Unlocking Triathlon epub

A triathlon is no small feat—train with guidance from a certified coach.

Unlocking Triathlon is the ultimate tool every triathlete needs leading up to race day. Whether you have experience with one sport or all three, this guide aims to meet you where you are and build from there.

Maybe you have already completed your first triathlon but feel like you have more to learn, or maybe this will be your debut race; either way, the information provided within this book will supplement the experience you already have and fill in the gaps across swimming, biking, and running. Author Alison Freeman is a triathlete, writer, and USA Triathlon Level III Coach who specializes in guiding beginner and intermediate athletes through their first triathlon experiences.

This book equips you to train smarter, with skill and fitness development tailored to your goals, and prepares you for the details of race weekend: fueling, transitions, packing lists, and more. Use the highly structured training plans for sprint-, Olympic-, and half-distances to build the ideal season, with customization options to focus on areas in which you will need extra support.

With essential training and skill techniques for swimming, cycling, and running, alongside race preparation, gear selection, plan adjustments, and training strategies, Unlocking Triathlon is your go-to guide for all things triathlon.

Audience

Aspiring and novice triathletes seeking to enter and complete races and to excel in the sport.

Part I. Getting Started 

Chapter 1. Demystifying Triathlon
Chapter 2. Choosing Your Race
Chapter 3. Selecting Essential Gear

Part II. Developing Triathlon Skills

Chapter 4. Swimming
Chapter 5. Biking
Chapter 6. Running
Chapter 7. Triathlon Skills

Part III. Training for Triathlon

Chapter 8. Developing Your Triathlon Fitness
Chapter 9. Structuring Your Triathlon Training
Chapter 10. Building Your Training Season
Chapter 11. Executing Your Training Plan
Chapter 12. Adapting Your Training Plan

Part IV. Preparing, Competing, and Completing

Chapter 13. Pre-Race: Planning and Preparation
Chapter 14. Race Day: Strategy and Execution
Chapter 15. Post-Race: What to Expect and What Comes Next

Part V. Planning and Programming

Chapter 16. Pre-Season Training Plan
Chapter 17. Sprint-Distance Training Plan
Chapter 18. Olympic-Distance Training Plan
Chapter 19. Olympic- to Half-Distance Training Plan

Appendix A. Workout Reference Guide
Appendix B. Strength and Mobility Exercise Reference Guide

Alison Freeman is a triathlete, writer, and USA Triathlon Level III Coach and was the 2025 USA Triathlon Coach Educator of the Year. Freeman specializes in guiding beginner and intermediate athletes through their first triathlon experiences. She has completed nearly 40 triathlons, including six Ironman events and 15 half-distance events, and has qualified for USA Triathlon Nationals five times. In 2021, she finished fourth in her age group at Ironman Texas.

As cofounder and principal coach at NYX Endurance, Freeman coaches athletes to their first finish lines at sprint-, Olympic-, half-, and full-distance races. She also leads beginner triathlon clinics in Boulder, Colorado, and developed an online course, The Ultimate Guide to Your First Triathlon, through NYX Endurance.

Outside of coaching, Freeman is a frequent contributor to Triathlete.com, where she has written over 50 articles on training, skill development, and the athlete mindset. Her articles emphasize clear and practical instruction, and her writing uses a supportive and accessible tone.

Freeman holds a BSE degree from Princeton University and an MBA degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

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