USA Triathlon

5 Focal Points to Supercharge Swimming, Part II

Steve Brodsky and Joe Petrush Dec. 11, 2012

In part one of this article, we introduced you to three technical elements you can use in your swim. Now, we’re going to introduce you to two metrics you may be able to use in the pool: stroke rate and stroke length. Terry Laughlin, founder of Total Immersion Swimming, was one of the first coaches to work with these these metrics and show how they can provide an indication of our swimming in a similar way that measuring power can yield valuable data for cyclists.  We now know that learning to calculate, manipulate and personalize stroke rate and stroke length yields tremendous gains for swimmers.

Fall into a Healthier Diet: Five Easy Steps

Jess Kolko Dec. 11, 2012

With each new season I always think about small changes that I want to make in my life and diet.

Roll On: Basic Bike Maintenance for Triathletes

Mackenzie Lobby Dec. 04, 2012

Owning a whole lot of cool gear is one of the major perks to being a triathlete. Hours are spent finding the right wetsuit, tri suit and running shoes. Much research is invested into everything from sunglasses to hydration systems to high tech socks. Perhaps most attention, however, is paid to a triathlete’s major bank-breaker: the bike.

Offseason Training: Should I Run A Marathon?

Marty Gaal Dec. 04, 2012

This is a question I hear a lot in the offseason. As athletes sit down to figure out what they want to do — and what will keep them motivated in the winter months — “should I run a marathon” is a common question.

Veggie-Packed Lasagna

Marni Sumbal Dec. 04, 2012

It's not about the noodles. When it comes to lasagna, there's something about the combination of flavors that come in layers as you take each bite.

Finding Your Balance on the Bike

Morgan Johnson Nov. 27, 2012

Age group triathletes like nothing more than a long bike ride with friends, but as a coach, I’ve always found it interesting that they tend to struggle more with bike handling skills than the rest of the cycling demographics. Many struggle to grab a water bottle while riding, or to start without a prolonged wobble in the intersection, and don’t even mention the possibility of someone else touching them when they are on the bike. As a group, we seem to have taken the age group “no drafting” rule to mean we don’t need good bike handling skills — and this couldn’t be further from the truth!

Zaunbrecher Twins Unite

Monique Koll Nov. 27, 2012

You know Britain’s Brownlee brothers, now meet Team USA’s Zaunbrecher twins who will be on their turf in London, racing at the 2013 ITU Sprint World Championship.

Five Nutrition Tips for New Athletes

Hana A. Feeney Nov. 27, 2012

Beginner athletes often struggle with under-fueling their workouts, particularly when taking on a new endurance endeavor like a triathlon or a half marathon.

The Basics of a Gluten-Free Diet

Joanna Chodorowska Nov. 20, 2012

There is a lot of talk these days about gluten-free diets, and many people realize they are not sure how to start.

5 Focal Points to Supercharge Swimming: Part I

Steve Brodsky and Joe Petrush Nov. 13, 2012

In this article, we’re going to show you how to improve your swimming and your triathlon performance by training smarter. We’ll start by defining our terms. Supercharge: you’ll swim faster and longer at speed while using less energy. Smarter: you’ll swim with purpose, paying close attention to five focal points that you will fold into your current training (without going harder or longer in the lap lanes).