I have two nice things to say about triathlons, which is that they’re long, and they’re difficult. (Yes, they’re also steeped in history and tradition, and the .) But, Lordy鈥攃ould the sporting gods have picked a more somber collection of events? Swimming, biking, and running are about as basic as a pumpkin spice latte. Even the Olympics has skateboarding these days.

While I have nothing but respect for anyone who would even contemplate completing a triathlon, many of us at 翱耻迟蝉颈诲别听have a hard time doing the same, grueling activity for hours at a time. The rest of us have bad knees. Besides, triathlons have been around since the seventies. Isn’t it about time to change things up?

So, the editors鈥攑hilosophers that we are鈥攑ut our heads together to come up with some alternatives. So far, not a single national sporting committee has taken us up on any of them. But, as always, we’re just going to assume we’re ahead of our time.

Here are eight multisport linkups we’d much rather participate in than a full triathlon.

Spending all day in the sun is fine鈥攗nless you have skin as fair and burn-prone as I do. As an alternative, I propose we move the whole triathlon business underground. Call it the Moley Trinity. Competitors will connect a route, a spelunking adventure, and an in a terrible, beautiful, and highly abrasive linkup of semi-subterranean sports.
鈥� Corey Buhay, interim managing editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

I suck at swimming, which is why I鈥檝e never tried a tri. And a stubborn piriformis injury has put the kaibosh on competitive trail running. So if I could pick any three triathlon events, I鈥檇 keep biking in there, but make it mountain biking. Then I鈥檇 add in 10 laps on a , and I鈥檇 top it off with 60 minutes of jump roping鈥攎y favorite form of cardio.
鈥� Maya Silver, editor-in-chief, Climbing

Hike, pick a gallon of wild berries, then bake them into a pie. Points for time, but your final confection will also be judged in the style of The Great British Bake-Off. The hardest part is collecting enough berries without eating them all straight off the bush.
鈥� Zoe Gates, senior editor, Backpacker

Slam a gas-station four-pack of Red Bull on your way to the lake. When you arrive, grab your SUP and paddle until your arms give out. Finally, snag a prime shoreline spot and hang your hammock. Whoever dozes off first wins. (Can鈥檛 fall asleep? That鈥檚 God, or maybe the Red Bull, telling you that you haven鈥檛 paddled enough.)
鈥� Adam Roy, editor-in-chief, Backpacker

Bike, to inline skate, to swim鈥攖he ultimate urban tri. The biggest crux here is transporting your skates via bike. Do you tie them around your neck, throw them in a pack, or swing them off the handle bars? The strategy we have tried is attempting to ride the bike with blades already on. Would not recommend.
鈥� Kade Krichko, contributing editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

Okay, one more idea. Allow me to pitch you Mudsport, a sloppy six-mile mud run, followed by an intense but sporting game of , with a stretch of highly competitive to cap it off.
鈥� Corey Buhay, interim managing editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

I鈥檓 13 weeks postpartum, so any kind of exercise is an accomplishment these days. I propose a tri for new parents: Drink a full cup of coffee before it gets cold. Then pop your child into a stroller and jog to the nearest kid-friendly attraction so you can push the stroller around while your little one snoozes peacefully, appreciating none of it鈥�.all on wildly limited sleep while nursing as needed. Bonus points if you have to change a blowout along the way.
鈥� Abigail Wise, brand director, 国产吃瓜黑料

I鈥檓 a great swimmer and used to be on a swim team, but if I never touch water again鈥攎inus showering and bubble baths鈥擨鈥檇 be OK with that. My preferred triathlon consists of a morning session spent training my friend鈥檚 kitten to wear a harness so that he can join me on my trail walks, taking said kitten on my favorite 2.3-mile trek, and then parking my car in front of the beach for a nap.
鈥�Ayana Underwood, senior health editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

The post My Personal Triathlon Consists of These Three Events appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Siri Lindley had done it all鈥攕he had become the number one triathlete in the world, built a successful career coaching Olympians, and was happily living with her wife Rebekah in Colorado. But in 2019, she was diagnosed with a form of leukemia that had a less-than-ten percent survival rate. Her world was turned upside down. In the months that followed, Lindley fought for her life. There were times when she was terrified she wouldn鈥檛 make it, but through it all, spending time with her rescue horse, Savannah, reminded her how to overcome, love, and heal. Siri and Rebekah now run two non-profit organizations that rescue horses from slaughter and abuse. To date, she has saved 343 horses.

Here鈥檚 her story as told to writer Julia Ries.

When I rescued my horse, Savannah, I had never owned or ridden a horse before. But over the previous years, I鈥檇 gotten to know one, named Giselle, near my home. I would walk my dogs near her pasture, and interacting with Giselle always left me so calm and at peace. The experience made me want a horse of my own one day.

So, in 2016, I decided to visit the to see a 23-year-old horse named Calypso, who was barely able to move. When I arrived, I met the head trainer, Sarah, who recognized me as a world champion triathlete. I told her I wanted to meet Calypso, and she said, 鈥淐alypso is not the right horse for you. I have another one who鈥檚 perfect.鈥�

She took me to meet Savannah, a horse that was much bigger than Calypso and only six years old. Savannah completely ignored me, but there was something about her.

鈥淲hy do you think she鈥檚 the horse for me?鈥� I asked. Sarah shrugged and said, 鈥淚 just need you to trust me.鈥� So, I did.

It wasn鈥檛 until after I adopted Savannah that I learned she had been nicknamed 鈥淭he Trainer Killer鈥� because no one could control her. But Sarah saw potential in me. She knew that, as a triathlete, I didn鈥檛 give up easily鈥攁nd figured I could handle a horse like Savannah. She believed in me more than I believed in myself at the time. And she was right.

I started working with Sarah, and she taught me how to train and ride Savannah. Horses are incredibly sensitive to energy, body language, and intention. I learned how to influence Savannah鈥檚 movement without ever touching her or using force. By shifting my position, I could ask her to move forward. Every step I took, every shift in my posture, the speed and rhythm of my movement鈥攊t all communicated something. I was amazed that I could lead this 1,500-pound, magnificent, and powerful animal with such subtle cues. Over time, Savannah started to look to me for direction, reassurance, and connection.

Before I met Savannah, I was terrified of heights, but I overcame that to ride her. It was one of the scariest鈥攂ut most rewarding and beautiful鈥攖hings I鈥檝e ever done. I eventually built a barn and rescued over 30 horses from neglect and abuse. (The video below captures the bond between me and my sweet girl. Yes, she really does love apples that much.)

Life was good鈥攗ntil 2019. I had been feeling very fatigued and achy, but I had just turned 50 and chalked it up to age. Then I went in for some routine bloodwork ahead of a hip replacement. The results were abnormal. The doctor quickly scheduled me for a bone marrow biopsy and a panel of other tests. A week later, I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, or AML. I was told I had a less-than-ten聽percent聽chance of survival. It doesn鈥檛 get any more serious than that, but I was determined to fight.

Back in 1993, I decided I wanted to be the best triathlete in the world, even though I didn鈥檛 know how to swim. It was ridiculous, and people laughed at me. I had recently realized I was gay, and my dad subsequently cut me out of his life. I felt worthless, unlovable, and undeserving of success and happiness. I pulled myself out of that hole of despair and was determined to prove to myself鈥攁nd everyone else鈥攖hat I could do something extraordinary. I thought: If I could go to the Olympics or win a World Championship, I would be worthy of love. (That wasn鈥檛 great self-talk, but I鈥檝e since forgiven myself for being so critical.) I began training and competing, and eight years later, I became a world champion.

In 2003, I retired at number one in the world and poured all my energy into coaching other athletes. In doing that, I lost part of myself. I was so focused on helping others that I forgot about my own strength and confidence. I felt like my achievements were far in the past. Without them, I wasn鈥檛 sure who I was anymore. Then Savannah showed up. Working with her reminded me that I can do hard things, work through my fears, and overcome any challenge. Because of Savannah, I felt equipped to do whatever I possibly could to conquer this disease.

So, I enrolled in 鈥攖he first would use medications to wipe out the cancer cells; the second was a transplant鈥攁nd immediately started treatment. I did a week of intensive chemotherapy and radiation, then went back to my house in Boulder, Colorado, for a couple of months, where I continued to take medication to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. I was scared all the time. But when I was outside with my horses, the fear dissipated. Out in the pasture, I had the strength to tell myself: You can do this.

Day by day, I fought to keep a grip on hope. And over a span of two months, the cancer stopped spreading. For the first time in months, I let myself believe I might live.

Once I completed the medication protocol, it was time for me to enter the second clinical trial in which I would receive a bone marrow transplant, a type of stem cell transplant that replaces damaged bone marrow with healthy tissue capable of producing cancer-free blood cells. The procedure and subsequent treatment would take weeks. I knew there was a chance, however, that things might go downhill, and that this could be the last time I came home.

Before I left, I rode Savannah around the property. I felt like she believed she was going to see me again. After that ride, I felt ready. I thought: it鈥檚 time to fight.

I went to the hospital a week before the procedure for a massive chemotherapy and radiation session. The doctors had to basically bomb my system and wipe out everything before they could do a bone marrow transplant. Then I had the transplant, which was a success. After that, I was required to stay near the hospital for ongoing treatment and tests.

That period was one of the most difficult I鈥檝e ever been through. There were days when I threw up sixty times and felt like I was dying. I lost 25 pounds. I also started to feel depressed. I hated knowing that my horses and ranch were 45 minutes away. It was brutal. But as the weeks went on, my symptoms eased, and I slowly got better. I pleaded with my doctors to let me go home, and they eventually did.

When I returned home, I was still so weak, but I got out of the car and walked right to Savannah. It was raining, and even though she hates being wet, she ran to me. She let me kiss her all over. I was completely overcome with joy and relief. For so long, I didn鈥檛 have her. I needed her, and there she was. It was then that I knew I was going to be OK.

After that, all I wanted to do was ride her. My wife chided me, 鈥淪iri, you have been fighting for your life鈥攜ou can鈥檛 ride her in your condition.鈥� She was terrified, and understandably so; Savannah is the kind of horse that takes off before your feet are in the stirrups. But I got on Savannah anyway. This time, she let me put my feet in the stirrups. That was new. Then, she took tiny, careful steps. We barely moved. Again, she knew exactly what I needed. I started crying tears of joy.

This is the thing about horses鈥攖hey meet you where you鈥檙e at. They can sense what you can and can鈥檛 do. After that, I rode her once a week as I continued with my treatment. We would go so slowly that we鈥檇 only cover about 80 feet in half an hour.

One day, a few months after the transplant, I got on her and she was suddenly back to her old ways鈥攕he took off before my feet were in the stirrups. I finally got her to stop. 鈥淪avannah!鈥� I shouted, 鈥淲hat are you doing? I鈥檓 weak and I鈥檓 sick!鈥� I didn鈥檛 understand why she was being so rough with me. I was furious. A few days later, I got the call from my doctor that I was cancer-free.

That鈥檚 when I realized鈥擲avannah knew before anyone else. She was saying: Mom, you鈥檙e no longer a patient. It鈥檚 time to live again.

A new film, , takes viewers on an emotional trip through Siri Lindley’s life. In it, she and her athlete friends and family members get candid about her journey to becoming the number one triathlete in the world, how she came to terms with her sexual orientation, and her resilience in the face of a cancer diagnosis. Tri Me premieres this year. Follow for more updates.

The post World Champion Triathlete Siri Lindley Is Cancer-Free. Her Horse Saved Her. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Meet , , and 鈥� three content creators redefining what it means to be a triathlete in the digital era. With massive followings on TikTok and Instagram, they鈥檙e not just documenting workouts and race days 鈥� they鈥檙e inspiring a whole new generation to dive into the swim-bike-run life.

In this roundtable, we dig into the real impact of social media on the sport as Carolyn, Noel, and Nikki open up about the challenges and the perks of influencer life 鈥� and why they鈥檙e committed to showing the unserious side of the sport.

Triathlete: Let鈥檚 start from the top 鈥� why did you decide to share your triathlon journey on social media? Was it intentional or more organic?

Mulkey: It was super organic. I wasn鈥檛 planning to become an influencer. Around 2020, I was getting ready for a 100-mile bike ride and decided to do a simple 鈥済et ready with me鈥� video. I didn鈥檛 think anyone would care 鈥� but it blew up. It got like half a million likes overnight. That鈥檚 when I realized, 鈥淲ow, people are actually interested in this sport.鈥�

Hawkes: I鈥檝e been doing triathlons for maybe six years now, but I only started creating content properties in the last year and a half. At first, it was more just to hold myself accountable, but it evolved into this personal diary where I could look back on races and not take myself too seriously. My camera roll was full of me running, cycling, or swimming anyway, so I figured 鈥� why not make something out of it?

Carter: I started triathlon in 2016 and like Nikki, I was mainly documenting my journey for myself. It wasn鈥檛 until around 2022 that my account really started to grow. For me, it was pretty organic. When I started, there weren鈥檛 that many influencers in this space. I just posted race photos and then later made a reel that did really well, which got me more into content creation.

 

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Of the billions of accounts on social media, why do you think people are drawn to your content?

Mulkey: I don鈥檛 try to be anything I鈥檓 not. My videos aren鈥檛 overly edited 鈥� you can see the mess in the background of my vlogs sometimes. I鈥檓 an open book. I think people connect with that kind of raw honesty.

Hawkes: I can be quite spicy, and I think that stands out. Also, I鈥檓 really consistent with my branding. I always call my followers 鈥渓ittle beans,鈥� and I think people remember that, even if they don鈥檛 necessarily like me. It sticks with them, whether they鈥檙e rolling their eyes or laughing.

Carter: For me, it鈥檚 about being funny and making light of the sport. I also think the whole idea of being a 鈥渟low pro鈥� is unique. I鈥檓 not the fastest, but I still got my pro card, and I think that shows people that it鈥檚 possible, even if you鈥檙e not super fast. I like to make that goal feel attainable for others.

Is that the goal with your platform? To make the sport more approachable?

Hawkes: The internet can sometimes make triathlon feel way more complicated than it is, with all these crazy coaching plans and gear recommendations. My goal is to make it clear that you can be an average Joe and still take on those big races. Plus, I want to entertain people! I want to make you laugh and forget about your problems for a bit.

1 planned cafe stop and one impromptu one when we came across a charity bake sale Total cycle was about 119km by the time I got home

Carter: When I started triathlon, I was pretty young, and honestly, the sport was really intimidating. I didn鈥檛 see many women out there at my age doing this. So I try to create content that鈥檚 welcoming and helpful for people, especially women, who might be in the same spot I was in back then.

Mulkey: I鈥檝e been in this the longest, and at this point, I have realized that my end game is to just help people, whether it鈥檚 to build mental health awareness or to talk about sobriety 鈥� I鈥檓 open about having bipolar two disorder and my past addiction 鈥� and to inspire them to change their life. That wasn鈥檛 my intention setting out, but now it鈥檚 kind of morphed into that.

Let鈥檚 talk about content creation. How do you come up with fresh takes on swim, bike, and run?

Carter: A lot of times, I scroll through social media in the evenings to get inspired by trending audio or something funny I can make into content. But often, I鈥檒l just be on a ride or a run, and an idea will pop into my head. I鈥檒l jot it down in my notes app and then film it later. If I鈥檓 on a particularly beautiful ride, I鈥檒l make sure to grab clips. So, it鈥檚 a little chaotic, but it works!

Hawkes: Oh my gosh, my notes app is a complete mess! I write down anything that comes to mind, whether it鈥檚 something funny I hear or a meme I find. I don鈥檛 really have a strategy, but I鈥檒l try to create a storyline if I鈥檓 building up to a race.

Mulkey: Most of it鈥檚 off the cuff. You can probably tell. I used to be way more organized, especially when I was making a lot of money the first few years. But recently, after injuries and a less-exciting year, I鈥檝e just been posting whatever鈥檚 happening in my life. It鈥檚 second nature for me to just pull out my phone and film stuff.

Do you feel like you are actually influencing people to get into triathlon?

Carter: I do get messages from people who鈥檝e never done a triathlon and want to try it. They鈥檒l tell me I鈥檝e inspired them to do their first race, and that鈥檚 the ultimate reward. I鈥檒l also get recognized at races, which is pretty cool. It鈥檚 such a fun community.

Hawkes: I鈥檓 more on TikTok, and I find that there鈥檚 a different, younger audience over there. They鈥檙e new to triathlon, so I do get a lot of questions from followers. Like, 鈥淲hat shoes do I get?鈥� 鈥淲hat outfits do I wear?鈥� 鈥淗ow do I get into this?鈥�

Mulkey: People have told me my videos are the reason they started riding or signed up for a race. I never expected that kind of impact, and it鈥檚 been the coolest, most humbling part of it all.

 

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So let鈥檚 talk about the darker side of social media. Noel, as the OG of the group, can you speak to that?

Mulkey: When I first went viral, people didn鈥檛 know how to label me based on my voice or appearance. I posted this video on TikTok of me winning a race, and it got a ton of hate. People thought I was a trans woman competing in the women鈥檚 category. Every comment 鈥� thousands of them 鈥� were just hateful. I couldn鈥檛 read them. It was driving me nuts. But once I found a real community, the positive outweighed the negative. These days, when a reel goes viral, it鈥檚 shown to a new audience, which can bring fresh hate, but honestly, after six years, it doesn鈥檛 phase me anymore. I鈥檒l even clap back sometimes 鈥� I don鈥檛 mind saying something. But it doesn鈥檛 cut the way it used to.

How do you build up that resilience?

Mulkey: I鈥檝e trained myself not to give it that much mental energy. Comments help engagement anyway. And once I found my community, it was really cool 鈥� like, they鈥檒l defend me when trolls come in. I have a whole little army now.聽 There were times when things got stressful, especially when I was really busy with brands. But the negative comments are never going to make me want to walk away.

You each put it all out there, including the build-up to big races. So if you have a bad day out there, do you feel like you owe the world an explanation?

Carter: My first pro race was Santa Cruz 70.3 in 2022, and I just had a terrible race. I cramped, didn鈥檛 feel well, and it was just a mess. So many people were tracking me, and I knew I had to say what went wrong. But honestly, I posted about it, shared my mistakes, and everyone was super supportive. Most people get it 鈥� bad races happen, and there鈥檚 no shame in that.

Hawkes: I feel like I鈥檝e been pretty open about my journey, and I tell people that I鈥檓 not a pro, I鈥檓 just someone training while working a full-time job. That makes it feel more real, and people appreciate the honesty.

Mulkey: Back in the day, I used to be self-conscious 鈥� like, 鈥淥h no, this race went bad, what do I say?鈥� But now? I鈥檒l say exactly what happened. I don鈥檛 care. One of my best videos was after I did an 11.5-hour Ironman in Kona, which was really, really bad for me, and I was just honest. Turns out, people really connect with the tough days more than the good ones. I always tell people, don鈥檛 go silent after a bad race. Just be real. No one鈥檚 judging you the way you think they are.

What about when you put content out there and it doesn鈥檛 perform as well as you hoped? Do you take it personally?

Carter: Oh, definitely! I think it affects everyone. Instagram鈥檚 algorithm changes all the time, so one month reels are the thing, and the next it鈥檚 all about carousels. It鈥檚 hard not to take it personally when something doesn鈥檛 do well, especially if you put a lot of effort into it. But I try to remind myself that it鈥檚 not always about the content 鈥� it could just be the algorithm.

Hawkes: I do, yes. I try not to take it personally, but sometimes it鈥檚 hard not to. The algorithm is constantly changing, and it can be frustrating. I just try to make content that I enjoy creating and hope others enjoy it too. If it doesn鈥檛 do well, I remind myself that it鈥檚 just the algorithm, not necessarily the content. It does feel personal, though, sometimes.

Mulkey: It鈥檚 funny. The more time I spend on something, the worse it performs. I think we each have our own flavor, and if I try to be something I鈥檓 not, people are going to see through that. They won鈥檛 like it if it鈥檚 not what they鈥檙e used to.

OK, so spill a bit about the perks of being a triathlon influencer.

Mulkey: There have been so many! I鈥檝e gotten some awesome trips out of this. Ironman flew me out to Cairns, and I got to see the Great Barrier Reef. I remember being out there thinking, 鈥淭his is purely because of social media.鈥� It was my first time in Australia, and that was just wild.

I also got media credentials during the Ironman World Championships in 2022. Like, I had a mo-ped and could go along the course 鈥� apparently, even The New York Times had trouble getting that access. That was one of those 鈥渉ow did I end up here?鈥� moments.

Carter: I just literally got home last night from a Zwift event in Mallorca. It was a group of influencers plus people from the Zwift community, who paid to attend. We were there to hype up Zwift and the event. It was really an amazing trip.

Hawkes: I was invited to do Ironman 70.3 in Valencia in a couple of weeks, which is fun. I鈥檝e also done a campaign with for swimsuits made from recycled plastic. Fun collabs pop up here and there, and I try to grab them!

What鈥檚 the end game? Do you see yourself doing this for the long term and continuing to build your brand?

Hawkes: At first, it was just about having fun and creating content. But the more effort I put in, the more I realized there are opportunities to work with others. I think you start to see the benefits of partnerships, so now it鈥檚 definitely a mix of fun and building a business, so I鈥檓 curious to see where it takes me.

Carter: That鈥檚 a great question. I still don鈥檛 know. If it became a full-time thing, that would be incredible. But the thing is, the income can be inconsistent. Some months you get brand deals, and other months, it鈥檚 pretty quiet. So I鈥檓 not sure yet, but I鈥檓 also open to seeing where it goes.

Mulkey: It鈥檚 funny, since I鈥檝e been in this the longest of most folks in the triathlon space, I鈥檝e seen how much you can make as a content creator, and now I鈥檓 not making much at all. I probably need to find another way to make a living, but I grew up with social media, and I can鈥檛 imagine not being part of it. I don鈥檛 know what I鈥檇 do with my phone! If anything, maybe I would step back and take a week off here and there, nothing鈥檚 going to make me walk away. I鈥檓 here for good!

The post The Good Influence of Triathlon鈥檚 Social Media Stars appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

When , one of the first things she talked about in her post-race speech was period tracking.

鈥淔or this race, a lot of things were actually coming together,鈥� she said in her finish-line interview after the win. 鈥淪o for example, I was in the first half of my menstrual cycle, and I always told myself, once this happens on a world championship race day, this is the chance. I feel so much stronger than in the second [half].鈥�

It鈥檚 not the first time Philipp called out her menstrual cycle as a factor in her triathlon success. After setting an Ironman record of 8:18:20 at Hamburg in 2022, period tracking was a 鈥済ame changer鈥� in optimizing her training and nutrition.

Does this mean all triathletes with a period should track their menstrual cycles with the same attention to detail as power meter data, nutritional intake, and sleep? Could period tracking really help athletes crack the code for a PR?

If you spend any time on social media, you probably assume the answer is 鈥測es.鈥� Women鈥檚 health and performance 鈥� specifically, as it pertains to hormones, is a hot topic right now. There鈥檚 no shortage of influencers and self-proclaimed experts offering advice on how to use period tracking to optimize athletic performance, but actual credentialed experts proffering detailed advice and protocols? Those are harder to come by. That鈥檚 because the science of period tracking for athletic performance is in its infancy, says Dr. Kelly McNulty, sports physiology researcher at Northumbria University and founder of .

It鈥檚 great that we鈥檝e had this boom in menstrual cycle tracking,鈥� says McNulty. 鈥淢enstrual cycle tracking is more common now, and it鈥檚 advocated for, especially within elite environments, as something athletes should be doing. There鈥檚 a tendency that everyone鈥檚 a female health expert now, but on the flip side of that, the science isn鈥檛 quite there yet. We don鈥檛 want to be giving bad advice off low-quality research.鈥�

That鈥檚 not to say period tracking is a bad idea 鈥� only that athletes should beware of one-size-fits-all advice on how women perform during certain phases of the cycle. Let鈥檚 take a deeper look at how to make period tracking work for you, whether you鈥檙e just starting out in triathlon or an Ironman World Champion.

What the science says about period tracking for athletes

As Triathlete has written about before, . The major contributing factor to this dearth of information is a belief that it鈥檚 simply 鈥渢oo complicated鈥� to study women 鈥� their monthly menstrual cycle and resulting hormonal fluctuations skew otherwise straightforward results. The lack of research on this topic means data collected on males is extrapolated to females, and female athletes usually train based on recommendations made for male athletes.

McNulty was part of a 2021 research team that reviewed more than 5,000 studies across six popular sport and exercise journals, , with as few as 6% of studies focusing exclusively on females. McNulty later found聽that even fewer studies looked at women by life stage 鈥� a particularly 鈥渋nvisible鈥� cohort is women going through midlife, perimenopause, and menopause. Simply put, the science on women isn鈥檛 that great, and though it is an area of increasing interest for researchers, McNulty says it will still be five to 10 years before there鈥檚 a robust body of high-quality research.

Still, McNulty warns, 鈥淓verybody鈥檚 an expert now. And so everyone鈥檚 coming out saying that they will tailor your training plan to your menstrual cycle, and it sounds too good to be true in a lot of ways. We don鈥檛 want to come in and tell people, 鈥楴o, this is a bad idea,鈥� but we do feel really strongly about making sure that people know that if you鈥檙e paying for someone to do that, and they鈥檙e claiming they鈥檙e an expert, that nobody鈥檚 really fully an expert on that, except for the people who are currently doing the research 鈥� and even they don鈥檛 have all the answers.鈥�

There are, of course, some already-published studies that indicate hormone fluctuations aren鈥檛 a complication; they鈥檙e actually key to understanding and optimizing athletic performance in women. Hormones like estrogen and progesterone rise and fall throughout a woman鈥檚 month-long menstrual cycle, influencing everything from how she performs in training or racing to how she recovers. have found hormones may affect ligament laxity, suggesting injury risk may increase at various stages of the cycle. There is also evidence that when hormones fluctuate, so too does a woman鈥檚 body鈥檚 ability to maintain proper hydration levels, metabolize nutrients, and regulate body temperature 鈥� unique factors critical to female athletic performance.

Should you avoid period-tracking apps for athletes?

These studies, plus a growing demand for women-specific health advice, have led to an influx of period-tracking apps for athletes, which help women monitor where they are in their monthly cycles. Some apps even recommend what kind of training to do (or avoid) and when.

Though such apps can be enlightening for female athletes looking for insights on their individual physiology, that there currently isn鈥檛 enough research to make standard recommendations related to period tracking and sport performance.

That doesn鈥檛 mean that period tracking is a waste of time; only that experts aren鈥檛 at the point to confidently say 鈥渙n X day of the cycle, women are best off doing Y workout and recovering with Z food.鈥� McNulty says the information period-tracking apps give is often generic, and given the variety in menstrual cycle experiences among women, the information presented might not always be suited to the specific athlete. Some with putting highly-sensitive health information into such apps.

While women wait for the scientific community to endorse a substantial body of evidence, there are still things athletes can do, McNulty says: 鈥滻f you are a female athlete or a coach/practitioner supporting a female athlete, then I recommend that you dive into the research and learn all you can about the potential effects hormones can have on women鈥檚 physiology. But do this with a critical eye.鈥�

McNulty also says women can develop their own 鈥渂espoke athlete guidelines,鈥� where each athlete uses her own expertise of her own body to identify patterns in performance. 鈥淲hen you learn more about your own menstrual cycle 鈥� what symptoms you experience and how you perform, train, and recover on certain days 鈥� you can use your knowledge and understanding to determine what bits of the research might apply to you and which don鈥檛. From there you can begin to tweak and adjust things to maximize or manage performance/training depending where you are in your cycle,鈥� she says.

It鈥檚 in these individual experiences of the menstrual cycle 鈥� not the advice of an app 鈥� where the biggest insights lie. 鈥淓very woman is different, and the research is only the beginning from which we can build our individualized content from,鈥� McNulty says. 鈥淏ut this only happens if we understand our bodies first.鈥�

How to track your period as an athlete

Tracking the menstrual cycle can be as simple as circling a day on a paper calendar or marking an X in your smartphone on the first day of your menstrual flow, or period. The menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of one period up to the first day of your next period.

The average menstrual cycle is 28 days long, but each woman is different. Some women鈥檚 periods are so regular that they can predict the day and time that the next one will start. Other women experience menstrual cycles that vary in length. Medically, periods are considered 鈥渞egular鈥� if they usually come every 24 to 38 days.

That menstrual cycle is further divided into four phases:

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As athletes look to eat healthy while saving money, Costco has become the place for scoring mammoth deals on groceries. After all, who doesn鈥檛 love affordable groceries?

And yes, Costco has plenty of affordable healthy groceries. It might seem like they鈥檙e hard to find amid the colossal tubs of M&Ms and lifetime-supply jugs of ranch dressing, but nutritious options at lower price points are plentiful. You only need to be strategic about what you buy.

I worked my way through the Costco product lineup to round up the healthiest Costco foods for athletes. Add these to your shopping list the next time you are ready to push around that oversized shopping cart.

The best healthy Costco foods for athletes

Kirkland Signature Organic Peanut Butter聽聽

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Every Sunday afternoon I sit down in my home office prepping for next week鈥檚 clients directly in front of one of my favorite quotes:

鈥淲e don鈥檛 stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.鈥�

While George Bernard Shaw has many famous expressions, the words 鈥済row old鈥� in this particular quote could be replaced by any number of phrases directly relevant to a triathlete.

We lose motivation when sessions get long or boring. We aggravate old niggles when our training is out of balance. We plateau with a lack of variability. I have found few in this sport who aren鈥檛 striving to remain youthful, vibrant, and competitive as they age. So if you鈥檙e one of these athletes, now鈥檚 your time.

is when we incorporate play, or 鈥済eneral athleticism,鈥� into work to promote durability (resistance to fatigue/injury), enhance mobility (muscular tension, length, and coordination in movement), and reestablish stability (control). The spontaneity and variability of play help to recondition, stretch, and strengthen your muscle fascia 鈥� that super suit of connective tissue that supports every muscle and organ in your body. Healthy fascia gives us fluidity in movement (free watts) and that proverbial 鈥渟pring鈥� in our step (free speed) we all search for as the racing season hits full stride.

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Make Strength Training More Fun in the Off-Season with Play

Here are a few components I think about when planning strength sessions for my athletes that incorporate play, yet are still sport-relevant and excellent use of precious time.

1. Keep it fun

You might like skipping! I do not. It reminds me of warming up for high school track meets with an aggro coach wearing a whistle straight out of the military (literally). I avoid it even as a 鈥渇un鈥� . Incorporating play into your strength routine should invoke light-hearted, positive feelings or memories. Find those activities that cause you to lose track of time, make you smile, or give you that much-needed social component.

2. Give it a little structure

I work with very few endurance athletes who feel comfortable without some simple boundaries or confines 鈥� even when the schedule calls for unstructured training. For example, adding a time limit (AMRAP 鈥� as many rounds/reps as possible) or building in a community component for support can mentally refresh the most mundane but necessary mobility workouts. I participated in several challenges for vertical feet this summer, which had me chasing some very steep Strava segments while hiking on my local Boulder trails. They were also incredibly effective, non-traditional strength workouts that replaced one of my weekly lower-body gym sessions.

3. Be creative, not reckless

I love a good Instagram highlight reel from a celeb or pro athlete doing something physically impressive in the gym. Just remember that juggling dumbbells while standing on a stability ball represents a fraction of the actual work that athlete has already put in to master it. Instead, try something that is a step or two away from movements you are already proficient in and then gradually add creativity. For example, I often have my triathletes warming up with throwing and catching this time of year, which can be elevated with movement, increased specificity, and gamification. Yup, even dodgeball.

Whether you incorporate the five D鈥檚 (dodge, duck, dip, dive, dodge) into your off-season, try an on-demand core class, or throw around a frisbee at the end of a gym workout, remember that off-season is the time of year to move differently. We want to bend, pull, turn, and twist in ways that are not strictly swim, bike, and run. Becoming more mobile, total-body durable, and generally athletic now in ways that are mentally refreshing (play!), will only ensure that we are healthy, well-rounded, and ready for our high quality, specific workouts to ramp up this spring.

has specialized in endurance training in both functional strength and conditioning, as well as technical program creation for cyclists, runners,聽triathletes, and multi-sport endurance athletes for well over a decade. She is a NASM cPT in addition to a NASM CES (corrective)聽and PES (performance) specialist.聽

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These are strange times for Olympians.

An athlete can win medal after medal, but should they be caught on camera in a compromising or hilarious situation, the ensuing tonnage of Internet memes will overshadow those accolades. Want proof? I dare you to Google French pole vaulter or Turkish shooter .

I fear that American Olympic triathlete is headed for a similar fate. I’m here to beg you, people of the Internet, to not let it happen.

Over the weekend, Knibb, 26, dominated the T100 world championships triathlon in Dubai, winning the race by over two minutes. But during the run portion Knibb pooped in her racing suit. Hey, it’s triathlon鈥攊ndigestion and the occasional mid-race crap are . Knibb had the presence of mind to share her predicament with the cameraman who was trailing her: she asked him to spare viewers the unflattering view from behind. “I just shit myself,” she said into the camera. “So can you not get my ass?” The cameraman complied.

Alas, this short video clip has entered the Internet’s . I first saw it on Instagram on Sunday night, and by Wednesday, stories about Knibb dotted the Internet. Even 鈥攖he surest sign that a story has become part of the Internet’s lowbrow sludge.

I understand why: pants pooping is almost always a little funny, and doing so during a world-class sporting competition simply adds to the knee-slapping appeal. Plus, Knibb’s calm, matter-of-fact demeanor in the midst of a could-be crisis moment won hearts. She’s a little like that meme of the dog in the burning room claiming “,” if that dog were also masterfully managing its own PR in real-time.

But as we all know, viral memes have a way of distorting reality and overshadowing facts. And the truth about Taylor Knibb is that she’s probably the most impressive American endurance athlete of her generation. Period. And I will say this聽until I’m hoarse: Taylor Knibb is far too impressive of an athlete for a goofy meme to define her online reputation.

Knibb wins triathlons of varying distances, and in 2020 she won Olympic silver in Tokyo. Not to be outdone, in 2024 Knibb qualified for the American Olympic team in both triathlon and road cycling. To the unfamiliar, this may seem pretty ho-hum. Cycling is one of the three legs of triathlon, after all. Isn’t this just like Michael Phelps winning medals in breast stroke, backstroke, and butterfly?

Nope鈥攊t’s completely different. It’s more like if Phelps won in the 100-meter freestyle and then donned a sequined outfit and did the Olympic synchronized swimming competition and totally kicked ass at it. No American has competed in triathlon and cycling at the same Olympics ever before. It’s a big deal.聽In fact, Knibb was the only American to compete in two different sports at the Paris Games. She also raced the Olympic team triathlon and helped Team USA earn a silver medal.

Within the small community of endurance sports superfanatics鈥攜es, I am a card-carrying member鈥擪nibb’s double-Olympic qualification was mind-blowing.

“Threading that needle of being world-class in triathlon and cycling at the same time is beyond difficult,” says longtime coach Neal Henderson, who trains elite-level cyclists and triathletes. “It’s hard to put into words just how impossible that is.”

Henderson told 国产吃瓜黑料 that the training demands to be that good in two different sports are聽mind-boggling. Elite cyclists and triathletes both train anywhere from 25-28 hours a week. But cyclists dedicate all of that time toward the very specific physiological act of pedaling a bicycle. Triathletes, meanwhile, split those hours between swimming, biking, and running.

And anyone who’s ever done a triathlon knows that running and cycling are not exactly complementary exercises. I’m simplifying here, but pedaling a bicycle requires your leg muscles to generate high levels of power. That’s why top cyclists often have brawny quads, glutes, and hamstrings.

Running, meanwhile, damages big, brawny leg muscles, and saps those muscles of the power required to push the pedals of a bicycle. If you examine the world’s top distance runners鈥攁nd triathletes鈥攜ou will see lithe, spindly legs.

“The physiological demands of running has聽a negative effect on being able to maintain the muscle mass, strength, and power that make you a good cyclist,” Henderson said. “And in elite sports, you’re talking about razor-edge differences that come from putting huge demands on the body.”

Henderson, who operates the Colorado-based coaching company Apex Coaching, coached Knibb when she was an 18-year-old budding professional triathlete. She had graduated from Cornell as an Academic All American and a top-level cross-country runner, and she had her sights set on professional triathlon. Knibb was the rare teenaged athlete with world-class natural talent, monk-like dedication to training, and personal ambitions that were sky-high, Henderson said.

But even he had his doubts when Knibb told him that in 2024 she hoped to qualify for the Olympics in two different sports. Her travel schedule for triathlon left very little time to train specifically for cycling. And the handful of American women competing for a spot in Paris included talented athletes who have spent years focusing on the sport.

“It seemed unreasonable for Taylor to go to the Olympics in both,” Henderson said. “But if you place reasonable expectations on athletes with unreasonable ability, you’ll never know what they’re capable of.”

Knibb had earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic triathlon team in 2023, and in 2024 a rare opportunity opened for her to go in cycling. USA Cycling, the sport’s governing body, held a in the individual time trial on May 15. The race fell right in the middle of Knibb’s international competition schedule for triathlon, just a few days after a major race in Japan.

After finishing second at the Japanese triathlon, Knibb traveled to Charleston, West Virginia, for the road cycling race. She faced off against the country’s best professional cyclists in the 22-mile individual race. Among the competitors included former world champion Amber Neben, former U.S. road champion Lauren Stephens, and even Kristen Faulkner, who went on to win two cycling gold medals in Paris. Everyone wanted the victory, because a win meant an automatic spot on the U.S. Olympic cycling team.

Knibb smoked them all鈥攕he topped Faulkner by 11 seconds to grab the spot.

When I read the news, I just about fell out of my chair. When Henderson learned of Knibb’s victory, he smiled. He knew she was capable of it, after all.

So, if you must, have your little laugh at the video, then take a minute to get to know Knibb for who she really is: an exceptional athlete with huge ambitions, crazy strength, and yes, the ability to stay calm and collected, no matter the situation.

The post I Refuse to Allow Taylor Knibb to Become an Internet Meme appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

When it comes to bike training, most triathletes are locked into a power zone on their indoor trainer 聽or focused on getting to the top of the next hill as quickly as possible. Time-saving details tend to come in the form of gear, like the latest reduced-drag skin suits or . But even though building your aerobic base and finessing your position is always beneficial, you might be surprised just how much free speed 鈥� and time 鈥� you are leaving out on the course by not placing a bit more emphasis on those bike handling skills, particularly when it comes to descending.

One of the best examples of this is the Ironman World Championship course in Nice, France, with its 8,000 feet of elevation in the Maritime Alps. In 2019, we marveled at Rudy Von Berg railing it around the corners on familiar roads in the 70.3 worlds. Last year, we saw fellow Frenchman Sam Laidlow deliver similarly over the full distance as he became the youngest men鈥檚 winner ever. But perhaps the best example is that of British athlete Kat Matthews at the 2024 Ironman World Championship Nice, whose descending in the second part of the bike leg 鈥� much of it in the company of eventual winner Laura Philipp 鈥� meant that by the time the pair reached T2, they were seven minutes ahead of French local Marjolaine Pierre and the rest of the field had splintered in their wake.

To illustrate just how hard Matthews rode, she handily 鈥� and, thankfully, to give even more helpful context, so did many of the pro women she raced against. When we pore over the Strava data at different sections of the descent, we can can really show where the time gaps were created.

How Descending Shaped the Race at the 2024 Ironman World Championship Nice

As you can see from the graphic, the Ironman course in Nice is one loop climbing to a rolling plateau before dropping back to the coast.

We鈥檒l look at each of the notable descents in turn and then put them into the bigger picture of the race.

Descent #1: Route de Grasse Toward Pont du Loup

Just over 20 miles into the ride, there is the first descent before the major climb to Col de L鈥橢cre. At 3.87 miles, the 鈥淩oute de Grasse towards Pont du Loop鈥� segment on Strava drops 618 feet at an average grade of 3%.

It鈥檚 not a particularly technical descent, but we can tell the women are racing it 鈥� and also benefiting from closed roads 鈥� because the top eight times on this segment are set during the race.

Matthews takes the QOM (鈥淨ueen of the Mountain鈥� on Strava) and 13 seconds on Pierre. It鈥檚 worth noting that at this point, other than the descent, Pierre is on the charge, leading the race and putting time into everyone except Philipp (who is further back out of the water). That she loses even a few seconds here is a tell for what might come later.

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What should have been one of the biggest triathlon celebrations of the year was marred by tragedy yesterday as two athletes died during the World Triathlon age-group sprint world championship in southern Spain, according to officials.

A Mexican athlete lost his life after suffering difficulties in the swim and another male competitor from Great Britain died on the run course in Torremolinos on October 17. An investigation is underway over both incidents amid allegations of poor organization and lax medical procedures from participants.

A World Triathlon statement confirmed the news, saying: 鈥淥ur deepest condolences go to the respective family, friends, National Federations and all the triathlon family. World Triathlon, the Spanish Federation and the LOC [local organizing committee] are in contact with their families and NFs [national federations] to provide all the support needed in these difficult and sad times.鈥�

British Triathlon also confirmed that the family of a member of its age-group team had been notified and were being supported, adding: 鈥淏ritish Triathlon and the Age-Group Team send their condolences and we request that their privacy be respected at this time.鈥� World Triathlon said both families had requested the names of the deceased to be kept private.

, a professional triathlete and coach from Colorado, who was at the venue and witnessed the incident in the swim raised organizational shortcomings on social media in the hours following.

鈥淚鈥檝e just got back from the sprint distance,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 just want to say, World Triathlon, that was some of the worst lifeguarding, the worst awareness, the worst communication I鈥檝e seen at an event ever.

鈥淭here was an older man that was clearly signaling for help a few hundred yards out from the finish. Everyone on shore saw it, everyone was yelling for somebody to go there. [The] kayaker is completely oblivious, paddling away.鈥�

 

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World Triathlon responded by rejecting the claim that swim conditions were poor and told Triathlete that swim conditions were classed as 鈥渙ptimal鈥� for the event by the local marine authorities. It also added that there were more dedicated water safety resources deployed than legally required.

Triathlete subsequently contacted another individual working in an official capacity at the venue who wished to remain anonymous but said: 鈥淭o be honest, racing conditions were horrendous. [It was] too late in the day, so loads of wind, making it impossible to sight on the swim. People [were] swimming every way, taking ages. And after a week of rain, today was pretty warm while they were running.鈥�

from the UK Meteorological Office show the average high temperature on race day in Torremolinos was 74 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity between 50 and 60 percent over the course of the day. Hourly average wind speeds were reported between 12 and 18 mph during the race.

To compound the allegations, a further undisclosed source working at the venue said that attempts to resuscitate the British participant, who had collapsed during the 5-kilometer run leg, were delayed by an absence of medical staff who had rushed to the swim incident, leaving the individual on the run without any medical expertise for almost 20 minutes.

World Triathlon said it is working with local authorities, including the police, to investigate both incidents and could offer no further comment at this time. When asked directly about allegations of poor organization, it reconfirmed that position.

The deaths follow a further recent tragedy in Ironman Calella-Barcelona less than two weeks ago, when Elena Smirnova, a 41-year-old Russian, was pulled from the water and died en route to hospital.

Another participant died after a medical emergency in the swim leg in Ironman 70.3 Oregon in July and two triathletes also passed while taking part in Ironman Ireland last year.

The event in Torremolinos near Malaga is the climax of the World Triathlon season. Running from October 17-20, more than 5,500 triathletes from over 80 countries are set to compete in categories running from amateur to elite competition as well as junior, under-23, and paratriathletes.

搁贰尝础罢贰顿:听

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The 23 Best Places to Travel in 2024

Our expert travel writers circled the globe to find the next-best destinations to explore鈥攁nd why to go now. From beautiful just-built wilderness lodges, to fun sporting events in perfect adventure locales, to the most stunning place to see the northern lights, here are the trips you should take this year.

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The post Where to Hike, Ski, Run, and More: The 国产吃瓜黑料 Network鈥檚 2024 Travel Awards appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.