The New Off-Season Rules
- By Jené Shaw
- Published Dec 20, 2012
- Updated Dec 20, 2012 at 12:07 PM UTC
Rule No. 1: Don’t run a marathon in January
You know that big running race you put on your calendar to stay motivated? Take it off. “The off-season can be a great time for a weighted emphasis on one of the three disciplines, but it should always be approached with a focus on becoming a better triathlete,” says coach and Triathlete contributor Matt Dixon of Purple Patch Fitness (Purplepatchfitness.com). “While many people choose to run an off-season marathon to ‘become a better runner,’ this seldom translates to better running performance in a triathlon.” Doing a long-distance event during your prime recovery time is a sure-fire way to wind up injured or burned out. Instead, see Rule No. 2.
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FILED UNDER: Training TAGS: off-season / off-season training
Jené Shaw
Jené Shaw is a senior editor at Triathlete magazine, a three-time Ironman finisher and a USAT Level 1 certified coach