As a bonus, here are three exercises triathletes (or any athlete for that matter) should never do again:

The final Corrective Exercise....(The last part of the series will show three exercises athletes should never do again. Be on the look out for it.)

4. Mini-band Walks – Most triathletes have very strong quadriceps and hamstrings but very weak hip stabilizers. The glute medius is a very important muscle for stabilizing the hip joint and controlling the femur. If you have weak hip stabilizers you will not be able to control the movement of the femur, which can cause hip, knee and low back pain.

We continue to look at corrective exercises that athletes need to perform on a regular basis to increase stability, build balance and function and can tremendously assist in reducing injury in the sport of triathlon.

This is the first of a 6 part series on corrective exercises triathletes (or any athlete for that matter) must do everyday to balance their body. With so many overuse injuries in the sport, these athletes must make it a priority to perform these exercises as part of their daily workout routine.

Aerodynamic bikes and aero products are definitely “hot” on the market right now. Every triathlete or cycling are always looking for a easy way to faster. It is certainly possible to gain “free” speed with the use of such equipment: to go faster for no increase in effort or fitness.

Remember when you used to go to the neighborhood pool on the weekend and spend endless hours swimming and playing games with your friends? How about going outside and playing kick the can from the time school was finished and your homework was accomplished! You played until your mom yelled down the street to come in as it was getting dark and it was time to eat dinner?

If you always wonder how the pro triathletes have their T1 and T2 times way under a minute where you would take 2 or sometimes 3 minutes, here’s the answer.

Goal-setting is a common weakness for struggling athletes and a common strength for successful athletes. Do it wrong – or avoid it altogether – and watch your chances for success plummet. Do it right, and watch your motivation and self-confidence improve. For many athletes, it’s the key to enhancing performance.

This is an excellent time of year to consider what you would like to accomplish athletically in the upcoming New Year. As with many things, planning is the key to accomplishment for your race season.