Hurry Slowly – The Secret to Sustainable Triathlon Progress

Every triathlete wants to improve. Many look for the toughest workouts, the latest technology, or the next “game-changing” training method. Yet, the athletes who truly progress season after season all have one thing in common: they hurry slowly.

At Trisutto, this principle underpins every training plan we design. Whether you’re working toward your first sprint triathlon or an Iron-distance race, “hurry slowly” is the key to building lasting fitness and consistent performance.

1. What “Hurry Slowly” Really Means

“Hurry slowly” doesn’t mean doing less. It means training smarter. It’s about developing patiently, session by session, instead of chasing instant results or piling on volume that can’t be sustained. In endurance sport, progress is earned through consistency — not chaos.

“Consistency is important in endurance sport. Many want to do the big killer workouts, but then require a day or more off to recover, or pick up some illness. It is much better to keep chipping away and hurry slowly.” (Trisutto Iron Distance Plan)

2. Why It Works

When you train with moderation and structure, your body adapts efficiently without unnecessary fatigue. Over time, that consistency multiplies your gains.

Training Style	Short-Term Effect	Long-Term Outcome
“Hurry Fast”	Big workouts, big fatigue	Burnout, inconsistency
“Hurry Slowly”	Controlled effort, steady recovery	Sustainable progress, stronger base

Your body can only absorb so much stress before performance declines. The “hurry slowly” approach respects that limit — balancing training load with proper recovery. The result? Fewer interruptions, fewer injuries, and greater long-term growth.

3. How it is built into Trisutto Training

All Trisutto training plans — from Sprint to Iron Distance Advanced — follow the same structure: repetition, rhythm, and realism.

Repetition Builds Mastery - We repeat key sessions weekly. This isn’t laziness — it’s deliberate practice. Repetition allows athletes to perfect technique, learn pacing, and develop effort levels accurately.

Start with a Manageable, Lower-volume routine - Every plan begins with lower training volume to establish a manageable routine. This measured approach helps athletes find rhythm and balance early on, allowing confidence to build naturally as training progresses.

Flexible, Guilt-Free Rest - We don’t fix rest days — life provides them naturally. When travel, work, or family interrupts training, that’s fine. The athlete simply moves forward, not backward. This mindset builds resilience — not perfection.

4. How to Apply “Hurry Slowly” in Your Own Training

Here’s how you can adopt the same approach in daily training:

• Build Rhythm, Not Chaos - Five consistent days at 80% effort are better than one epic day followed by exhaustion.

• Respect Fatigue - If you feel tired, complete the warm-up first — then decide. You’ll often find you can train; if not, rest guilt-free.

• Don’t Cram Missed Sessions - Missed a workout? Move on. Cramming doubles fatigue and risks injury.

• Train by Feel - Don’t rely solely on data. Learn what “easy,” “moderate,” and “hard” feel like. This develops body awareness that no device can teach.

• Stay Patient - Remember: triathlon fitness compounds like interest — small, steady deposits pay off far more than occasional “big spending” workouts.

5. The mindset behind 'Hurry Slowly'

At its core, “hurry slowly” is about respecting the process. You’re not racing to improve; you’re building a foundation that lasts a lifetime.

As our coaches often remind athletes:

“It’s better to train at 80% for 10 years than at 110% for 10 weeks.”

Progress comes from mastering the basics — consistent swimming, controlled biking, purposeful running — day after day, month after month.

If you train this way, you won’t just reach your next goal; you’ll still be performing well years from now, with the same enthusiasm you started with.

The Power of Patience

“Hurry slowly” is not a slogan — it’s a strategy. It’s how champions train, recover, and grow. Next time you’re tempted to push harder or add extra miles, pause and remember: your fitness isn’t built in one day, it’s built by showing up every day.

Train smart. Recover well. Hurry slowly — and see how far consistency can take you.