Encountering Pain While Training For A Triathlon

Swimming, biking and running --- great sports individually, and together, they make up a triathlon. Training for a triathlon is demanding and involves high demands on the body; at some point in your training, you will encounter pain. This pain might be part of training and pushing your body, or it can signal that something is wrong and needs medical attention. Consult your doctor or coach about warning signs that may signal a need for immediate treatment.

Overuse Injuries

Training for a triathlon involves a lot of swimming, running and biking --- all sports which require repetitive movements, unlike basketball or soccer, where your biomechanics vary. In her book "Triathlons for Women," Sally Edwards writes that overuse injuries are the most common injuries among triathletes, and typically involve stress fractures or inflammation of muscles, tendons or ligaments. You may experience pain in your shoulder, legs or knees from overusing these muscles during your training. Shoulder bursitis and iliotibial, or IT, band problems are overuse injuries that affect swimmers and runners or cyclists, respectively. It is important to see a doctor when you think you may have an overuse injury, because the injury may become more severe over time.

Sore Muscles

Muscle soreness after a workout is normal when training for an endurance event, and can be alleviated in many ways, including joint- or muscle-rub cream or massage; it will usually go away on its own. When muscle pain occurs during a workout, it may be a pulled or strained muscle, MayoClinic.com warns. If this happens, "RICE" may be appropriate: rest, ice, compression and elevation. If the pain is sudden or severe, or lasts more than a week, call your doctor, recommends MayoClinic.com.

Prevention

The best way to minimize pain and injury while training for a triathlon is prevention, though it might not always be possible to prevent every ailment. Sleep is an often overlooked part of sports training and muscle and body recovery. According to Don Fink, triathlon coach and author of "Be Iron Fit," adequate sleep is crucial to repairing muscles and preventing your body from being worn down by the demands of training. While some people may need seven hours and others need eight, Fink cautions that fewer than six hours can be detrimental to your health and training.

Considerations

While some pain or discomfort may be expected while triathlon training, if the pain persists or is different than the usual muscle soreness you may experience, see your doctor immediately. Your doctor can examine you, make referrals to a sports-medicine specialist if necessary, and can give you guidance about whether it is safe for you to continue your training or if you need to modify your workouts. Ignoring your pain will not make it go away; see a professional to prevent more severe injuries later on.