Carefully Curated Triathlon News for February 5, 2026
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IN THIS EDITION…
- When to know it’s time to retest FTP
- 5 proven swim workouts for triathletes
- Do’s and don’t’s for a sore IT band
- 3 myths of zone 2 run training
- 4 killer hill sessions (& why you need them)
IN THE ZONE
Despite its popularity, there’s more to effective training than just Zone 2 workouts.
Coach Jason Fitzgerald reminds us that all zones matter and explains why the appropriate balance of training intensities is the key to optimizing your aerobic system.
Check out his 3 realities of Zone 2 training to ensure you’re getting the most from your training efforts.
RETEST FOR SPEED
Zone-based training on the bike works best when based on your FTP: the highest sustainable power you can sustain for 1 hour.
It’s natural for your zones to vary throughout the year. They backslide during the off-season when fitness is lost, and increase during racing season when you’re performing at your peak.
Coach Jim Rutberg reveals how he knows when it’s time to retest FTP. Maintaining an accurate FTP value will guarantee your workouts are performed at the appropriate intensities.
BETTER BROKEN
Moving beyond long, steady swim workouts and committing to interval training is a sure way to improve your performance in the water. But where to start?
Coach Ben Sommerville breaks down his 5 favorite swim interval sessions and explains why each is so beneficial for triathletes. Soon you’ll be swimming faster with less fatigue.
BEEP, BEEP
Many triathletes overthink their freestyle stroke. Trying to focus on too many cues causes a drop in stroke rate and deadspots that kill speed.
Avoid this mistake by increasing your stroke rate with the FINIS Tempo Trainer Pro. This underwater metronome emits an audible beep that you can swim to, helping establish a quicker rhythm that smoothes out your power curve and increases your efficiency.
A higher turnover is conducive to success in the open water where other swimmers, waves and chop frequently disrupt your forward momentum.
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GOING UP
One of the most efficient ways of building strength and enhancing aerobic capacity is hill running.
Sports scientist Andy Blow reviews 4 main benefits of running uphill and provides practical tips for integrating it into your training, including 4 of his go-to hilly workouts.
BATTLE OF THE BAND
At some point, most endurance runners experience pain or tenderness in their iliotibial (IT) band.
Kinesiologist Rick Prince separates fact from fiction in his comprehensive look at IT Band Syndrome: its causes and proven treatment.
QUICK HIITS:
- Fueling Iron
Race-day fueling at IRONMAN is more straightforward, now that Precision Fuel & Hydration is the series’ global nutrition sponsor. Learn what products you can expect to find on-course in 2026.
- Old Growth
Most people assume that they can’t build muscle when they get older. That’s wrong. Recent research confirms that athletes of all ages – even those in their 80’s – can increase muscle mass with resistance training.
- Qualified
All road races in the World Marathon Majors series have qualifying times. If you’re aiming to enter one of these prestigious events, learn the standard required for your age and gender.
