Princess Runner

Dawn from A Marathon Leap, who is thinking of trying a triathlon after she finishes her latest adventure of having a baby, asked me my thoughts on the difference between marathon training and triathlon training. Although it is not quite an equal comparison considering I only did a sprint triathlon, there are some similarities. In both experiences, I became acutely focused on the goal and had a specific schedule I needed to follow. However, I guess because the distances in each segment of the triathlon were short in comparison with a marathon, I did not freak out if I missed a training session. Triathlon training also gives you an opportunity to stress one sport over another. I focused most on swimming and it showed it my time. I slacked somewhat with the running because I was most confident in that sport and that also showed in my time. Training for a marathon does not really allow you to slack at all.

One great thing about the triathlon training, that I think could apply to even higher levels of the sport, is that if I woke up one day and I felt like swimming and not biking, I could swap days and do biking the next day. However, during marathon training, if I woke up and did not feel like running, there was not much I could do. Marathon training was a lot less expensive than triathlon training, however. For the marathon, I only needed some new shoes, running clothes, and lots of Body Glide. For the triathlon, I needed a swim membership at the gym, a bicycle, goggles, a swim cap, helmet, gloves, new bike seat, pedals, bike shoes, etc., in addition to the aforementioned running gear. And the costs for triathlon only go up the more serious you get: fancier bike, aero bars, wetsuit, etc.

EDITED TO ADD: I forgot one in important thing. During my marathon training, all those miles put a lot of strain on my body and ended up with frequent blister issues as well as knee and hip pain through various parts of the training. With the triathlon training, I had no blisters and no injuries. While that could be in large part to the shorter training times compared to the marathon, I also think it has a lot to do with the switching up of activities from day to day.

What is the most notable similarity between training for the triathlon and a marathon were the feelings I had a few days afterward, when the elation and excitement had worn off. That “Okay, what now?” feeling. I had spent many months of my life with one fixated goal and now that it was reached, I was lost as to what to do next. That feeling after last year’s marathon led to the triathlon training. So where I will head now? Prince E joked I should try decathlon, but, in addition to be very impractical, I don’t think I can even lift a shot put. The next gradual step would be a longer distance triathlon, but I don’t know if I will have the training time that a longer event will require, especially with the upcoming changes at work that will be lessening my free time. I also wonder if I would need some sort of coaching to in get me to be good enough in all three sports at that new distance to (1) finish and (2) not be last. That was the comfort that Danskin brought. I knew that no matter how long it took me, I would never be last and the course would not be packed up ahead of me and I would never be told I had to stop because I was too slow. If only Danskin would sponsor a longer distance triathlon!