12: The number of weeks it takes to condition tendons, ligaments, + your endurance to minimize the chances of injury during a triathlon. Since the Dam Tri in Lake Murray isn’t until October, you have plenty of time to get a jumpstart on your training. Otherwise, it’s never too early to start training for the next one. 💪

How much of your day do you actually need to spend training? Not as much as you think: work out an average of 2.5 hours a week (but less than five) + make two of your five weekly workouts a swim workout (check out this 12-week swim workout for some structure).

Allow your body to rest: don’t be tempted to add more volume to your workout. Our bodies are meant to make advances in fitness with a perfect balance of stress + rest. Add recovery days so your body has time to rebuild.

Here’s what you’ll need:

🏊‍ Swimsuit + goggles (we recommend a swim cap for all you long-haired beauties out there)

‍🚴‍ A bike that fits you + is in good working order

💦 Your favorite water bottle

👖 Cycling shorts (you’ll thank us later)

👟 A pair of running shoes (you don’t have to spend $200, but get some quality shoes that are meant for running) + cycling shoes– if you want

If a triathlon isn’t really your cup of tea– click here for info about 5K + 10K runs, half-marathons, swim races, and more.

This content was created in partnership with Set Up Events.