Next Steps Program

NEXT STEPS PROGRAM

Did your first triathlon (novice/supersprint) in the last few years and looking to step up to a longer distance? Been a while since you you’ve done a triathlon and looking to get back into it? The Next Steps program is for you.

Next Steps is designed to get you across the gap between completing enticer/novice level triathlons and progress to the Sprint distance of 750 m open water swim, 20 km bike, 5 km run. This is done by combining program specific coaching as well as encouraging you to utilise established club training sessions.

Program commences

8 October 2019.

Program objectives

Athlete objective – to complete the Jackie Fairweather sprint distance triathlon.
Coaches objective – developing coaches will have the opportunity to design and conduct specific lessons, as well as gain certification from those lessons.
Club level objective – introduce new and reintroduce returning club members to the coached club sessions.

Pre-requisites

While there are no performance benchmarks that need to be met, the following are good indicators that you are ready to undertake the program. You can do one or more of the following:

swim 300 m non-stop in a pool
cycle a flat 20 km course
walk/jog a flat 5 km course
completed an enticer / novice distance event
demonstrate good spirit and comradeship.

You must be a financial ‘Adult member’ of Vikings Tri and Triathlon Australia (see the Membership Info page for details).

Program outline

The program is built around the club training and specific skill development sessions
Depending on your availability, the training program will be between 6-8 sessions per week. Six sessions per week can be sufficient to complete the program.

Swimming – Tuesday and/or Thursday 6:30PM – club session.

There will be a couple of other open water swimming sessions specific to this program.

Cycling – Saturday morning 1.5 hours building up to 3 hours (details TBA). This session will be supported by coaches and/or club members and will be structured. The ride program will be tailored to help athletes eventually complete 40–50 km comfortably over varied terrains. Brick sessions (bike–run) may also be built into latter cycling sessions.

Note the first and last rides will be on a Sunday to allow for Parkrun TTs on the Saturday.

Running – Tuesday club speed session and Sunday morning run session (note first and last weekend session with be a Parkrun time trial on Saturday). The training will be varied as the program progresses, and it will build up to brick sessions using the 5 km parkrun in conjunction with a 20 km ride.