I remember standing at the starting line of my first half-Ironman, heart pounding, wondering if I had done enough. Six months of training had led to this moment. But had I trained smart, or just trained hard? That question haunted me until I discovered periodization in triathlon training. Periodization is the secret weapon that separates … Read more
Time is the one resource we cannot create more of. Between early morning pool sessions, long weekend rides, and trying to maintain some semblance of a personal life, fitting in quality training often feels impossible. I have spent the last 15 years coaching triathletes, and the number one complaint I hear is not about motivation … Read more
You are three miles into a half marathon. Your legs feel fresh. Your breathing is controlled. You watch runners who passed you at mile one start to slow down and struggle. You smile and maintain your pace. At mile 10, you start passing them back. You cross the finish line with energy to spare and … Read more
If you have ever wondered what is a tempo run and why experienced runners keep talking about them, you are not alone. I spent years running easy miles and wondering why my race times were not improving until a coach introduced me to threshold training. That single change transformed my performance, taking my half marathon … Read more
Nothing is more frustrating than swimming what feels like a straight line, only to discover you have drifted 50 yards off course. I have been there, fighting through waves and thinking I was heading toward the buoy, when a quick check revealed I was swimming parallel to the beach instead of toward it. Learning how … Read more
I remember the first time a coach told me to do a fartlek workout. I laughed at the name, then struggled through what became one of my favorite training sessions. What is a fartlek workout? It is a Swedish training method that translates to “speed play” – a continuous run where you vary your pace … Read more
Feeling out of breath after just one lap of freestyle is one of the most frustrating experiences for new swimmers. I have been there myself, gasping at the wall after 25 yards while watching experienced swimmers glide effortlessly past me. Here is the truth that took me months to learn: the problem is rarely fitness. … Read more
Three days before my first Olympic-distance triathlon, I was jogging easy around my neighborhood when I convinced myself I had lost all fitness. My legs felt heavy. My breathing seemed labored. I was certain that three weeks of careful tapering had destroyed months of training. I almost called my coach in a panic. This is … Read more
Standing at the edge of a lake or the shoreline, looking out at the open water, feels completely different from standing at a poolside. The vastness can be intimidating. Yet there is something magnetic about open water swimming that draws thousands of beginners every year to trade the chlorinated confines of their local pool for … Read more
Learning how to carb load before a marathon can be the difference between crossing the finish line strong and hitting the wall at mile 20. After coaching hundreds of athletes through the Nautica Malibu Triathlon and other endurance events over the past decade, I have seen this nutrition strategy make or break race day performance. … Read more