FREE Webinar for Triathletes “Creating Healthy & Sustainable Routines!” LIVE – Thursday, 1/21 @ 12pm Routines and habits are one of the most important aspects of sports that athletes (of ANY level) can develop to improve their health, fitness, training and competitive performances.
Although, we often set out with good intentions, many fail to actually establish a routine (let alone a habit) that sticks and ultimately pays off. We will discuss best practices and common pitfalls including actionable steps one can take to help ensure success. When: Thursday, 1/21 @ 12pm EST Where: Zoom (registration below) Who: Triathletes looking to be successful in 2021 RTA Triathlon x Hyperice We are very excited to announce a new partnership with Hyperice, the leader in recovery technology.
Each December, just before the new year, I go for a run on a discrete and private snow-covered road in Lake Placid. I use this run as a time to reflect on the previous year. Here are a few thoughts that came to mind as we close out the 10th year of RTA…
FREE Webinar for Triathletes “What You Should Be Doing… NOW!” LIVE – Thursday, 11/19 @ 7pm The late fall and early winter can be a tricky time of year for triathletes. The weather is getting cooler and the days shorter. HOWEVER, if this time is used well, it can set you up to have an incredible season in the year to come.
When: Thursday, 11/19 @ 7pm EST Where: Zoom (registration below) Who: Triathletes looking to be successful in 2021 How to Find Triathlons to Sign Up For
There are numerous websites that offer “Tri Calendars.” Many of these websites have a listing of events that you can filter by area, distance and time of year to help you find a triathlon that works best for you. Below are a few websites and factors to consider to help you get started. Achieve MORE With Accountability Whether you’re driven to race OR if you simply enjoy a healthy lifestyle, creating a routine and having ACCOUNTABILITY is a total GAME CHANGER.
When you have accountability, you’re much more likely to stay on track and achieve your goals. Triathlon Season Planning Made Easy Success in triathlon and life in general, typically starts by setting goals, creating a plan and then executing that plan. We refer to this process as season planning and done correctly, it will help set you up for success.
The fall and early winter are a great time of year to start planning for next season. Races are beginning to open up and many popular races sell out FAST. Below I will outline a simple, but effective, approach to set yourself up for a super successful year. Can you imagine swimming 2.4 miles and riding 112 miles with 1 hand? Me neither! However, despite having only 1 hand, Jim Williamson knew he could do it.
So, with the support of his family and a little guidance from his coaches, Jim set out to prove, “anything is possible!” Have DIRECTION & PURPOSE for your goals Many events are too hard, long, and difficult to race or participate in on a whim. When the going gets tough – and it will – it is purpose that will help drive you forward.
We always encourage our athletes determine what their purpose is BEFORE getting started on their journey. Some common (yet general) examples include: Drew’s Motivation Behind His Virtual Boston Marathon First and foremost, we’d like to give a HUGE SHOUT OUT to RTA coached athlete Drew C! He CRUSHED the 2020 Virtual Boston Marathon last month by running a 🔥3:05🔥 with a negative split of 1:30 on the back half. 😯 OUTSTANDING, especially considering all of the circumstances.
This was all done on his lightest run volume ever and in a very limited time frame leading up the the race. Don’t Underestimate Race Fueling & Nutrition Many athletes don’t fully understand the importance and value of proper nutrition while training and racing. Even those who do “get it,” don’t always have the most effective plan in place (for them). However, those that have their nutrition plan 100% dialed in, perform significantly better and recover faster.
To be clear: I am specifically talking about what an athlete consumes immediately before, during and after a race or training session. It doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, it should be as simple as possible so that it becomes thoughtless and easy to execute. Below I will provide 2 TIPS and a high level outline to help get you on track. 2020 was the year RTA coached athlete, Ryan Astrup, planned to become an “IRONMAN.” He had planned to race the iconic IRONMAN Lake Placid triathlon in July. This race consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run. In one day. With no breaks. For those counting, that’s 140.6 miles in total. Due to the global pandemic, this triathlon was eventually postponed and finally canceled.
However, that would NOT prevent Ryan from achieving his goal. Anything is Possible With Commitment We first met Brian Moran and his buddy Rob on the day of IRONMAN Lake Placid in 2015.
After talking to them for a couple minutes we quickly learned they were looking to get into triathlon and were hoping to do their first IRONMAN the following year in Lake Placid. We tried to discourage them from doing an IRONMAN in their first year of triathlon, but they insisted. We gave them our card, parted ways and didn’t expect to hear from them again. A few days later we received a phone call and the rest is history. After all, anything is possible. Taking it Outside of My Comfort Zone with Triathlon Bob Brown is like most of the people we coach. He’s a family man, has a successful career and he is goal oriented. He is the classic, “over achiever,” who decides what he wants and figures out how to go and get it. Perhaps you can relate.
This was the year Bob wanted to break into triathlon. However, he didn’t want to “just do a sprint” triathlon. He wanted to do a half IRONMAN or 70.3. “I like signing up for things that are way out of my comfort zone and challenging myself to get them done,” Bob told us. “I constantly preach to my kids that they can do anything they want if they try. And I try to lead by example.” We can DEFINITELY respect that! Meet Jim Hollentein. RTA triathlon club member and super nice guy.
10 years ago a friend asked Jim if I wanted to do a triathlon. He had run a few 5k’s and done a couple mountain bike races so it sounded doable, but he needed to learn how to swim. Nearly EVERYONE looking to get into triathlon has to learn how to swim! The next day he went to the pool and couldn’t swim 25 yards. Following that first experience, he thought completing a triathlon was going to be IMPOSSIBLE. That’s when the triathlon journey began. Do you want to know how to become the very best triathlete you can possibly be? Being a successful triathlete can largely be attributed to your commitment and discipline as long as you’re doing the “right things,” that is.
Below, I’m going to save you YEARS of learning and “figuring things out” and tell you exactly what to do. Over the last 10 years of coaching, we have in fact learned a lot from our athletes. Everything I’m going to share with you is based on what we have seen the most successful people DO over the years. Run Webinar – Part 2 Please join us LIVE for coffee (virtually) on Tuesday, 7/28 @ 8:30am for Part 2 of our 2 part Running webinar series as we discuss how to “Run Mechanics for Speed & Injury Prevention.” This is perfect for total beginners and experienced runners alike. Free webinar
Did you know that you get stronger and fitter in periods of recovery?
Yes, it’s true. However, despite the fact that recovery is one of the biggest pieces to the the fitness puzzle, amateur athletes (runners, triathletes, cross fitters and everything in between) don’t take it very seriously. Next to quality sleep (the MOST important part of recovery), stretching should be incorporated into your daily and weekly routine. Below we will discuss why this is so important and also share a few of our favorite stretches for triathletes and runners. Making the Most of Training in the Open Water Following the initial thrill and uniqueness of swimming in the open water, the idea of simply putting your head down and swimming can become boring. And perhaps more importantly, doing this on a regular basis, won’t really aid in your training progression. Outside of pure enjoyment, it can become a waste of time.
Below, I’m going to offer 6 ways you can make the most of your time training in the open water. Are you just getting back into swimming and thinking of making your return to open water? Well, if you haven’t swam in a while, I definitely recommend getting in the pool first – before making a splash in the open water. This is mostly because the pool is a much more controlled environment. However, I realize this is not always possible.
Whether you are a little intimidated by swimming in the open water or if you simply haven’t been in the open water for a while, I’m going to start by offering steps to (re)acclimatize to the open water and then follow it up with additional ideas to consider whether you’re a total beginner or a more experienced triathlete. The Power of Indoor Riding If you’re a triathlete or cyclist, indoor riding on a bike trainer is a no brainer. This is especially true if you live in a place that it is difficult to ride outside year round AND you are training for something.
With the explosion of smart trainers and training environments like Zwift, Rouvy, The Sufferfest (and others) indoor riding has never been better. Even those who were completely against riding the trainer, now find it tolerable and in some cases fun. I’m not suggesting you ride inside all of the time, although some of the best professional IRONMAN athletes do, but I’d like to explain why at least occasionally it is a good idea. Unless you have unlimited time or don’t mind getting dropped on group rides or posting an embarrassing bike split, having a bike trainer is invaluable. Whether you already ride inside or can’t stomach the idea of it, there is absolutely a time and place for a bike trainer. Below I will discuss 6 reasons why indoor riding is a no brainer. Ready to get back into swimming? Returning to the pool following an extended break can be exciting, but also daunting.
Whether it was “forced” time away or on your own terms, here are 5 things you should consider as you hop back in. Athletes regularly have to reframe their goals. This can be for a variety of reasons, but today we’re going talk about how you can use “forced” extra time to become a better cyclist.
Run Webinar – Part 1 Please join us LIVE for coffee (virtually) on Tuesday, 6/30 @ 8:30am for Part 1 of our 2 part Running webinar series as we discuss how to “Train Smart & Avoid Injury.” This is perfect for total beginners and experienced runners alike. Free webinar
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