That's the span this Beginner Full Distance triathlon plan works with: 24 weeks, building from roughly 7.5 hours of training per week up to a peak of about 14.5 hours, before you taper into race week.

The biggest myth in triathlon is that it's for a certain type of person. The lean, chiseled, relentlessly athletic type who was probably a competitive swimmer in college and thinks nothing of 5am alarm clocks.

Couch To IRONMAN Finisher Starts Small. A 140.6-mile race. A 2.4-mile open-water swim, 112 miles on the bike, and a full marathon to finish. If you're sitting on your couch right now — and you haven't laced up your running shoes in years — that number sounds like a different language.

Your couch to beginner sprint triathlon training plan will run 12–16 weeks, follow a 3:1 build-to-recovery rhythm, and progressively develop swim, bike, run, and strength across coordinated weekly sessions.

For many first-time triathletes, the transition area can feel overwhelming. Hundreds of bikes, athletes rushing in every direction, and race-day nerves can quickly lead to forgotten equipment or costly mistakes.