Pilates For Triathlon

Beginning to train for a triathlon can be as hard as it sounds. Well, it means changing your usual everyday routine and adding some time on the track, on your bike, at the gym, and in the water. But those are not the only things you must consider. You should also think of the possible risks that might happen before during and after your training.
You must remember this: injuries do exist but can be prevented. And the most common are caused by over-training, wrong set of gears, and improper practices. Here are 5 ways to prevent injuries from taking away your triathlon dream:
Stretching – Before you begin your training, you must do some stretching. This would release the tension of your tightened tendon and muscles. There are some studies conducted that people who do not stretch before and after stretching are more prone to injuries. Some also argue about the necessity of stretching but taking outmost precaution would certainly lead you from disregarding this argument.
Training duration – You simply cannot go from 0 to 5k in an instant. You must take it gradually. Over-training often causes injuries. Make sure you take one step at a take and not take on giant leap towards your goal. Keep your training plan realistic. In this way, give your body the time to adapt to the training.
Rest – After training for several hours on one day, your body needs to rest. Again, a good rest would give your body the time to adapt to the training. This would prevent from over stressing your muscles and tendons that can result to injuries.
Footwear – There is a particular shoe for running and cycling. And this should be taken seriously. The most punished part of your body during training and the actual triathlon itself are your feet so make sure that you have the proper footwear for your run and for your bike. Also remember that friction blister is common to those who wear old shoes, shoes with inadequate soles, and improper shoe fitting.
Gears – If you have the history of ankle injury, keeping your ankle protected with braces would be a good idea. Tendonitis, a common effect of over training could be avoided if you wear proper ankle braces. A nice swimwear would give you better movement on water. And since you also have your swimwear on during the entire race, a good and well-fitted one is a must have.

The next phase you’ll encounter after a free-for-all wild swim is the bike race. This might not actually be the hardest (after all, you only have to know the basics of biking and the principles that would maximize your performance while riding) but it can also make big differences during the race.
In preparation for the triathlon, far too many people seem to put much importance on the type of triathlon bicycle than with what they can do with it. Some even spend grand on a top-of-the-line bicycle and forget all about the thing that matters most- proper use.
On some points of the race, competitors believe that those with lighter and faster bikes have the most advantages. This cant be far from the truth but this does not tell it all. After all, the manner of use and the person’s actual capacity to optimize the bicycle will create big differences.
For some unknown reasons, that only you would somehow realize, a single bike would fit you. It wont matter how expensive it is or how old. Like your favorite running shoes, your triathlon bicycle would suit your style, your needs and your ability. It is just a matter of trying on different bikes and getting the feel for each of them.
Sure, the technologies used to develop a $10,000 triathlon bicycle would actually create some edges over those who only ride on $250 bikes. Nonetheless, never forget that the bike period is only a part of the three areas of discipline triathlon covers. And the bike itself is only a single component of the bike transition. You must still consider and be able to look eye on other principles that will lead you to the last transition stage.
Say you are riding on a high-end, oozing new triathlon bicycle yet bargained so much on the benefits it might give you. You surely have the speed, the style, and the envy of the onlookers and fellow triathletes. But without proper skills in it’s operation, or proper planning during the course and even the endurance to continue biking after loosing much strength during the swim stage, your “nice bike” would be turned into nothing.
It might be cool to pass fellow racers on the initial run yet once they passed you over with their dreaded looks, you’ll wish that you’re on a $300 beater. (That way, you would atleast have an excuse of being beaten).

The whole of triathlon is simply a matter of personal choice. The governing bodies allow the competitors to choose the gears they would use, the equipments, the bikes, the clothing and all other things. Only, triathletes have to do what is stipulated in the rules and agreements.
Many athletes find satisfaction on investing on top-of-the-line gears or high-end wet suits. If it were for anything else, it must be the assurance of the research and technologies used to design and manufacture expensive items. After all, you get what you pay for.
The choice of triathlon clothing is solely yours. There is a wide spectrum of choices both from local triathlon gear stores and online vendors that you might find yourself overwhelmed with options. Prices vary greatly and so are the designs, quality and a number of other things.
There may be lots of choices for you but only a few can actually create the difference. A good fit says it all. It would be better to toss several more dollars on a good pair of triathlon clothing and get what you expect than to get irritated along the race and stray from what you actually must do.
Choosing your triathlon race clothing might sound easier than it actually is. It must take some sound decision-making and a thrust of luck to be able to find one that will not only give you style, satisfaction and guarantee of performance. There are no mandated rules to follow in shopping your triathlon clothing, you can only use your best judgment.
Offers abound, you only have to seek for them. Comparison shopping never fails so it would be better to take the risks. What is offered by a single store may not be offered on another. Nonetheless, each offering may provide you whole new perspectives of choices. Don’t be to hasty when making your decisions.
Great deals are offered every now and then. You may not be needing a new bike now but it pays off to watch for sales that will not only save you money but may possibly help you buy the triathlon clothing you have always wanted.
If you’re watching for quality then you have to get a good price too. It is pointless to invest so much for a single item and tightening your budget on other gears.
In the end, the only three main ideas you have to consider is price, value and quality. These might not always be found in a single item but surely, there exist some that will offer you the best of all worlds. Only you have to be patient in searching for them.

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