subject: Your Triathlon Training Guide On Top Of The World [print this page] Imagine a triathlon like the journey to the top of a tall mountain. There are six competitors in this journey, and at the top of that mountain is a triathlon training guide - a seasoned endurance athlete with the ability to address all the issues that the competitors had getting to the top of the mountain.
All the triathletes struggle with different types of adversity on the way up the mountain and at the top the triathlon training guides comes forth from his cave prepared to answer all of there questions.
The first triathlete gets to the top of the mountain worn out and says, "I was fast but I got slower and slower on my journey up the mountain.
The wise guide rubs his chin, "You have subpar muscular endurance. Instead of doing slower aerobic training, or doing short intervals, be sure that you include some long tempo efforts and longer intervals in your training. Make them last 5-10 minutes for running and 10-20 for cycling and perform it at 75-85% of max intensity."
Competitor number two shakes his head with frustration. "I have been losing races to others in the final 200 meter sprint to the top of the mountain."
The guide responds, "Include fast efforts at the end of a weekly swim, bike or run that gets progressively faster as the work out goes on and finishes with a max pace effort, such as 1/2 miles all out run, 5K hard bike or 200 meter hard swim.
The third competitor grimaces from soreness, "My legs got very tired every time the mountain got steep."
The wise triathlon guide answers, "your legs need to become strong. Do steep hill intervals in a low cadence. Make sure you do strength training performing squats and lunges with large weight."
The fourth competitor wavers with weakness, "I was grumpy, depressed and lightheaded most of the time I was racing."
The triathlon guide smiles and hands the athlete a gel, "consume a few of these and you will be good to go."
The fifth triathlete stumbles forward with gel on his face, "my energy was fine, but I flet like I wanted to puke, I need another gel too."
"wrong," the guide states, "you ate too much and too much blood was rushing to the stomach. Next time remember that triathlon is no buffet line."
The sixth and final competitor shrugs, "This sport hurts. I twisted an ankle, all my joints hurt and the front of my shoulder is killing me."
To this the guide responds, "You are weak and imbalanced. You need more single leg drills, rotator cuff and flexibility work. Be sure you are using gear that fits correctly. The sport should feel good."
And with that, the six competitors turned around for the easy descent down the mountain, eager to try the climb again with their newfound knowledge. The triathlon training guide smiled with satisfaction and disappeared into his cave.
