Triathlons | The Blog of David Glover

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Lactate Threshold and Blood Lactate Testing

Lactate Threshold and Blood Lactate Testing...

Last Friday, I was fill in for one of Krista Schultz's blood lactate tests after her client canceled because he was sick. She needed a test subject and I was curious what my power output at Lactate Threshold (LT) was. What is lactate? First, let's start with pyruvate. Pyruvate is a byproduct of anaerobic glycolysis, which is the breakdown of glycogen (or carbohydrate) for energy by the muscles without requiring...

Example Analysis of an Ironman Athlete’s Training Schedule

Example Analysis of an Ironman Athlete’s Tra...

One value that a coach provide even an experienced athlete is objective feedback via a consultation. A friend of a friend of mine (let's call him Jim) is training for Ironman Utah (St. George) on May 1st. Jim's concern is that because of the recent weather we've been having in Maryland that he has not had the opportunity to do enough riding outside. He recalled that when he was training for a previous...

My Road Back to Kona: On Deck for 2010

My Road Back to Kona: On Deck for 2010...

When I raced at the Ironman World Championship in Kona in 2002, I suffered like a dog. I left with no immediate desire to come back. Just a few weeks prior to the race, I had broken the 9-hour mark in an Ironman for the first time at the inaugural Blue Devil Triathlon in Durham, NC. I put everything I had into that race and it left my physically, mentally and emotionally drained. At the time, Kona...

Client Success at Beach2Battleship Ironman

Client Success at Beach2Battleship Ironman...

As a triathlon coach, it's always rewarding to see my clients succeed in their goals. When I sit down and think about what my client Dan Head accomplished at Beach2Battleship on November 7th, I am truly amazed. Beach2Battleship in Wilmington, NC was Dan's first Ironman triathlon (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run), and he finished in an amazing time of 10:59. What makes Dan's finish...

Leadership at Mile 23 During an Ironman Run

Leadership at Mile 23 During an Ironman Run...

One of my coaching clients, Peter, shared this story with me about an athlete on the run course of Ironman Arizona last weekend. Like myself, Peter is an advocate of Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I continue to be impressed by Peter's ability to notice these small examples of selfless and self-initiated leadership where ever he goes. Here's Peter's story that I'd like...

Lessons Learned from Kona Rookie Bill Beyer

Lessons Learned from Kona Rookie Bill Beyer...

My client Bill Beyer (be sure to read about the Beyer Project) who competed in the Ironman World Championship on October 11 shared some wise and entertaining insights about racing in the ocean and lava fields at Kona: Pre-race: Bring support [family, friends] for the week. When preparing, leave the AC off in the room at night and open the windows. [David's comment: Best way to acclimatize is to arrive Kona...

The Selfishness of Triathlon…or Not?

The Selfishness of Triathlon…or Not?...

Is triathlon a selfish sport…or not? One of my clients who is training for Ironman Arizona on November emailed me the other day regarding his struggle with the "selfishness" of the sport: I have been struggling lately when I realize that the sport we are involved in can be selfish. I train a lot and hence don't give back as often as I should. I took a group of church kids to the Comcast center yesterday...

Rainmaker Publishing Publishes "50 Great US Triathlons" Book

Rainmaker Publishing Publishes "50 Great US T...

As a contributor and author coordinator for the book, I am excited to announced that Rainmaker Publishing LLC, which published my book Full Time and Sub-Nine: Fitting Iron Distance Training into Everyday Life has just published a new book titled: From Kona to Lake Placid – 50 Great US Triathlons. Each triathlon presented in the book is written about by a unique author who participated in that particular triathlon....

The Temptation of Just One More Race…

The Temptation of Just One More Race…...

Do you ever feel the temptation towards the end of the triathlon racing season to do just one more race…? I feel the temptation every year. I want to hold on to my summer fitness. I don’t want it to end. I like being “race lean” and sleeping soundly every night after being exhausted by long, hard training days. Not doing one more race means shifting my mindset from “training” to...

How and Why We Get into the Sport of Triathlon

How and Why We Get into the Sport of Triathlon...

As a triathlon coach, I’m always asking my new clients, “So, how and why did you get into the sport of triathlon…?” Everyone has a story and everyone has different reasons for trying the sport (no pun intended). A few of the reasons I’ve heard: I lost a bet. I went out drinking with my friends and we talked each other into it. I saw the Ironman on TV. I used to be a but kept getting injured...

Luray Triathlon: Viewpoint from the Race Director: Race Weekend

Luray Triathlon: Viewpoint from the Race Director:...

This continues my “RACE REPORT” on the Luray Triathlon from the Race Director’s perspective. Please read the “Pre-race” article before you read this one if you haven’t already: CLICK HERE. This question that I both love and hate the most on race weekend: “Are you the race director?” It usually means something has gone wrong and I need to fix it, which in a nutshell describes...

Luray Triathlon: Viewpoint of the Race Director: Pre-Race

Luray Triathlon: Viewpoint of the Race Director: P...

The 4th Annual Luray International and Sprint Triathlons were held at Lake Arrowhead in Luray, VA this past weekend with more than 500 athletes competing each day including 30 athletes who earned a “Luray Double” hand-engraved goblet by successfully finishing both races. Athletes represented 19 different states with 75% coming from Virginia. The youngest competitor was 14 and the oldest was 76. As triathletes,...

Vineman 4th Place: The inner game of Ironman

Vineman 4th Place: The inner game of Ironman...

Vineman Triathlon 20th Anniversary – August 1, 2009 Finish Time: 9:53:38.3 for 4th Overall Swim: 00:57:39.0 T1: 00:02:18.5 Bike: 05:13:44.4 T2: 00:01:27.8 Run: 03:38:28.6 Link to results: CLICK HERE. As I headed out of transition at the start of the 26.2-mile run, race announcer Dave Latourette yelled to me: “You’re 24 minutes back on the leader.” My heart sunk as a surge of disappointment...

My race prediction for Vineman: Indeterminate

My race prediction for Vineman: Indeterminate...

My race prediction for myself at Vineman on August 1st can be summed up as: Indeterminate. This year's race is the 20th Anniversary of the event – the longest running Ironman distance triathlon in the continental U.S. This year will be my 6th time racing the full Ironman distance event (2.4-mile swim / 112-mile bike / 26.2-mile run). In my five prior races, I have 2 x 1st places finishes (2001, 2007), 2 x 2nd...

Crafting a pre-race plan: Make your pre-race goals your race day reality

Crafting a pre-race plan: Make your pre-race goals...

“In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” - Dwight D. Eisenhower, American President and General My client, LtCol Tom Impellitteri, USMC, is competing in his first Ironman (Ironman USA in Lake Placid, NY) this weekend. I’ve been working with Tom since January this year in his quest to hear the magic words from Mike Reilly, “You are an...

Race Report: Christiana goes 10:39 at Roth

Race Report: Christiana goes 10:39 at Roth...

Christiana is one of my Ironman coaching clients who I've worked with since 2007. She had qualified and competed in Ironman Hawaii in 2006, incredibly finishing the race while running with a stress fracture. Rather than have me tell her story about her recent 10:39 PR at the Quelle Challenge Ironman in Roth Germany on July 12th, I'd like to share her race write up. If you're even thinking about doing an...

Beyer Project success: Bill earns his Kona slot!

Beyer Project success: Bill earns his Kona slot!...

Ironman Coeur d'Alene on June 21, 2009 marked the final stage in a triathlon coaching and social experiment called the "Beyer Project." UPDATE: Download my article that appeared in the Winter 2010 issue of Tri-DC Magazine HERE. For 6 months beginning in January 2009, I was Bill Beyer’s "live-in" triathlon coach: working with Bill one-on-one, providing accountability, giving him real-time...

My client Fabrice finishes Ironman France in 11:29!

My client Fabrice finishes Ironman France in 11:29...

My client Fabrice Guillaume completed his first Iroman last weekend – Ironman France in Nice, France, finishing in a time of 11:29:51 on arguably one of the hilliest Ironman courses in the Ironman series. As his triathlon coach, I consulted with Fabrice approximately once a month since late last year as he first created a high level triathlon training plan with distinct training periods (e.g. off season, base building,...

From Coach to Athlete before the big race

From Coach to Athlete before the big race...

What should a coach say to his client the day before the most important triathlon of his life? My client, Bill Beyer, recently competed in Ironman Couer d’Alene (2.4-mile swim / 112-mile bike / 26.2-mile run) on June 21st. This was Bill’s first Ironman in 2 years after a foot injury in 2007 and surgery in 2008. Here’s what I said to Bill before the race: One more thought. You’ve done most of...

Bike mounts during triathlon: Good, Bad and Ugly

Bike mounts during triathlon: Good, Bad and Ugly...

I had the opportunity this past weekend to watch the Dextro Energy DC Triathlon on Sunday, June 21st. While waiting for my girlfriend, Krista Schultz, I thought it might be fun and informative to video some of the athletes mounting their bikes as they left transition. Watch and see: My takeaways: There are two methods for handling bike shoes: (1) mount shoes on bike or (2) put on shoes in transition area. The majority...

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