Kurt Madden’s Hall of Fame Triathlon Career: A Lifetime of Excellence
Another top 10 finish at the Ultraman World Championships on the Big Island of Hawaii. That makes the fourth time that Kurt Madden has completed the triathlon-of-all-triathlons. He won two of the first three events back in 1983-85. Kurt Madden and Ultraman—and triathlon in general—are synonymous with winning and excellence. Starting his endurance-sport career in 1975, he’s still going strong. In fact, at this year’s Ultraman World Championships, he not only finished 8th overall and set a new age-group swim course record, he was inducted into the Ultraman World Championships Hall of Fame. Here are a few more of his accomplishments: TriDot Coach, Ironman Certified Coach, USAT Certified Coach 3-Time Top 10 Finisher, Ironman World Championships 3-Time #1 Ranked…
The Buzz Around the TrainX Challenge
A successful 2020 starts with a strategic preseason Your renewed strategy and focused work in the preseason are where next year's race results begin. And this year, the preseason just got even better! We recently launched the TrainX Challenge, partnering with such noted brands as Cervelo, Garmin, State Wheels, ROKA, TriBike Transport, Rudy Project, TriTats, and UCAN. More than $50,000 in prizes will be awarded for “doing the RIGHT training RIGHT.” Jeff Booher, founder and CEO of TriDot, said, “We’re certainly excited about all the incredible prizes—22 smart trainers in 22 weeks along with a $22,000 Ultimate Triathlon Dream Package giveaway. But our goal isn’t to give away free trainers, it’s to give athletes the opportunity to use TriDot, our…
4 Triathlon Training Myths to Avoid Heading into Next Season
A common dictionary definition of a “myth” is a “widely held but false belief or idea.” That’s means it’s double trouble. First, it’s a false understanding of a matter, usually based on incorrect assumptions. And second, it’s widely held and one in which many people believe whole-heartedly. Especially in triathlon, training according to a myth is a recipe for disaster. You should never simply “follow the herd” (or do what works well for your training partners). Instead, you should always know exactly what your training principles and strategies are and why you're pursuing them. The start of a new season is the perfect time to expose some common myths, learn from their errors, and set a new course toward the…
3 Essential Steps for Season Transition
Just as successfully navigating T1 and T2 transitions is essential in putting together a seamless and effective race performance, so is the importance of the transition from one triathlon season to the next. The time between your last race of this season and your first race of the next is a valuable opportunity to spend some time recovering and attending to any nagging injuries, evaluating your past training and race season, and discovering new techniques and setting new goals for getting faster for the upcoming season. Consider these important areas as you cool down from last season and warm up for the next: 1. Rest & Relax You’ve just completed another strenuous training and racing season of swimming, biking, and…
TriDot’s Preseason Project 2020: Improved Times, Inspired Testimonials
The best time to get faster and stronger isn’t in the middle of a grueling triathlon season when you’re constantly racing and recovering; but when you can invest quality time and focus on your training. That’s what the Preseason Project (PSP) is all about. And TriDot has been perfecting it since 2011. PSP is an annual, season-long triathlon study designed to measure and improve training efficiency, measuring the incremental performance gains achieved through TriDot's triathlon training optimization. With 13,000+ participants in every half and full Ironman event in the U.S. and Canada, actual training and race data is used to determine triathlon race ability improvement between athletes who used TriDot and those who didn't (the "baseline"). The project derives its…
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…
The Genetics of Athletics: Reach Your Potential
Have you ever heard someone say – “That athlete’s a natural! It must be in his/her DNA.” – meaning that the athlete’s impressive ability is a result of their genetics. And while “natural talent” still requires dedicated training and skill development, there is a world of genetic information contained within an athlete’s DNA that predisposes them to respond to different types of training in predictable ways. Therefore, it begs the question, if the genetic information is known, how can it be used to alter triathlon training for optimal performance for any athlete at any performance level? That’s exactly what the TriDot team has been pursuing, and now we’re excited to launch our industry-disrupting genetics module, PhysiogenomiX (genetically optimized triathlon…
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…