The Time-Efficient Triathlon Experiment

And Why It Didn't Work for Me

I’ve always been drawn to strength.

I liked knowing exactly where I stood—how much I could lift, how much I had progressed. Every rep told a story. Every running session told me how this one stacked up to the previous ones. And with deliberate strength training (Starting Strength), every session had clear numbers and progressions. But then, I got an itch for something different: triathlons.

Three sports. One event. A test of endurance, strength, and grit. It seemed like the ultimate challenge.

But there was one problem—time.

Triathlon training devours time. Long swim sessions, multi-hour bike rides, and endless running demand a serious commitment. I couldn’t afford to spend hours training daily. So, I hunted for a time-efficient programme—one that promised results without overhauling my schedule.

It sounded like the perfect hack.

It wasn’t.

The Plan

I found a training approach built on efficiency. The idea was simple: train hard, train smart, and get race-ready without endless hours of volume. Strength training had taught me that intensity sometimes replaced sheer volume, and I hoped the same principle would apply here.

But as I worked through the programme, something felt off.

The Problem

I didn’t feel awesome.

See, when I trained for my 21k, I could feel my abilities evolve. At least once a week, in one of my four runs, I’d experience a small win—a moment when my body told me, Hey, you’re getting better.

With this training, I felt limp in every session.

Looking back, I see two problems.

One, there was no clear system to gauge where I stood or where I needed to go. Strength training provided clear metrics: weights lifted, reps done, and progressive overload. In contrast, triathlon training felt like running in the dark.

Two, I ignored the signs. I felt something was off, but I kept going because I didn’t know enough to pull the plug.

Without clear answers to:

• How strong did I need to be?

• What level of aerobic endurance did they require?

• How much power-endurance would I need across three disciplines?

• How much flexibility and mobility mattered?

…I lacked a clear map.

I didn’t focus on the basics. Instead, I tried to fit triathlon training into my busy schedule. If I could complete the workouts, I figured I was on track.

And technically, I was.

I made it to the race and finished it.

But I didn’t feel strong.

The Result

I crossed the finish line, but my performance didn’t reflect my true capability. I had completed the triathlon, but I hadn’t trained in a way that made me feel ready. Instead of feeling powerful and prepared, I felt as if I had merely survived the event.

That’s the problem with chasing efficiency.

At first glance, it seems like a good trade-off: do less, get the same results.

But efficient doesn’t mean effective.

Strength training had always given me clear progress markers. I knew what “better” looked like. But in this case, I had no structure, no framework— a collection of workouts crammed into a schedule.

And I realised something:

Time efficiency alone isn’t enough. The real challenge isn’t just fitting workouts into your schedule. It’s also about knowing which workouts are best and how they fit into a bigger plan.

The Lesson

Training isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about building a foundation.

After that experience, Raj and I built a General Physical Preparedness (GPP) framework at The Quad.

• What movements matter.

• What strength milestones to hit.

• What endurance benchmarks to aim for.

• How to balance suppleness, mobility, and power.

It offers a simple and powerful roadmap:

1. Identify where you are (Point A).

2. Identify where you want to go (Point B).

3. Map it precisely—so that training flows from there.

And that is the bigger lesson.

Training is a sandbox for life.

I’ve failed plenty of times. But every failure has led me to build better systems, ask better questions, and learn what actually works.

This triathlon experiment wasn’t just about endurance. It was about understanding that success isn’t about forcing something into a schedule—it’s about knowing your foundation, then building on it.

So, the next time I do a triathlon—or any event—I’ll ensure my training is built on a foundation.

Of knowing my starting point and destination.

And not just fitting things to a schedule.