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Best resources to learnTriathlon

Study sheet

Triathlon combines swimming, cycling and running in one race. You will learn periodized training across the three disciplines, open-water swimming, transitions, pacing and race nutrition, and how to prepare for distances from sprint to Ironman.

6 resources · · How we curate

📚Books(3)

bookPaid

Swim Smooth: The Complete Coaching System for Swimmers and Triathletes

Freestyle coaching system for adult swimmers and triathletes. Covers breathing, body position, catch and stroke rate, a swim-type classification for diagnosing stroke faults, drill progressions, CSS-based pool training, and open-water skills such as sighting, drafting and wetsuit swimming.

beginner🇬🇧
bookPaid

80/20 Triathlon

Applies intensity-distribution research to triathlon: about 80 percent of training at low intensity and 20 percent at moderate to high. Explains zone setting for each discipline and provides full plans for sprint, Olympic, half-Ironman and Ironman races. The main source of ready-made plans across all four standard distances with low-intensity emphasis.

intermediate🇬🇧
bookPaid

The Triathlete's Training Bible (5th Edition)

Joe Friel's reference on periodized triathlon training: setting goals, building an annual plan, intensity zones by heart rate, power and pace, skill and strength work, recovery, and race preparation from sprint to Ironman. The 2024 edition adds polarized and 5-2 training.

intermediate🇬🇧

🌐Websites(2)

website

Beginner Triathlete Free Training Plans

The community-standard free plan set for a first race: index of free week-by-week triathlon training plans, including the long-standing 13-week sprint plan and 16- and 20-week sprint, Olympic, half-Ironman and Ironman programs, with stated entry prerequisites and session durations for each discipline.

beginner🇬🇧
website

Triathlon Swim Training: The Complete Guide

Free U.S. Masters Swimming guide to the triathlon swim leg: freestyle fundamentals, interval-based pool workouts, sighting and navigation, drafting, buoy turns, mass starts, wetsuit rules and fit, and swim preparation for distances from super-sprint to Ironman. Best free governing-body resource covering open-water swimming and race-day swim skills.

beginner🇬🇧

📄Papers(1)

paper

Nutrition for Endurance Sports: Marathon, Triathlon, and Road Cycling

Peer-reviewed review from the 2010 IOC sports nutrition consensus on fuelling marathon, triathlon and road-cycling races. Covers causes of fatigue (dehydration, carbohydrate depletion, gut distress, heat, sodium imbalance) and evidence-based intake targets, including multiple-transportable carbohydrates up to 90 g per hour.

advanced🇬🇧
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best free resources to learn Triathlon?

Dantes has curated 6 resources for Triathlon, including 3 books, 2 websites, 1 papers. All resources are hand-picked for quality — no algorithmic filler. Browse the full list above to find the format that works best for you.

Is Triathlon hard to learn?

Triathlon is approachable at the beginner level — there are resources here specifically for those starting from scratch. As you progress, intermediate and advanced material is also available to take your skills further.

What types of Triathlon learning resources are available on Dantes?

For Triathlon, Dantes has curated 3 books, 2 websites, 1 papers. Each resource type serves a different learning style: videos and YouTube for visual learners, books for depth, courses for structured progression, and websites for quick reference.

How does Dantes select Triathlon resources?

Dantes is an algorithm-free learning directory. Resources are hand-curated based on quality, accuracy, and usefulness — not engagement metrics or paid placements. The goal is to surface the best learning material for Triathlon, whether it's a free YouTube series, a classic textbook, or an open courseware from a top university.

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