Two weekends ago I completed two sprint triathlons, The Square Lake short course and One Last Tri, in consecutive days. As usual, my seven warrior sidekicks were instrumental in my training!

I prepared for the events with six week training cycle with workouts pulled directly from Eric Harr's Triathlon Training in Four Hours a Week: From beginner to finish line in just six weeks. How fitting! I highly recommend this book to anyone contemplating a first triathlon.

Harr breaks each week into run, bike and swim workouts of varying duration and intensity (levels 1-4). I found the kids particularly useful with level 4 sprint work on the bike and with a jogging stroller. The kids also contributed their patented resistance and coaching for practice races and for short distance "brick" workouts (i.e. those that involve biking and running in immediate succession).

Dadiator Tri Workouts at a glance...

Run

Run alongside a biking 8-10 year old sidekick and have him keep track of your splits.


Sprint / push nipper-loaded jogging stroller up and down the block. Follow the chorus of whoopees during the hard effort, recover with pleasant conversation about bugs and clouds and boogers.

Run / hike stairs with a backpack full of plump youngster.


Bike

Burley sprint up and down the block. I use cul-du-sac for slow turnaround recovery. For an added challenge, rig up the Ridealng to the Burley and tow a skateboarding caboose.

Ride stationary bike on porch while the kids play in the backyard. Throw a ballgame on the radio and enjoy a summer's eve while Mom buys groceries.

Swim

Pull a dinghy full of kids across the lake. Mom, grandparents, or uncle Ty can man the life boat.

Splash and play in the water untill your hands prune up. Harr says that the first major step of swim training is getting comfortable with the "feel" of the water. If you enjoy splashing around, the strokes will come.