IN THIS EDITION…

  • How & why to conduct a heart rate drift test
  • 4 bike fit adjustments for better runs
  • Expensive wetsuits aren’t always faster
  • 3 swim workouts to master your pacing
  • Why did Garmin just acquire TrainingPeaks?

PACE TO RACE

Practice your pacing through structured swim workouts and you’ll be rewarded with improved efficiency, endurance, and speed control.

Variable-paced training is also a huge confidence-booster.  Accruing training yardage at your target race pace signals you can do it on race day, too.

Check out these 3 swim workouts to master proper pacing by coach Olivier Poirier-Leroy.

NOT SO FAST

Don’t spend the first hour of the IRONMAN marathon chasing a number you won’t be able to hold for the entire race.

Instead, follow coach Rob Wilby’s system to identify your ideal run pace and then perfectly execute it on race day.

FIT TO RUN

Minute adjustments to bike fit can improve your running biomechanics by preserving neuromuscular efficiency and reducing wasted energy.

Discover the 4 bike fit adjustments that can transform your run.  Then measure your improvements through regular standardized brick sessions.

STRAPLESS WONDER

You won’t believe the latest innovation from FINIS: the patented SlipFin Pro. Its soft, flexible material creates a gentle vacuum seal around the forefoot, holding the fin in place without straps. Amazing!

It feels like a natural extension of your foot and eliminates the chafing and discomfort often associated with stiff, traditional fins.

Give the SlipFin Pro a try today and finally develop a killer kick.  As always, TriathlonWire readers get a 20% discount by using coupon code TRIWIRE at checkout.

TAILORED FOR SPEED

Sometimes expensive wetsuits are slower than more affordably priced models.

Triathlon pioneer Dan Empfield explores what makes a wetsuit fast, and explains why those characteristics vary swimmer to swimmer.

Learn what wetsuit feature matters most for age group triathletes, and how to verify you’re purchasing the wetsuit that’s best for you.

CATCH MY DRIFT

A heart rate drift test is a powerful self-assessment tool to measure aerobic efficiency and metabolic fitness.  It tracks how much your heart rate increases during the second half of a 60-minute steady-effort workout.

Coach Steve House shares why endurance athletes should conduct a heart rate drift test every 4-6 months, and what values constitute proper aerobic conditioning.

QUICK HIITS:

  • Better Beats
    The HUNT formula provides significantly more accurate maximum heart rate estimates than other outdated methods.  Now you can have more confidence in determining your HRmax, which is critical for determining training zones and managing workout intensity.
  • A Little Pickup
    A moderate 5-10% increase in running cadence is a simple, evidence-based intervention that simultaneously reduces impact forces while improving running economy.  Try this practical strategy for injury prevention without compromising athletic performance.