Preparing For your Triathlon With the Right Gear

bikingMost people who are facing the concept of their first triathlon are wondering what type of gear and equipment will best suit them. Depending on your skill level, your budget and what equipment you currently own, your needs for the right gear will certainly be difficult. Assuming that budget is a concern and you are dealing with a relatively short triathlon rather than an ironman competition, here are some considerations that you need to keep in mind:

Swimming –

You are definitely going to want to have a good pair of goggles, so do not be afraid to drop $20 or $30 dollars here. You do not want to go cheap when it comes to a nice pair of goggles, because these really go a long way. Visit a real sports store and buy a pair of rubber sealed goggles. As far as swimming attire goes, you can go the wetsuit route, or you can choose a triathlon in a climate that allows you to dress more casually. If you do decide to go the route of the wetsuit, then you are going to need to learn how to get in and out of the wetsuit quickly in order to perform well during the competition. If you own biking shorts that have a pad built in, then you may be able to swim in them, negating the need to purchase a separate swimsuit. Girls may aim to wear a one or two piece with a T-back, making sure to choose something that is light and comfortable.

Biking -

A bike can certainly blow a budget, so don’t worry about getting a good bike until after a few races. Right now, just worry about using whatever bike you can borrow, or already have stored in your garage. Road bikes, ten speed bikes and mountain bikes are all acceptable in these types of races. Make sure at the very least, however, that you have cage pedals. Biking helmets are also a complete must because you cannot participate without one. Padded bike shorts or a soft, gel pad seat are also vital so address these issues sooner rather than later.

Running -

Do not skimp when it comes to good shoes. Spend a little money here and it will certainly pay off in the end. Make sure that your shoes are being fitted properly. As far as running wear goes, make sure that you are choosing something comfortable, light and airy in order to best survive your run. Many people throw lightweight running clothes over the attire they wear for biking and swimming, and this makes the transition from one sport to the next much more fluid. You may want to consider this, but ultimately it is up to you what you choose.

There is also a lot of fun gear that you can buy to customize your experience during each triathlon race. Just don’t go too overboard at first until you know what you really need.

Photo Credits: envisionpublicidad

Originally posted 2009-06-14 12:26:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Real Reasons for Warming Up pt 2

warmingupUnfortunately, a warm up is not something that you can simply gloss over when it comes to preparing for a triathlon. This two part series seeks to look at why.

We were talking about abnormal ECG changes, right? These abnormal changes in the ECG were not related to fitness level or age – So they definitely had something to do with warming up, or a lack thereof.

To examine the benefit behind warming up, twenty two of the men that had abnormal results did a moderate intensity jog in place for two minutes before they returned to the treadmill to undergo another high intensity running test. With that small warm up of only two minutes, now ten of the men suddenly began to show completely normal tracings on their ECG, and another 10 of those men showed an improvement in their ECG tracings. Only two out of the original twenty two men continued to show abnormalities on a significant level.

It is not yet known if a more thorough type of warm up would have made even more improvements. Still, it would definitely be interesting to see these results, had the scientists gone another step forward with this experiment.

Warming up is also good for mental preparedness. It allows you to really get your head ready for whatever activity is coming up. Mentally preparing yourself for your workout or your upcoming event is thought to be capable of improving your technique, your skill and your overall coordination as well. This mental warm up is also capable of preparing athletes for discomfort when they are dealing with tough intervals during a race. If your mind is prepared to endure this type of discomfort, then the body is going to be capable of producing higher speeds. If your mind is not in a willing place when it comes to enduring discomfort, then your physical performance is certainly going to be limited.

There is no cut or dry answer when it comes to how often you should be warming up. Most recommendations, however, do fall into the 10 minute to 20 minute range. Some athletes even warm up more than this to make sure that their bodies and their minds are properly conditioned for the upcoming workout or the upcoming race. Athletes that have higher levels of fitness are generally going to require longer periods of warm up where as lower levels of fitness generally require shorter warm up periods of time. In most cases, when it comes to choosing a warm up duration period for your own needs, longer is going to be better, but it is important that you do what feels comfortable for you.

Photo credits: lululemon athletica

Originally posted 2009-10-02 03:14:32. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Running in a Triathlon

runnerTriathletes have a bigger challenge than just the cyclist, the swimmer or the runner since they have to compete in all three sports consecutively.  Very often, an athlete will excel at one or two parts of the competition but have room for improvement in the third, and this will very often keep an athlete from giving the very best competition during a triathlon.  For those who feel that the running part of the triathlon is their weakest leg, here are foot care tips to help you.

Clean your feet of sand after swimming.  Even if you feel behind and are struggling, take the few seconds to rinse off your feet before you take off cycling or running.  You might shave off a few seconds by not worrying about it, but even the tiniest granule inside your sock can prove to be an annoying and painful distraction as you run.  And in the worst case scenario it will start to bother you enough that you’ll have to stop during the race and empty your shoe and sock and wipe off your foot.  You could also end up with a blister from the rubbing.

Take care of your feet away from the race, too. It’s not only important to train your feet to pound the pavement, pedal and kick, but you should pamper your feet between training sessions. Clip your toenails carefully so that they’re short but not too short.  A nail clipped too short can become sore and make it more difficult for you to race.  Rub moisturizing lotion into your feet.  Dry skin on your feet might only seem like an annoyance when you’re barefoot, but dry skin can crack and become painful, which can keep you from doing your very best during the triathlon.  You put your feet through a lot of punishment during a race, so massage your feet often and take great care of them to avoid these problems.

Keep your shoes dry. When you run or cycle, your feet probably sweat. So your socks will get damp and the insides of your shoes might get a bit moist, too.  Choose running shoes designed to wick moisture and let it evaporate quickly, and socks designed to absorb moisture and keep it away from your feet. Good running shoes are key for any type of race, of course, but make sure you put the shoes where they can dry out properly between uses.  You won’t only avoid odor but you’ll avoid putting damp shoes on next time you go to run.

Don’t have a pedicure right before a race. You might think a pedicure is the ultimate solution to keep your toenails groomed well and your feet soft.  But professional pedicures can make one or more of your toes a little bit sore that day and for a few days, depending on how aggressive your pedicurist might be.   A pedicurist might work on your cuticles, pushing them back, and making the skin around the nails a little tender. Treat yourself after the race, instead.

Photo Credits:  1

Originally posted 2009-01-08 15:02:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Real Reasons for Warming Up pt 1

warmupThere is too many times where an athlete will show up late to a workout and just jump right in on whatever is happening, swimming, running or riding without any kind of a warm up. There are other athletes that are so pinched for time that they end up skipping their warm up so that they can squeeze more of a warm up into their busy schedule. Unfortunately, a warm up is not something that you can simply gloss over when it comes to preparing for a triathlon. This two part series seeks to look at why.

Your warm up will enhance your performance, and it will prevent injuries. These are the two major purposes that a warm up activity is going to serve for you. As a result, any warm up that you do is going to be both mental and physical in nature.

As you sit at the computer right now, you have a 15% to 20% level of blood flow to the skeletal muscles in your body. Most of the capillaries or small blood vessels within those muscles are closed off right now. After approximately 10 to 12 minutes worth of exercise, the blood flow to these muscles is going to increase as much as 70% to 75% and this is going to open up those capillaries.

Along with this increase in blood flow you are going to find an increase in your muscle temperature as well. This is a good thing because the hemoglobin in your blood is responsible for releasing oxygen much more readily when your temperature is higher. When more blood is going to your muscles, along with more readily available oxygen, you are going to have a better performance.

This increase in temperature is also going to contribute to muscles contracting and relaxing more quickly. Muscle metabolism is going to be increased, nerve transmission is going to be increased, and so your muscles are going to work in a more efficient manner.

Scientific studies are beginning to link warming up with injury prevention, but these scientific studies are unfortunately quite difficult to administer because not many athletes are interested in going through muscle stress tests just to see what it takes to make a muscle tear. Studies using animal subjects have determined that making a muscle sustain injury is much harder once the muscle has gone through a warm up process.

There have also been studies on humans regarding high intensity forms of exercise and the effects that they cause on the heart. There was one particular study that involved 44 men that did not have any over symptoms relating to corony artery disease or CAD. These men ran on a treadmill at a high intensity for between 10 seconds and 15 seconds without a warm up. The ECG or Electrocardiogram results showed that more than 70 percent out of all of the subjects displayed an abnormal ECG change that was attributed to low blood supply reaching the heart muscle. This is not a good thing!

Photo Credits: peasap

Originally posted 2009-09-29 03:12:08. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Training Tips for Beginners Who Race for Fun

bikingThere is a large variety of athletes who participate in triathlons. These can range from the professional triathlete to the people who just appreciate being able to compete and finish. These different types of athletes lead to different requirements when it comes to training. The professional type of athlete will train to push his capabilities, and develop his technique. However, the latter type of athlete shouldn’t have that approach to training. They compete for fun and health, and training should not be any different. Here are some training tips for beginners who race for fun.

- Fun is most important. Instead of speed, focus on distance goals. You should be sure to become use to running and jogging before a more intense running regimen

- Work on distance before intensity. Slowly build up your distance until you reach your goal. Once you have met your goal, and then build up intensity.

- Wear the proper attire. Comfortable clothing should be, with supportive running shoes.

-Similarly run or walk on smooth, soft surfaces when you can.

-Repeat workouts enable the athlete to quickly building up their capability in jogging. At a track, the way to train is to jog one lap followed by walking one lap. When that becomes easy, go for 2 laps jogging, one lap walking.

- Learn about the race conditions that you will face in your triathlon. If you will run on pavement versus a dirt path, the bike portion will be held in hilly terrain; you can match your training to the race day so you are comfortable and can better enjoy you race.

- Do not worry about special features on your bike or special shoes. Just try to be comfortable.

-Know the distances in the race, and train for 110%. If you will run for three miles, train for three and a half. A half mile swim should be trained for with swimming for 3/4 of a mile.

-Rest when you need it. You are planning on just finishing, so do not worry about rushing through transitions. That is where the body becomes taxed the most, when having to transition over a few seconds. Instead, take you time, stretch a little, and enjoy the race.

-Bring support to the triathlon. Friends and family can provide great motivation to help you through the more difficult legs of the race.

-Prepare for long workouts and races by taking food and water with you. If you are feeling thirsty, then it is too late to drink fluids. Also do not experiment with food choices, instead picking something that the body will readily accept.

-Prepare for the race a few days in advance, making sure not to forget anything on race day.

-Most important: make an appointment and get a checkup and talk to you doctor before competing. A triathlon is a taxing experience which your body should be in good enough shape to attempt.

Following these steps will help ensure a fun and enjoyable triathlon experience for the beginning athlete.

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Originally posted 2009-02-02 05:23:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Triathlon Gear

If you are going to participate in a triathlon, having the best equipment is vital. Experience and endurance are important, but those will only go so far towards being at the top of your game. It will vastly depend on the athlete the sort of equipment needed, since every human body is different. There are basics that will apply to everyone who chooses to swim, own a bike or become a runner. These will help in choosing the right equipment that one needs to be at the top of your game.

Swimming Gear –

When it comes to swim gear, it all comes down to foot wear and other accessories. In the training stages, there are footwear that is designed to help you train by promoting proper leg posture and tempo while kicking and swimming. These training shoes will help you develop the proper technique to swim like the pros. Goggles and Swim Caps are also important, as goggles will help to maintain vision and swim caps will reduce the drag while swimming. When it comes time to compete, then the proper footwear will be shoes that allow breathing, and provide traction. For a triathlon, it is also important to have shoes that provide arch support for running and will be compatible with bike pedals.

Running Gear –

Once again, it is all about the foot gear and accessories. While training, a very helpful accessory is a pedometer or other means to track your progress. A map may be able to give you an estimate, but you can run over much more ground than can be shown on a map. An easily portable water container that will not throw you off balance is also a plus. When it comes time to choosing shoes, what is important is proper foot protection and support. The shoes have to support the arch of your foot; otherwise you’ll fatigue much faster, and risk hurting your foot. All runners have a specific style that makes them unique, and finding the shoes that fit your running style is vital if you want to do your best on the track. Proper elemental protection is also good, in case of deep puddles, snow rain, or other debris. When in a triathlon, it is very beneficial to have shoes that will also double as swim shoes.

Bicycles –

Choosing the right bicycle is an important task and depends heavily on the intended application. The first consideration is the terrain; will you off road, or will you stick to paved surfaces? That is the question that will determine if you will get a mountain bike or a road bike. A mountain bike has a wide tire with deep treads, to ensure traction over a variety of terrain types. Built in suspension will reduce rider fatigue, and also ensure good contact with the ground. Conversely, a road tire is thin to reduce friction (and make it less likely to puncture a tire on road debris).There are treads on the tires as well, but they are more shallow, being only designed for riding in wet conditions. Then there are bicycles that are in between, designed primarily for road use, but capable of holding it’s own off the road.

Bicycle Gear –

This includes not only the ever important helmet, but also the appropriate accessories for bicycle maintenance. This includes grease and lubricant for the various parts of the bike, replacement parts for spokes and chains, and the tools necessary to tear down the bike and put it back together. Your bicycle is a precision machine that needs to be well maintained; otherwise it will not run as efficiently or as safely. There are a myriad of different options available to you when it comes to bicycles, including bicycles intended for scaling hills and rough terrain, and those that are meant for the road. Having the right bicycle is important, because each features characteristics that are meant to appeal to its primary applications. A road bike will not stand up against the rugged terrain that a mountain bike is meant to handle, for example. And a mountain bike’s numerous speeds and settings will be useless on the road. Choosing the right bicycle and the right bicycling accessories is vital if you want to get the most out of your ride.

Swimming, biking and running are the three activities that, when combined, form a triathlon. Having the best equipment if you intend to participate in these events is absolutely vital, because it will boost your capabilities and increase your ability to do well. Endurance and experience are both vital statistics, but they will really only go so far when it comes to reaching the top of your game. Because every body is different, finding the equipment and gear that will best suit your needs is going to depend heavily upon testing and trying out different brands, sizes and styles until you find what suits your needs best. A runner cannot win races without shoes that accommodate his or her running style. A bicyclist cannot climb mountains or ride to the head of the pack in a race without the right bicycle to accommodate him or her. And without the right goggles, swimsuit and swim cap, a swimmer cannot efficiently glide across the water to win races.

SwimBikeRunner.com is designed to cater to the athlete who is serious about the gear that he or she utilizes in order to win. If you are serious about improving your swim times, riding faster and further than before or running more efficiently than ever, then the products that you find within these pages will benefit you tremendously. Regardless of whether you are looking for the best swimming apparel, the right running shoes or the best bicycle or bicycling gear to help improve your sport of choice, or all three for that matter, you will only find top of the line name brand solutions here at SwimBikeRunner.com.

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Originally posted 2008-09-15 13:15:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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  • trainingSwimming for your First Triathlon Beginners to the triathlon tend not to worry so much about the running and bicycling legs of the race, although they require thought and preparation on their own. Running and bicycling for beginners, however, are familiar childhood activities, and are not as foreign as swimming. Swimming has always been limited......
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Swimming for your First Triathlon

trainingBeginners to the triathlon tend not to worry so much about the running and bicycling legs of the race, although they require thought and preparation on their own. Running and bicycling for beginners, however, are familiar childhood activities, and are not as foreign as swimming. Swimming has always been limited to summer months, or for those few with access, indoor pools. When children would swim, they would do so in fun, not as a competitive race, as they would with running and bicycling. As a result, beginners find that swimming requires the greatest focus in the early stages of training. Here are some excellent tips for swimming training for your first triathlon.

>> First and foremost, you need to become comfortable within the water and what this is going to take is swimming, swimming and more swimming. There is absolutely no other way to get comfortable with the water than to get into the water and simply to make it happen. The more comfortable that you are in the water, the better you will perform when training for and acting in your first triathlon. There is nothing wrong with being a little nervous when swimming, but you must overcome this in order for you to succeed.

>> Know specifically what it takes to train for the swimming you will be expected to perform. You must get the most out of every swimming workout that you participate in, so that you can learn where to place your focus and how to win.

>> While swimming style is purely a matter of preference in some situations, the best swimming stroke that you should be prepared to use is the freestyle, which is ideal for covering a great deal of distance in a small amount of time. While you can combine a variety of different strokes, the best stroke to begin with when training for a triathlon is the freestyle stroke.

>> When you are swimming in the freestyle position in the pool, you should do the ladder, which means that you should be pretending that you are climbing a ladder as you are moving through the water. This is a powerful move for when you are learning to swim for a triathlon. This will help you develop your reach and your down stroke, because efficiency truly is key when it comes to your triathlon swimming training. If you are swimming inefficiently, then you are forcing your body to go through more work than is necessary, and this forces you to tire out more quickly as a result. Keep your body close to the imaginary ladder, elbows high as you pull yourself through the water and practice this often for good results. If you pull through the water and your arms are extended fully, then your stroke is inefficient and you will never win the race.

Photo Credits: Michael Lokner

Originally posted 2009-05-27 16:58:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Choosing the Right Triathlon Bike

guruThe biggest step in figuring out what type of bike you should ride in for your triathlon is to determine what kind of money you have in your budget for the right bike. This is going to be absolutely the biggest factor in helping you to determine which bike is best going to meet your needs. Knowing that you are going to spend $1,000 or less, $2,000 or less, or anything you have to spend is going to narrow your options down considerably and very quickly, giving you a much more manageable pool of bikes to choose from so that you can make the right decision.

Once you have figured out the budget end of things, the main issue at hand is going to be to find the right fit and the right comfort of your ride. The most popular today is going to be carbon fiber when it comes to providing you with comfort of ride as well as solid power delivery between the foot and the pedals and right onto the wheels. You will find that aluminum is going to be slightly stiffer, and in theory this is going to offer a much more responsive feel when it comes to pedaling as well as handling, but there is a downside: There is less shock absorbing power coming from the frame when you are on a rough road, and there are plenty of rough roads involved in triathlon bicycling.

Steel is generally perceived to be the original standby, but steel is most often heavier than carbon fiber, aluminum and titanium. Still, with steel you will generally be looking at a much more palatable price. If you are going to attempt a much longer race, then you should be thinking about shock absorbing capabilities. If you only plan on doing short jaunts, then you might actually want to consider the tighter feel that aluminum and steel afford you. Even at its very worst, aluminum is more than capable of being an excellent bicycle material, so don’t discount it.

Next you are going to want to consider the fit, as this is really the most vitally important aspect of choosing your bike. The bike that you choose absolutely has to be able to fit your body. Some frames come like running shorts, in small size, medium size and large size, but these are extremely limited selections and they are not going to fit people that are long and lean or that have long and lean legs. At this point, it truly becomes a matter of choosing and relying on the right bicycle specialist to help you find a frame size and shape that is going to give you the characteristics that you need to meet your triathlon goals while not surpassing your budget.

Photo credits: KevinSaunders

Originally posted 2009-09-15 03:16:25. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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  • swimbikerunTriathlon Gear If you are going to participate in a triathlon, having the best equipment is vital. Experience and endurance are important, but those will only go so far towards being at the top of your game. It will vastly depend on the athlete the sort of equipment needed, since every human......
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Review of Barracuda B300 Swimming Goggles

If you are looking for a pair of positive pressure swimming goggles, consider the Barracuda B300 goggles, which are part of the Barracuda line. This concept makes use of a closed cell foam in order to seal against your skin without requiring suction, and what this means is that as a result you have a much, much more comfortable goggle. When you are training for a triathlon, having goggles that are comfortable without putting pressure on your face is vitally important.

Although many triathletes prefer swim mask types of goggles because they offer an increase in peripheral vision, the Barracuda brand claims that the Barracuda B300 Goggles are very popular among triathlon swimmers, and this is a claim that has been backed up by reviews. As far as swimming goggles go, the Barracuda B300 Goggles are really comfortable and they offer an outstanding quality with optics that are unsurpassed. They also come with the perfect screwdriver for adjusting the tiny screws that adjust the nose bridge width, and this is a classy touch because tiny details like this really matter.

The eyepieces of the Barracuda B300 Goggles are large and foam, and you need to get them wet so that they will seal right up against your skin. If they are not made wet first, then the Barracuda B300 Goggles will leak, and this is not a good thing when you are racing in a triathlon. It’s also important to know that while those pieces of foam are comfortable and capable of providing a good seal, they unfortunately put some limitations on your ability to see peripherally, which can cost you in a serious race.

The head straps that come with the Barracuda B300 Goggles are long and both ends come out of the same side rather than being able to adjust independently. Unfortunately, this means that you can end up with too much of the strap sticking out, and you may have to tuck it in, which can be a bother. The easy solution is to cut the excess off if you are not going to end up needing it at some point. Having a flapping piece of head strap while you’re swimming is a pain, so deal with it before you train.

The Barracuda B300 Goggles definitely offer decent performance and high quality. They are decently attractive for what they are, and they are a good value for what they offer. If you depend on your peripheral vision, they will be limiting. If you prefer waterproof vision while swimming and don’t mind a bit of a sacrifice, then the Barracuda B300 Goggles are definitely an option worth considering, especially when you consider that they are a value. You may want to use them for training but not for the actual race, but ultimately it is up to you to decide. They retail for about $28, which is a solid price for decent goggles.

Buy: Barracuda B300 Optical Grade Goggle

Originally posted 2009-08-14 05:21:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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  • trainingSwimming for your First Triathlon Beginners to the triathlon tend not to worry so much about the running and bicycling legs of the race, although they require thought and preparation on their own. Running and bicycling for beginners, however, are familiar childhood activities, and are not as foreign as swimming. Swimming has always been limited......
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Finding the Beginner Triathlon Right for You

As more people discover the triathlon, there is more pressure to create easier competitions. One of the events which are becoming more common is the beginner triathlon. Quite often this is an event which is held at the same time as other more intense races. This creates unique opportunities which were not previously available. It is great whether you are just getting started yourself or if you have people in your life which you are trying to get into triathlons. You can be competitor or spectator depending on what is right for you.

Who Puts on Triathlons

The beginner triathlon is held by different organizations. If you are looking for one to get involved in, you can often find it online as well as through bike shops, gyms and athletic suppliers. These events will often be supported by local businesses as well as through the major athletic businesses. You will be able to find competitions for all skill levels if you only know the right places to look. You may also want to simply ask other people you know who have competed in triathlons in the past as to where they found out about the triathlon.

A Triathlon for the Entire Family

Often the beginner triathlon which is right for you is one which will include the entire family. This way you can either enter into an experience level or an age group. This way you will not be judged based upon your ability to compete with those who are highly skilled in triathlons. These events are quite often more about fun than they are about the actual competition. This will help you to get one under your belt before you start training for a real event.

Charitable Events

Charities will often hold triathlons to raise money. To get as many people to enroll and donate money as possible, they will have all skill levels available. The beginner triathlon at these events is a very low stress environment. Once again, it is really more about having fun than it is actually about the competition. There is no better way for you to cut your teeth in the world of the triathlon than by competing in an event where the proceeds are going to a good cause. You will get experience while doing something to help out others.

Training for the Triathlon

No matter if you are competing in a beginner triathlon or a more intense one, you need the right training. This will allow you make it through the triathlon without succumbing to injury. This is important to make sure your first triathlon will not be your last. Make sure you devote the right amount of time to training in all of the different sections of the triathlon. For most people the swimming section of the triathlon is the part which they need to train the most for. This is because swimming is not something many people do just for exercise. Follow a good training guide to make sure you can gain experience without injury.

Photo Credits: jimmyharris

Originally posted 2010-03-25 10:30:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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