Simon Ward writes: If you want to race well this season, at your target races, then the last few weeks of your training should be devoted to bringing you to a physical and mental peak. The way in which you achieve this has been the subject of much debate and the jury is still out.

I remember my first triathlon. I remember the fear. Everybody looked so serious and professional. And then there was me. I felt as if I stood out like a tone-deaf Jew going Christmas caroling. (That's another story for a different time.) I had no clue what I was doing and was too scared to ask.

Perhaps you have just finished your first race of the season and found yourself fatigued for days, muscle sore, and that the race was an overall shock to your system.

Perhaps you have just finished your first race of the season and found yourself fatigued for days, muscle sore, and that the race was an overall shock to your system. Maybe your performance did not meet your expectations either. This should be your wake up call; you are not training at intensities or durations that mimic that of your races.

1. Should I wear a wetsuit? It depends on if wetsuits are allowed in the race. Most of the age group races allow wetsuits. In this case, by all means, use a wetsuit! You will not only be able to withstand cold water, but you will also be given the gift of buoyancy by your apparel- which will make it a lot easier to get through the swim.

Dealing when the temperatures rise Across North America, racing in July, August and early September can be challenging due to the temperature. Racing during these months usually means you are performing in hot and humid conditions. If you train in this type of environment, that is optimal for conditioning your system to the stress.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Nothing will slow you down or stop you like heat and humidity. As the temperatures rise in June and July, so does the number of heat-related problems experienced by triathletes. Most experts agree that your body will acclimatize to heat and humidity - mostly in the first two to three weeks of exposure, and maximally after about two months.

It's that time of year again, when shaking in our legs from the cold is replaced by the shaking from pre-race anxieties! As you dust the cobwebs off your wetsuit and dig out your tinted goggles, there is a lot to think about when you toe the line in your first few races of the year. Here are some specific pointers for you to consider. Check the Race Priority

What follows is an attempt to help each triathlete for the preparation, strategy, and "game-plan" of racing a "Pool-sprint" style race. We approach this in a format to answer real questions that we have been asked about these types of races.

This is an excellent time of year to consider what you would like to accomplish athletically in the upcoming New Year. As with many things, planning is the key to accomplishment for your race season.