This is what we do.
By Coach Maria Simone For a self-professed data geek, this may be a curious article for me to write. As much as I love data, I know an over-reliance on our gadgets can impede our training progress by leading us to make choices that don’t match a workout’s objective, by making incorrect judgments about our[…]
By Coach Maria Simone For those interested in optimizing their fitness, structured workouts in TrainingPeaks offer a detailed approach to training. I’ve been using TrainingPeaks for well over a decade. During that time, I’ve worked through a series of updates on the platform – some changes I love, some I can definitely do without, and[…]
Learning how to differentiate between “good” and “bad” pain By Coach Maria Simone As athletes, pain is a companion from time to time. In fact, a substantive portion of our training is designed specifically to help us learn to tolerate discomfort and to work through suffering. If we are going to achieve our big dreams,[…]
By Coach Maria Simone Above (L to R): Melina Grudzinski, Clarissa Ramos, Maria Simone & Sally Kado atop Mt. Elbert, the highest peak in Colorado at 14,439 feet. __________________________________ I went to high altitude for the first time when I ran the Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim in the Grand Canyon in 2015. The rims themselves sit at 7500-7700[…]
By Coach Maria Simone What should we do when we have to miss training? First, recognize that all of us will miss at least some aspect of our training across a season due to illness, injury, work, competing priorities, and so on. So, you aren’t alone! Realize, as well, that some limited misses in[…]
By Coach Maria Simone As Ben Franklin once opined, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes…and the desire of an endurance athlete to go faster and/or further.” Okay, maybe I added that last bit. But it’s true, right? Athletes seek to improve as a constant state of being.[…]
By Coach Lindsay Zemba Leigh Have you ever made your coach a little (okay, or maybe a lot?) cranky by moving a workout without consulting them first? There’s a reason for our crankiness, and I’ll explain why in this article. Let’s start with this general principle: The order of workouts is just as important[…]
By Coach Lindsay Zemba Leigh The freestyle kick can be a source of contention among many triathletes, at least for those who don’t come from a swimming background. I’ve had many athletes ask me if they need to kick, or if kick sets are worthwhile (I wouldn’t prescribe them if I didn’t think they were[…]
By Coach Maria Simone ‘Tis the season when flu, virus, colds, and more circulate in our closed spaces. Despite our best efforts to remain healthy, getting sick is usually not an if, it’s a when. So, when it happens you may find yourself wondering if it is safe or smart to train. Sometimes training while[…]
By Coach Maria Simone You may have heard me say before that wrist-based HR monitors, also known as optical sensors, don’t work. A look at any file from a wrist-based strap will show you pretty quickly their general lack of reliability, and tendency to provide erratic readings. Below is a graph of a run that[…]
