Triathlon Training Notes

I’ve rarely talked to a runner who has not had a knee problem at some point in their running background. The following excerpt from “Healthy Runner’s Handbook” does a terrific job of explaining some of the sources.

“The knee is the largest and most complex joint in the body. Given the enormous stresses to which it is subjected during running, it is natural that knee injuries are common among runners. The potentially debilitating consequences of a knee injury reinforce the need for a focus on prevention.

Knee overuse injuries include patellofemoral pain syndrome (kneecap pain), meniscus wear and tear, tendinitis conditions both above and below the kneecap, bursitis, and loose bodies in the knee.

Overuse knee injuries are usually caused by excessive running, but Read more… »

Race season is starting, you’re getting “geared” up, maybe a little anxious or nervous, maybe a little excited. Perhaps you are WAY nervous and excited, especially if this is your first race, not knowing what to expect. Before I go on let me tell you to expect to have fun.

This an appropriate excerpt for this time of year as your body has adapted to training and your mind wonders about the race. It’s an excerpt from Timothy Noakes’, The Lore Of Running.” If you’ve ever read or browsed the book you know it is a THOROUGH book on everything running.

“Controlling Emotion
It is well documented in psychology texts that there are seven basic emotions: joy, sadness, anger, love, fear, shame, and surprise. Other emotions are regarded as combinations of these basic seven. The emotions you feel in any situation and how you respond to them will depend Read more… »

If you’re planning a triathlon this year in the summer, or in a different location than you are used to, please read this excerpt to plan for the adjustment your body will make. It’s an excellent excerpt from John Mora’s Triathlon Workout Planner. This excerpt is reprinted with permission.

“Once you know your target zones, you must still do a little tweaking of the range numbers in order to further individualize your training for improved accuracy and efficiency. All training has to be individualized, and these adjustments take into account the different characteristics of each sport, outside conditions, and any illness or overtraining symptoms that Read more… »

Trifuel has a really good post about how to start your training if you’ve been off a while.

As an update, my back is feeling better, my calves are feeling better, I am controlling my intake better, and I have done one of each swim bike and walk/run in the last week. As “W” might say with squinting eyes, “better.”

Here are a few good sites on triathlons and training if you are coming back to it or are a newbie:
http://swimming.about.com/od/triathlon/a/newbietriathlet.htm
http://www.trinewbies.com/

Enjoy the great weather, where ever you are!

If you’ve had a significant amount of base training and want to run faster, this article is for you. This excellent excerpt reprinted with permission from Human Kinetics of Triathlon Workout Planner by John Mora

“Intervals (also known as repeats) are short bursts of speed repeated over a measured distance with recovery periods between each interval. As I discussed in the previous chapter, intervals are a key component of training for swimming and running. In this chapter, we’ll further explore 80/20 running workouts and also learn how to apply interval training to cycling.

Elite runner and author Jeff Galloway once wrote, “Intervals are based on a simple principle: The only way to run faster is to run faster” (Galloway 1984). Although that premise is true, there are some specific guidelines to interval training that can help you prevent injury and get the most out of your hard work.

* Base training first. Never begin any kind of speed work without a year’s solid base of consistent distance running. Intervals are demanding and can be very rough on your body, so it’s important that you’ve developed the muscle strength and joint integrity to support the effort.

* Set a baseline with a time trial. It’s a good idea to start off your interval training with a performance benchmark that tells you Read more… »