April Is When Training Starts to Feel Real

The snow’s melting, race calendars are filling up, and for most triathletes, April marks a shift in mindset—from winter prep to early-season execution. I’ve coached athletes through this transition for years, and the same themes show up every season: excitement, a little anxiety, and that unmistakable itch to get outside and go hard. But if you’re not intentional with how you approach April, it’s easy to get swept up in all the wrong things.

The trick is knowing what to prioritize right now. Not what your friend on Strava is doing. Not what Instagram says is trending. What you need to sharpen your fitness without burning out before summer hits.

Let’s dive into how to make April your most productive month yet.

Don’t Skip the Transitional Work

April is a bridge month. You’re not deep in winter base-building anymore, but you’re also not in peak-season intensity mode. That’s why transitional training is so important.

This is when I have my athletes reintroduce race-specific intensity gradually. We start layering in tempo work, longer intervals, and slightly sharper brick sessions—but we don’t max out yet. It’s about reminding the body how to go faster, not forcing it.

It’s also the time to take your training environment outdoors again. Ride outside when weather allows. Start swimming in open water if conditions are safe. Even running on varied terrain after a treadmill-heavy winter can make a difference. April is where race simulation starts to sneak back in, one workout at a time.

Shift From Volume to Efficiency

Winter is where we build volume, sometimes with longer, slower sessions and indoor trainer rides. But come April, time becomes more limited and focus needs to tighten.

I always ask my athletes: What’s the purpose of each session? If you can’t answer that, it might not belong in your week anymore.

April is a great time to:

Reassess your training zones or do a threshold test if it’s been a while
Trim “fluff” workouts and prioritize key sessions
Start using race-day gear for specific workouts to build comfort and confidence

If you’re working with a coach, this is also when training starts becoming more personalized based on your early-season goals. The cookie-cutter phase ends here.

Rebuild Technical Skills, Especially in the Water

Swimming is one area I often see regress over the winter, especially for athletes who haven’t been consistent or who’ve been doing solo sessions without form feedback.

In April, we bring back the technical focus—sighting practice, turns, pacing, and wetsuit swims if the water’s warm enough. The early part of the month is ideal for skills and drills, and the back half is where we start building longer efforts.

If you’ve been mostly in the pool, now’s the time to start simulating open water. Practice swimming in a straight line without looking at the black line. Mix up paces. Breathe bilaterally. You don’t want your first exposure to chaos to be race day.

Dial in Your Gear and Nutrition

I can’t tell you how many athletes discover gear issues the week before a race. April is your window to sort all that out.

This is when we:

Test out new race kits
Break in new shoes
Practice bottle setups on the bike
Re-test race nutrition on longer bricks

Even transitions can start to come into play here. Lay out your gear once a week and run through a few quick transitions after key sessions. It might feel early, but those habits pay off big-time come race season.

Monitor Motivation and Energy Levels

Here’s a surprising one: I’ve seen more athletes get injured or burned out in April than almost any other month. Why? Because spring hits, the sun comes out, and they try to do everything all at once.

April should feel productive, not punishing. If you’re constantly exhausted, sore, or skipping recovery, that’s a red flag. This is still a phase for consistency and smart buildup—not all-out effort. One of the best things you can do this month is protect your long-term trajectory by not overreaching too soon.

Listen to your body. Take extra rest if needed. Use this month to build momentum, not just fitness.

April Sets the Tone

The work you do in April sets the tone for the rest of your race season. It’s a chance to sharpen your focus, reintroduce specificity, and make sure your body and mind are aligned heading into May and June. Treat it as a month of intentional transition—not frantic preparation—and you’ll arrive at your first race confident, not just conditioned.

April isn’t about proving how fit you are. It’s about preparing to show it when it counts.

Spring Training Tips: What to Focus on in April