Why triathletes should do obstacle course runs like the Spartan Race
Triathlons are about the “known” and certain. You know the order of each leg of the race – swim then bike then run (with a few exceptions). You know the distances of each leg. You can preview the course ahead of time and there are volunteers to tell you where to go on race day. You swim in a lake or pool, bike on pavement and run on a reasonably flat and straight course (for the most part). Triathletes are notorious for being creatures of habit and rigid in their training (I know – I’ve been once since 1995). Obstacle course runs like Spartan Race are about...
Read MoreHow to survive low moments in an Ironman, other triathlons or life in general
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” ~ Viktor Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning ~ “Low moments” in a race — especially an Ironman triathlon with its 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run — and in life are inevitable. So how do you get through them? Attach “meaning” to your race (and this applies to the rest of your life, too). In other words, ask yourself the hard question:...
Read MoreWhat should a triathlete do in the winter?
With the coming of shorter days, colder weather and the winter holidays, the triathlon season is officially over (i.e. the “off season” or “transition season” as I like to call it)…well, at least for most of us. As a triathlon coach, the number one question I get from the athletes I coach is, “What do I do now?” There are a number of things to do this winter in order the balance the need for: Downtime from the current racing season to avoid burnout, refresh mentally and recover from any lingering injuries and Carrying over and further developing an...
Read MoreYou are what you eat…err, rather, you are what think
“If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” - Henry Ford (1863-1946) Remember the adage, “You are what you eat?” There is a corresponding adage: “You are what you think.” In other words, your thoughts influence your feelings, which influence your behavior. Think positively and you’ll have positive outcomes. Think negatively and the opposite holds true. One of the most consistent findings in sport psychology research is that confidence – a belief in one’s abilities – is a positive a predictor of performance. If you have...
Read MoreAdvice from an Ironman triathlete’s wife: How to make the relationship work
In the recent Wall Street Journal article, A Workout Ate My Marriage, the author states: “The exercise widow often wakes to an empty bed—a sure sign of a morning workout—and may find dinner plans spoiled by a sudden avoidance of anything heavy before a night run.” This obsession with exercise can result in “Divorce by Triathlon.” Finding the right balance is something I’ve struggled with and I’ve been through several relationships in the past that ended with the resentment of my focus (obsession?) with triathlon training and racing. I know many other...
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