loooooooong way!

Perfect! Thank you! Much more info then I got just from googling. leslee

Ditto Sherry. By the way, she's doing Ironmans!  She also coaches a tri team so she really is a wealth of information. There are also quite a few others on this board who are also training/doing triathlons, and most of us post our daily workouts.  Mine may be a little different because my bigger focus is running, but I do spin classes and swimming 2-3 days a week as well.  I would say, train for and do the tri regardless of whether you're at goal weight or not.  Don't let that be a stumbling block for attaining another goal!  People of all ages, shapes, and sizes do these, and they're great! I may never get to a 'normal' BMI (4+ years post-op) but I've done 3 half marathons, a full marathon, 2 sprint triathlons, am doing another half in 2 weeks and a tri in 6.  I've also done many 5 and 10k races and I've never made it to ANYBODY'S goal weight. Let the training begin! Linn

oh wow! that's awesome That you've done so much and not being at "normal" BMI, I guess I kinda thought the two went together...but I can still be fit and do stuff like that.. great! O.K great challenges up ahead for me! thanks! Leslee

Crap...I have a buttload of muscle, but BMI wise...I'm obese...yarp! You'll be fine!

whoa! CRAZY!! "obese" what a foul word! lol. You guys are inspiring already, can't wait to get to know people around this forum! yay! leslee

Here's a link to a great training plan that someone posted for me when I came here looking for guidance.  Hope it helps you! http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?art icleid=262

My first tri was a sprint course.  I took a tri class at the local Y and basically just tried to do each sport at least 2 times each week.  Sometimes I would run 3 times because that is my weakest area.  About a month before the actual race, I started doing brick workouts - bike and then run - the same distance as the actual race would be.  I also did one open water swim - I would have liked to do more, but it was really cold out.