Yes! You are Fast Enough!
by Coach Eric. I remember setting up my transition area for my very first triathlon. I was racing the Door County Sprint Triathlon and I was wondering if I even belonged...
09May
01Jul
How to Handle Mental Fatigue During Training
by Coach Eric. You sign up for that race. Maybe it’s your first ever. Maybe it’s your first time at a longer distance. Excitement is there too when you sign up...
11Nov
RECOVERY is KEY!
by Coach Christa. Alright, raise your hand if you are reading this and are guilty of skipping your recovery workouts, stretching sessions, PT/rehab “homework,” etc. when you are strapped for time...
02Jan
The Value of Indoor Triathlon Competition During the Offseason
by Coach Christa. Have yet to give an indoor tri a try? The winter months are a wonderful time to participate in an indoor triathlon! If you are an experienced triathlete,...
19Mar
Never give in, never.
by Coach Joe. It’s often said that history repeats itself. And war is a big part of human history. As the son of a tough Brit, I’ll always remember the stories...
14Feb
Goal Setting 201
by Coach Judie. I’m sure you’ve heard it before (we are big fans of goal setting at Experience Triathlon), planning your goals for the upcoming race season is very important!...
30Oct
Being Consistent
by Coach Joe While it’s been a long season for most of us and we do need to disconnect both physically and mentally to recharge our batteries, it’s also time to...
22Oct
What do I do now, Coach?
Welcome to winter! We are fully immersed, at least those of us in the Midwest, in that gray and chilly time of year that sometimes is snowy, sometimes isn't,...
23Apr
Redemption in Geneva
by Coach Jim I’ve learned a couple of things in my 10 years of competitive racing, because no matter what happens there are always things to learn from a race....
09May
Do You Swim Like a Camel?
By Coach Vicky Have you ever seen a camel run? They are awkward creatures. Why? Because their front legs and back legs work in tandem. If we were to run...
19Jul
An Unlikely Breakthrough Performance at Muncie
by Coach Jim One of my heroes from history, Winston Churchill, had a quote during the Battle of Britain that I have always tried to emulate. That quote says, “Never, never,...
06Sep
Nutrition and Hydration for IM Wisconsin ET Cheer Crew
By Laurie Schubert, PhD RD LDN, Team Dietitian So, it’s the big day! Your friend or significant other is about to embark on 140.6 miles and you get to be...
22Oct
When Three’s a Crowd
by Coach Judie Remember that off-season article you just read? The one that said you should get into a master’s program over the winter to improve your swim? Yeah, that...
06Oct
Ahhhhh, the offseason, time to…..
by Coach Judie It’s the end of summer and tri season has wound to a close in the Midwest with the arrival of fall temperatures and shorter daylight hours. For...
23Mar
It’s All About the Muscle
by Coach Cathy It is all about the muscle! I am referring to strength training. There are many benefits of strength training that we are aware of and some we...
08Mar
The Big Comeback….One Day at a Time
by Coach Judie If your trips to the gym are colored with “I remember when I could…,” you aren’t alone. Many of us have had to take a big time-out....
01Feb
Want to Run Faster?
by Coach Jim Levesque Running is arguably the most important discipline in triathlon. It is the last leg, takes place when the athlete is most tired, and on average has...
03Dec
Maintaining Balance in Triathlon
by Coach Jim Levesque Triathlon is a sport that attracts driven and motivated people. We love the challenge, camaraderie, and the ability to test our limits as we look to...
24Nov
Finding myself in Arizona
Beating the Demons - Chapter 8 by Coach Joe Life. It’s funny. Sometimes we can’t figure it out and sometimes we think we got it nailed. Most of us spend our whole...
23Nov
28 Weeks to Turn Back Time
By Coach Vicky Do you want to improve your splits this off season? Consider doing a strength training program this winter. There's no better time to hit the weight room than...
29Jun
The Edge
Beating the Demons – Chapter 7 by Coach Joe. Today I did not think I could run. I really didn't want to. Too tired, too stressed out, eight days to producing our...
14Jun
Running in Circles
by Coach Cathy Track workouts! When I say these words, some people cringe with negative emotions and others are happy with excitement. I will admit I am one of those...
03Jun
Taking the Stress out of Race Day
by Coach Judie Summer is right around the corner and with it comes the start of the outdoor triathlon season. It’s like Christmas in… well… June! You’ve trained, you have...
30May
Functional Strength Training for The Endurance Athlete
by Coach Vicky Being an endurance athlete requires a strong core. Here's the rub: swimming, biking and running do little to develop one. If you invest some time to improve...
16May
The Marathon “Wall”: Myth or Reality?
by Coach Jim. Any of us that have done any long distance running have heard of “hitting the wall” from our teammates and friends. Those that have done marathons have...
29Apr
Organized Rides and the Triathlete
by Coach Vicky Have you ever considered adding an organized ride into your race season? A well-timed ride can give added incentive to spend time on the bike. June 21st...
09Apr
Kick Your Way to More Efficient Triathlon Swimming!
by Coach Sue As a swim coach at Experience Triathlon, I am constantly bombarded at our ET Masters Swim workouts by questions about why triathletes need...
29Mar
When Do I Shift?
by Coach Cathy One of the more common questions by new athletes is, “When do I shift?” This is not an easy question to answer since there isn’t really a...
04Mar
The “I Just Want a Menu” Diet Plan
By Laurie Schubert, PhD RD LDN, Team Dietitian A significant percentage of the people I talk to want to lose weight. Some want to achieve a better race weight, some...
22Feb
Setting Goals
by Coach Bob What is your goal for the coming year? Is it to qualify for Age Group Nationals or The Boston Marathon? Is it to make it through the...
11Oct
All You Have To Do Is Choose
by Coach Suzy A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. -Confucius Well, here I sit nearly three weeks post-Ironman (How did THAT happen?!), and I’m finally putting pen...
26Aug
Becoming 140.6 Mile Suzy
by Coach Suzy Two weeks from today, after many months of training through blood, sweat and tears, I will toe up to the starting line at Ironman Wisconsin. This...
04Jul
What A Ride
by Coach Suzy What a ride this training adventure has been! Right after I signed up for Ironman Wisconsin, Coach Joe told me that this was going to be,...
26Feb
The Hard Is What Makes It Great
by Coach Suzy One of my favorite scenes from the movie, A League Of Their Own, came when Dottie (Geena Davis) quit the team right before the world series. The...
26Jan
Using Periodization and a Coach to Succeed
by Coach Jim Are you achieving your fitness and performance goals? If not, you should consider using a periodized training plan and professional coach. Periodization is how coaches break down large...
21Jan
4,223 Yards…Oh My!!
by Coach Suzy My alarm went off at 4 AM yesterday. After fumbling to hit the snooze button, I said, “Oh my God, what day is it?” He answered, “It doesn’t...
07Jan
Ah-Ha Moments on the Pool Deck
by Coach Judie As we close out the current race season and welcome the off-season, it's natural to reflect on the year past and think about our breakthrough moments, or even...
01Jan
8 months and 8 days
by Coach Suzy It’s New Year's day, and this is the year of my Ironman. This is my first entry in my blog about my journey going from “3 Mile Suzy”...
26Dec
The Art of Time Management
by Coach Cathy Do you ever wonder how athletes who juggle their career, family, school and other responsibilities are still able to get all their workouts completed in a week? Where...
20Aug
Become a Better Swimmer
by Coach Cathy Fall is approaching and the triathlon season is winding down for most of us. You’ve worked hard this summer at completing your required swim workouts just to...
09Aug
What is Your Number?
by Coach Judie If you look around you after your next race, you will see or maybe be a part of a group of athletes studying their watches and talking...
30May
The Four C’s of Optimal Performance
by Coach Cathy As athletes, we all want to do our best. We strive to perfect our performances and to be faster and more efficient. We hope we’ve trained hard enough...
10May
There is No “I” in Team
by Coach Judie It’s 4:30 in the morning when my alarm goes off. Maybe it’s 6am on Saturday or Sunday. Either way it’s an ungodly hour to be getting out...
02Nov
The Perfect Storm – Ironman Florida 2011
by Coach Joe “Give me one moment in time when I'm more than I thought I could be. When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away and the answers are...
28Oct
Relax! It’s good for you.
by Coach Judie You hear it all the time, I bet, and probably from your friends and family who don't share your passion for competition. “You just need to relax!” ...
30Sep
It’s all about the form!
by Coach Judie If you've ever spent time in our Masters Swimming programs, you know how much time we spend working on form in the pool, drilling in good technique...
08Aug
Breakthrough Performance – Embracing The Pain
Beating the Demons - Chapter 6 by Coach Joe Why do we repeatedly throw ourselves into painful training sessions and races? The answer to this question in one of the biggest secrets...
06Aug
Not Offensive and Fine to Drink
By Laurie Schubert, PhD RD LDN, Team Dietitian Experience Triathlon athletes are used to drinking. I almost never see them without a water bottle full of water or a sports...
18Jul
Is Your Training Optimized?
As a coach, I’m often approached by self-coached athletes wanting to discuss their training, training plan, and performance results. Many times there are issues and concerns. Things like injuries,...
24May
There Is Always More To Learn
On Sunday morning I waited mid-pack for the start of my fifth marathon. I had gone over my whole race plan with Coach Joe on Thursday and kept reviewing...
22Apr
Biking For Family Fun And Fitness
by Coach Suzy With spring having officially sprung and National Bike Month (May) right around the corner, it’s a great time to suit up the family and get rolling! After...
14Apr
A Little Healthy Competition
For those of you who have hit my Experience Triathlon masters swim classes at Central Park Lisle on Monday evening and Friday morning (shameless plug!), you’ll know that I...
31Mar
The Power of Momentum
We all have that one thing that is looming out there on the horizon, that one thing that you tell yourself you really need to do, one day, it’s for...
16Mar
Myths and Mysteries of the Flutter Kick
Our leg muscles are arguably the largest muscles in our body. Yours are probably rock solid from all that running and biking you’re doing. Why, then, don’t they work...
27Jan
Bringing Awareness to your Swim Workout
by Coach Karli Almost everyone I’ve met over the years has said something like this upon learning about my swimming background: “Oh, you’re a swimmer? You know swimming is such...
28Jul
Transitions – Plan and Practice
by Coach Joe Can there be such a thing as Free Speed in triathlon? Yes, and it can be found in the transition from swim to bike and again in...
31Mar
Running on Empty
By Laurie Schubert, PhD RD LDN, Team Dietitian As a sports dietitian, I frequently encounter people who want to talk to me - just not right now. They want to...
04Mar
Why I Love Running
by Coach Suzy Running. A sport that can be done anywhere and the only required equipment is a determined mindset, a good pair of running shoes and some comfortable moisture-wicking clothing. ...
16Feb
Act as if…
Beating the Demons – Chapter 5 Act as if you can… and become! Acting as if you can is one of the most powerful ways to Beat the Demons. In...
31Dec
Getting Back to the Basics: Healthy Eating
By Laurie Schubert, PhD RD LDN, Team Dietitian It’s the new year, and all of last year’s dietary transgressions must be overcome! Sound familiar? It’s so easy to let the...
16Nov
Someday
Beating the Demons - Chapter 4 Today, November 16, 2009, I’ve been thinking a lot about Someday. Today, many of us attended the memorial service for our dear running club...
30Oct
Holiday Healthy Eating Tips
by Coach Suzy Ahhhh, the holidays. It’s hard to believe, but they are almost upon us again! One of my roles as an endurance coach is to educate athletes on healthy...
06Aug
Front Row, Back Row
Beating the Demons - Chapter 3 “Life is played on the field, not in the grand stands.” - Anonymous I just love this quote. Like the quotes in Chapters 1 and...
22Jul
Anything is Possible!
Beating the Demons - Chapter 2 In Chapter 1, we talked about Beating the Demons with proper goal setting. With proper goals, stress is reduced and success is more likely...
22Jun
Don’t Tell Them, Show Them!
By Coach Suzy Involving Children in Triathlon Standing in the Experience Triathlon booth at a local triathlon last weekend, I noticed a familiar face in the crowd. It was my friend,...
05Jun
Beating the Demons
Chapter 1 What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? How many times in your life have you missed your goals and been frustrated? If you’re...