USA Triathlon - Complete Triathlon Guide

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Complete triathlon guide / USA Triathlon.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-4504-1260-5 (soft cover) -- ISBN 1-4504-1260-2 (soft cover)

1. Triathlon--Training. I. USA Triathlon.

GV1060.73.C64 2012

796.42'57--dc23

2011052796

ISBN-10: 1-4504-1260-2 (print)

ISBN-13: 978-1-4504-1260-5 (print)

Copyright 2012 by USA Triathlon

All rights reserved. Except for use in a review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying, and recording, and in any information storage and retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Notice: Permission to reproduce the following material is granted to instructors and agencies who have purchased Complete Triathlon Guide: pp. 10, 15. The reproduction of other parts of this book is expressly forbidden by the above copyright notice. Persons or agencies who have not purchased Complete Triathlon Guide may not reproduce any material.

The web addresses cited in this text were current as of January 2012, unless otherwise noted.

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E5492

Welcome to Complete Triathlon Guide. The sport of triathlon is growing at a tremendous rate as more and more people participate in triathlons to stay healthy, get fit, and have fun. Triathletes are highly motivated, and they want to learn everything they can about the sport to help themselves become better athletes. Training for triathlons is a challenge because of the unique balance needed in swimming, biking, and running in order to achieve success. This book provides athletes and coaches of all skill and experience levels the best training information and racing strategies available. It is an absolute must-have resource for coaches and athletes who are serious about taking performance to the next level or those wanting to learn more about the sport. Complete Triathlon Guide is filled with training tips and information from the best-known experts in the triathlon field.

When we started discussing the possibility of putting this book together, we were excited to have the leaders of triathlon coaching, training, and racing willing to write a chapter on a topic they are best known for. Each of these authors has enough knowledge and expertise to write their own books, and many have, so we are grateful to each of them for sharing a piece of their knowledge in this book.

helps you understand how to incorporate strength training for triathletes by covering resistance training concepts, organizing a strength training program for triathlon, and explaining specific strength training exercises that can improve a triathletes fitness and performance.

As we move into will teach you several key points about tapering including managing the training load during the taper, enhancing recovery during the taper, managing nutrition and hydration during the taper, and other details related to tapering.

focuses on how to reduce drag and create propulsion in the water by using body position and an efficient swim stroke.

helps you prepare for traveling to a race by teaching you how to pack your bike and race gear, how to travel comfortably, and how to arrive at your destination relaxed and ready to race.

discusses what qualities you should look for in a coach, from education and background to philosophy and programs, as well as how a coach can help you with physical and mental skills, fitness assessments, and testing and time management.

covers how to assess your athletic range and depth of fitness and how to be a lifelong triathlete through safe and effective training.

Much of a triathletes swim training will take place in a pool. Internationally, both short-course and long-course pools are measured in meters, and pools in the United States are moving toward this standard. For this reason, meters is the unit of measure we have chosen for pool distances. However, we realize that some readers will be training in yard pools. In this case, readers can swim the same number of yards as meters stated.