Trifuel

I started the 2012 Ironman triathlon training and racing season with some very lofty performance goals. It was clear to me at the end of last year that while I was fitter, the competition was getting stronger, not to mention that the overall number of slots for Kona were being reduced because of additional races. While I previously competed for up to 8 slots at any given race because of my age group…I’m now looking at only half that. With all of that in the back of my head, I knew it was time for me to buckle down and do something special.

With the recent passing of our friend Chris Gleason, many here at Endurance Nation have been wondering whether we should be doing more to ensure that our participation in our beloved hobby is a safe, smart idea. To that end, a few of the MD’s in the haus have offered up a summary of the risks and recommendations specifically for endurance athletes.

Risks

According to a literature review, the heart responds in a variety of ways to exercise.

1. Short Term Response

In Part I of this series we introduced you to the concept of using “Return on Investment” to make decisions on how you invest your limited resources of time, headspace, Spousal Approval Units, and money towards triathlon training. These constraints are simply part of being an Age Group triathlete.

To help you navigate your own particular circumstances effectively, we recommend you continually ask yourself these three questions:

With the increase in popularity the past few years, Crossfit gyms are opening everywhere. People watch the "Crossfit Games" on ESPN and are intrigued by the great looking, physically gifted athletes that are competing. I have received numerous emails, texts and questions on my views on Crossfit and their workout protocols. Here’s my answer: