Strength Training for Triathletes

Book excerpt: Every triathlete wants to be faster, and most know that adding strength training to their program will help them get there. In Strength Training for Triathletes, fitness phenom Patrick Hagerman explains how small changes in muscle strength add up to big race results. For triathletes, the benefits of strength training are many, from increased stability in the water and on the bike to a faster metabolism. Stronger muscles can work longer before feeling fatigued, making strength training indispensable to endurance athletes. Clearly organized by discipline (swim, bike, run) and by muscle group, Strength Training for Triathletes helps athletes quickly find the best exercise for their unique training needs. Every exercise is accompanied by full-color art, making the routines easy and inviting to follow. This groundbreaking book further explains how triathletes can adjust their workouts to emphasize endurance, strength, or power, and how to balance the three to reach race goals. It includes complete information on structuring a periodized weight routine to maximize results, whether the race the reader is preparing for is a sprint, Olympic, half-Ironman or full Ironman event. Sample seasonal plans for each race distance and instruction on how to adapt training plans to individual needs make it easy for readers to develop specific approaches and reach their personal goals.