Introduction.

Part I: Starting Your Triathlon Training.

Chapter 1: Training for a Multi-Sport Event.

Chapter 2: Choosing Your Event.

Chapter 3: Gearing Up with the Right Equipment.

Part II: Taking It One Sport at a Time: Swim, Bike, Run.

Chapter 4: Getting Ready: Body and Mind.

Chapter 5: Swim: Taking the Plunge.

Chapter 6: Bike: Cycling Strong.

Chapter 7: Run: Finding Your Stride.

Chapter 8: Putting It All Together.

Part III: Training for Your Triathlon.

Chapter 9: Living like an Athlete.

Chapter 10: Training Schedules: From Super Sprint to Ironman.

Chapter 11: Strength Training and Stretching.

Chapter 12: Coping with Injuries.

Part IV: Planning for Race Day.

Chapter 13: Counting Down to Race Day.

Chapter 14: Race Day: Ready, Set, Go!

Chapter 15: After You Finish Your Triathlon.

Part V: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 16: Ten Reasons You Should Do a Triathlon.

Chapter 17: Ten Triathlon Myths Debunked.

Chapter 18: Ten (Or So) Items to Bring on Race Day.

Chapter 19: Ten (Or So) Resources for Finding Triathlons.

Index.

Shaping up for a triathlon is serious business. Triathlon Training For Dummies is packed with insider tips and proven methods for training for a triathlon and pumping yourself into the best possible shape by race day. It helps you find the motivation you need to stick to your program, eat better to maximize your energy, and prevent injures both before and during the race.

This authoritative guide helps you evaluate your cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility, and to set manageable realistic training goals. You’ll learn how to establish a workout schedule, choose a target finish time get the right, affordable equipment you’ll need for each leg of the race, and maximize your fitness and form for swimming, biking, and running. You’ll also get plenty of help in putting it all together as you focus your training, add dual workouts, become a quick-change artist, and save time during transitions. Discover how to:

• Choose an event to train for based on your fitness level
• Get into your best possible shape
• Select the right equipment and sportswear
• Train for an Olympic, Sprint, or Ironman triathlon
• Fuel your body and prevent injuries
• Prepare for training sessions
• Maintain energy and recover quickly
• Set training schedules for every triathlon event
• Treat common training and racing injuries
• Live like an athlete

Triathlon Training For Dummies comes complete with resources for finding triathlons near you, lists of items to bring along on race day, and tips on registration formalities and racing etiquette.

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Learn to:

• Train for a triathlon — no matter your fitness level
• Get into your best possible shape
• Select the right equipment and sportswear
• Fuel your body and prevent injuries

Powerful, proven methods to speed up your swimming, blast off on your bike, and run with the best

Shaping up for a triathlon is serious business. This authoritative guide is packed with insider tips and hands-on advice for pumping yourself into the best possible shape by race day. It helps you find the motivation you need to tackle a sport that you've never done before, stick to your program, and eat better to maximize your energy.

• Evaluate your current fitness level — cardiovascular, muscle strength and endurance, and flexibility
• Take it one sport at a time — maximize fitness and form for swimming, biking, and running
• Put it all together — focus your training, add dual workouts, become a quick-change artist, and save time during transitions
• Live like an athlete — prepare for training sessions, maintain energy, recover quickly, and avoid injuries
• Plan for race day — taper your training, organize your gear, and stay focused and confident

Open the book and find:

• Advice on choosing an event to train for
• What to look for when choosing swimming, biking, and running gear
• Tips on staying safe and healthy while training and competing
• Training schedules for every triathlon event
• Strategies for handling your transitions
• Treatments for common injuries
• A checklist of items to bring on race day
• Resources for finding triathlons