That Triathlon Show

Lifetime Training Hours and Long-Term Aerobic Development: How to Achieve Your Full Potential in Triathlon | Carson Christen

12 snips
Apr 23, 2026
Carson Christen, triathlon coach and exercise physiology master who leads Torden Multisport and NCAA women's triathlon, discusses long-term aerobic development. He explores lifetime training hours, realistic multi-year planning, the role of intensity, discipline-specific approaches, common short-term tradeoffs, and practical yearly progress strategies.
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INSIGHT

Intensity Overshoot Is More Common Than Undertraining

  • Triathletes more often overshoot on intensity than undershoot overall volume.
  • Carson notes social-media fads push extremes: too many intense sessions or now an opposite trend of only zone-two, both of which can harm long-term gains.
ADVICE

Target Two Intensity Sessions Per Sport Weekly

  • Aim for about two quality intensity sessions per sport per week, but double-up and adjust recovery rather than piling daily intensity.
  • Carson structures microcycles to limit hard efforts per day and often schedules complementary sessions same day to manage recovery.
ADVICE

Stack Intensity With Support Sessions Same Day

  • Prefer one hard effort per day with supportive sessions rather than multiple separate hard days.
  • Carson often schedules a hard run in the morning and a supportive bike or swim same day to allow ~24+ hours before the next intense session.
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