Inside the Tri-Mind: Focus or Fail in Triathlon
Focus may be the most misunderstood mental “muscle” in the sports world and this misunderstanding can be a real challenge for triathletes. Most triathletes think of focus as concentrating on one thing for a long time. In fact, many years ago, a former world champion told me that she improved her focus by staring at […]
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Inside the Tri-Mind: Psych-up and Psych-down Tools to Reach Your Prime Intensity
In my second article in this three-part series in which I explore how intensity influences your triathlon efforts, I introduced you to how you can identify your “prime” (i.e., ideal) intensity. The value of knowing your prime intensity is that, before a race, you can monitor your intensity and evaluate whether your intensity, as the […]
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What is Your Prime Intensity in Triathlon?
In the first article in my three-part series exploring the impact of intensity on triathlon training and racing, I introduced you to what intensity is, how it affects you, how you can tell when you are either under- or over-intense. This article will focus on how you can identify your ideal intensity for triathlon and […]
Read MoreInside the Tri-Mind: Intensity is Essential for Triathlon Success
This article is the first of three exploring the essential importance of intensity in triathlon training and racing. When most people think about intensity, they think about mental intensity, a certain seriousness and determination that they apply to their triathlon efforts. But that’s not what I’m talking about. When I say “intensity,” I mean the […]
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Inside the Tri-Mind: How I Survived My First FTP Test
As I noted in a previous article, I’m obsessed with triathlon. After an abbreviated 2020 season (I got in three races), I have set some pretty big goals for 2021. A part of my deep commitment to being the fastest I can be this coming season involved installing power meters on both my bikes and […]
Read MoreInside the Tri-Mind: Ten Must-Haves for the Obsessed Triathlete in 2021
Note: After publishing my “Eight Must-Haves” on 12/28/20, I have added two more Must-Haves that I wanted to share. “Hi, my name is Jim and I’m obsessed with triathlon.” Yes, I admit it, I am 100%, over-the-top crazy about triathlon (that’s what my family thinks!). A brief back story explaining how I arrived at this […]
Read MoreInside the Tri-Mind: Is an Ironman in Your Future?: Part II (Do it for the Right Reasons)
Ironman is the ultimate in triathlon competition. It’s the “poster child” by which triathlon is known to the world at large. When I began doing triathlons, almost every non-tri person I met would ask if I had done an Ironman (that’s all they knew), as if that is the only badge of honor in our […]
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Inside the Tri-Mind: Is an Ironman in Your Future?: Part I (Ironman Will Consume Your Life)
A Covid-19 vaccine is on the horizon and hope springs eternal for a mostly normal 2021 triathlon season in the hearts of every triathlete who suffered through the frustration of the interrupted or abbreviated 2020 season (in other words, every triathlete!). All of that pent-up tri-energy may be pushing you to think about registering for […]
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Inside the Tri-mind: Taylor’s Ten Laws of Prime Triathlon Training
Because triathlon training is so complicated and difficult (and important!), I want to share with you Taylor’s Ten Laws of Prime Triathlon Training that will provide you with way to approach your training in a way that will maximize both its effectiveness in preparing you to race your fastest and its efficiency given that we […]
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Inside the Tri-Mind: Keep Positive Self-talk in Your Mental Toolbox During Training and Races
Perhaps the most powerful mental tool to build your confidence is positive self-talk. What you say to yourself away from triathlon, when you’re training, and during races impacts what you think, how you feel, and how you perform in training and on race day. Whatever you think more of—whether positive or negative—will determine the road […]
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