USA Triathlon

Why All Triathletes Need to Run the 5K

Lee Gardner June 04, 2013

I was recently reminded, quite painfully in fact, about why running the 5k is an important distance or event for triathletes to spend time focusing on. My reminder came in the form of a duathlon, which was a 5k run/30k bike/5k run. The pace from the start was fast. About 2 minutes into the first 5k, I looked down at my Garmin and saw a 5:19 m/m average pace. The rest of the first leg is a blur to me. Once I regained conscious thought during the bike leg, I couldn't help but think, "Holy crap, that hurt! I need to focus on running 5k!" My point is not about how fast or slow I can run a 5k, but to simply express my thoughts about how this middle-distance running event is a key for you, the triathlete, to gain and maintain run speed, regardless of the triathlon distance in which you specialize.

Swim Speed Workout from Sheila Taormina

May 28, 2013

Sheila Taormina is a 4-time Olympian, gold medalist, and ITU triathlon world champion. At just over 5’ 2”, Taormina found success at the highest levels of swimming by refining an exceptional freestyle swimming technique. Taormina now works as a swim coach, offering swim technique workshops around the world.

Learn to Handle the Heat

Cheryl D. Hart May 21, 2013

The transition area before a race reminds me of a pressure cooker.  It’s typically packed with triathletes ready to explode from nerves, excitement and energy.

Finding the Best Approach for Multisport Training

Sergio Borges May 14, 2013

Since I started to coach athletes over 18 years ago, I have always contested the traditional method of training available at the time. The traditional periodization implication that an athlete can ideally only peak for an event 1-2 times per year made no sense to me, based on what I had experienced and started teaching others. As an athlete myself, I wanted to do well in most races of the season; not only in one or two.

Brick Basics for Beginners

Marty Gaal May 07, 2013

So I Finished My First Triathlon - Now What?

Morgan Johnson April 23, 2013

Do You Have a Strong Running Core?

Adam Hodges April 03, 2013

Core strength is a term frequently bandied about, often conjuring up images of sit-ups and crunches in pursuit of an aesthetically desirable “six-pack.” Yet core strength for runners has little to do with the aesthetic goals of body builders and everything to do with running economy and injury prevention. This article explains what a strong core means for runners, shows you how to test for one element of a weak core, and illustrates an exercise to overcome that weakness.

Expecting the Unexpected

David Burgess April 02, 2013

One of the many things I enjoy about being a triathlon coach is speaking with multisport and endurance groups. Not long ago, I spoke with a small group of my own athletes who had a target race coming up — it was a casual, laid back Q&A session. The purpose of this meet-up was to discuss their final training preparation and how to approach race day itself. These athletes range from first-time or novice triathletes to competitive age-groupers. My hope was to calm some nerves while finalizing last minute training plan changes and strategy.

Swim Drills for Triathletes

Lisa Wolf March 26, 2013

Each time triathletes hit the pool deck, they are ready to challenge themselves and work towards the goal of getting faster and more efficient in the water. To many, this means long distance sets for endurance or speed sets for increased anaerobic development. One of the most overlooked areas in training is the use of swimming drills. Taking the time to “break apart” a stroke (and yes, sometimes that includes strokes OTHER than freestyle) by learning to do something slowly, with specific focus, can reap benefits during a race.

Five Reasons You Should Train with a Group

March 19, 2013

It’s easy to fall into the monotony of a solo training regimen and lose sight of the challenge and empowerment we seek from our workouts. As humans, we are social creatures and can draw energy and motivation from each other. Whether you are just starting your path toward fitness, returning to training after some time off or lost your competitive edge, the company of a training group can help you go the extra mile. Here are 5 ways a group can help maximize your training: