19

August

0

Strength Training on the Run

In a continued era of ‘mechanization’ of fitness with more strength training gadgets than out of work Americans, I am a huge fan of taking strength work back to the basics. One way to do this is to implement some overall body exercises using plyometrics, push ups, and ab crunches, prior to, during, or after your endurance workout. These can be done…wherever you happen to end up and at no additional gym or personal training costs! In short, Plyometrics exercises can promote reflex power through a broader range of motion than that which most endurance athletes experience. They help maximize power in the stretching and shortening cycle of a muscle or muscle group. The balance/strength aspect of the movements allows […]

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Category: Training

29

July

0

Pondering Going Longer?

A sprint-distance triathlon or a 10K road race are wonderfully concise distances to race. Why go longer? International-distance events or half marathons are plenty long enough to earn you that post-race stack of pancakes—why up the ante to half-Ironman or marathon—or even more obscure—a trail ultra? There are countless happy athletes who focus their time and money on shorter distance races, and if you are new to a sport, staying short to gain some experience or refine your speed makes sense. As a long-time client and short-course triathlon specialist, Sherri points out, “In a shorter triathlon, you can zip through, have fun without all the excessive wear and tear on life and limb, and still have a great sense of […]

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Category: Training

22

July

0

A Track Workout for Ironman Training

In order to sustain your pace in a triathlon, you first need to know what pace you want to sustain! Track workouts are about learning pace as well as learning to run fast with efficient form. When you start the run of a triathlon, do you know what pace you are running? If not, you should work diligently on this process. Integrate pace into your mind as well as your body and remember what each pace feels like (don’t just rely on your HR monitor!). This was a benchmark workout for me prior to an Ironman race. When all of my other training was in place and I nailed this workout while feeling completely in control, I gained huge confidence […]

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Category: Training

15

July

0

Finding the Virtual Black Line – in open water swimming

In order to swim in a straight line in open water, you need to sight off of objects in line with the direction you are moving. When you are in the water, your ability to see and your awareness of your surroundings is diminished, so it takes a concerted effort to gain vision. Many swimmers have an imbalance in their swim stroke, which may cause them to veer to one side when they don’t have a black line to reference. Some triathletes swim in circles due to pulling stronger with one side of their body. If you notice this in your open water experience, have a coach assess your swim stroke to work on balancing out your stroke. In addition, […]

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Category: Training

19

June

0

Balancing Training and Life

When putting together a triathlon training program, there are several facets of life to consider. Look at your weekly and monthly life agenda and then decide how much additional time you wish to devote to your training program. Your life agenda may include work, family time, hobbies, classes and study time, socializing, and relaxing. Avoid creating a training program based on what you feel you are supposed to be doing or on what other people are putting out. In order to generate a healthy sense of balance and eliminate the frustration or guilt that can emerge when unsuccessfully executing your training program, it’s important to create a program after you have evaluated your real life schedule. Evaluating Your Life Schedule […]

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Category: Tips

04

June

0

How to Run Through The Woods 101-A

Trail Racing season is upon us and entries are rolling in for the upcoming Dirt Inspires Women’s Trail Half Marathon in Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos. Have you been toying with hitting the dirt but aren’t quite sure how to negotiate the natural obstacles nature offers? In this intermittent blog series – How To Run Through The Woods 101, I’ll be offering brief random tips and thoughts on trail running and racing. All in the hopes of inspiring you to hit the trails this season! [Note: Most of these tips were generated from email questions I received prior to last years Dirt Inspires race] Training/Racing Tip#1: Creek Crossings Creek crossings are very common in trail races and with some […]

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Category: Tips