Training for a triathlon is both mentally and physically challenging. However, no matter how rigorously you train and how careful you are with your preparation, there are still little things that can sneak up and surprise you during the competition. Taking the time to both physically and mentally prepare for the first triathlon is key, … Continued
From athletes new to competition, to those with several triathlons under their belt, maintaining optimum levels of nutrition for grueling competitions and equally grueling workouts is critical to success and health. Choosing a strategy to manage triathlon nutrition is often less of a focus than planning for training. However, without the necessary fuel for the … Continued
The single most effective investment you can make to enhance your overall bike performance is to get a professional bike fit. If that high-end bike you’re riding isn’t comfortable, then you aren’t optimizing the bike’s greatest features—not its aerodynamic, elongated tube shape, or slick integrated brakes and internal cable routing, not even the feather-light … Continued
Can training be simple and should it be? Although many of us use sport to unplug from the rest our busy, dynamic lives, we tend to stay overly “plugged in” to our metrics. Certainly there are times to adhere to prescribed watts or paces, but when we lack an adaptive approach to training and become exclusively … Continued
We may have had a snowfall last week, but we’re officially into spring, and April is the perfect time to tidy up your training plan, training habits, and give your gear a scrub. Here are 5 steps to a sparkling shoulder season. 1. Tune Your Bike As you move from riding exclusively indoors on the … Continued
Starting a new season with an injury can feel utterly deflating, but it doesn’t have to. There are definitely ways to keep your spirits up, your fitness building and make significant improvements to your swim, bike or run. Taking the time to honour your injury while finding alternative ways to keep moving can even help … Continued
Of the three disciplines triathletes train for, swimming is the most inefficient from a prep time to workout time perspective. For each swim workout, whether it be 30 minutes or 2 hours, you need to get to the venue, find parking, change, socialize, workout, shower, change, return to work, or home or elsewhere. I sometimes … Continued
Join a master’s swim club A swim team will add consistency, varied workout intensities, competition and technical feedback to your swim training. These four elements are crucial to becoming a faster swimmer. Triathletes should look for a master’s swim team that is predominantly freestyle-based and which swims at least two times per week for an hour. Look for a coach … Continued
Chess is to checkers what the triathlon swim is to racing in a pool. While they’re both fun, chess requires knowing more game pieces and experimenting with a few more moves. The variable nature of open water ensures that there is not a silver bullet workout when it comes to developing speed. Athletes who are … Continued
Breathing technique is the key to swimming fast, swimming relaxed and your buoyancy. It is the single most important technical skill that swimmers must master, and it is the skill that is most often misunderstood, poorly taught and ignored. Below, I explain how to breathe and improve your breath-holding capabilities. Here are the steps to … Continued