What is YOUR Off-season Triathlon Plan?
- Jun 9, 2015
By Sarah Currie, MS RD, USAT Level 1
What zone am I in? What’s my cadence? How many calories have I burned so far? I bet I can catch that cyclist in front of me. OH WAIT, I’m not wearing my heart rate monitor! Slight panic sets in before a headwind blast off the Hudson snaps me out of it. Tri season is over. I’m not supposed to be “training.” My therapist said I need to practice simply enjoying my occasional ride to work. Appreciate the views along the Westside highway, gaze at the changing leaves in Riverside Park, ride around the pedestrians with patience rather than anger. OK, I’m not REALLY in therapy for my type-A, rigid, all-or-nothing personality, but I’m sure many of you can relate. Now that we are entering winter, especially in the Northeast, what is your off-season plan going to be?
Nutrition - Now that your training has decreased, be mindful of what goes in your mouth. You probably don’t need to be eating like you’re in-season. Cut back on portion sizes. Ditch the gels, bars and sports drink. A plain yogurt plus a piece of fruit is fewer calories than a bar and is more filling.
Balance your body - Strengthen your weak areas and stretch your tight areas. Do yoga, Pliates, gyrotonics or lift weights. Move laterally by playing basketball or tennis. Sign up for a dance class.
Take care of injuries - Rest, physical therapy, massage, and body balancing tactics may not be enough. Look into Active Release Technique (ART), Rolfing, or acupuncture if you have some stubborn sore spots.