Indoor Triathlon Training in Kenner – Machine vs. Man

Getting in shape for a Louisiana triathlon is no easy feat, especially when training outdoors isn’t always an option. Since consistency is so crucial to your progress, you can’t afford to miss a day due to inclement weather. Learning how to train indoors will give you an edge over your competitors and can help give you the jumpstart you need to keep going when Mother Nature doesn’t play ball.

Your Training

Here are some of the exercises that you can do to train for your upcoming triathlon. Using the proper exercise equipment is very important in the entire process.

Rowing

Rowing is one of the best full-body workouts that you can participate in. It requires a significant amount of leg, hip, shoulder and back strength, which wonderfully complements the same muscle engagement needed in both cycling and swimming. It is physically demanding and will give your muscles and cardiovascular system an intense and effective workout. In fact, it is a great cardio fitness equipment.

Additionally, if you happen to be short on time on any particular day, hopping onto this machine will still give you a robust workout in a fraction of the time it would otherwise take.

Strength training

The gym is a fantastic place to target smaller stabilizer muscles which are key to preventing injury, and improving balance and coordination. As it relates to the extensive swimming, running and biking that takes place during a triathlon, you’ll also want to be sure to effectively work your major muscle groups, including your core, quads, glutes and hamstrings. The variety of exercises that you can complete on machines and free weights greatly surpasses that from running, swimming and biking alone. As such, indoor gym routines can keep your muscles guessing and prevent you from hitting a plateau.

As you progress in your training, there are a virtually endless array of exercises that can be done with heavier free weights, which will allow you to make significant gains in your overall strength and fitness, as well as improving overall range of motion. Examples of these include squats and deadlifts. It would be difficult to achieve these kinds of results with traditional outdoor training exercises.

Treadmill sessions

There is no doubt that a treadmill is a useful and practical cardio fitness equipment for improving your stamina and running speed. It helps you to run at a consistent pace; you can even set it to the exact pace that you are striving to achieve. With the treadmill keeping the speed consistent for you, you can concentrate on your breathing and your mental fortitude. Running on a treadmill is lower impact than running on concrete, which is great for your joints.

The display on the treadmill measures your performance. Being able to see metrics such as distance traveled, calories burned and heart rate can be very motivating. Some people enjoy the feeling of racing against the clock as it counts down to the finish. Many treadmills also come pre-programmed with sessions available for you to choose from. This takes the guesswork out of what you should do each day in the gym. If you have a specific goal or session in mind, you simply need to enter it on the keypad, a big benefit over training outdoors.

For example, if you know your triathlon will cover hills of a certain incline at specific locations, and for a specific distance, you can program this into the treadmill to most closely match what you will encounter on race day.

Interested in browsing available options? Check out the Precor TRM 445 Precision Series is an intuitive treadmill with lots of great features.

Upper body training

Having to both run and cycle can cause you to focus more on your lower body, often at a detriment to developing your upper body strength. As both running and cycling depend heavily on the lower body, but many of the exercises needed to train for these activities redundant, and when not balanced correctly can lead to overuse and injuries. For this reason, supplementing your training with indoor exercises will help you to maintain the strength you need for swimming long distances. Exercises such as lateral pull-downs, bicep curls, and bench presses will help to give you overall balance in muscle definition, from top to bottom.

Interval training

Some people tend to avoid indoor training because they think it may be boring. The truth is, once you learn how to optimize your time and your use of the sports fitness equipment, you will find that it can be both challenging and fun.

The setup of a gym allows you to switch between sports fitness equipment very quickly, which is difficult to do in an outdoor setting. Practice interval training indoors by switching back and forth between a bike and a treadmill. For example, you can do 5 minutes of intense cycling, before hopping off and giving yourself a few minutes recovery time. Then, you can jump on the treadmill and repeat the cycle. Depending on your gym’s amenities, you may also be able to join in on group cycling classes. These group classes tend to be very stimulating due to the atmosphere of lively music and being in a room full of other motivated individuals.

During the winter season, many gyms host indoor triathlons. This is another great way to keep your confidence and fitness up during the offseason.

Looking to add some at home equipment to turn you into a cycling champ? Consider the Precor Spinner Rally to get you in peak condition for race day.

Closing Thoughts

Outdoor training for your next triathlon shouldn’t be ignored, but Louisiana weather doesn’t always play nice, forcing you to move inside to keep well-conditioned for race day. But this doesn’t mean your training will suffer. In fact, mixing in indoor triathlon training can improve your overall conditioning, fitness and give you the edge you need over the competition.

For the best fitness equipment that you can use to aid with your triathlon training here in Kenner, you can visit Fitness Expo. We have the best fitness consultants as well to help you choose the best exercise equipment whether for your home or a commercial gym.