Once Inspired

Archive for the ‘Training/Racing’ Category

Xtenex (indeXed-TENsioning-nEXus) is a worldwide patented elastic lace technology that produces adjustable tensioning between shoe eyelets. Xtenex laces have an elastic core and a series of knots along the entire length of the lace at consistent length intervals. Stretch the lace and the knots disappear, allowing you to thread the lace through the eyelets. Release the tension and the knots reappear. More knots between eyelets lessens the tension; fewer knots between eyelets increases tension.

Currently, most laces are not able to provide variable tension as laces are tied by creating a knot at the top end of a shoe. The problem with this way of lacing is that all of the tension sits around the ankle area and that results in a restriction of blood flow and circulation. The problem is compounded by people creating a double knot so as to avoid their laces coming undone.

After a horrid run at South African National Triathlon Champs I was lucky to make it into the SA team and represent my country in Beijing, China for the World Triathlon Championships. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to represent my country at an international event and now I have the opportunity of doing just that.

Kicking is quite a debatable issue and sometimes a sore point amongst coaches and swimmers alike. Some swimmers simply cannot kick and trying to get a swimmer to kick as a coach is not often as easy as one may think. There are a number of reasons why some swimmers have a strong kick and why others simply don’t move when doing kicking drills.

In triathlon there is quite a debate regarding how necessary the kick really is. Many believe that using a kick simply as a means of balance and having a short fast arm stroke is the answer. Whilst this is true in some cases, this is not applicable to every athlete.

Now that we (in the Southern Hemisphere) are currently in our off-season phase it is good to know what to do and how to go about it. Most people think of off-season as gym time. Make me strong… but here’s some useful advice.

Much has been said about weight and strength training for triathletes, yet there are no conclusive studies which could confirm any schools of thought regarding this matter.

Bradley Weiss is an up and coming age-group triathlete from Cape Town, South Africa. Having qualified to race in Spain at the World Cross Triathlon Championships after a good race at Xterra South African Champs Brad managed to finish second in his age group (20-24) at the South African National Triathlon Championships and qualified for World Champs to be held in Beijing, China later this year. I talk to Brad about the past season, training and the races ahead.

Q: In the southern hemisphere the season runs pretty much from September to March for Olympic Distance racing, with a few off road tri’s and sprint races in the mix, what is your main focus for the 2011/2012 season.

Many triathletes think that it’s better if they don’t kick while they swim in order to save their legs for the bike and run. But surely if kicking makes you a more efficient swimmer then it would be better? Well if you didn’t believe it here are some videos as to why you should kick, courtesy of The Race Club

Propulsion

Lift

Stabilizing Force

Inertia

Okay now this sounds like something AWESOME. Perhaps I should do it, not to race but just because it is a once-in-a-lifetime!

Challenge Cape Town is an iron-distance triathlon based in the heart of one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Cape Town! The swim starts a stone’s throw from the city centre at Granger Bay and follows a 3.8km course in the heart of Table Bay. The unique cycle leg is a single-lap 180km ride from the breath-taking views from De Waal Drive on the slopes of Table Mountain, to the Constantia wine lands onto the culturally-rich township of Khayelitsha along the Indian Ocean coastline and up the famed Chapman’s Peak back to the transition.

The South African National Triathlon Championships (SA Tri Champs) took place in Port Elizabeth 20 March 2011.We were greeted by fantastic weather in an unusually windless Port Elizabeth (also known as “the windy city”). A sea swim, a flat bike and flat run is what lay ahead of us.

19 Degrees Celsius of Indian Ocean swept up the beach as we gathered for the start. The swim saw a single lap of what felt slightly further than the standard 1.5km.

I had a fantastic start, much to the thanks of my lifesaving background. I got into the water first and slowly managed to ease my way ahead of the rest of the field.

Few of you may know that I am a Vegetarian and a triathlete. “But what about the protein?” is a very common question. Beans, lentils, chickpeas and quinoa all have enough protein in. Oh, I do however eat eggs. So I guess that makes me a lacto-vegetarian. Meaning that I eat eggs and cheese, and drink milk. It has worked wonders for me in every aspect of my life.  Here’s a little something from Triathlete Europe on the matter of vegetarianism.

Vegetarianism and triathlon aren’t necessarily two things that naturally go together. But it is certainly possible to be a successful triathlete and eat a plant-based diet, as pro triathlete Brendan Brazier explains.

View Coach Jesse Kropelnicki’s website

Taken from http://triathlete-europe.competitor.com/