Chris Carmichael writes: I came into the triathlon world from a base in single-sport competitions, specifically cycling. And while some people in the triathlete scene may see that as a weakness, I believe it to be an advantage. I approach triathlon as a single sport requiring multiple skills, not three sports crammed into one competition.

Podiatrist Rob Dallimore writes: Blisters are considered to be one of the most common sporting injuries. No one seems immune to them and they can often strike when least expected - at times putting an end to what could be a good race.

An athlete can be sure that adding one treadmill workout per week will add value to the running that he or she is doing. The treadmill will encourage a faster turn over or cadence, make it easier to settle into a rhythm and hold on to it, and most of all will make it simple to quantify progress the athlete has made.

More and more people are finding an alternative workout by taking their running into the pool. Called water running, water jogging, or aqua jogging, running in the water is a great way to add mileage to your program without the impact of land running.

Focus on doing the drills and improving each week. Eventually you will go out for a run, look down, and see that your pace has improved, your heart rate is lower, and your cadence is over 90 rpm.

Ken Mierke and Joe Friel write: Imagine racing stride for stride with a runner who is just a bit stronger than you. With heart rate redlined, breathing right on the edge of being out of control, and legs burning, you know you won't last much longer at this speed. The road turns downhill and you squirt forward as if propelled by a rocket-booster, gapping your stunned opponent.

A common transition after the triathlon season in the Northeast is to plan a fall/winter Marathon. This allows athletes to maintain a base for the next tri season, all the while not letting the colder temperatures steal their fitness spirit.

Run economy is an often overlooked aspect of a proper training program, mainly due to lack of technical knowledge. Along with VO2 max and lactate threshold, economy is one of the three pillars of running. Utilizing your energy in the most efficient manner possible is the key part of speed progression.

Water running in the deep end of the pool is quite advantageous as an alternative workout for run training. There are a few reasons why I schedule water running into an athlete's plan. One of the primary reasons is if the athlete has an injury that will not allow him or her to run on a hard surface.

Despite what most runners and their coaches believe, technique plays an enormous role in sustained fast running. Most runners' subscribe to one of two basic paradigms of propulsion. Unfortunately, both are flawed.