performance training systems

Training in Training Races

- by Eric Kenney for the April 2007 PTS Newsletter
It’s that time of year when we all start to race. For many of us, some of these first races are non-priority races or “training races”. There are a few different ideas as to what a training race is and how it should be approached. Some people think that it just means that you don’t taper and “train through it”, giving them a nice excuse for not doing well. [more]

The Many Parameters of Improvement

- by Matt Giunta for the March 2007 PTS Newsletter
Remember how good it felt to cross the finish line at your first endurance event? How can we sustain these feelings over many seasons? Is it possible to generate feelings of race day fulfillment on a more frequent basis during training? [more]

Making the Change

- by Eric Kenney for the February 2007 PTS Newsletter
As winter rolls on… and on and on and on it can sometimes be very hard to stay motivated and focused on your goal. A goal that probably seems very far off and also too big for you to handle. Two very important things must be implemented into your training:[more]

Long-Range Planning or Making Endurance Fitness Happen

- by Patrick McCrann for the December 2006 PTS Newsletter
This is the time of the year that I typically begin my business planning process. I need to figure out what camps I want to have, when I want to have them, who I want to be there, etc. I need to plan all of the swim clinics and smaller seminars for my local gigs; I also need to plan client trips and weekend visits. And then there's always my own training to think about. [more]

Oh Baby, It's Cold Outside!

- by Matt Giunta for the November 2006 PTS Newsletter
As the temperatures plummet towards their annual lows, most folks migrate their training to the comfort of the not so great indoors. However, if you can’t stand the monotony of another treadmill workout, or you’ve already exhausted your entire DVD collection on the bike trainer, here’s how to get the best quality workouts in the cold. [more]

Planning for the Off Season

- by Maura McCrann for the October 2006 PTS Newsletter
Yet another triathlon season has come to a close and you may be left wondering, now what? Many athletes fall into two risky categories: those that ignore the off season and are already deep into marathon training, and those that over embrace the “off” in off season and are sitting on the couch with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s preparing to hibernate for the winter months. [more]

Marathon Training - The Long Run

- by Patrick McCrann for the September 2006 PTS Newsletter
So you've been training for eight or maybe 12 weeks and marathon day is getting closer by the minute. You've put in countless miles and have one last hurdle to clear before you can tackle race day: the long run. [more]

Racing Hot in the Age of Global Warming

- by Matt Giunta for the August 2006 PTS Newsletter
Sometimes Mother Nature doesn’t share the same vision of an ideal race day that you do. Although one cannot control the weather, it is entirely possible to race well in adverse conditions. Specifically, knowing how to adapt your race strategy when the temperature and humidity are extreme could mean the difference between a podium finish and a trip to the emergency room. [more]

Acing Your Race

- by Cheryl Bayuk for the July 2006 PTS Newsletter

Race day is all about putting months of training, equipment tests and checks, nutrition, and rest together. But without a race day plan, you jeopardize achieving optimal performance. Whether you are doing a sprint or iron distance race, you need to have a solid plan for the day, and even a back up plan. [more]

Tapering

- by Eric Kenney for the June 2006 PTS Newsletter

Ahhhh… the big Taper. You finally get to relax. Skip the hill workout. And the mega mileage brick on Saturday… Some people hate this time of training. I am one of them. It’s a scary time. [more]

Building your Fitness to a Great Season

- by Maura McCrann for the May 2006 PTS Newsletter

Spring is here and with the sunshine and warm temperatures comes the start of yet another triathlon season. By now, you probably have a solid few months of base training under your belt [more]

Marathon Madness

- by Patrick McCrann for the April 2006 PTS Newsletter

If you live in Boston, you already know: The Boston Marathon is Coming. Forget the whole "one if by land" stuff...we don't need a code to know. The signs are everywhere. [more]

Epic Training Week: The WrapUp

- by Eric Kenney for the April 2006 PTS Newsletter

Day 7, was another “recovery” day. 3:45 and 65miles. If that is recovery. Another nice day and I was feeling the week’s effort. We road a steady pace on the climbs and I dropped back towards the top on all 3 of them [more]

Obstacles 101

- by Patrick McCrann for the PTS Blog

We all deal with obstacles that threaten the multisport lifestyle we lead. For some, it is work pushing the limits of sanity as you watch the hours just roll by to 10 or 11 P.M. [more]

Altitude & Nutrition

- by Kristin McCowan for the February 2006 PTS Newsletter

Training and racing at moderate (2,600m) or high (3,500m) altitudes has nutritional implications as well as physiological affects. Nutritional affects of higher altitudes: [more]

Boston Marathon Race-Day Tips

- byPatrick McCrann for Active.com January 16, 2006

On some level, you already know that Boston isn't quite the same as the other marathons you've already run. There's some mystical allure that makes folks join the annual spring pilgrimage, year after year. [more]

Setting 2006 goals: Building a roadmap for success

- byPatrick McCrann for Active.com January 09, 2006

January is a great time to start considering -- or to revisit -- your goals for 2006. For most of us, the motivation that carried us through the Thanksgiving-Christmas holiday gap is fading fast. Creating a solid set of goals is a great way to re-energize your commitment and get back on track. [more]

Winter Training: Are calorie and fluid needs different in the cold temperature?

- by Kristin McCowan for the PTS January 2006 Newsletter

A pro-athlete recently complained to me that she seemed hungrier while training at a submaximal effort outdoors. She asked, “Do you burn more calories in the colder temperatures?” [more]

All Four Sports

- by Eric Kenney for the PTS January 2006 Newsletter

So now you’re committed. You have signed up for the BIG race. Whether it’s your first triathlon or you’re trying break your PR from last year at Lake Placid, the time is now to start laying down the foundation. So what is your foundation? What does that mean for you? [more]

Treadmill Training for Winter Fitness

- by Patrick McCrann for Active.com December 19, 2005

With the weather taking a turn for the worse, more and more folks are turning to the treadmill as a safe (and warm) way to stay in shape and maintain their running fitness. While running on a treadmill can be repetitive or even a bit boring, the treadmill is a fantastic training tool when used properly. [more]

Making the Marathon Move

- by Patrick McCrann as published in InsideTriathlon, Fall 2005.

So you have had a good tri season. Maybe even a great one. And you are looking at the calendar and are saying, “Wait until June to race again? No way!” Instead of resting on your laurels you have signed up for a fall marathon. Don’t worry – you are not alone. I see more tri-gear at marathons these days than ever before. But marathon success is different than triathlon success, and so your training must also change. [more]

Run Strong : Building lower leg Strength, durability & injury resistance.

- by Patrick McCrann as published in Active.com, July 2005.

You are in the midst of your running season – slogging through the humidity and heat – and you are seeking some extra seconds off of your PR time for your next event. Or maybe you are looking to boost your mileage while avoiding injury. Regardless of your focus, the protocols for both athletes are not only very similar, they are important to all runners regardless of experience and ability level. [more]

Taking Your Show on the Road

- by Patrick McCrann as published in Active Runner, 2005.

It’s that time of year again, when winter starts to fade, the days get a bit longer and, most importantly, race calendars are being published! Depending on your resolve, you either stayed fit at the gym or you didn’t. Either way, the road-racing season is practically upon us. Whether you are aiming for your first 5k or a PR at the half-marathon distance, you have to prepare for the transition back to the open road, Here are three tips to help you get up to speed and avoid early season setbacks. [more]

Monthly Training for Self-Coached Athletes

- by Patrick McCrann as published in Active Triathlete, January 2005.

This is the first in a monthly series of articles designed to give multisport athletes access to real workouts they can use in their own training as they work to achieve their personal fitness goals. Each installment will cover a particular phase of the triathlete's annual plan as they progress throughout the year to their key event. [more]

Less is More - Top Triathlon Training on 10hrs a Week

- by Patrick McCrann as published in InsideTriathlon, Spring 2005.

Most athletes have schedules that prevent them from training as much as they would like, as much as they really need to or as much as all the printed guidelines suggest. Yet with the clear strategy of the 10 hrs a Week™ training system, you can improve and realize your season goals. [more]

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