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Drained Sprints for Mental Toughness

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:10:59 +0000

This is another great workout to push you to your mental and physical limits. The point of such a workout is to get you prepared for when things “don’t” go well. Not every race is your best. Not every training day is your best. This is why mental toughness is so important.

So how do we do it? Go out for your normal long endurance bike ride. This might be 1 hour, it might be 5 or 6 depending on what type of triathlete you are. The point is to be drained at the end of this workout. THEN the fun starts. Find a flat stretch of road. A long stretch of flat road. Stand in the saddle and pedal as fast as you possibly can for twenty seconds. Then recover for 40 to 60 seconds. Repeat the all out effort for another twenty seconds. Keep this routine up for 10 total if you can. This “drained sprint” is to push you past your physical limitations so your mental endurance is tested. You will already be drained from your endurance ride and the sprints at the end will make you a more mentally tougher triathlete.

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Inside The Rockstar Triathlete Academy

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:50:36 +0000

I have posted below a video review of the Rockstar Triathlete Academy. It takes you inside the members area for a brief tour of some of the most spectacular parts of the program.

You can get a $1 Trial at www.RockstarTriathlete.info

Are Your Ready for a Half Ironman Triathlon?

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:51:59 +0000

There are quite a few folks out there that don’t exactly feel challenged enough by a sprint or olympic distance triathlon. Making the leap to a half ironman triathlon or even a full ironman triathlon can be a little overwhelming. You are making the leap anywhere from a 1/2 mile swim, 13 mile bike ride and 3.2 mile run up to a swim of 1.2 miles, a 56 mile bike ride and a 13.1 mile run. The amount of training that a person needs to go through to be able to compete at this level is substantial. Consider these factors:

How long have I been competing in triathlon events?
What length events have I already finished?
Did I come across the finish line exhausted and in last place or ready for more?
How much time do I devote to training each week?
How much more time am I capable of and willing to train each week?
Are other parts of my life already being neglected?

None of this is to scare you off from training for or participating in a half ironman triathlon. It is just a reality check that there is a decent size committment that a person has to make when undertaking such a training plan. If you feel like you gave enough of the right answers to the questions above then it very well may be time for you to start this type of training plan. If you are hesitant with any of the above questions, still keep your goal but put it a little further down the road. Keep up your current level of training and grow your athletic base. It will only improve your skill level and endurance. And both of those are definitely necessary to finish a half ironman triathlon!

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Should I Be Concerned About My Triathlon Times?

admin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:02:59 +0000

It is the inevitable question that almost every beginner to the triathlon world has to ask his or herself. Should I be worried about my triathlon times? The answer, unfortunately, is yes and no. Obviously, this needs an explanation.

The first factor to consider is how much conditioning you have as an athlete in general. A seasoned athlete in one leg of the race may consider their triathlon times to be of importance since they would like to rank in among the professionals. On the other hand, most of us that are doing our first triathlon are only concerned about finishing. We decided to get off the couch one day, put on shoes and go for our first run. Being concerned about your triathlon times should be the furthest thing from your mind. Instead, focus on improving your skills and endurance. Your times will improve automatically.

Second, a triathlete needs to consider how much time they have to dedicate to the sport. Working full time, taking care of a family and fulfilling other obligations will always be time consuming and fitting in a rigorous triathlon training program can be quite difficult. Make sure and allot enough time to make your training beneficial but don’t let it outweight your other family obligations.

Remember this: You aren’t going to get first no matter how hard you train and hopefully you won’t get last. Just finishing is quite an accomplishment for most people so don’t be too hard on yourself if it takes you four hours to finish an olympic length triathlon. Keep your focus on improving your skills and endurance and you will be amazed how much it will cut down your triathlon times.

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Is Xterra Triathlon Training For Me?

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:46:59 +0000

Once a person enters the world of triathlons, it is easy to see how much time can be consumed by the sport. There are events all over the world, practically year round. This doesn’t even include the fact that Xterra triathlon series are popping up all over the place. There is no real right or wrong answer for a person that is considering whether to start Xterra triathlon training or not. The question lies in how much time a person is willing to devote to the training and if they are going to try and do both. There are a few questions that a person needs to ask themselves?

Do I already have a triathlon training background or am I starting from scratch?
How much time am I willing to invest in learning how to mountain bike and trail run?
Can I afford the expense of a new bike, different shoes and more?

This is in no way meant to scare a person off from the Xterra triathlon events that are becoming so popular. They can be very rewarding for the person that takes the time and energy to get involved with them. In fact, one of the writers for our columns began his triathlon career with an Xterra event. There is definitely a different discipline in learning how to hurl your body down a mountain on all different types of riding surfaces and sometimes incredibly adverse conditions. Although, talk with any Xterra triathlete and they will tell you there is nothing more exhilarating than bombing down a single track at full speed with the trees and the brush flying past your sides. If this sounds like your type of thing, Xterra may be the place for you.

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Nutrition Basics for a Triathlon Training Program

admin — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:30:59 +0000

There are some basics that a new triathlete needs to be aware of when starting a triathlon training program. The first word of advice is don’t get overwhelmed by the amount of information that is out there. There are so many so called gurus that want you to watch every calorie and make sure your protein and carb intake are in precise ratios and so on. The fact of the matter is, this is too much for a new triathlete to take on and will end up hindering your training. There are basics that a new triathlete should follow.

Don’t underestimate your need to drink a lot of water
Cut down on processed sugars, especially soda pop, candy, junk food, etc…
Protein, Carbs, Fat are all needed daily but don’t be too concerned with exact ratios

Everyone hears that our bodies are made mostly of water but this can’t be emphasized enough during a triathlon training program. Not drinking enough water, even outside of a training day, can lead to fatigue and injury. The need for water on training days and race day are even more vital. The reason processed sugars are so bad for triathletes is the sugar impedes that body to recuperate. Refined sugar depletes the adrenal glands that control our “fight or flight” responses which are essential to training. And the last word in regards to nutrition, don’t cut out all fat but don’t overdo it either. A palm size amount of protein per meal is about all you need and the same with your carbs. Eating more often, 5 to 6 times a day, and having smaller portions is always healthier for a triathlete, as well as the everyday person.

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