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You’ve got questions? Your new triathlon-training coach, , has the answers. Throughout the course of the next few months, as you prepare for your triathlon through The ¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Challenge, Dixon will answer a wide range of questions from us, offering smart tips on everything from quicker transition times to race-day nutrition. Even better: Dixon will answer your personal questions, too. Submit your questions at mattdixon@outsidemag.com. Here, Dixon starts off with the basics: Which ¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Challenge training plan is right for me?
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¹ú²ú³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ: How do readers decide which plan is best for them?
Dixon: The First-Timer plan is for people who either haven’t done a triathlon before or who are new to the sport and don’t have an athletic background. The Competitor plan is for somebody who has raced a few tris before or who comes from an endurance background and who wants to improve. The Busy Man plan is for people who are very restricted in time, and can only work out three to four times per week. It’s designed to maximize the efficiency of the limited training time you do have.
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Why sign up to race in a triathlon in the first place?Ìý
Race day is a celebration of all of the hard work you put in to get there. Following these plans is a rich experience, because you’ll arrive on race day feeling confident. The race is the reward of following the journey.
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What should we expect on race day?
If you follow your plan, as well as the education that supports it, you’ll arrive at the race physically and emotionally prepared. The goal is to be physically capable of completing the distance and psychologically empowered to have a positive experience—even with an occasional curveball.

When can we start bragging?
I wouldn’t start bragging yet, but make your goal public. Start telling everybody you’re doing the race because there’s nothing like a little accountability and support to help motivate you.