Triathlon is a non-stop multisport race consisting of swimming, cycling, and running. Triathlon originated in France in the early part of the 20th century.
It soon gained popularity in Europe, America, and then all over the world, however, they are held on different months based on the location.
I noticed that Triathlon events are held in different regions of the world based on optimal climate conditions
So, When Does Triathlon Season Start and End? The triathlon season is between March to October in the northern hemisphere and from November to May in the southern hemisphere. Depending on the continent, the Triathlon season lasts from four to seven months.
To get build a more precise and detailed case of triathlon events based on different regions, we created the table below from the world triathlon Events page and divided it based on the continent,
| Region | Season start | Season end |
|---|---|---|
| Asia | April | August |
| Middle East | October | February |
| Australia | February | April |
| North America | March | October |
| South America | September | February |
| Europe | April | September |
| North Africa | November | March |
| South Africa | January | April |
Also check out Where In The World Is Triathlon Most Popular? Is The Sport Dying!
Local Nonseasonal Triathlon Racing Options
Indoor Triathlon Racing
Indoor triathlons are mainly attractive because they are not attached to a specific season.
The main difference in how an indoor triathlon race works is that rather than measuring the time it takes to finish the distance, it works the other way around, that is how many meters or kilometers can the athlete cover within the allocated time.
It is noteworthy that the transition time in such events is fixed and they are not included in the total racing time.
Here is a video that will help you get a good idea about how this works at the professional level,
Virtual Triathlon Racing
After the covid 19 pandemics, the need for social distancing forced many triathlon race organizers to start offering virtual races in which anyone from anywhere in the world can participate.
Participants are required to sync their progress and upload it to an online platform, then later on they will be declared a finisher and will get a medal shipped to them for their participation.
One such organizer is the Ironman virtual club.
How To Train For Triathlon During Off-season?
A triathlete needs to be fit and in shape for the whole year, so keep on putting on that miles Also consider indoor and virtual races to keep you motivated.
However, the most important aspect of off-season training for a triathlete is providing the body with proper rest and giving it time to recover.
According to experienced coaches, proper rest is important at all times, not just in the offseason. Studies have manifested that a triathlete who overloads the body throughout the year is bound to get injured.
Some such injuries can keep a triathlete away from the sport for years. Check the video below for some tips
Hence an athlete should always allow his body to heal and avert future injuries. If a triathlete has developed some minor injuries during the season he can also utilize this time to visit a therapist or masseuse to accelerate the recovery process.
Yoga and dedicated stretching time can also help restore body alignment and muscle flexibility.
Another important dimension of off-season preparation is strength training.
With such a huge amount of training during events, a triathlete often does not devote proper focus towards strength training.
So post-season time is the perfect time to re-engage in the strength program. Athletes can start with a phase of two strength sessions per week and add on the third session as they progress further.
For more on this, check out our post Do Triathletes Lift Weights? Is The Gym & Crossfit For Triathletes!
One more thing that a triathlete can do during the off-season is to do maintenance work on their gear and bike.
During tournaments, triathletes often complain about their bike or other gear not having the optimum adjustments. However, they can’t do much about it as it would get difficult to adapt to new adjustments during an event.
The off-season can be a great time to do both maintenance and a gear inventory. If required a triathlete may also purchase new gear and get adjusted to his or her biomechanics till the next season.
How To Train When Triathlon Season Is Getting Closer
Proper planning as to how to go about training when the event season is a few months away is extremely important because you can set goals to achieve the desired targets and improve on your shortcomings.
Different athletes might have different ways to prepare a roadmap for the coming season.
Below I have tried to mention some of the most salient points that a triathlete needs to do in order to be ready to throw his body into the coming sporting season:
Set Your Goals for the Season
Start with your goals for the season. What would you consider as success? After having evaluated your goals for the coming season, note them down and ask yourself questions like- are they realistic?
Are they really worth the sacrifice you are about to make? If not, consider revising your goals so that they are still challenging but also achievable. The next step would be to hang your goals at someplace where you can see them several times a day. (Source)
Choose Your Races Strategically
At triathlon events, there are a plethora of race formats to choose from. While starting training for the coming you should have complete clarity as to which race you are going to compete in.
Multiple factors need to be kept in mind while choosing your race format. The most important factor among them is the time of the year when the triathlon season is starting.
For example, if you sign up for a May triathlon, you’ll be doing long rides in March and April, which may not be bad if you live in Florida but maybe a challenge if you live in New York.
Another very important aspect worth considering would be the course of the race. It is imperative to ask yourself whether the course fits your strengths or not.
For instance, if you live in a flat region and without any powerful climbs to train on, then a flat course might be a better option for you.
Cost is another one. You will have to plan which race you are aiming at depending on your budget. If you plan to travel abroad, then you are in from some good spending. Overall, if cost is a concern, then I think you will find the article I wrote about Top 47 Tips For A Triathlete on a Budget: How to afford triathlons? helpful.
Also check out Top 22 triathlon hidden expenses you don’t know about : And how to Save 9,000 USD on them!
Mixing it up
Cross-training can be a great way to develop the overall strength and flexibility of your body than relatively monotone workouts.
Many triathlon coaches and experts believe that in order to gain maximum strength and endurance, cross-training is the best method.
Several top triathletes do cross-training and mix it up by doing road rides, mountain biking, hiking, or even playing soccer and other sports to train the body for the coming season.
An occasional day off doesn’t hurt, but the key point here is to break the routine of your normal monotonous workouts. (Source)
This is also an excellent time to begin to incorporate weight training, especially in colder regions of the world where you may be compelled to train indoors on some days due to climatic factors.
Base training
Base training means doing low-intensity but consistent training that enables your body to consolidate both a cardiovascular and muscular base before adding intensity and distance.
While base training includes routine training like running, biking, and swimming ( though low intensity), it involves features of strength training as well.
Base training is indispensable not only for the body but for the mind also. Getting into a routine of structured workouts will help give you the mental toughness to carry through on your training plan when the event arrives.
This is the reason why base training is often included in their training by triathletes 3-4 months prior to the event.
Moreover, the base training phase is also the optimal period to experiment with new techniques or methods. This is a great time to try new nutrition options if your old nutrition or hydration plans are not working well.
Experimenting with these options is better while in the training phase than on the race day.
Don’t over train
While scheduling your training one thing that must be always remembered is- ‘quality over quantity.’ Don’t clog your training with so many exercises that you’ll be burned out for your most important triathlons when the event arrives.
Athletes sometimes go too far with their training which can be worst than having no training at all.
Athletes who are too motivated to succeed in the coming season sometimes work out so rigorously that they overload their bodies and may cause some damage.
It actually can cause severe injuries that can keep you away from the event you are aiming for.
Conclusion
The main aim of this article is to make you aware of the triathlon seasons in different regions of the globe.
Broadly, we can say that triathlon seasons are held in different locations based on the format of the event and the climate at that particular location.
In general, the northern hemisphere hosts triathlon tournaments from the month of March and it lasts till the month of October. Similarly, triathlon events are held in the southern hemisphere usually from the month of November and they last till May.
Also check out our post on What Are Colleges Triathlon Seasons?
I have also tried to incorporate sub-topics in this article that are important to know for triathletes like what they should be doing off-season.
Bonus reads
Check these articles that you may find helpful
What is a sprint triathlon? First timer guide- Wearables, Gear, no training
How Much Does a Triathlon Suit Cost? Options, alternatives, and what to look for
