Triathlon Training

If pain has ever kept you sidelined, maybe you just need to roll with it. Whether your tension requires professional attention or one of those foam rollers you see at the store, getting the body's connective tissue to loosen up could be just what you need.

By Jennifer Sellers

A picturesque run through the cool, breezy mountaintops, a potential boost in performance -- what's not to like about high altitude training? Along with the inconvenience for a large number of runners who live at sea level, high altitude training isn't for everyone.

By Gerlinda Grimes

Most athletes find that massage can help with their performance. Due to thorough, rigorous workouts and a great deal of mental stress, however, triathletes in particular benefit from a good session on the massage table.

By Jane McGrath

In preparing for triathlons, people often go to great lengths to give themselves a competitive edge. While many tend to overlook aspects such as core body strength and flexibility, the smart triathlete will utilize Pilates to build a powerful core and balance the body.

By Colleen Cancio

With all of the swimming, biking and running triathletes do in preparation for the big race, you'd think that that might be enough to get you to the finish line. But strength training is an important part of a triathlete's schedule, especially when endurance is such a big factor.

By Jill Jaracz

If the thought of taking a few extra minutes before and after your workout to help prevent injuries sounds like a stretch -- you're right. Though the experts don't agree on how much stretching really helps, there are some benefits.

By Caitlin Uttley

Huge, rippling muscles may look good at a bodybuilding competition, but they usually make for a poor endurance athlete. You can be strong, you can be fast -- but if you're lugging around just a few more pounds, it could make the difference between success and failure.

By Tristin Hopper

So you've decided to train for a triathlon. Sure, the swimming, cycling and running will be grueling, but are you set for the really hard part? The part that could end with you lost and searching for your stuff amid piles of gear?

By Craig Haggit

Misery loves company. No, wait, that's not how it goes. Strength in numbers -- that's it! Triathlon training groups are as varied as the athletes themselves, and finding one that's right could be the first step in helping you stick with the sport.

By Lance Looper

Just as different types of cars have different fuel needs, triathletes have different nutritional requirements from the rest of the population. How many protein bars, energy gels and calorie-heavy meals do triathletes need to pack into their training program?

By Julia Layton

Think you have what it takes to compete in a triathlon? Chances are you do, but before signing up for the next available race, you'll want to be adequately prepared for the challenge ahead.

By Caitlin Uttley

As you might expect, a triathlete has to be in great shape. But even someone in excellent physical condition has to spend weeks training for a competition. What if the weather doesn't cooperate?

By Christopher Lampton

Deciding to run a triathlon, whether it's the sprint version or a full-fledged Ironman, is a major commitment. Making sure your body gets the right combination of carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and hydration can mean the difference between a successful race and a painful ordeal.

By Meghan E. Smith

Yoga for triathletes pushes a combination of strength, flexibility and concentration into its routines. The idea is to build up the core muscle groups. Are you using yoga to prepare for the next competition?

By Eric Baxter

If you enter a swimming race, you probably want to give 100 percent the entire time, right? Some coaches don't think so. Negative split swimming involves finishing the second half of a race faster than the first.

By Jane McGrath

Humans have been swimming in lakes and oceans far longer than they've been swimming in pools, and there remains a certain primal attraction to open water swimming. A far cry from clean, orderly time trials -- open water swimming is a messy free-for-all of kicking feet and splashing arms.

By Tristin Hopper

Freestyle swimming is not only good fun, it's also great exercise. But getting the breathing down can be tricky. Here's a how-to for all you budding Michael Phelpses out there.

By Jill Becker

A bad dive off the blocks during a swimming race can cost you valuable seconds. It may even cost you the race. But do you know the best way to dive into a shallow river or lake while running a triathlon?

By Patrick E. George

There are a number of ways to improve your swim stroke, but the best way is through stroke drills and practice. Even world-class swimmers continue to improve their swim strokes using these simple methods.

By Jamie Page Deaton

Practiced swimmers seem magically better than the rest of us at gliding through the water. Olympian swimmers seem almost to defy physics. What do great swimmers do differently from the rest of us?

By Nicholas Gerbis

Swimmers hold pull buoys between their legs while training to stop themselves from kicking. This strengthens the muscles in their upper bodies. But how do you get used to training with a pull buoy?

By Nathan Chandler

Kickboards aren't only for beginning swimmers -- they're for anyone in the water at any skill level. Even competitive athletes use them. In fact, a kickboard can be a valuable part of your water workout.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

It may seem hard to believe that something as menial as arm or leg hair can slow you down in the water. Is this simply the stuff of superstition? Or is there something to this ritual?

By Jane McGrath

Whether you're a professional athlete, recreational cyclist or kid on a bike, no one likes riding a bicycle in rain, snow or blistering heat. Stationary bikes don't help with training, so what can you do to keep your cycling skills sharp indoors?

By Jeff Harder

Cyclists know more than anyone the importance of efficiency. They strive to make their bike an extension of their own body -- and focusing on cadence, or the speed at which you pedal, is an important factor in performance.

By Jane McGrath