Olympic triathlon training plan
- 10 weeks
- Swimming
- Cycling
- Running
Goal: Olympic distance
- Duration
- 10 weeks
- Sessions
- 109 in total
- avg. 10.9 per week
- Training time
- avg. 10.4 h/week
- Peak week 13.1 h
How the training load develops
Training time per week over 10 weeks. The toughest week is week 5 with 13.1 h.
Plan structure
109 sessions spread over 10 weeks, around 104 hours of training and a total load of 6,114 TSS.
- Swimming 27 sessions 62.3 km in total
- Cycling 27 sessions 1,340 km in total
- Running 35 sessions 288.5 km in total
- Strength training 20 sessions
| Week | Sessions | Sports | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 |
|
11.6 h |
| 2 | 11 |
|
11.7 h |
| 3 | 9 |
|
7.3 h |
| 4 | 12 |
|
12.5 h |
| 5 | 12 |
|
13.1 h |
| 6 | 9 |
|
7.3 h |
| 7 | 12 |
|
12.5 h |
| 8 | 12 |
|
13.1 h |
| 9 | 9 |
|
7.7 h |
| 10 | 11 |
|
7.3 h |
A look inside the plan
Sample week: week 7 of 10
This is exactly how your plan will look in the Aspect App after you buy it. Tap a session to see its structure, intervals and target ranges.
You can also download bike and run workouts as FIT files for Garmin, Wahoo, COROS and others, or as ZWO files for Zwift. Swim workouts come as a PDF to take to the pool.
Week 7 Build Phase 2 – Load Week 1 12 sessions 10:08 h 165 km 34.2 km 7.8 km
About this training plan
To race your best over the Olympic distance, you need to hold a high pace for the entire race. That is exactly what you work on here: several quality runs a week, long threshold intervals, race-pace blocks on the bike and the longest rides of all three levels. Your bike and run sessions are guided by heart rate; a chest strap is all you need, and the VO2max intervals are done by feel.
Who the plan is for
It is for you if you have been training in a structured way in all three sports for some time and cope well with several hard sessions a week. Long rides with Tempo sections followed by a brick run, threshold runs over several kilometres and three swim sessions a week should not put you off. If that is still too much, Level 2 is the better choice.
How the plan works
Two build phases, each in a rhythm of two load weeks and one recovery week (the second phase being the longer one) lead into the peak week and race week. Even the first phase is packed: threshold runs with long segments, VO2max intervals over 400 metres, VO2max in 30/30 intervals on the bike, sometimes followed directly by a threshold block, and threshold intervals embedded in long rides. After the long ride, you do a brick run in every load week.
The second phase puts race pace centre stage. On the bike, longer race-pace intervals and VO2max efforts lasting several minutes are added; the long rides grow considerably and include blocks at race pace. On the run, there are up to three quality sessions a week: threshold intervals, a progressive tempo run and VO2max intervals, complemented by long easy runs. Even the recovery weeks keep short threshold efforts on the bike and the run. The peak week keeps you sharp with threshold work and race pace, and race week ends with short openers. Injury-prevention strength training and stretching continue right up to the last few days before the race.
What you need before you start
- Your current threshold heart rate (threshold HR) on the bike, as the bike intervals up to threshold are based on this value. Determine it with Joe Friel’s 30-minute test: after a thorough warm-up, ride 30 minutes on your own, as hard and as evenly as you can sustain for the whole time; your average HR over the last 20 minutes is your value. Stopgap without a test: about 90% of your reliably known bike HRmax. You don’t need a power meter; on the turbo trainer, ride in standard mode (not ERG).
- Your running threshold HR from an all-out 10 km run, around 98% of your average HR over the 10 km, or from a lab performance test. You also need a chest strap and a watch with heart rate display, as the bike and run targets are given as a percentage of your threshold HR. Wrist-based measurement reacts too slowly. Enter both values under “My plans”, and the plan converts the targets into beats per minute.
- A recent CSS test for your swim paces, and regular time in the pool.
Support within the plan
Explanations of each phase, rest-day guidance with the choice between active recovery and a full day off, mental coaching prompts, an explanation of the openers and a recommendation for the time after the race support you all the way to the start line and beyond.
Which level is right for you?
- Level 1: Your first Olympic-distance race, with an existing endurance base. Two swim sessions a week, brick runs in selected weeks.
- Level 2: You already have some race experience. The same clearly graded pace progression as Level 1, built on a broader foundation: a third swim session, longer easy sessions, brick runs in every load week of the second build phase.
- Level 3: You want to race your best. Several quality runs a week, longer threshold and race-pace blocks and considerably longer rides.
Intensity guidance
Your training thresholds
Session intensity is based on your personal thresholds. After buying, you enter them in the Aspect App – the plan then converts every target for you. If they’re already stored in Intervals.icu, you can import them with one click during setup. Here’s how to find your values:
- CSS (swimming)Your CSS (Critical Swim Speed) is your sustainable pace per 100 m at threshold. Test: after warming up, swim 400 m as fast as you can, recover well, then swim 200 m as fast as you can. CSS per 100 m = (400 m time − 200 m time) ÷ 2 (6:40 and 3:10 → 1:45 per 100 m).
- Threshold heart rate (cycling)Targets are given as a percentage of your threshold heart rate on the bike – the highest heart rate you can sustain for about 60 minutes. How to find it: after a good warm-up, ride a 30-minute time trial on your own as hard as you can hold evenly – your average heart rate over the last 20 minutes is your threshold HR. A chest strap gives the most accurate reading. Stopgap without a test: about 90% of your reliably known maximum heart rate on the bike (185 bpm → 167 bpm).
- Threshold HR (running)Your threshold heart rate is the highest heart rate you can sustain for about 60 minutes. How to find it: after a good warm-up, run on your own for 30 minutes as fast as you can hold evenly – your average heart rate over the last 20 minutes is your threshold HR. Alternatively, from an all-out 10K run: 98% of your average HR over the full 10 km (average 176 bpm → threshold HR 172 bpm). A chest strap gives the most accurate reading.
Device sync via Intervals.icu
Your plan on your watch
Send your plan to your free Intervals.icu calendar in just a few clicks. From there, your bike, run and swim sessions go to your watch and bike computer as structured workouts with intervals and target ranges – or into Zwift. No retyping and no file imports.
Ready in six steps
- Buy the planOnce your payment has been received, you’ll get your access link by email.
- Save it to your Aspect accountWith a free Aspect account, you save the plan under “My plans”.
- Connect Intervals.icuTap “Intervals.icu” at the top of your plan and connect your free account on intervals.icu (opens an external site). No account yet? You can create one there in a minute.
- Match your target valuesThe app checks whether Intervals.icu holds the same values as your plan (e.g. FTP, threshold heart rate or threshold pace). Any differences can be matched with one click.
- Choose a start date and sendChoose your start Monday, check the preview, send.
- Connect your deviceIn Intervals.icu, go to Settings → Connections, connect your device or platform and enable uploading of planned workouts (e.g. “Upload planned workouts”).
What arrives where
| Platform | What arrives |
|---|---|
| Garmin | Cycling, running and swimming as structured workouts; strength: title only, no exercises (supported) |
| Wahoo ELEMNT, BOLT, ROAM | Bike workouts (supported) |
| Zwift | Bike and run workouts (supported) |
| Suunto | Planned workouts (watches with SuuntoPlus Guides) (supported) |
| COROS | Planned workouts – the first time only, drag the “Intervals.icu” training plan into your calendar in the COROS app. (supported) |
| Hammerhead Karoo | Bike workouts – you set up the connection with Hammerhead (on the Karoo or in the Hammerhead dashboard) (limited) |
| Huawei | Only the next run session at a time (sent to the watch in the Huawei app) (limited) |
| Apple Watch | No official integration – only via third-party apps (e.g. Watchletic – the Intervals.icu import is a paid feature) (limited) |
| Polar, TrainerRoad | No direct transfer (not supported) |
- Most services receive roughly the next 7 days at a time. The complete plan is in your Intervals.icu calendar.
- Intervals.icu calculates the target ranges from your values there (e.g. FTP, threshold HR, threshold pace). If you change them, upcoming workouts are adjusted with the next sync.
- During setup, the Aspect App checks whether your values in Intervals.icu match your plan. You resolve any differences with one click – in either direction, with a side-by-side comparison first.
- If you move a session within its week in the Aspect App, Intervals.icu updates automatically – and so does your device at the next sync.
- Zwift uses the values in your Zwift profile (FTP, 5K time). Enter the same values there as in Intervals.icu.
- Swim workouts arrive on Garmin watches in structured form (distance and pace). Stroke and technique drills are in the text.
- Strength sessions appear in the Intervals.icu calendar with a description and planned duration. On your watch they only show their title. You’ll find the exercises in the Aspect App.
In the Aspect App you can also download bike and run workouts as FIT files (e.g. for Garmin, Wahoo, COROS) or as ZWO files for Zwift. Swim workouts are available as a PDF to take to the pool.
What you get
- The complete 10-week plan109 sessions, structured week by week and day by day.
- All sessions in the Aspect AppEvery session with its full structure. In the browser on your smartphone, tablet or computer.
- Flexible within your weekIf a day doesn’t suit you, you can use a free Aspect account to move sessions to another day within the plan week or change their order – by drag & drop on a computer, or via “Move to…” on a smartphone. You can restore the original order at any time. If you’ve sent the plan to Intervals.icu, it is updated there automatically.
- Straight to your watch and bike computerAs structured workouts via your free Intervals.icu account – to Garmin, Wahoo, COROS & more. Or as a FIT/ZWO download. How it works
- Access with or without an accountPersonal access link by email. With a free Aspect account, saved permanently under “My plans” – and ready to send to your watch and bike computer.
How it works
- OrderAdd the plan to your basket and pay with PayPal, card and more (via Stripe) or by bank transfer.
- Check your inboxOnce your payment has been received, you’ll get your personal access link.
- Open your planThe link opens your plan straight in the Aspect App – nothing to install.
- Save it to your accountOptional and free: save the plan to your Aspect account and open it again at any time.
- Get it onto your watchOptional: send it to your calendar via Intervals.icu with your start date – and from there to your watch and bike computer. Here’s how
Created by your coach
Hi, I’m Alex – coach and the mind behind aspect®. My training plans grow out of my endurance coaching work in triathlon, cycling and running. If you’d rather have individual coaching than a ready-made plan, take a look at 1:1 coaching.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get the training plan after purchase?
Once we’ve received your payment, you’ll get an email with your personal access link. Use it to open the plan directly in the Aspect App – in the browser on your smartphone, tablet or computer. You’ll also receive your invoice by email.
How does the plan get onto my watch and bike computer?
Via Intervals.icu. Open your plan in the Aspect App, tap “Intervals.icu” at the top and follow the steps: connect your free Intervals.icu account, match your target values, choose your start Monday, check the preview and send the plan to your Intervals.icu calendar as structured workouts. From there, Intervals.icu sends the upcoming sessions to Garmin, Wahoo, Zwift, Suunto and COROS – to set this up, go to Settings → Connections in Intervals.icu, connect your device or platform and switch on the upload of planned workouts (e.g. “Upload planned workouts”). For Hammerhead Karoo, set up the connection in your Hammerhead account. Zwift uses the values in your Zwift profile (FTP, 5K time). Most services receive roughly the next 7 days at a time.
Does it work with the Apple Watch?
Not directly: there’s no official Intervals.icu integration for the Apple Watch. It’s only possible via third-party apps (e.g. Watchletic – the Intervals.icu import is a paid feature). Polar and TrainerRoad aren’t supported directly either. You can still see all your sessions in the Aspect App at any time – including in your smartphone’s browser.
Does Intervals.icu cost anything?
No. A free Intervals.icu account is all you need for the transfer. Intervals.icu also offers an optional supporter subscription – you don’t need it for this. Transferring from the Aspect App doesn’t cost anything extra either.
Do I have to keep my values up to date in two places?
No. In the plan view, the “Match target values” step (“Intervals.icu” button) checks whether Intervals.icu holds the same values as your plan – FTP, threshold HR, threshold pace or swim threshold pace (CSS), depending on what your plan uses. If anything differs, you see both values side by side, choose which one applies for each, and match them with one click. Nothing is overwritten without asking. To do this, you confirm access to your Intervals.icu sport settings once when connecting. Your indoor FTP stays unchanged, and HR zones are only recalculated if you explicitly ask for it. Zwift still uses the values in your Zwift profile.
Do I need an account in the Aspect App?
Not to view it: the access link also works without an account. With a free Aspect account, you save the plan permanently under “My plans” – and only then can you transfer it to your watch and bike computer via Intervals.icu.
When can I start the plan?
Whenever you like. The plan isn’t tied to a date but built in weeks (week 1 to 10), and each week starts on a Monday. If you have a race in mind, simply count back 10 weeks from race day. For the transfer to Intervals.icu, you choose your start Monday yourself – the Monday of the current week at the earliest.
What happens if I start later or need to reschedule?
No problem. If you want to start the whole plan later, simply choose a new start date in the plan view under “Intervals.icu” → “Reschedule” – the sessions are moved in your Intervals.icu calendar without any duplicate entries. If you no longer need the plan there, you can remove it again. Your own entries in Intervals.icu remain untouched. If just a single day doesn’t work, move the session within its week (see the next question).
Can I move sessions to other days?
Yes, within the plan week in question. With a free Aspect account, you can move a session to another day of the same week in the plan view or change the order within a day – by drag and drop on a computer, or via the “Move to…” menu on each session on a smartphone. The plan itself stays unchanged: moved sessions are marked with a small icon (e.g. “originally Tuesday”), and “Reset week” or “Reset whole plan” restores the original order. If the plan has been transferred to Intervals.icu, moves and resets are applied there automatically – and to your watch and bike computer at the next sync. If you move a transferred session within its week directly in the Intervals.icu calendar, the Aspect App picks this up (it can take about a minute). If a session ends up outside its plan week there, the app moves it back to its week and lets you know. Without an account, you can view the plan but not move sessions.
Is the plan tailored to me personally?
No – it’s a ready-made training plan that works for many athletes with a similar goal. If you’d like individual support, you’ll find 1:1 coaching at aspect-sports.com.
Do I have a right of withdrawal?
The training plan is digital content. With your express consent, it is made available before the withdrawal period has expired – your right of withdrawal then expires when provision begins (Section 356(5) of the German Civil Code, BGB). You’ll find the details in our withdrawal policy.
Olympic Distance | Build & Peak (Heart rate)
10 weeks · 109 sessions · €32.00 (final price*)
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