Speed - The Big Picture

You want to get faster? Who doesn't? So, you need to develop strategies to implement in three "time zones" so to speak. You need long-term strategies, mid-term strategies and those you can leverage in your very next race. Each workout you execute and every drill you do (you do do drills right??) should fall under one of these headings.

With some of the training I do, I know the benefits won't be realized for a number of months. Other workouts will bring me more speed in a matter of weeks or a month or two. Then, there are things I can do tomorrow in the 5K winter race series that I'm doing that can save some seconds. We'll be unpacking some tips that relate to each time category in the days ahead. Think about your next workout. Will it produce a lower finish time in your very next race, or one you've pegged as your "A" race for this summer?  More to come....

SPEED - How Do I Get More??

I've been studying "speed" for 35 years...speed moving forward that is. In 99% of my races, the goal has been to complete the distance, long or short, running, biking, swimming or all three together, as fast as I possibly can. Much of what I've learned I've learned the hard way, often just learning from my failures or dumb moves.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing a tip or two per post on how to gain speed so those finish times can be as low as possible. Some tips will be big-picture, long-term advice, some will be medium-term action points and some can be implemented immediately. Application of what I post will need to be individualize since all of us are at different points in our racing journey and at different ages. I'm 57 and trying to hang on to some speed as I feel it slowly slipping away with age. I've set a few PRs (personal records) in the last few years, but, when it comes to running for example, I said bye bye to my PRs a long time ago. Now, I'm just trying to run as fast as I can at 57.

So, start stretching, loosen up, warm up and shake it out cause we'll be shooting for SPEED in the weeks to come!

2015 Is Rolling….

I enjoy the month of January every time it rolls around. I’m usually ready to get back to a regular schedule after a few great holiday weeks. It’s the start of a new year and I’m really pumped for this racing season. The primary reason is, it will once again be low-pressure and lots of fun.

I love to do long-term planning and planning the next few years of my tri / racing goals is something that is enjoyable and strategic for me. I plan on doing USA Triathlon National Championships next year, ’16, hopefully qualifying for Team USA and Worlds the following year, ‘17 when I age up to the 60-64 age group. But for now, it’s local and regional races, looking to keep in good shape, try to maintain as much speed as I can as I age and just having a blast.

It’s what I did last season and I learned something important. It’s not rocket science, but the less stressful the season, the better I did. I’ve done really well in recent years at Nationals and Worlds, but last season was care-free, injury-free and no pressure. I did well in every race I entered (but one) and I think it was because I was there to just enjoy the sport. Now there’s an idea!! Enjoy this craziness. So, de-stress your season and even if you have a huge “A” race, just try to chill and enjoy the whole process!