Triathlons

Creating Your Triathlon Nutrition Plan

Last night, the NBC coverage of the Olympics had a piece about what USA swimmer phenom, Michael Phelps, eats in a day.

Answer: about anything he can get into his mouth in the largest quantities possible.

He spends a minimum of 5 hours every day training, and it takes a tremendous amount of carbs and calories to keep up.

One article states that Phelps’ “secret” is eating lots of pasta and pizza. This alone could be enough of a motivation for people to take up the sport of triathlon -- the reward of eating whatever you want, as often as you want.

But before you go down that road, I’d encourage you to take some time and investigate the specifics of a sound triathlon nutrition plan. If you are a newcomer to triathlons, this may involve a major diet overhaul.

Continue reading: Your Triathlon Nutrition Plan

How To Beat The Triathlon Blues

This morning when I woke up, being a triathlete felt like a burden.

It’s August, and my swimmer’s shoulder is holding up, but it’s not totally quite right either. Swimming on consecutive days bothers it, and so I still need a day of rest between each swim session to maintain it. I can’t play tennis with my wife Pam and daughter Jessica because it bothers the shoulder. It keeps me from things I otherwise would enjoy doing.

My feet have also been hurting this week (plantar fascitis). Biking or running seems to agitate them lately. I’ve gone through all this before but this wasn’t the best time for it to pop up with a couple of my most important races ahead of me in August and September. I can’t afford to pull back on my training now. I didn’t sleep well last night; but the training must go on. So, this morning I’m dragging myself out of bed. I’m going to run on the YMCA treadmill; it will allow me get in some running, while minimizing the factors that can mess with your feet while running the road.

Do you get the gist of this post so far? It’s called “triathlete blues,” and it often hits around August when you’re a little worn out, and your most important goals are still ahead of you. Your body has acquired its aches and pains, the summer heat begins to wear on you, and all kinds of frustrations get into your wheel house. You start daydreaming about putting your bike on eBay, taking up ping-pong, and catching up on the movies you never saw but wanted to. You are sick and tired or organic, low-fat, fruit smoothies, and ready to head to DQ for a Blizzard.

If you have the “triathlon blues,” here are a few tips for dealing with it.

Continue reading: Beating The Triathlon Blues

2008 Beijing Olympics Triathlon: A Crash Course

Are you ready for the 2008 USA Olympics?!?

With just a few days to go, I thought it might be helpful to break down the details on the 2008 Beijing Olympics triathlon competition.

Continue reading: 2008 Olympics Triathlon Info

Tri Training: How To Make Fast Gains As A Beginning Triathlete

If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. People are continuously looking for a short-cut or secret formula for attaining a goal in half the time with half the effort.

When it comes to triathlons... well... NOT!

There are no secrets, and there is no red pill or secret society of triathletes with ancient scrolls of special knowledge about training and competing in triathlons. Sorry!

In the end, this is what distinguishes the triathlon community. Triathletes are people who push themselves to limits that most people won’t. It’s not that a person can’t; it’s just that most people don’t or won’t. However, don’t let this fact cause you to look down your nose at the rest of the world.

Continue reading: Tri Training: Make Fast Gains

Your First Sprint Triathlon - What To Expect

Yesterday I did a Sprint triathlon, which is typically 0.5 mile swim, 12.4 miles bike, and 3.1 miles run. Some are shorter, some are longer; the bike ride for my Sprint triathlon yesterday was 16.5 miles.

The first triathlon many newcomers do (which I suggest) is the Sprint triathlon, and yesterday I tried to see it all through the eyes of a beginner. Here are some suggestions that I hope will make your first triathlon race a great experience.

 

Continue reading: Your First Sprint Triathlon

Tips For Fine-Tuning Your Triathlon Training Plan

For the new triathlete, establishing a triathlon training plan can be daunting. There are several challenges.

First, you need to train in 3 different sports: swimming, biking, running. Secondly, there are an endless number of training plans to choose from.

On the one hand, there is a “science” to triathlon training. But on the other hand, it’s not brain surgery either.

I would encourage you to think of triathlon training as both a science and an art.

Continue reading: Triathlon Training Plans

The Dangers Of Over Training For Triathlons

Hi, I’m Jim and I’m a trainaholic.

I’m convinced that I am the first triathlete in human history who really doesn’t need a day off from training. Of course, all the wisdom of experienced triathletes applies to everyone else; it just doesn’t apply to me.

It’s nice being the one and only exception to the rule.

Continue reading: Over Training For Triathlons

5 Questions New Triathletes Feel Stupid Asking (But Shouldn't)

#1  Do I wear underwear?

Okay, here are a few things on the underwear issue.

As you do your bike training, on rides over 50 miles I suggest wearing cycling shorts or bibs, which have pads in the seat to save your rear end. As you can see, they are not cheap. No, you don’t wear underwear beneath the cycling shorts or bibs.

Tri shorts are shorts you can swim, bike, and run in. The seat pads aren’t quite as thick as the cycling shorts, and I often use them on rides under 50 miles. You don’t wear underwear beneath the tri shorts either.

I use running shorts in my training, and most running shorts have an underwear-like liner within them. Most people still wear underwear beneath them.

For a female transitioning from swim to bike in a triathlon event, most females pull their bike/run gear over their suit, as opposed to changing out of their swimsuit. For female triathletes, sometimes the women's swim suit offers very little in the way of chest support. As a solution, some people wear a 2-piece swimsuit with support or wear a tank top that has a built-in bra over your swimsuit during the bike and run.

While we’re at it, I might as well mention Udder Cream, which comes in handy for long bike rides.

Continue reading: 5 Stupid Triathlon Questions

3 Colossal Cycling Mistakes: Been There, Done That

Per usual, I was up at 4:30 a.m. this morning. On my long cycling days, I will normally try to hit the streets at daybreak so I can roll through some good mileage before traffic picks up on the streets. (Here are some tips for cycling in traffic.)

I’m a creature of habit and I wake up every morning at 4:30 without an alarm clock. My routine is to brew a pot of coffee, check my emails, get all geared up, and out the door at 5:30 a.m.

I do some things the night before to make it easier on me in the morning -- like fill up my water bottle and Cytomax bottle so they are ready to go in the fridge.

Today’s ride is a little different; it’s a “Rick ride.”

Rick is a good friend of mine who lives nearby, and the one who got me into biking. He once was a competitive cyclist, and even though he doesn’t race much anymore I wouldn’t bet against him if he showed up tomorrow at a local Criterium race and decided to enter.

A “Rick ride” means an intensity ride -- a hard and hilly ride. I’ve done Century rides that were easier than rolling 40 miles with Rick. That’s why you need a Rick -- someone who will help you by pushing you.

I feel very fortunate that I’m able to do some of my bike training with someone who is a much stronger cyclist than I am. I feel a similar way about my Masters Swim class. For most people in that class, swimming is their main deal, and it helps push me to be the best swimmer I can be as a triathlete.

I made 3 colossal mistakes biking with Rick today.

Continue reading: 3 Triathlete Cycling Mistakes

If You're A Triathlete Over 40, Apply Wisdom And Rebellion

Dara Torres is headed to Beijing on the Olympic swim team after winning the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle in the Olympic trials. This will be her 5th time to the Olympics, spanning her teens, 20s, 30s, and now 40s!

Dara is 41 years old, and stood on the medal stand at the trials with her daughter, Tessa, on her hip. She has never tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, and points to her unique training plan as the secret of her success.

Times have changed. It used to be that age 40 meant one foot in the nursing home, and the conventional wisdom was slow down and by careful of over-exerting yourself. That was then, this is now.

These days “old timers,” like Dara Torres, are kicking butt and taking names.

Continue reading: Over 40? Try Triathlons!