Novice Triathlon Programme 2025

If you are planning on becoming a triathlete, or are relatively new to triathlon and want help with a structured training plan, then this is for you!

WHAT IS IT?

The Novice Triathlon Programme is a 12 week training plan, designed and led by club coaches and triathletes. It's aimed at anyone from complete novices who maybe have a little experience in one or two disciplines of triathlon - or even some who have no prior experience in any - through to people who may have completed a handful of triathlon races recreationally, but are looking for a more structured training plan to follow. 

The programme will combine a mix of:

- Weekly club swimming, cycling and running sessions

- Independent training sessions set by the programme leaders

- Bespoke training sessions set and led by programme leaders, aimed at teaching specific skills and information for Triathlon (such as route bike recces, and learning to run efficiently after cycling)

THE RACE

Each year the 12 week training plan leads up to preparing you for a specific race, to give you the opportunity to put your skills into practice! The Thames Turbo Sprint Triathlon is a very popular race (5th May 2025) run by a local club, and is recognised by British Triathlon as being one of the best events in the country. The swim is in the heated Hampton Lido, followed by a bike course along a fairly flat stretch of the Lower Sunbury Road, and finishing up with a run and finish set in Bushy Park. It is a very beginner friendly race, and offers a great early season benchmark. It usually sells out so sign up as soon as it opens!

Of course, you are not obligated to do this race! Many who have participated in the programme in the past have already had a specific target race in mind, and it's easy to use and adapt the programme if you have a target race at a similar time.

KEY DATES:

4th Feb 2025 - Intro social and Q&A session (8:00pm, 4th Feb at The County Arms, SW18 3SH)

10th Feb 2025 - 1st week of training plan begins

5th May 2025 - Thames Turbo Sprint Triathlon (and celebratory social, details to follow)

HOW TO JOIN THE PROGRAMME:

1. Join Clapham Chasers and then join the main club Facebook Group;

2. Join the Chasers Triathlon WhatsApp community, then join the Novice Triathlon Programme group chat;

3. Enter the race!

COST

The Programme is run at the wonderful cost of FREE for Clapham Chasers club members. If you are not already a member, the basic level of membership is £25 per calendar year. Even if you do nothing else with the club that is pretty good value!

Note that where facilities and specialist coaches have to be hired for sessions (mostly swimming for lane/coach hire) there may be a payable fee per session.

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Intro Social/Q&A Evening

This will be taking place at The County Arms, SW18 3SH, on 4th February 2025. We'll be kicking things off at 8:15pm, so please start arriving from 8:00pm to grab drinks and make yourselves comfortable.

We will be giving a more in depth explanation of how the programme works, and will leave time for a Q&A at the end so we can answer any questions you might have.