The Truth About Missing Triathlon Training Sessions
Isn't it funny how nearly every coach says don't worry, missing one day's training won't make a difference to the big picture.
But what if you miss one session a week? That's 52 potential sessions in a year. Imagine what you could achieve with those 52 sessions as a triathlete. I'm not even going to go down the road of missing 2 sessions a week 😂
Now, if you're training twice a day, 6 days a week, you've got room to miss the odd session. But if you're doing one session a day, 6 days a week? Every session matters. Every session is an opportunity to get better.
How One Athlete Went Sub-9 at IRONMAN Hamburg
Guy is an experienced age group athlete with many years of training under his belt. He's a sports doctor by day with a busy life and young family. His goal was to go sub-9 hours at IRONMAN Hamburg for the first time.
Here's what Guy's last 6 months of triathlon training looked like:
13 hrs 36 mins/week average
Bike: 52% of total training
Run: 22%
Swim: 15%
Strength: 10%
But here's what really stands out:
No track sessions
Just 2 open water swims (total)
Lots of time on the TT bike
Only one missed session in 6 months
A handful of tweaks for travel or niggles
Guy didn't have perfect training conditions. He didn't have unlimited time. He didn't do every "optimal" session in the book.
What he did have was relentless consistency.
And it's fair to say Guy absolutely smashed his race, crossing the line in 8:45 - his first sub-9 IRONMAN.
Making Consistency Work for Time-Crunched Triathletes
Guy's breakthrough didn't come from finding more hours in the day or waiting for life to get easier. It came from deciding that showing up mattered more than having the perfect session.
As a triathlon coach working with busy athletes in Birmingham and across the UK, I see this pattern repeatedly: the athletes who make consistent progress aren't the ones with unlimited time - they're the ones who protect their training sessions.
So here's what I want you to ask yourself:
Not "does it matter if I skip this session?"
But "how can I make this happen - even if I can only get some of it done?"
If you're time-crunched, get up and get it done early before life throws its inevitable curveball. Set your alarm 30 minutes earlier. Get to the pool before work. Squeeze in that turbo session while the kids are doing homework.
Why Missed Training Sessions Add Up
The sessions you complete build the athlete you become.
Guy proved that 13.5 hours a week with zero missed sessions beats 15 hours a week with "just one" skipped session here and there. Because those skipped sessions compound. They add up. They cost you momentum, fitness, and ultimately - race day performance.
You don't need more time. You need more commitment to the time you have.
Make the session happen. Your race-day self will thank you.
Coach D
Need help building training consistency around your real life? I work with time-crunched triathletes in Birmingham and across the UK who want honest coaching that addresses what's actually holding them back. Book a free consultationto discuss 1-1 coaching that fits your schedule.
Coach Damo Littlewood | Birmingham Triathlon Coach | 25 Years in Triathlon, 15 Years Coaching