Archive for the ‘Ultramarathon’ Category

Now the dust has – just – settled on the streets of the London Marathon let’s spare a thought for all those non-runners. Even before the race start, competition was keen with over 50,000 disappointed applicants unable to take part and the situation is no different across all the World Marathon Majors.

But if you’re still serious about testing your body to its limits, a triathlon event can be an interesting and much more accessible option with less pressure on places. The triathlon event comprises 3 consecutive disciplines of swim, bike and run, with distances to suit all abilities from super sprints to Olympic levels.

At the pinnacle of the triathlon family are the gruelling Ironman competitions, testing the triathletes with increased distances. The toughest courses in Hawaii and the Canaries also add the infinitely more glamorous ingredients of ocean, volcano and scorching sunshine.

Indeed Lanzarote’s Ironman Triathlon is almost upon us, due to take place this year on 20th May, with registration for both men and women closing on 1st May 2006. Lanzarote will see over 800 competitors attempt to complete a 3.8km (2.4 mile) swim, 180km (112.5 mile) volcano bike ride followed by a 42km or 26 mile marathon run, all in one day.

Attracting some of the world’s best professional athletes, the event is definitely not for the fainthearted although the schedule of activities lasts for a few days with fun runs in the week leading up to the event itself, and parties and award ceremonies during the evenings.

If the sun, fun and party elements sound appealing but you find you’re just not quite able to hone your body into this superfit category, then just slow the pace down a notch or two with a stay at Lanzarote’s Club La Santa, official headquarters of the Ironman and recognised as one of the world’s top sports resorts.

Combining superb sports facilities with all year round sunshine, the Canaries are easily reached throughout the summer and winter, see XL to find out about a cheap Lanzarote flight. The Club’s triathlon instructors are available for personal coaching for those more serious athletes with organised professional events such as the Volcano Triathlon as well as weekly smaller triathlon and duathlon events with free participation available for all guests.

About the Author

Author:
Michael Hanna

About Michael
Michael is a keen writer, and internet marketer living in Scotland:

Contact details:
E-mail: samqam@googlemail.com
Phone: 0131 561 2251
Michael’s Website: Belfast Airport Taxis

There is some debate going on in the triathlon world about whether it is important to have a long stroke in freestyle, and if so, how can this be developed?

Being long means extending your arm and gliding with each arm stroke. It also means getting more out of your stroke while saving energy (ideal for triathletes).

Don’t get me wrong, you can achieve a lot with a shorter stroke- in fact you could go very fast this way. However, for most people, especially the beginner crowd, this stroke is just not efficient enough to allow them to swim 1/2-1 mile, and still have a good amount of energy to tackle 20-40 miles on the bike, and an additional 5-10 mile run.

The mistake people make is comparing competitive pool swimmers who swim 50, 100, 200, or 400 meters as either an all out sprint or a controlled sprint, to triathletes who swim much further and have to complete a race lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to 10 hours!

Here are some ways to achieve a longer, more fluid, more efficient freestyle:

1. Practice Kicking on Your Side. This will improve your balance in the water and aid in your ability to extend and glide. By all means use fins! I recommend getting a pair of Zoomers from Finis, which will help your swim in so many ways.

2. Count Your Strokes. Start by just keeping track of how many strokes you take per length when you swim. Then, begin to work on ways to lower this stroke count. Hint: Do not just kick harder to achieve a lower count! This defeats the purpose of the drill.

3. Play Golf. Well not really golf like the game the Scottish invented. Free golf! Do a set of 6×50’s. Count your strokes, and for each 50, lower your stroke count. Also, keep track of your time on these. Maintain your pace as you drop the number of strokes you are taking for each 50.

4. Swim With Your Fists. Alternate a few lengths of swimming with your hands clenched in fists, with 1 or 2 lengths of open-handed swimming. This will force you to use your hips more as you swim, and you will not be able to “muscle” through the water.

5. Use This Paddle. Ok, I’ve been hard on paddles in the past. But the Freestyler (also by Finis) is different- it actually forces you to do proper hand entry, glide, and pull. Also, they do not cause shoulder problems. Use these for a long swim and then take them off for a few lengths. You will be amazed at how fluid you will feel! More details to come in the next issue on how you can get a discount on a pair of these stroke-improving paddles.

While you may not ever become a top-notch freestyle sprinter, learning how to lengthen your freestyle will pay off as a faster, more fun overall triathlon.

About the Author

Kevin operates the website www.TriSwimCoach.com, a resource for beginning through intermediate level triathletes looking for help with swimming. The site features a free email newsletter offering tips and articles on triathlon swimming. Kevin has also written an electronic book titled “The Complete Guide to Triathlon Swimming” which is sold on his website http://www.triswimcoach.com in downloadable and hardcopy form.

When it comes to triathlon wear , there is a wide variety of options on the market. For triathletes, the difference in attire is truly a personal choice.

Although some teams may mandate specific uniforms, the sport is generally individual, allowing each participant to choose his or her desired outfit.

When it comes to triathlon wear , the traditional material is neoprene, the same type used in wetsuits.

This is generally due to chilly water temperatures that can cause you to lose valuable time due to cold shock.

Furthermore, using a wet suit for your triathlon suit allows you to use the item for other sports, including scuba diving or surfing.

There are three main items in triathlon wear : full, sleeveless, and two-piece suits.

Again, the choice is purely personal, as each different competitor enjoys a the feel, protection, and mobility of different suits.

The full suit is a one piece suit that covers arms and legs.

This suit is the best multisport suit and can complete cover the arms and legs completely or only cover the legs to the knees and the arms to the elbows.

Sleeveless suits are a one piece suit that stops coverage at the shoulders, but continues to cover the legs to either the knees or the ankles.

Finally, two-piece suits employ mix and match system for triathlon clothes that can include long or short bottoms with long tops, short tops, or no tops at all.

If you are interested in purchasing a multisport suit, consider the difference in the neoprene.

Suits made for surfing, kayaking, or diving are made from thicker, less movable neoprene that may not be flexible enough for the demanding sport of a triathlon.

Like other clothes , choose a suit that is in the middle of the road to ensure the most usefulness.

About the Author

Learn more about <A href=”http://www.Gear4Triathlons.com/triathalon-racing.html” target=_new>Triathalon Racing . Do you have what you need to improve your workouts and your races?

You may have been training for weeks or months already, but now it is 2 weeks before your race and it’s time to think about resting. Many triathletes find this more difficult than swimming 5,000 yards, biking the hills, or running a half marathon!

Here are some things to keep in mind if you are beginning your taper or rest period before your race.

1. Do longer warmups and warmdowns. You can keep your distance up, but start to add more to the beginning and end portion of your workout. This ‘active rest’ will assure that you are well rested for your race but not out of shape.

2. Avoid big meals and sugar. Tapering is an adjustment for your body, and your immune system may not be as strong during this time. Big meals and carbohydrates like sugar will wear your immune system and leave you susceptible to colds and flus. Keep in mind that as your workout intensity decreases, you must decrease calorie intake accordingly.

3. Get as much sleep as you can before midnight. Ideally, get to bed by 10:30. The sleep you get before midnight is the most crucial to your recovery. You will feel more rested if you can do this for at least 2 weeks before your event.

4. Lay off the strength training. This is more of an individual call (some people feel better if they are doing some strength work all the way up until the event, others will be too broken down unless they take a good 2 weeks off), but at the minimum, you should go lighter in the weeks leading up to your event.

5. Avoid caffeine. It may be tough if you are a coffee addict, but 2 weeks of not having that morning cup will give you more natural energy for your race. Take it from 6-time Ironman champion Mark Allen- he practiced this for every race and it worked pretty well for him!

6. Increase your meditation or yoga. Less time working out means more time to prepare mentally! If you don’t do yoga already, don’t start now. However, find some quiet time during the day to get away from work and working out to clear your mind. Think about how easy that swim will be since you are well-prepared with Tri Swim Coach!

7. You will have more energy during your rest or taper period. Don’t be tempted to use it! Save it for your event and you will be glad you did.

Have a great race!

About the Author: Kevin operates the website http://www.TriSwimCoach.com, a resource for beginning through intermediate level triathletes looking for help with swimming. The site features a free email newsletter offering tips and articles on triathlon swimming. Kevin has also written an electronic book titled ?The Complete Guide to Triathlon Swimming? on http://triswimcoach.com.