Triathlons

Being an outstanding athlete is essential for competing in a triathlon, but being good at math doesn't hurt either. It's a needed skill for figuring out where you rank in this competitive sport.

By Laurie L. Dove

If you read the headlines, a triathlon might seem like a death sentence. Titles like "Sudden Death Risk Looms in Triathlons" might catch your eye, especially if you just unwittingly signed up for the big race. Is it safe to compete in a triathlon, or do you risk horrible accidents, heart failure and drowning?

By Jill Jaracz

If pain has ever kept you sidelined, maybe you just need to roll with it. Whether your tension requires professional attention or one of those foam rollers you see at the store, getting the body's connective tissue to loosen up could be just what you need.

By Jennifer Sellers

Whether you're a professional athlete, recreational cyclist or kid on a bike, no one likes riding a bicycle in rain, snow or blistering heat. Stationary bikes don't help with training, so what can you do to keep your cycling skills sharp indoors?

By Jeff Harder

Cyclists know more than anyone the importance of efficiency. They strive to make their bike an extension of their own body -- and focusing on cadence, or the speed at which you pedal, is an important factor in performance.

By Jane McGrath

If you're an avid biker, chances are you're going to get caught in the rain a couple of times. Despite getting wet and muddy, some cyclists actually like the exhilaration of getting caught in the rain -- but the extra challenges involved call for even more caution.

By Cherise Threewitt

Being injured doesn't mean your fitness routine has to stop. Take your workout to the pool with deep water running. But how can running in water be better for you than the real thing?

By Jill Becker

A picturesque run through the cool, breezy mountaintops, a potential boost in performance -- what's not to like about high altitude training? Along with the inconvenience for a large number of runners who live at sea level, high altitude training isn't for everyone.

By Gerlinda Grimes

Changing running styles is not something to be taken lightly. But if you're looking to reduce your risk of injury while emphasizing proper form, consider the benefits of the chi- and pose running techniques.

By Lance Looper

You know the expression "it's like riding a bike?" It means once you've learned how to do something, it's hard to ever forget. Unfortunately, the same goes for bad cycling habits. What's mashing, and why do training coaches frown upon it?

By Jane McGrath

Athletes in search of an extreme physical challenge need look no further than the Ironman Triathlon. How demanding is this event? Well, a full marathon only makes up one part of the race.

By Marie Willsey

Most athletes find that massage can help with their performance. Due to thorough, rigorous workouts and a great deal of mental stress, however, triathletes in particular benefit from a good session on the massage table.

By Jane McGrath

If you enter a swimming race, you probably want to give 100 percent the entire time, right? Some coaches don't think so. Negative split swimming involves finishing the second half of a race faster than the first.

By Jane McGrath

Triathlons are becoming more popular by the day. Despite the sport's grueling nature, more than a million people signed up for a traditional triathlon in 2009. But what about triathletes who want something a little different -- or tougher?

By Dave Roos

Humans have been swimming in lakes and oceans far longer than they've been swimming in pools, and there remains a certain primal attraction to open water swimming. A far cry from clean, orderly time trials -- open water swimming is a messy free-for-all of kicking feet and splashing arms.

By Tristin Hopper

Cyclists are only as good as their pedaling, so what's the best pedaling technique for both power and speed? And does the type of pedal you use really make that much difference?

By Brian Boone

In preparing for triathlons, people often go to great lengths to give themselves a competitive edge. While many tend to overlook aspects such as core body strength and flexibility, the smart triathlete will utilize Pilates to build a powerful core and balance the body.

By Colleen Cancio

If you're struggling to improve your running performance, you might want to think a little more about surfaces. Although it's easier to go fast on hard surfaces like concrete, soft surfaces actually give you a more vigorous workout.

By Jane McGrath

With all of the swimming, biking and running triathletes do in preparation for the big race, you'd think that that might be enough to get you to the finish line. But strength training is an important part of a triathlete's schedule, especially when endurance is such a big factor.

By Jill Jaracz

If the thought of taking a few extra minutes before and after your workout to help prevent injuries sounds like a stretch -- you're right. Though the experts don't agree on how much stretching really helps, there are some benefits.

By Caitlin Uttley

Are you a hard-core triathlete who enjoys swimming, cycling and running? Then you've probably heard of the International Triathlon Union (ITU), the world governing body of triathlons and related multi-sports. But what does the ITU entail?

By Marie Willsey

As the popularity of triathlons has grown over the years, so has the amount of garbage generated by participants and spectators. Now some organizers and athletes are working to lessen their impact on the environment.

By Joanna Burgess

Freestyle swimming is not only good fun, it's also great exercise. But getting the breathing down can be tricky. Here's a how-to for all you budding Michael Phelpses out there.

By Jill Becker

A bad dive off the blocks during a swimming race can cost you valuable seconds. It may even cost you the race. But do you know the best way to dive into a shallow river or lake while running a triathlon?

By Patrick E. George

You've probably seen them on the road -- packs of cyclists speeding past as you sit in traffic. They're astonishingly close together, they're dressed in tight-fitting regalia, and they're usually accompanied by choruses of ringing bells.

By Tristin Hopper