Training with a Group

Over the past three years I have seen people experience significant improvements in swimming, cycling and running.  In particular, we have seen cycling strength and power improve for athletes who attend group cycling classes on a regular basis.  Triathlon has been labelled as an individual sport, and many of us spend many gueling hours out there on our own, riding our bikes and/or running seemingly endless miles.  At Absolute Endurance I have been lucky enough to see and take part in more group training, which has proven to produce even greater improvements in bike fitness.   I teach cycling classs on the computrainer at Absolute Endurance several times per week.  It never ceases to amaze me how much energy my participants have and how they share energy with each other and encourage each other to work a little harder, and a little harder.  Besides having a bike workout that is of higher quality, this energy that comes from the group stays with the athletes to the end of the class and beyond, leaving them mentally strong and excited for the next workout, rather than mentally drained from slugging it out on their own.  Certainly, for longer distance races such as Ironman and Half Ironman events, some longer workouts on your own are important and valuable.  However, more than a few of these, for most long distance endurance atheletes, can result in the athlete experiencing significant mental fatigue and less enjoyment and excitement towards their sport.  Most of us do this as a hobby, and we should enjoy our training just as much as racing!  Group training for all three disciplines of triathlon is valuable and help you break through your mental and physical barriers.  Come out and join a cycling class, a swim workouts, or a soon-to-be available run group.  The extra challenge is worth it!