Strength and Conditioning Considerations for Triathletes

by Ryan Eckert, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, and Ronald L. Snarr, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT
Personal Training Quarterly November 2018

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Triathlons are unique compared to other sports as athletes are required to master three distinct disciplines: swimming, cycling, and running. This article lays out a training program that focuses on a balance between strength training and sport training to avoid overtraining and overuse injuries and to maximize performance in a multi-sport athlete.

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This article originally appeared in Personal Training Quarterly (PTQ)—a quarterly publication for NSCA Members designed specifically for the personal trainer. Discover easy-to-read, research-based articles that take your training knowledge further with Nutrition, Programming, and Personal Business Development columns in each quarterly, electronic issue. Read more articles from PTQ »

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References

1. Andersen, CA, Clarsen, B, Johansen, TV, and Engebretsen L. High prevalence of overuse injury among iron-distance triathletes. British Journal of Sports Medicine 47: 857-861, 2013.

2. Bazyler, CD, Abbott, HA, Bellon, CR, Taber, CB, and Stone, MH. Strength training for endurance athletes: Theory to practice. Strength and Conditioning Journal 37(2): 1-12, 2015.

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4. Bonacci, J, Green, D, Saunders, P, Blanch, P, Franettovich, M, Chapman, A, et al. Change in running kinematics after cycling are related to alterations in running economy in triathletes. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 13(4): 460-464, 2010.

5. Haff, GG and Triplett, NT (Eds). Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning. (4th ed.) Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 2015.

6. Hulin, BT, Gabbett, TJ, Blanch, PC, Chapman, P, Bailey, D, and Orchard, JW. Spikes in acute workload are associated with increased injury risk in elite cricket fast bowlers. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2013.

7. Hulin, BT, Gabbet, TJ, Lawson, DW, Caputi, P, and Sampson, JA. The acute: chronic workload ratio predicts injury: high chronic workload may decrease injury risk in elite rugby league players. British Journal of Sports Medicine 50(4): 2015.

8. Ironman. Rookie lessons: Don’t topple in T1. Retrieved February 1, 2018 from http://www.ironman.com/triathlon-news/ articles/2013/06/rookie-lessons-mastering-the-swim-to-biketransition.aspx#axzz55t67nsh7.

9. Johnstone, J. Story of the First Triathlon. 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2018 from http://www.triathlonhistory.com/. 10. Kienstra, CM, Asken, TR, Garcia, JD, Lara, V and Best, TM. Triathlon injuries: Transitioning from prevalence to prediction and prevention. Current Sports Medicine Reports 16(6): 397-403, 2017.

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12. Malone, S, Owen, A, Newton, M, Mendes, B, Collins, KD, and Gabbett, TJ. The acute:chonic workload ratio in relation to injury risk in professional soccer. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 20(6): 561-565, 2017.

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16. USA Triathlon. About Multisport. 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2018 from https://www.teamusa.org/usa-triathlon/ about/multisport.

17. van Gent, BR, Siem, DD, van Middelkoop, M, van Os, TA, Bierma-Zeinstra SS, and Koes BB. Incidence and determinants of lower extremity running injuries in long distance runners: a systematic review. British Journal of Sports Medicine 41(8): 469-80, 2007.

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Ryan Eckert, CSCS, NSCA-CPT

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Ryan Eckert holds both a Bachelors degree and a Masters degreein Exercise and Wellness from Arizona State University and is aCertified Strength and Co ...

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Ronald L. Snarr, PhD, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, TSAC-F,*D

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Ronald Snarr is an Assistant Professor and Human Performance LabDirector at Georgia Southern University. He holds a PhD in ExercisePhysiology/Human Pe ...

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