Triathlon Blog

Stephen Morgan wrote an article about selecting running shoes:

There is no doubt about it, with the amazing variety and the availability of current running shoes at the moment choosing the right running shoe (and if you don’t know what you doing) can be a daunting task.

If all you are wishing to do is buy something trendy and that looks good then the problem isn’t so great. However if you need the correct pair of shoes for serious sport then you have to view the whole process differently.

If you are buying shoes for serious purposes then there are certain basic criteria with which it will help if you knew about.

Firstly you have to understand that if you are road running then depending on how your foot strikes the ground this affects your susceptibility to injury. This also determines the shoe type that you should choose. Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all. All sorts of different shoes are designed for specific foot strikes.

Having established therefeor that your foot strike is a central part of the right technique and to match it is essential that you get the right shoe. How do you match your foot strike to the right shoe?

Another important aspect of running shoes is understanding exactly what is shoe cushioning.

Lastly you have to decide do you need a performance shoe, racing shoes or a trail shoe and how you correctly match your body frame size in relation to shoe selection.

It’s a bit more complicated than just getting big shoes for big feet.

Choosing properly running shoe shoes as they say, starts with a discussion of how your feet move when they are in contact with the ground or what is called the foot strike.

If you choose shoes that encourage your feet to maintain a neutral position from impact through to push off you are likely to increase the risk of running related injuries. It makes sense really to try and allow some sort of footwear that is going to hopefully mimic the natural movement offyour feet in relation to the ground.

Conversely if you happen to have shoes that allow your feet to roll excessively inwardly or outwardly then you are likely to increase the likelihood of injury. This last point is essential in fact it is very easy to keep shoes for longer than you actually should do, because you are fond of them. This is not meant in the sense of falling in love with them for the fact that shoes are old and comfortable and on the surface feel good.

If the side supports of the shoe are too loose and the heel too worn then the end product is that your foot is going to move within the shoe and you are going to injure yourself sooner rather than later.

As has been mentioned before, the goal and the target when you’re choosing the correct running shoe for you is to find the right shoe that encourages your feet to maintain a neutral position throughout the entire cycle from touchdown to push off.

Stephen Morgan writes about a number of Internet based issues such as Nike Shoes. A keen proponent of all aspects of free and independent services available, he advises clients to look at the whole range of products available online at Cheap Nike Shoes

If you want to use your triathlon for skills for something else in addition to triathons, consider cycling through Italy:

Cycling in Italy is a dream trip for many people and this makes it even more important to plan and prepare for your trip to make sure that you get the most from your trip. Going to a different country makes it very important to make sure that you know their customs so that you will not offend them or get into trouble. By reading about these rules, regulations, and customs, you will be prepared and you will be able to make the most of your trip.

Checking Out the Sights
Italy will offer you some beautiful sights that you will find to be awesome and beautiful. You, of course, will want to take lots of pictures so that you can remember this beauty. You need to know, however, that some places will not allow you to take pictures and even if you can take pictures, you may not be able to use your flash, so keep that in mind.

Italy Travel Preparation
As you are planning this cycling in Italy trip, you need to be sure that you pack any medications that you need or may need. It may not be easy to find particular medicines in Italy, so you will want to prepare for any sickness or needs that you may have by packing common medications. A medical kit with medications and first aid supplies can be invaluable when you are cycling in Italy.

Italy Food Tips
It is a good idea while you are traveling and cycling in Italy to stick with bottled water, rather than water from the tap. It is also important to note that if you order something off of the menu in Italy, then this is how it will be prepared and served to you. They do not normally do special requests in Italy, as they do in the U.S. If you suffer from food allergies, you will want to be sure to ask questions about the food and if you are unsure, then you will want to refrain from ordering the item.

Another thing to keep in mind is that when you are eating spaghetti, you will want to use a spoon, rather than cutting your spaghetti. If you cut your spaghetti with a fork, this is considered bad manners in Italy and may be quite offensive to the other diners eating around you. You will also need to request your check when you are ready to receive it and tip with cash. If you are in the mood for some fast food, then you will want to check out a pizzeria,, as other eating establishments are normally sit down meals with different courses.

By preparing for your traveling and cycling in Italy trip, you will be able to become more like a citizen, rather than a tourist. This will help to make your vacation less stressful and you will not offend others with your actions.

Alastair Hamilton contributes adding long articles on italy vacations for http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com . Find more publications about cycling in Italy at his website.

Lulu Moon recently wrote an article telling things triathlon beginners need to know:

This is collection of the answers to those pesky questions like;

1 What are the different Triathlon races and what are the distances?

2 What if I need to use the restroom on the bike / run leg?

3 Drafting? What is it? Can I do it?

4 Do I need a special Triathlon bike?

5 How to drink out of a paper cup while running?

Triathlon distances (and a few useful measures)

There are a couple of standard tri distances, however races often vary the distances

Sprint 0.75 k swim : 22k bike : 5k run

Olympic 1.5k swim : 40k bike : 10k run

Half-Ironman 1.2 mile swim : 56 mile bike : 13.1 mile run

Ironman 2.4 mile swim : 112 mile bike : 26.2 miles run (yes, that is a marathon)

1 k = 1000 meters = 0.62 miles 1 mile = 1600 meters (1.6 km)

What if I need to use the restroom on the bike / run leg?

It’s very important to drink enough and remain properly hydrated. In a sprint distance tri you might not have to cope with this, but in longer races you may have to.

1) Find a bush! If you are reading a page for Tri beginners you probably are not about to win a race anyway and can spare the 1-2 minutes.

2) Stop at the Port-a-Potties

3) for Men only:

Rule 1: Make sure you’re safe from legal repercussions. Urinating in public may violate indecent exposure, public nuisance, and disorderly conduct laws. In some states, you can become a sex offender for urinating in public. You don’t want to have to knock on your neighbors’ doors and notify them of your status. It’s awkward.

Rule 2: Make sure you’re riding on a slight decline. If you’re going too fast, you don’t want to lose control of your bike. If you’re going too slow, you don’t want to have to pedal midstream. You might as well just stop and get off your bike.

Rule 3: Learn the proper technique. Extend one leg and rotate the opposite hip towards the extended leg. Free your member from the top or bottom of the shorts, and let it flow. Tap as necessary.

Drafting, What is it? Can I do it?

Drafting refers to a riding technique where one cyclist rides behind another — sometimes directly behind them, sometimes behind them and a little bit off to the side — using the front cyclist as a windbreak. It helps reduce air resistance, meaning that the person riding in back doesn’t have to work as hard. The low pressure pulls you forward, while the wake pushes you along.

Most US races do not allow drafting. Both people involved in drafting (on the bike) can get disqualified. Note the “on the bike” part, because perfectly legal to draft in the swim .

Do I need a special Triathlon bike?

If you are a beginner, definitely no. I’ve seen people race on mountain bikes. It might be a good idea to put slick tires on that mountain bike, though. What’s the reason that people spend so much money for the lightest, fastest, coolest bike? Look at distances in a triathlon and estimate how long it will take you to finish each of the three legs. The bike leg typically makes up more than half of the race (time wise). So if you can get a gadget that speeds you up 10% for one of your three legs… which leg would you choose? 10% of a 10 minute swim would be 1 minute saved. 10% of a 25 minute run = 2.5 minutes, 10% of a 60 minute bike leg = 6 minutes. The choice is clear. There is another reason: time trial bikes are built slightly different than normal road bikes. For example the seat stem is a bit more vertical, which moves the saddle forward. This helps you transition from the bike to the run. Typically the start of the run is difficult in a triathlon (your legs feel like rubber and/or tend to cramp). The forward seat position shifts the work on the bike to slightly different muscles, which helps a bit.

How to drink out of a paper cup while running

There is a trick to it. When you run up to the aid station make eye contact with the volunteer handing you the cup. Grab for it from the top — do not try to grab it sideways. Right when you have the cup, squeeze the top together a bit. That gives you an oblong opening. Water won’t splash out of that easily. Drink from one end of that opening. You can run full speed without spilling any water.

and Watch those nipples…

What I mean is: your own! And this is a tip for men and women! Long distance runners sometimes put a band-aid over their nipples, or they use a products such as nip-guard, bag balm, or body glide. During a long run, the fabric of the shirt , singlet or jersey rubs this sensitive spot so much that it becomes seriously unbearable. And not in a pleasing way — it simply hurts.

Lulu has coached and trained triathletes for over 5 years. She currently holds USA Triathlon Level 2 accreditation. Lulu is an Ironman and has finished more than 40 triathlons and marathons. To read more Lulu’s Triathlon articles visit Active Peak on line where Lulu is one of the coaches.