Balance band the power band bracelet and pendants are everywhere, I have read all the hype by the big name sports personalities and seen many of them being worn by celebrities on TV. Like anyone who has witnessed this phenomenon I am curious as to if and how a balance band works. Christmas is just around the corner I am sure that many people are considering giving a power band bracelet as a gift, so do they work or are they this year’s snake oil?

While I am not prepared to spend a lot of time doing scientific research for a product such as this (and if the claims are true I should not have to, the band should just work, case closed) to find out the benefits for Triathletes, I was recently bought one by a relative who wanted a second opinion after purchasing one himself. He said he was feeling something and wanted to make sure it worked and that he was not imagining the effects, he was very excited and animated so I accepted the gift and gave it a try.

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Ironman race first timers have a lot to think about, even if you are a naturally confident person who has raced a few triathlons before, an Ironman race is most definitely a step-up for the majority of us, and we need all the help we can get. 20 weeks of pounding yourself into shape all culminate into the nervous bag of energy that most of us become just before the swim starts.

Many people defeat themselves with their own mind before they do anything, but as with many things in life the anticipation and the waiting are often much worse than the reality, how many times have you been worried about something like a job interview and come out the other side wondering why you made such a fuss?

To give beginners a helping hand to rid them of their nerves here are a few tips to make the whole process go as smoothly as possible on the day.

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IT Band or the iliotibial band is connective tissue that you find on the outside thigh area, it connects your shin and hip and is also attached to your knee as a stabilizer and to help facilitate joint movement. Suffering an IT Band injury is a huge problem for many triathletes and runners and can cause a lot of pain, thus making running and general knee movement an unpleasant experience.

When everything is working properly the IT Band smoothly rolls over the outside of your femur and is cushioned by a sort of pillow that is filled with fluid, so when you bend your knee you do not notice it. If you suffer from an injury to this area however, the movement will not be smooth and there will be IT Band friction which will inflame the tendon (not the knee as is often incorrectly thought) and become painful when running or cycling for instance.

The main cause of inflammation or a tight IT Band is more often than not overtraining, but there are also physical problems that many of us are born with that make us more susceptible like having one leg longer than the other, a bow in your legs or problems with your arches.

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Triathlete’s Training Bible Contest Winner has been chosen and we would like to thank everyone who entered and also for the suggestions for the new website that we received.

The Triathlete’s Training Bible Contest Winner is Kaitlin from Bradford, Ma, USA, a copy of the book is winging its way to her right now, we hope she enjoys it.

We have already implemented many new changes to the site and there will be a lot more additions in the new year, we are also publishing an exciting new triathlete book that many people have requested.

Thanks to everyone that entered!

Cystic Fibrosis sufferer Monique Mendoza is someone who we can all draw inspiration from, so next time you are complaining or feeling tired about training or competing in a triathlon, this story may inspire you to shut up and get on with it.

Monique completed the Lavaman Triathlon on the Big Island of Hawaii in 5 hours 4 minutes. While many of you may not think that is anything spectacular, you should first know that she was a double lung transplant patient, and for someone with cystic fibrosis, completing a triathlon is a remarkable acheivement.

Her story really is inspirational, please take 5 minutes to check it out, you can read more here: Monique Mendoza.

Creatine effects on athletes has had a lot of press over the years, I have used it in the past and can honestly say that the only creatine effects that I noticed were gains in the strength and power departments. When I used it in the early 90s it was the latest wonder supplement, but I did not feel that it made enough of a difference to justify the high cost at that time, especially as I was not involved in competitive sports when I was using it.

Creatine is found in meat and fish and is also created in your Kidneys, liver and your pancreas, it is stored in your muscles as a fuel for short-term intense muscle use. When used correctly as a supplement before an event it has been shown to boost an athlete’s performance but seems to mainly be of benefit for shorter exercises like interval training. It has been shown that running distances over 6Km while supplementing with creatine actually slows some athletes down, but this was thought to be because of the weight gain that comes with loading up on it.

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Beginner triathlon obstacles are many, but nutrition seems to still be a grey area for many new to the sport. There are so many different theories and experts all confident that their way is best, so how does the newer triathlete overcome the beginner triathlon nutritional uncertainties that we all have when we start?

Keeping things simple is the best way to start most things, so here are some tips to overcome some of the problems.

Chocolate and sweets are something we all love, even experienced triathletes, most of us are of the mindset that we can “burn it off” because we do so much exercise, and this does have some truth to it. While it would be nice if we all had the will power to drop these things from our diet completely, the truth is that it is not going to happen, but if you keep treats down to a minimum that is fine as long as you eat a diet full of unprocessed natural foods in the correct portion ratios.

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Triathlon nutrition is something that all triathletes have to constantly think about and refine as they gain more experience and learn what works best for them, even during the holidays. While enjoying my Tofurky on thanksgiving this week I slipped into my old eating habits and overate big time, I even ate a massive slice of pumpkin pie which is really unusual for me, I have not done that in 4 or 5 years.

While I am constantly thinking about triathlon nutrition all year round, we all know that the odd bad day here or there is not going to do any harm, in fact it may do some good on the psychological and physical fronts. The off-season however, especially around the holidays does present us with many temptations to totally let things go, the next race is a long way off after all and there is plenty of time to get back on the wagon and into shape.

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Triathlon transition is something most beginners do not think about, it is easy right, not much to think about so why bother? Well, yes it is easy, but if you have never been in a race before it might not be as easy as you think, you do need to know what to expect and the protocol to follow.

I have a short video below on correct triathlon transition technique during a race, I have also written out more detailed steps as well. As with everything, do not leave it to the day of your first race and then realize that you have forgotten something important, practice your transitioning when you are training or in your back yard or even in your house so you have a good idea of how you like to do it and also what equipment you expect to be waiting for you for the next stage of the race.

Smooth transitions help keep you calm and are easy to get right, practicing them will boost your confidence, even if you have a couple of races under your belt already.

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Open Water Swimming is obviously a different prospect than the more comfortable confines of the pool. Temperature, current, waves and the absence of guide lines make staying on course more difficult, but there are some simple techniques that you can use to help you when you are open water swimming.

Stick your head out of the water every four or five strokes just before you breathe and see where you are heading, you can often use the buoys as markers, but this can sometimes be difficult if the water is choppy, if this is the case you can use markers on the land over the buoys. Also make sure that your goggles are tinted because the sun can prohibit this technique if it is too strong.

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Kona Triathlon next year may be what many triathletes have begun to think about and make plans for, which events to target to qualify and the training schedule that they will need to get there, along with all those other new year resolutions we all make of course.

Making promises that we do not keep at the beginning of every year is something most of us are guilty of at one time or another, but when it comes to your triathlon goals this year, why not make them ones that are actually achievable?

It is OK to have the ambition to sign up for a big race that is a direct path to the Kona Triathlon next year, but for a lot of people that is just totally unrealistic, they will be left disappointed and their enthusiasm for the sport can often take a nosedive.

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How To Find The Best Running Shoes For Women With Flat Feet

Finding the Best Running Shoes For Women is something that confuses many triathletes, just how does one pick the correct footwear for running, especially if you have flat feet?

I have always had trouble finding the right footwear, even when I spend hours in the shoe store trying every pair on, they feel great when I buy them, but half an hour running and I am in a world of pain.

So, I have done some research on the matter and found an article and a video for you to check out and get a better idea on what finding the best running shoes for women entails.

I have also tracked down a top class triathlon shoe retailer who has the best selection of shoes for Triathletes, check out Triathlon Shoes.

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Hi Everyone.

The Triathlete’s Training Bible by Joe Friel is up for grabs for one lucky newsletter subscriber who will be picked from those of you who take a couple of minutes to answer some basic questions. The Triathlete’s Training Bible is one of the best triathlete resources available and is a great prize if you have never read it.

As you know Triathlete Women is a fairly new site and this is only the beginning, we are now going to the next stage. Our idea has always been to develop the site into something more substantial and rewarding for anyone who signs up, and to make it one of the top triathlon resources on the Internet.

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Using A Training Diary For Women Triathletes

Triathlete Women Nutrition And Antioxidants

Check out these great free Triathlete resources and articles that go deeper into the training and nutrition aspects of the sport. Triathlete Women Free Downloads.

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The Beginner’s Guide To Womens Triathlon Bikes

Winter Triathlete Workouts Without The Boredom

A Woman’s Triathlete Schedule For Running Without Fatigue

What The Woman Triathlete Beginner Needs To Know Before She Starts

Triathlon Training For The Lady Triathlon Swimming Beginner