What’s Your Excuse?

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Jarrod Fritsch

Sometimes we let minor issues get in our way and they stop us form achieving our goals.  For the beginner triathlete this can be so true.  Often as a beginner we want everything to be perfect before we start… And what happens… It is never perfect and as a result there are so many people out there that would love to give triathlon a go, yet they are waiting to be fit enough, strong enough, skilled enough, have a better bike, learn to swim better and on and on and on…

And what happens… They never ever do a triathlon.

Not so for Sarah Reinertsen.  Sarah removed all excuses and become the first female above-knee amputee to complete the Hawaii Ironman.

So what is your excuse for either not getting out there for your first triathlon or for getting out there and doing a half-ironman or full ironman?

It is never too late to start…

To living your dreams and living into the person that you can be…

Posted in Inspiration / Motivation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hydration for the Beginner Triathlete

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Jarrod Fritsch

Proper Hydration

By Cassidy Phillips – Trigger Point Performance Products

At the same time many are beginning to dust off the bikes and running shoes to explore the beauty of Spring, the temperatures take the ascent from spring cools to summer highs, and before you know it, the heat will once again be playing a big factor in how you plan and accomplish your workouts.  Here at Trigger Point Performance, deep in the heart and heat of Texas, we know too well the importance of proper hydration for successful workouts.   Continue reading →

Posted in Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10 Laws of Running Better for the Beginner Triathlete

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Jarrod Fritsch

Newton’s 10 Laws of Running Better

01 GET A PROPER FIT. Standing with your heels pulled to the back of your Newtons, you should have a thumbs width in front of your longest toe. The ball of your foot should line up over the middle of the red actuator lugs.

02 INSERT ORTHOTICS IF NEEDED. Newtons are not a substitute for custom orthotics. Remove the sockliner to accommodate your custom footbeds for the ultimate ride.

03 PRACTICE GOOD FORM. Relax, lean slightly forward and shorten your stride. Your foot will naturally land on your midfoot at a point under your hips. Keep a high cadence and your stride length short. (Do not run on your toes.) Continue reading →

Posted in Run | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Swim Training Sets for the Beginner Triathlete

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Jarrod Fritsch

What Are The Best Test Sets For Swimming?

  • By Gale Bernhard

Photo: Nils Nilsen

I have my athletes do broken sets—rather than one long continuous swim—for testing. I find that it’s easier for swimmers to pace themselves during the test, making the results more accurate for use in workouts. In both of the test sets (one for sprint racers and the second for Olympic distance or longer) the goal is to swim the fastest sustainable speed for each repeat. Avoid sprinting on the first repeat only to fade on the last one, resulting in a big discrepancy in times. After the test, you’ll know your T-pace (test pace) that you can apply to future workouts. Continue reading →

Posted in Swim | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Open Water Swimming Tips for the Beginner Triathlete

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Jarrod Fritsch

Two-time Abu Dhabi International Triathlon champion Julie Dibens and Ironman winner James Cunnama share five rules of a successful open-water swim with a group of local high school students.

 

Rule 1: Keep your space

“In the pool, you’re in a lane by yourself. In a triathlon, you have 50, 100, even 200 people trying to get to the same spot. It’s hard to stay in a straight line. You have to figure out how to make the most of it and get a draft,” says Dibens.

“Don’t hang on to a boat, kayak or buoy [before a deep water start],” adds Cunnama. “It doesn’t make a good start because something is in your way. It’s hard to get a good kick in. Get some space.” Continue reading →

Posted in Swim | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Beginner Triathlete and Mastering Corners on the Bike

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Jarrod Fritsch

Turn the Corner

Practice these skills, and you’ll be riding through bends quickly and easily.

ByAlex Stieda
0903_turnthecorner

As a pro cyclist, I worked to improve my cornering skills. During a stage of the Tour of Britain, I remembered there was a turn 400 meters before the line. I attacked early, railed the corner and opened a gap. I raised my arms in victory at the finish, only to be told that this gesture was against the rules. I was relegated to last in the break, but relished the fact that my strategy had worked.

Once you feel the power and control of a properly carved turn, there is nothing better. It takes practice, so be patient. Find an empty parking lot and mark off a corner with water bottles or cones. Here are some techniques that helped me.

1. Mind The Terrain Look for and avoid sand, rocks or cracks that could cause you to slip. After you know what the riding conditions are in a particular corner, you can slowly increase your speed each time. Continue reading →

Posted in Bike | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Heart-rate monitor training for Triathletes

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Jarrod Fritsch

I just read an article that was talking about training with a heart-rate monitor and its effects on your training.  You can see the article here

I totally agree with the author of the article.  He pinpoints some critical issues with using a heart-rate monitor to base your training on.

I have been an advocate of not training with a heart-rate monitor for many years.  I have seen far too many instances to count or to remember where the athlete will not be happy until they hear that alarm on their monitor that tells them that they have hit their target.  Yet time and time again, I am witness to fatigue, illness, injury because of the constant push to hear that heart-rate monitor alarm.

The best way that I have found personally and through the athletes that I train is to use your Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE).  This allows your body to cope with the varying stresses that are placed on it from day to day.  Whilst some may disagree that you cannot just rely on RPE, I have found this method to work very well and with great results.

So, how do you train?

If you train with a hear-rate monitor I would love to hear your thoughts…  If you train using RPE I would love to hear how you find your training and racing using this method…

Till next time, train safely and have fun racing…

Posted in General | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Beginner Triathlete and Your Game

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Jarrod Fritsch

I just love this sport.  The sport of triathlon offers so many opportunities for an athlete of any level to compete and have fun.

 

Our local triathlon Club – Temora Running & MultiSport Club (www.temoratri.com) hosted its first triathlon event last Sunday.  This is the 3rd year for triathlon in Temora, the first as a Club organised event though.

It was so great to see so many different levels of competitors out there giving it a go.  And to see a huge number of kids out there on the course was so great to see.  The sport of triathlon is in great hands with the quality of the kids that are out there racing and having a blast with the sport.

Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiration / Motivation | Leave a comment

Triathlon Kicking Drills for the Beginner Swimmer

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Jarrod Fritsch

This is a great video by Dave Scott, 6 time Ironman World Champion.

In this video you will find some great suggestions on the types of kicking to incorporate into your triathlon swim training.

Check them out and use some in your next swim workout.

I would love to hear if any of these drills make a difference to your swimming performance.

As always, please leave a comment and let me know.

I found this quote on the @USA swimming page, “We Learn our Limits and Then Exceed Them”

Posted in Swim | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How to Reduce Knee Pain for the Beginner Triathlete

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Jarrod Fritsch

Is knee pain a problem for you?

Do you have trouble running up and down stairs or hills?

Do you want to eliminate that knee pain for good?

Then watch this video now…

As a triathlete I understand that there is not much call for stair running, the principles in this video can be applied to hill running as well.  So take note and the next time that you are out on your triathlon run training, use the information provided - I am certain it will assist you.

As always please let a comment below.  Let me know if you do as per the instruction in the video and if it helped you.

To freer hill running….

Posted in Run | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments