Triathlon Science Print CE Course

Course components can be delivered as printed products or online:

• Triathlon Science text

• Study guide

• Continuing education exam

Triathlon Science CE Course presents the most cutting- edge concepts, methods, and information to help train beginners to serious triathletes to reach their race potential. Triathletes participate in environmental extremes, such as high-altitude, extreme heat or cold, which puts the triathlete at risk for life-threatening injury. The repetitive nature of running, swimming, and biking puts these athletes at risk for repetitive injuries. The Triathlon Science CE Course teaches the musculoskeletal and physiological demands of the sport and athletic trainers, healthcare and fitness professionals, personal trainers, and coaches will learn how to fine- tune the physiological aspects of training individual athletes for each of the three disciplines and master the technical execution and efficiency for each event. Training modes, methods, and strategies are presented along with base building and multisport event-specific training and racing tactics.  In-depth discussion of environmental factors and equipment options, nutrition for triathletes, injury prevention, and the psychology of multisport will take triathletes to the next level of performance.

An accompanying study guide outlines the course’s learning objectives, emphasizing the key points to review and helping learners to prepare for the course exam. The study guide includes a table of contents, course syllabus, key terminology, chapter activities, and a referenced answer key to the study guide.

The companion edited book, Triathlon Science, is written by leading triathlon experts who have achieved great success in training triathletes. This self-guided course allows users to work at their own pace in exploring the material and finishing with a 100-question exam composed of multiple-choice and true-or-false questions.

Course Objectives

• Outline the physical attributes of triathletes such as cardiopulmonary physiology and muscle anatomy, environmental and genetic factors, and sex and age differences.

• Design training modes and methods for triathletes such as warm-up and cool-down, general and specific training, and strength and interval training.

• Explain how environmental factors and equipment options can affect performance.

• Describe the biomechanics of swimming, cycling, and running and how changes in technique can improve efficiency and performance.

• Understand training strategies in the triathlon, including periodization, tapering, and the physiology of overtraining.

• Learn how to build a proper training base for swimming, biking, and running.

• Define the physiological function in triathlon training, including aerobic capacity, economy, anaerobic threshold, and recovery.

• Recognize the nutrition needs of triathletes, including energy needs, nutrient timing, and supplements.

• Understand the multisport-specific training and racing tactics for various race distances and events.

• Discuss the psychology of multisport and outline the mental skills for peak performances.

• Understand sports medicine for triathletes, including medical care, preventive measures, and recovery techniques.

Joe Friel, MSc, has trained endurance athletes since 1980. He served as head coach of the U.S. national triathlon team at the world championships in 2000, and athletes he has worked with have competed in the Olympic Games and world and national championships. He is cofounder of USA Triathlon’s National Coaching Association and served on the USA Triathlon Coaching Certification Committee. Friel is a Colorado state masters triathlon champion and a Rocky Mountain region and Southwest region duathlon age-group champion, and he has been a perennial USA Triathlon All-American duathlete. As a member of several national duathlon teams, Friel was a top 5 contender in world-class events and competed in road running and United States Cycling Federation races. He is the author of The Triathlete’s Training Bible, Your First Triathlon, Your Best Triathlon, Total Heart Rate Training, and The Paleo Diet for Athletes. He is a contributor to Precision Heart Rate Training and USA Triathlon’s Complete Triathlon Guide.

Jim Vance is a coach of triathlon and duathlon, running, and cycling at TrainingBible Coaching and the founder and head coach of TriJuniors, a USAT high-performance team in San Diego. For his coaching, he was named the 2009 Tri Club of San Diego Coach of the Year and was appointed U.S. elite national team coach for the Duathlon World Championships in 2011 and 2012. He has coached athletes who have won or qualified for events, including the U.S. Elite National Championship, Elite ITU World Championship, Ironman World Championship, 70.3 World Championship, and XTERRA European Tour Elite. A former elite triathlete who spent time at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Vance placed third in the Florida Ironman and was an International Triathlon Union age-group world champion, an XTERRA amateur world champion, and a letter winner at the University of Nebraska in track and field and cross country.