; the parasympathetic is concerned with resting and digestion. In triathlon terms, sympathetic is hammering down the road; parasympathetic is taking a break at a rest stop. Chronic stress throws them off-kilter, so you spend too much time in ramped-up mode, which can

Riding all day nearly always exposes your weakest link, which for most riders is the core. "The core area - your abs, lower back, obliques, hips and glutes - helps transfer power to the pedals, as well as stabilise the rider on the bike," says US ultra-­endurance and 24-hour moun...

Go easy more oftenThe physiological adaptations that increase your speed happen during recovery, not training. Leg-searing rides and runs put your body under great physical stress. To cope with that kind of pressure your body strengthens itself by building more muscle fibres and ...

In a world where beliefs about exercise are either long-held or fleeting (you know, until something better comes along), it can be difficult to know if we're doing the right thing at the right time. And while some rules of fitness are backed up with studies and research, others a...

How many times have you heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day? The answer should be 'plenty' and that's because it's true; front-loading your day is essential. But plenty of triathletes disagree on the particulars of a smart morning meal: the fat-phobic s...

Triathletes, like all athletes, need plenty of liquids to perform at their best. That inarguable fact is the easy part but things quickly become murky, because for years triathletes have heard conflicting reports about what, when and how much to drink before, during and after ses...

As you begin logging more bike miles, aches and pains can start cropping up. The usual culprits are poor riding position, imbalanced muscles, a weak core or just another birthday."With new riders, you can usually blame poor bike fit or equipment setup, or a training error," says ...

-important endurance element of your training.✘    Classes are usually between 45 to 60 minutes – too short to develop endurance for all but sprint triathlons.✘    Spinning studios often become hot, even during lower intensity sessions, leaving you feeling drained

Drugs don't workResist the reflex to reach for a bottle of ibuprofen to reduce swelling. "Killing pain is fine," says Andrew Pruitt, author of Andy Pruitt's Medical Guide for Cyclists, "but deflating inflammation during the initial stages of injury may actually delay healing." In...