Triathlon: From a Sprint to the Ironman

USA Triathlon sanctions over 2,000 events in the U.S. On the top of the page, "Multi-Sport 101" offers information valuable to athletes just starting out. Under "Coaches," get contact information and descriptions for trainers sorted by state. The site dispenses facts in multimedia format, too. Beware that not all selections in the "Quick Links" drop down menu actually work. More dependable access is available browsing the tabs across the top of the page.

Tri-Newbies Online provides five training schedules under the "Training Programs" menu. Under "Tri-Training," users will find articles, workouts, and pace charts, plus links to nutrition information, bike care basics, and other topics. The site's discussion forum is heavily trafficked, and under "Features," you'll find training tips targeted toward women and mid-pack triathletes, plus articles that cover concerns about injuries.

ActiveTrainer.com offers 24 training plans tailored to event, ability, and training time commitment. Click "Triathlon Plans" to access the links and bios of the pair of multi-sport veterans who composed the workouts. Click "Core Fitness Strength" for trunk training essential to triathlon triumph. Free registration allows users to manipulate their training data for statistical analysis, and qualifies them to receive e-mail reminders.

TRI-IHP has articles on strength, nutrition, stretching, and other subject areas complimentary yet critical to triathlon training. Sign up for an e-mail newsletter to learn about tri training faux pas. The Boca Raton-based site also features monthly questions from readers answered by experts. Consulting is also available ... for a price.

TrainingPeaks.com boasts popular forums frequented by athletes and coaches, as well as training plans for 26 types of events, including triathlons. Click on a coach to find out what sorts of strategies that coach has scripted-plans vary in duration and target ability level. Users can register for a free trial before they commit to a subscription, which costs $10 to $20 per month, depending on payment plan and features desired.

TriSwimCoach is run by a collegiate All-American swimmer who now coaches and competes in triathlons. Click "Find a Coach" on the left to find an instructor near you. The rest of the site is dedicated to espousing the administrator's training philosophies and soliciting customers.

Ontri.com users motivate themselves and one another through logging workouts and using data to rank and order members according to every conceivable factor, either individually or as part of cyber clubs. It's free to join the community of more than 25,000 individuals, clubs, teams, and training groups that participate in swimming, cycling, running, duathlons, and triathlons. Members have access to free and paid training plans.

Team in Training asks users to put their zip code into the box located under a bit of text on the homepage. At the bottom, you'll find regional contacts. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training helps athletes prepare for triathlons while fundraising to support leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma research and outreach. The site also offers athletes the option of training with virtual teams.

MapMyTri uses a Google-powered map to custom-design outdoor training sessions. Click "Workout Search," then enter your location. Plans for metro and suburban areas abound, but users can create their own when their location lacks one. The "Workout Calculator" also gives the skinny on how many calories are blasted during a training session.

Triathlon Training Log is a blogosphere of tip-swapping and commiseration. Links to blog categories are at the left; links to external sites and other-often unrelated-blogs are found to the right. There, race profiles might prove helpful to beginners who want to make sure their virgin voyage encourages future trips, and to crotchety competitors who are selective about their race-day surroundings.