subject: Top 5 Free Triathlon Training Tips [print this page] With the growing popularity of the sport of triathlon, free triathlon training tips abound - both on the internet and in your local triathlon club, master's swim, and group rides. But have caution! Not everything you hear is true, and not everything you read will necessarily work for your unique body, fitness and training lifestyle, especially when it comes to getting faster. So here are the top 5 free triathlon training tips you should probably ignore if you're trying to get faster.
#5 "don't go hard on the swim" In your first triathlon this is probably a good piece of advice to follow. However if you want to beat your time, be faster and get on the podium then get tight with a strong swimmer or stick with the lead group. You may have to swim your guts out to stay with these athletes but shortly into the bike the swim will be a distant memory and you'll be in a better position over all.
#4 "You need one water bottle per each hour on the bike." KNOT! A issues with this free triathlon training tip is most races have aid stations. Technically, you need just enough fluid to get from aid station to aid station. Any thing over that will weigh you down, unless you plan to drop you competitors at each aid station as they slow down for water. In this case you should have enough water to get you through two aid stations.
#3 "Ease into the run and don't push it too hard" Your run pace is going to rely on how you start right from the get go. This free triathlon training tip will have you feeling good at the end of the run but its doing little make you faster. If you want to go fast come out of T2 fast and start turning you legs over fast.
The recommendation is not to set yourself up to blow up early, but rather to get achieve a mindset early in the run that you are, in fact, racing!
#2 "Practice it in your training before you race." How could you ignore this free triathlon training tip? This piece of advice can actually be a huge mistake made in your training. Especially for long course athletes who feel the need to cover the race distance in there own training. Many athletes arrive on race day over trained having tried to ride 112 miles, run 26 and done a steady 4K open water swim in the closing weeks to the race. Here is a tip : As long as you have covered roughly 75% of each distance leading up to race you'll be OK. Its better to go into a race a bit under trained VS over trained.
#1 "Have a huge breakfast on race day a few hours leading up to the race" This is a method used by many long course athletes. For those doing a sprint or Olympic distance race this tip will do nothing more than shave off a few hours of sleep. Your body has enough carbohydrate stores to last you 1.5-2 hours and if you choose sleep over breakfast you can get away with just a gel at the race start. If you do choose to have break fast there is no need to have a 1500 calorie feast. A few sweet potatoes or energy bar will get the job done.
