This is what we do.
John qualified for the 2012 Ironman World Championships at Ironman Cozumel in November, 2011. In the year leading up to that race, he wrote down his goals and posted them in our home office, as well as on his desk at work. Those sheets of paper were daily reminders of what he was working toward. They[…]
When I was a kid, I remember going out to dinner, and seeing this curly green stuff lining the plate. Presumably, it was placed there as a basic garnish, to fill the plate out. I never realized that it was possible to eat the stuff. The “stuff” I’m talking about is kale. For the past[…]
There is a progression of goals in triathlon that usually revolves around two questions: How fast can I go? How far can I go? Since we’ve covered the first question in a previous post, let’s think about the second question, specifically as it relates to an ironman triathlon. If you are a triathlete, this question is[…]
Variety is an important component to maintaining a healthy and nutrient-dense diet. But, cooking unfamiliar foods can be intimidating. On the other hand, re-introducing foods that we thought we didn’t like as kids or younger adults may not be appealing. Over the course of the past decade, John and I have gradually evolved our eating[…]
You’ve worked hard during the run or triathlon season, and now you are ready to play hard. It’s finally off-season. Good. It’s important to have a break from focused training and racing. But, don’t let the next few weeks or months go by without reflecting on the ways in which you can prepare yourself for an[…]
There can be no doubt about it: Racing is fun. And, like most things we enjoy: we want to do it. A. Lot. But, as with all things in life, moderation can be important. Too much racing can wind up being not much fun at all, leading to lackluster performance, burnout, and even injury. None[…]
“How much should I train each week?” This is one of the most frequent questions we get. Our answer is always the same. “It depends.” Total, weekly and daily training volume depends upon several factors: the type and length of races in which an athlete hopes to compete, the period of the yearly training cycle, the goals of a[…]
Professional athletes and those speedsters in our age group may leave us wondering: why are some people so fast? Assuming your endurance base is set, speed comes primarily from developing three physiological elements: 1) VO2max, 2) lactate threshold, and 3) economy. The bad news: our ability across these three factors is due to genetics – at least[…]
Triathlon Swim Tips
If you are in the final months before your key A race, then you are probably in or getting ready to start the build (a.k.a. specific preparation) period. (Not sure what I mean by a build/specific prep period? Check out our post about the principles of periodization.) During the build period, the main focus is[…]
