John Mayfield - TriDot

Preseason Training: The Optimal Time for Performance Enhancement

Training in the race season is largely dictated by the logistics and demands of an athlete’s upcoming races, but the preseason presents several opportunities for significant improvement and great results in the race season to come. When athletes are not required to train specifically for their next race, they are able to make measurable gains and address areas of weakness and opportunity. So while many athletes are “taking some time off” before the next race season, others are making substantial advancements in their technique and performance level that will give them a competitive edge. Consider these five areas for possible progress: “Fast before far, strong before long” This principle describes one of TriDot’s core training and preseason objectives—maximizing an athlete’s…

Preseason / Training

John Mayfield

From Spaceman to Ironman

Throughout his childhood in Italy, Luca Parmitano knew two things: he loved sports, and he wanted to be an astronaut. He spent his youth as an avid basketball player, swimmer, and runner, before relocating to California in 1995 as a foreign exchange student. Eventually, Luca returned home to Italy, graduating from the Italian Air Force Academy before making his way back to the U.S. once again to train with the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. During his career as a pilot, Luca achieved prestige by qualifying to fly more than 40 types of aircraft. In 2009, Luca fulfilled one of his childhood dreams-being selected an Astronaut for the European Space Agency. Luca and…

John Mayfield

When Am I Ready for an IRONMAN?

Triathletes commonly ask how long is required to fully prepare for an IRONMAN race. My answer is simple: Everyone’s unique, so there’s no one answer. But everybody’s plan should ideally include both a developmental phase and race preparation phase. The developmental phase time will vary widely based on several factors including an athlete’s age, body composition, overall fitness, and time within the sport. It focuses on building speed, power, and efficiency to ensure the athlete has adequate fitness and skill in each discipline to take on the rigors of training for and racing in an IRONMAN. In addition to fitness, the athlete will need to achieve certain physiological adaptations in the developmental phase. These can include changes such as body composition, muscular and…

Bike / Run / Swim / Training

John Mayfield

Are Power Meters Worth the Investment?

That depends on whom you ask: I'm pretty sure your financial planner will advise against it, but your triathlon coach will likely give a resounding endorsement. A power meter is an investment in yourself. While other big-ticket items such as high-end bike frames and aero wheels will produce marginally faster splits, they do nothing to improve the cyclist turning the pedals. Conversely, adding a power meter will serve as a tool to make you a stronger, more efficient and a more educated rider. Prior to power meters, heart rate monitors were the best tool available to prescribe, monitor and track intensity in training and racing. While heart rate monitors do offer a quantification of effort level, the results can be…

Bike / Gear / Training

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