The Triathlon Experts

For years I have been dreaming of owning an Endless Pool. In the old days, having a pool large enough to swim a decent lap in was reserved for the super rich in their mansions. Today, the Endless Pools company has brought this luxury to the rest of us in an affordable package.

Imagine waking up in the morning…rolling out of bed…having a cup of joe…then settling in for a mile swim without leaving your house…even before going to work! No more early commutes to the pool. You can even swim naked if you like…who’s gonna know?

An Endless Pool is Better than an Olympic Pool in your House

Actually, the Endless Pool system is BETTER than having an olympic-sized lap pool in your back yard. The big difference is that you never have to make a turn.   As any triathlete knows, the Achilles heel of pool training is that little rest you get at the end of each length of the pool. When you get out in the open water, you body is expecting that little rest, but it never comes.

Get the Endless Pools Free Info Kit (complete with a DVD or Video) by Clicking Here.

The other big benefit of an Endless Pool is that the current created by the huge ducted paddle wheel is a better simulation of open water swimming than the perfectly still water in the local lap pool. You actually feel the water rushing past and the small swirls from the current. It is always a bit of a shock to move from the pool to open water…and the Endless Pool comes close to the real thing.

I Will Be Installing an Endless Pool in my Dream Home

In my fantasy home (which I will build in the next 5 years), my wife and I have definitely decided to have an Endless Pool installed in a special dedicated room. Surprisingly, they take up very little space and will really add to the resale value of a home.

In reality, there is no other reasonable way to get a lap pool for your home, especially if you have a small indoor space for it, or a small back yard. It does require an investment, but I think it will be worth it in the long run in terms of health, convenience, and improvements to my triathlon training.

I Recommend Getting their Free DVD Sent To You

It is one thing to hear me go on and on about the Endless Pool, but you have to see this thing in action. I have the free DVD, and watch it every now and again to get excited about my future pool. Just click on this banner below and sign up to receive it for free. No hassles. Then you can sell the idea to your spouse! :)

It is a small world and despite our best efforts we are all connected together in the game of life. This true fact of life becomes very clear with your life is about to end - as mine was a few years ago.

I am writing this post because of a comment on another post from a gentleman named Russel James at watzzupsport.com who also has embraced triathlons as a method of self discovery and recovery from his battles with brain disease.

In 2005, I was diagnosed with Leukemia and spent the better part of the year in the hospital (very, very sick). Somehow I managed to drag myself back to life with the help of my devoted wife, great medical care, an extremely positive attitude, and a fierce desire to live.

As a testament to the power of the triathlon as a recovery mechanism - in 2006, I completed a sprint triathlon, an Olympic distance triathlon, and my first Half Ironman (Harvest Moon Triathlon). It was at that point of crossing the finish line some 7 or so hours later, that I knew that I had returned from the (near) dead and was fully recovered!

Having a Focused Triathlon Training Plan Gave Me Inspiration to Recover

After recovering from numerous close calls with death because of a destroyed immune system - not to mention recovering from a morphine addiction (which was a necessary evil in my treatment) - my 2006 triathlon training and events were just the ticket to help me recover from severe atrophy and depression.

When I started, I could not walk up a flight of stairs without nearly passing out. Within 6 months, I was smiling from ear to ear in the transition area of the My Way or the Tri Way Triathlon at Aurora reservoir outside of Denver. A month later, I was cruising to the finish line in the Rattlesnake Olympic Triathlon. Another month or so later, I was grinding out the 70.3 at the Harvest Moon Half Ironman. Amazing!

I was so happy to be human again and able to play the triathlon game with others of like mind. What could be better than that? Nothing makes you appreciate the smallest of details of life than when they are being taken away from you.

Three Years Later…and Still Going Strong

Life goes on for everyone…and we keep on keepin’ on. I still love triathlons and what they represent. In my opinion, they are a wonderful expression of total body fitness and of being fully alive. I look forward to the next season and all of the fun along the way to the next race.

If you have a similar situation, I hope this post is inspiring and gets you out on the road and in the water to feel the greatness of being alive. If you have had a similar experience, please comment so others can be inspired from your journey. See you on the course!

Everyone knows that the triathlon swim is the most overlooked aspect of triathlon training for the majority of athletes. I remember mostly ignoring proper swimming training for my first triathlon…resulting in an upleasant experience of back stroking, swallowing reservoir water, and being one of the last people out of the water.

Since then, I have looked for inexpensive and quality resources for improving my triathlon swimming…and have found an excellent resource. Triathlon coach Kevin Koskella has put together a comprehensive triathlon swim training program called “The Complete Guide to Triathlon Swimming”. This is truly a guide for the “rest of us” and sells it for a meager $37 with a money back guarantee.

I spend more on a good pair of bike shorts, and they never fit right anyway. :) I would suggest that you take a look at his program here and invest the minimal cash to greatly improve your swimming today.

Dramatically Improve Your Triathlon Experience

We all have different reasons for doing triathlons. Some are highly competitive, some love all the preparation and gear, and some are doing their first triathlon to expand their sense of self-limits. Whatever the reason, starting the event day off on the right foot sets the tone for the whole race.

Speaking from experience, there is a huge difference between being nervous and worried about the triathlon swim leg - and being relaxed, composed and eagerly looking forward to the first leg.

For some, the swim is the “downer” part of the triathlon. But for others, after successfully applying strategic swim training techniques, the swim is eagerly anticipated, enjoyed and a “strength” of their racing strategy.

Making Friends with the Triathlon Swim

I like how All-American swimmner and coach Kevin Koskella approaches the idea of the triathlon swim leg - by “befriending” it in your training, instead of battling the dragon - as other approaches suggest. He rejects the “No Pain, No Gain” philosophies of youth for pursuing graceful efficiency with less effort.

Makes sense to me. I have never gotten anywhere significant by overtraining, overpowering or “hurting” my way through anything.

He also gives you plenty of coaching for dealing with the mental aspects of the triathlon swim, including overcoming pre-race anxiety. We all know how significant our mental state is in this sport. Anything that can calm our nerves will translate to better performance and more enjoyment!

A Very Comprehensive Program for a Few Bucks

Kevin delivers a full and comprehensive program plus a bunch of bonus e-books for the nominal fee of $37 at his website. I won’t go into more details, because he explains it well on the site. Check it out and let us know how it goes for you by commenting on this article

Knowing what coaching time can cost at the gym (usually from an amateur employee), I think this is a real steal and could be just the secret weapon training tool you have been looking for all this time. And it you don’t like it, he will refund your investment. Nothing to lose there. Enjoy!

So you have convinced yourself that triathlons are for you, but you have a “real” life like the rest of us with a busy career, family to tend to, and a minimal amount of training time. Unless you make a living as a professional triathlete, you will have to decide how to best use your training time to get the most out of your triathlons.

Being a triathlete in the old days…meaning a couple of decades ago - meant that you were a lonely road warrior in a fringe sport that many predicted would never catch hold. Well, thanks to the fitness boom, triathlons have become quite popular and thus many different training approaches, coaches and team methods have emerged.

This is good news for you - the aspiring triathlete - is that you have several options for training environments and coaching these days.

Training for Triathlons Alone - The Simplest Option

As a busy guy, my personal preference is to train alone for the most part. This is how many people train “under the radar” and continue to meet their life obligations while getting a minimal amount of training done.

I admit that you need a lot of motivation to get out there every day, but the reward is that you did it all yourself and still managed to hold down a life. This method works well if you are training at a moderate intensity for a relatively short duration. As the days go on, it can be hard to stay motivated by yourself.

You should utilize any training tools to keep yourself motivated. I like mixing my outdoor training with indoor club training (spinning, weights, swimming) to get some exposure to other humans once in a while.

We also recommend using any training tools to keep you focused (and mentally occupied), like GPS running watches, heart rate monitors, and a good MP3 player, like and iPod to give you some companionship.

The Benefits of Triathlon Training in Small Groups

The next step in socialization for triathletes is training with a partner or a small dedicated group of aspiring triathletes. We would recommend this option if it is difficult to stay motivated for those early morning sessions or long rides.

The biggest benefit of a partner or group is that they will push you further than you can go by yourself…no question. Additionally, it can be much more enjoyable to share your training experience with others…instead of always living inside your own mind. A little community is not a bad thing.

The downside is that you are more at the mercy of the schedules, complaints and quirks of your training partners - so choose them well!

Triathlon Graduate School - The Multisport Team

So, have you have outgrown your training partners and are looking for a real training challenge? Signing up for a multisport team is a sure recipe to improving your triathlon game, but there is a cost - both in money (sometimes) and pain!

Multisport teams are usually geared toward peak performance training and specific events. There are more “relaxed” teams out there, but we guarantee they will push your limits. You need to be ready to conform to the team’s schedule as well.

We think that the multisport teams have their place in triathlon training, especially for individuals who are serious about performance and results. On the downside, they can become a little “clicky” and sometimes downright ultra-competitive. If you are a casual triathlete, teams may drive you crazy.

This article should give you a good idea of the options available for approaching your triathlon training. The next step will be either buying or building your detailed training plans. More on that to come. See you on the course!

Summer cycling is in full swing for triathletes - and others who just love to ride the roads and the trails. Every year, I ponder what kind of upgrades and gear that I want to add to my bikes. Since I am not a rich man, I usually head for my two favorite bike catalogs…Performance Bike and Bike Nashbar.

I always feel like a kid when I see either a Performance Bike or Bike Nashbar catalog in the mail. Even if I do not need any parts, I always enjoy browsing the catalogs to see what new products have come on the market that I can strap onto my bikes. They usually have a good sale with the catalog as well…so I am usually on the Web placing some kind of order a few times a year.

Bike Parts Industry Domination = Cheaper Parts for Us

If I didn’t know better, I would think these two companies are the same company - but what makes them seem similar is their extreme price competition with each other. Performance and Nashbar compete in the “discount” bike parts marketplace…much to the disliking of local bike shops (LBSs). Although I like to give the LBSs some of my business, I am convinced that they can’t match the catalog prices and stay in business.

Now, if you are more of a purist and demand the top-level parts and components, Performance Bike and Bike Nashbar may seem a little pedestrian…but they do sell top brands and top-level components as well. So, don’t stick your nose up too soon without a look, unless you just have too much money and need to get rid of it!

Great Deals, Cheap Shipping and Easy Returns

Being able to return that component after you have breached the packaging is one of the great pleasures of being an American…in my opinion. I love knowing that I can check a product out on the vendor’s tab, before committing to keeping it. With the big players, like Performance Bike and Bike Nashbar, I have never had an issue returning something - as long as it has not been “used”. Try that at a small catalog, and you may be keeping that product forever.

My experience with both companies is that their service and returns policies are generous. Additionally, the shipping costs are pretty minimal. Combine this with great deals and you will see that you can get a whole box of bike parts for the price of one component at a local bike shop.

Go forth and shop! Just remember to give some business to the local bike shops…since they are great to have around and provide tremendous support to local events and the triathlon community.

It is no surprise that many triathletes and spectators see XTERRA off road triathlon racing as an event for the borderline mentally insane…especially when watching the TV footage from the mountain biking leg of the XTERRA triathlon.

I will not completely disagree that we triathletes are insane, but know that you can apply good training and strategy to improve the chances of success and to decrease your chances of crash injury. First, learning how to ride a mountain bike properly is a must. A good training guide to start with is Blair Thorne’s Mountain Bike Guide . Check this material out.

XTERRA events add the challenge of nature’s unpredictability to an already difficult sport. We want to provide you with some tools for ensuring that you come out on top of the heap, instead of ending up on the bottom of the crash pile. Read the rest of this entry »

The XTerra Off-Road Triathlon Series and other lesser-known off-road triathlons are completely different beasts than the traditional on-road triathlons. Where the fast, sleek and finely tuned athletes excel on the road - the tough, flexible, and pain-eating athletes excel off the road.

Off Road triathlons attract a different crowd of people who love the outdoors and love to use the outdoors to challenge themselves differently in every race. Therefore, you need a different training approach to be successful (whether a beginner or expert) in off-road triathlons.

In the “Off-Road Triathlons” category on this site, we will explore the different training techniques and focus areas to help you get the most out of your XTerra experience.

You Need Strength, Flexibility & Threshold Training

With all of the zigging, zagging, plunging, climbing, twisting and pulling that the human body has to endure to get through an XTerra offroad triathlon, it is no wonder that most coaches recommend a diverse training plan that builds on strength, flexibility and training near and above your lactic thresholds.

In a road triathlon, usually the prize goes to the triathlete who can maintain a high level of smooth performance. Not so off road. The athelete that can adapt to changing conditions, power up hills, dodge boulders, and handle high levels of lactic acid in their muscles has the advantage.

So, how should you approach your training? We will be doing a series of posts on this site on different off road triathlon training tips. Start with these tips in mind and look for upcoming posts.

Top Off Road Triathlon Training Tips

1. Train for the Course Features You will Be Racing
   You need to prepare your body for the rigors of the race to avoid injury and to be successful. Study the course descriptions and look for training opportunities close to home. We will be going into detail on ideas for finding these places to train.
2. Get Out On the Trails Now!
   Depending on where you live, you will have some access to trails. Don’t train indoors or on the road all of the time and expect to be able to apply this directly to off road triathlon success. Not gonna happen. Your body needs to learn to adapt to trails, hills, rocks, logs and other obstacles.
3. Cross Trail to Build Strength and Flexibility
   Take part of your training to Gym, yoga studio, or any other diverse athletic endeavor (golf courses may be a stretch here…:) ) to build up strength and flexibility in the muscles you usually don’t train. This will come in handy to save your butt when you have to zig zag on the trail in a different direction than anticipated…not to mention making you more efficient and faster.
4. Work on Your Technical Skills
   Anyone who has decended a steep hill on a mountain bike (even at Granny pace) knows that it takes skill and practice to avoid disaster - let alone making good time. You can’t just translate your road skills to the trail overnight. The more practice you get in actual conditions, the more efficient and fast you will be on race day. Off road triathlons require more technical skill, so don’t leave this important training aspect out. If you are new to mountain biking, check out this comprehensive guide Click Here! .

These tips will give you a framework to build a good XTerra off road triathlon training strategy. Stay tuned, as we will be discussing more details on how to get the most out of your off road triathlons.

Because triathlons as competitive as they are today, it is no secret that there is a surge of amateur athletes who are leveraging the GPS watch technology of the professional triathletes to make their training and racing more enjoyable and satisfying.

As an very amateur triathlete, I am very excited about the potential of using a GPS watch to help me get through the endless running, swimming and cycling training sessions as well as improving my racing experiences.

My GPS Watch is My Personal Triathlon Coach

Many amateur and pro triathletes keep a written log of their training and racing events to track their progress and plan for the next efforts. I have always found this a tedious process and would rather just be out there training.

Instead of spending all of that time writing, a GPS watch can be used to log your distance, heart rate information, and other valuable training data - automatically! Let’s see what a GPS watch can do to help you understand your training and racing metrics.

See Your Results in Real Time with a GPS Watch

As you know, anyone who has ever trained for and competed in a triathlon knows the challenging and lengthy amount of preparation, coordination and dedication that goes on for months. If you do not get the chance to see the fruits of your labor frequently, you could slowly lose motivation.

Additionally, training for a triathlon of any distance is such a significant undertaking, we definitely need to see the results of our hard work. The BPS watch can paint that clear picture of your progress with little effort on your behalf.

There is a Reason that Elite Triathletes Use GPS Watches

Professional triathletes have taken a lesson from the adventure racers and recognized the value of having an electronic training parter helping them acheive their desired success. Not surprising, since elite athletes are usually looking for anything that will give them the edge at any cost.

Elite athletes are usually training and racing at the boundaries of human performance, and thus make great candidates for applying leading and the technology eventually gets down the the rest of us. GPS watches give them a clear view into how they are performing in racing and training at any moment.

For Under $100, You Can Have a GPS Watch

Whether you are a slow poke elephant in the back of the pack or a fast-footed gazelle in the front, you could certainly benefit from using a GPS watch to enhance both your triathlon training and racing efforts.

With an entry level price of less than $100, a GPS watch should be a no brainer (consider what your fancy triathlon bike costs…). I am confident that you will find that a GPS watch will add a whole new dimension to your triathlon training and racing. Go for it!

I can clearly remember when I had became inspired to train for an complete my first triathlon. I would have to say it was one of the best moments of my life, and can be for you tool.

The fact that you are reading this article means that you are probably toying with the idea that doing a triathlon might be possible for you. Hold that thought, because this site is all about getting you to the finish.

If you are feeling a bit timid on the idea, let me tell you - if you can swim a bit, ride a bike (most children can), and jog around the neighborhood you can do it. With a little planning, training, and enthusiasm, you will be well on your way.

Five Key Steps to Get Started with Your First Triathlon

Getting started on the right foot (so to speak) is very important to your success. To point you in the right direction, here are five good guidelines and starting points to get you pointed in the right direction. This is where I would start my exciting triathlon adventure!

1. Devise Your Triathlon Training Plan
   Since the triathlon event is a demanding and slightly complicated endevour, I would suggest you spend a little time up front thinking about how to execute this adventure. I think the best place to start is to drop a couple of bucks and get a solid training plan. Many great coaches make a living by putting together success plans that can buy for a nominal fee.
2. Find a Good Place To Train
   I have always liked doing my basic training at a health club that has a pool. Since I am a busy person, I need to get in and get out as quickly as possible. When you have more time (like weekends), definitely get out on your bike and on the road or trail for real-world running. Some people have an open water area to swim, but the pool is usually the cleanest and easiest way to get your basic swimming training completed.
3. Assemble a Triathlon Bike (whatever you can get)
   Despite what you see on TV and the magazines, you do not need a super-charged carbon fiber triathlon bike to complete your first event. In fact, you can use any sort of bike to get the job done. I did my first triathlon on a clunky mountain bike and it was just fine. You can get into the high-tech gear game later - and the worse your gear now, the more you will appreciate new gear later!
4. Register for the Event Early
   Yes, although it is tempting, do not wait until the week before the event to sign up. First, you may find that the event you have worked so hard in preparation for has filled to capacity. That would be devastating! Second, I have noticed that when you sign up and pay the entry fee, you “commit” on a certain level - and it makes sticking to the training easier.
5. Start Training in Small Amounts
   The funny thing about inspiration is that it comes on very fast and can slowly peter out when you push it too much from the start. With triathlon training, it is best to ease into it by only allowing yourself to do short sessions of running, biking and swimming. I have noticed that if I leave the gym wanting more, then I am more enthusiastic to come back and completely avoid injury. You can ramp up your training after you let you body get used to the new stresses.

So, now you have a few tips and guidelines for getting started. These are not just random thoughts, but lessons learned the hard way. I think that the goal of your first triathlon is to have a great adventurous experience, improve the overall fitness of your body, and to fall in love with the sport for a lifetime. If you take it nice and easy, these great gifts will naturally come to you. Enjoy!