Day 125: Practicing Transition

Calli: This day was a very productive one. After the gym this morning we ran all sorts of errands. I feel happy that we made the best of our day, and it feels even better that we are getting more accustomed to the bike. The shoes were awesome with the bike today. However, we realized quick that the clips need to be tighter, and it’s going to take us time to get used to getting in and out of the pedals. It’s harder than it looks, and I am glad we are getting started now.  Think about what you need to do to prepare for the triathlon in your future!

Jose: Today we got to use our brand new Pearl Izumi Tri Fly III bike shoes. We actually bought them a few days ago, but we were looking for the clips that would fit the spinning pedals at the gym. I can say I’m very glad that we are starting to use the pedals with a stationary bike, because I’m sure I would have fallen on my face if I would have tried on a regular bike. Releasing the shoes is an art by itself! After that, we quickly moved to the treadmill. I’m getting used to putting my running shoes on quickly with my race laces, and then run comfortably. Since I had the chance to use the treadmill I went all the way up to a speed of 16.1 km/hr. I managed to keep that speed on 2 minute intervals until the 20 running minutes were gone. It’s good, but I need that speed continually for the whole 20 minutes.

“An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Day 120: Exploring the Underwater Technique

Since we dedicated a couple of days to describe a little bit of biking technique, we would like to write down also a few of the main things to keep always in mind during swim training.

Of course it’s no surprise that we took the article from Active.com and we are presenting now 10 Steps to Improving Your Triathlon Technique.

1- Start with Hand Entry and make sure to use rotation to at the same time to male it more efficient.
2- The Head Position should always be the one that makes a straight line with your body while looking downwards.
3- The Pull should go all the way back, past your hips
4- Keep your kick at a minimum to save energy and learn to improve balance
5- Keep good track of your training intensity by using a HR monitor.
6- Technique should come before ALL else, so make time to be perfect!
7- Keep your arm from crossing over. That goes especially for me (Jose)
8- Train the swimming as much as you need to, especially when this is toughest sport.
9- Practice your breathing every 3-5-7-9 strokes to strengthen your lungs
10- Work hard on your form weaknesses

We finally would like to add number 11, which would be: While swimming: HAVE FUN! Make sure you follow this one all the time!

“As long as I’m having fun, I’m not quitting.” – Sue Johanson

Day 119: Conforming to the form

It’s always good to have on your mind all the necessary tips for a good form. It’s not always about learning new things, but also to make sure that the basic becomes part of your daily training.

Even though we have been paying attention to the basic form, being reminded of all the details, makes you examine your everyday form and make the necessary changes to not only improve but also to be injury free for the longest time possible.

We found a well written article by Ben Greenfield at Training Peaks with Five Tips on Proper Cycling Form that we want to remind you today so that you can examine yourself too. A little bit of auto-criticism can help you gain a lot once you hit the road next time.

Remember: 1- Pedal in squares (make sure to pull as hard as you push), 2- Keep your knees straight during the whole cycle (try not to bring them in or out), 3- Watch you aero position (push the butt back, rotate the hips forward, and don’t let the spine “slouch” in the saddle) 4- Relax your arms and hands (do not grab the handlebars using a lot of pressure), 5- FOCUS! if you don’t loose concentration you will have all these details in mind and will work to make sure you are developing a good form.

“Most people have no idea of the giant capacity we can
immediately command when we focus all of our resources on mastering a
single area of our lives.” – Tony Robbins

Day 118: Every single tip counts

As we explore more and more the triathlon world we keep finding little details that can make a difference once you are out there racing. This time, Active.com is offering Cornering Tips for Cyclists.

How can this make a difference? Well, to start, cornering gives you the opportunity of saving valuable seconds during the race by being more efficient when turning without having to reduce the speed too much. Also this can keep you safer when you are riding in populated and busy areas.

It might sound easy to do, but as a matter of fact, it has its own trick and you need to practice to be able to do it naturally. Find the time to practice these little details and you will realize how mastering one tip after the other will save you a lot of time.

“Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.”
- Lao Tzu

Day 117: Daily Dosage of Dark Chocolate

Who would have thought that a daily dosage of dark chocolate would be recommended for a healthy training diet? Active.com gives us some great articles about what foods you should include in your shopping list as a regular athlete. There is a wide variety of nutrients and foods that are subscribed such as: almonds, mixed greens, mixed berries, salmon, and let’s not forget dark chocolate. Each food item helps in some way to balance your body and the work outs that it endures. Dark chocolate, for example, can strengthen your heart and prevent blood clots. To find out more about these helpful tips go this article. Have a healthy time out there!

“The superiority of chocolate, both for health and nourishment, will
soon give it the same preference over tea and coffee in America which it
has in Spain.” – Thomas Jefferson