Four for your Core
All three disciplines of triathlon require core stabilization and strength. Strong core musculature allows you as an athlete to keep your body streamline in the water, maintain a comfortable bike position and complete an efficient run. Core strength will also assist with generating, absorbing and stabilizing forces which occur during your bike and run. Moreover, increasing your core strength will decrease your risk for an overuse injury, such as low-back pain and IT band syndrome. Your core is your foundation, and without it, your form will collapse and suffer. If your form collapses, your chance for injury...
3 Reasons to Strength Train in the Offseason
If you reflect on your year of triathlon training and competition, you will probably agree that you put in a ton of volume and intensity. Your body is thanking you for taking a few months off before you break it down again. This brings up a great opportunity to understand the importance of how to handle your offseason. Of course, you will continue to swim, bike and run, only with a lighter intensity and possibly with less volume. You and your coach will come up with a customized gameplan in order to keep your fitness at...
Three key components to Improve your running form
With all of the recent talk about proper running form, it can be difficult to wade through the gimmicks and find sound advice. The good news is there are plenty of great resources and research being done to help runners understand proper running form. And yes, there is such a thing as proper running form. Just like there is a proper bike fit or efficient swim mechanics. Running has been held to a separate standard for many years and has led to many injuries. It is such a simple movement yet your biomechanics will play a significant role in...
Will caffeine increase your performance
Caffeine is the most widely used ergogenic aid in the world. It can be seen used by recreational athletes at local 5k races to Olympic athletes. Even with its popularity, some think caffeine is extremely under-researched when it comes to the potential performance enhancing benefits. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has had a tough time deciding whether or not to legalize the stimulant. Through the years WADA has prohibited caffeine, removed it from the prohibited list, placed it on the restricted list and most recently (2004) has been removed from the restricted list and placed on the monitoring list (7). According to WADA, the monitoring list is designed to monitor certain substances and evaluate whether or not they have a performance enhancing effect (7). The problem with caffeine is that it...
So you wanna be a triathlete?
Triathlon will change your outlook on life, your career, your marriage, your goals, your friends and many other things you thought you had figured out. It’s not just crossing a finish line or going home with a boring finisher medal. It’s the countless hours that got you to that point—a moment in time that you will NEVER forget, a moment that you will discuss with your family and friends for hours...
Why you should ditch the while training
Music can limit your ability to focus on key elements in order to improve and remain pain/injury-free. So, for all you endurance athletes who “need” the beat between your ears, consider the following reasons to ditch the tunes.
