In a previous article, I discussed my list of the eight most valuable metrics for triathletes. In this article, I want to address a more fundamental question. What is the point of training with data? This question may not even seem worthy of discussion given the fact that training with data is something we simply do in the modern world. Of course we train with data. Why … [Read more...] about Why Train with Data?
Training Questions
The 8 Most Valuable Metrics for Triathletes
In today’s world where big data reigns supreme and the Quantified Self movement promises self-knowledge through numbers, anything that can be measured often is. And if it can’t be measured today, the right technology is sure to be just around the corner. In many ways, athletes have been at the forefront of this drive to measure and collect data about the self—at least when … [Read more...] about The 8 Most Valuable Metrics for Triathletes
Dealing with Jet Lag when Traveling to Race
Everyone has heard of the circadian clock that coordinates our biological activities around a daily cycle of roughly 24 hours. But recent studies have pointed to the idea that we actually have multiple clocks—different ones for different organs. So when you cross time zones, you do not simply disrupt a master circadian clock but all of these clocks. An important implication of … [Read more...] about Dealing with Jet Lag when Traveling to Race
Make Your Muscles Smarter
Excerpted from The Triathlete's Training Guide and featured in USAT's Multisport Zone. When most people think of strength training, they think of making their muscles stronger. But strong muscles aren’t worth much if they don’t fire when needed or coordinate with each other during sport specific movements. For endurance athletes engaged in strength training, it is … [Read more...] about Make Your Muscles Smarter
A Workout Does Not Equal Training
In making the distinction between training and working out, I previously noted that one can perform a workout without necessarily training for an event. One can go out and exercise vigorously, work up a sweat, and enjoy the endorphin release. As a result, one may be happier, healthier, and fitter for having done the workout. But the workout may or may not contribute toward a … [Read more...] about A Workout Does Not Equal Training