Your first triathlon / Joe Friel.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 211-213) and index.

Introduction -- Your new challenge -- Your triathlon lifestyle -- Your nutrition -- Your support -- Your swimming -- Your biking -- Your running -- Your muscles -- Your training plan -- Your high-tech gear -- Your first triathlon.

Introduction -- Your first triathlon -- Your tri goal -- Triathlon history -- Triathlon race distances -- Your first triathlon -- The triathlon newbie -- Can you do it? -- Your triathlon lifestyle -- Life as a triathlete -- Motivation -- Staying the course -- It's ok to stop sometimes -- Sleeping your way to better fitness -- Do you need to lose weight? -- Getting older slower -- Your nutrition -- Fueling before exercise -- Fueling during exercise -- Refueling after exercise -- Eating the rest of the day -- Your support -- Emotional support -- Motivational support -- Tech support -- Informational support -- Your swimming -- Form-not fitness -- Where to swim -- Fear of water -- Swim stuff -- Your biking -- Dusting off the old bike -- Buying a bike -- Bike fit -- Bike stuff -- How to ride a bike -- Shifting gears -- Bike safety -- Group riding -- Where to ride -- Hills-ups and downs -- Your running -- Running and walking -- Group running -- Staying healthy -- Where to run -- Running in hot weather -- Running stuff -- Your muscles -- Where do i find the time? -- Getting stronger -- Strength-building routines -- How much weight to use -- Strength-building exercises -- Strength phases -- Becoming more flexible -- How to stretch -- Stretching exercises -- Your training plan -- The big picture: how to get fit -- Your training plan -- Beginner training plan -- Swimmer training plan -- Cyclist training plan -- Runner training plan -- What to do when things don't go right -- Your high-tech gear -- The high-tech triathlete -- Heart rate monitors -- Power meters -- Gps devices -- Back to the future -- Your first tri -- Choosing and entering a race -- Race week -- The day before.

Every year thousands of people decide to take on a sprint triathlon for the first time. Now USA Triathlon and USA Cycling certified coach Joe Friel provides a complete guide to finishing that first triathlon. The same principles and training methodology that the pros and committed triathletes rely on are presented here in language that a beginner can easily understand. Friel maps a course to prepare for a sprint-distance triathlon in 12 weeks, with five hours of training each week, plenty of rest, and the beginnings of a lifestyle marked by a commitment to health and fitness and personal growth. Your First Triathlon provides the training plans, workouts, checklists, and instruction that first-timers need. Joe Friel is known for his thorough approach and with his help, what may have begun as a challenge to complete a sprint triathlon will grow into a love for this demanding yet rewarding sport.