Wes Hobson

Enhancing Your Talent... Mental Talent, That Is

So, what is your pain threshold? Too many people give up too early in a race. They feel pain and say that is enough, and instantly slow down or pull back to provide the body with relief. You won't know your pain threshold unless you push through it a few times, usually reaching a higher level each time. Leave no doubts when you race. Don't second guess your effort at the end. Your heart rate will never be able to tell you your pain threshold. Only your rate of perceived exertion can make you realize your pain threshold. Go for the 20 on the scale of 1 to 20 and see how long you can hold it. Only then will you realize true achievement and satisfaction with yourself during competition.
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On Developing Force on the Bike

For this article, we will concentrate on how to improve your bike performance. Being more specific, I want to provide you with ideas for developing one of the two major shortcomings triathletes have with the bike, developing force. After endurance, the most fundamental fitness component for the cyclist to develop is force, or the ability to produce a forceful muscle contraction.
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Why Train?

This picture tells the tale of why you should train. This was my first triathlon back in 1983, when I was 16 years old. As you can see, I was in fashion at the time with touring bike shorts and calf high socks. I also had a 27-pound Soma Sport bike to go with it.
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On the Lighter Side: Training - Be Like My Dog!

My dog, Doccer, and I went for a thirty-five minute run today on a mountain trail near my house. While we ran side by side, I thought how we athletes should be like my dog. Here are a few examples we can take from Doccer to help us with our training.
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Eating Right - Hobson's Simple Philosophy

Nutrition information is one of the most asked topics by triathletes. Although many people take nutrition to extremes such as counting every calorie, I try to simplify the consumption of what you eat and how much. My philosophy is that once you break the habit of eating junk food, excess carbs, even excess butter on foods and in cooking (habit breaking takes about two months), then you can really understand what to eat by what the body is telling you to eat. This "listening" is very important as your "engine" is telling you what it needs.
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Wes Hobson

Open Water Swimming

Open water swimming is never boring. Whether you are an accomplished swimmer or a first timer, there is never the "same" open water swim. Variables are always changing such as water temperature, air temperature, currents, river speed, wind, waves, not to mention a possible two hundred bodies starting at the same time and trying to get to the same end point. In as minimal words as possible (I talked for an hour and a half to a group in a hotel conference room on this topic and I still could have discussed the finer points of open water swimming), here are a few pointers, which help alleviate some of your race morning anxieties.
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Transitions - The Fourth Sport

Although triathlon consists of three primary sports - swimming, biking and running, there is a fourth sport, transition, which is often overlooked. The time spent between the swim to bike (T1) and the bike to run (T2) is essential to beating the clock and the competition. Improving your transitions has its rewards. First, it doesn't take a lot of sweat and training to improve your transition efficiency. Second, it's a lot easier to gain time on competitors in transition than having to run or bike faster to gain time. And third, a quicker transition won't crank your heart rate or drain your energy. Here are a few basic tips to help improve your time.
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Mental Toughness and Visualization

Okay, during the past three months you have neglected work and let it pile up on your desk. It would be chivalrous of you to say that you did this to spend more time with your family. However, family time has also been sacrificed as you train for that type "A" triathlon race. You have followed a great training plan and your taper is going well. Since you have dedicated so much time to this endeavor, let's get you that extra edge, the mental edge. There is a motto that has been around for years stating, "Racing is 10% physical and 90% mental." It's a slight exaggeration, but there is sense to it. Do you have any training partners who kick your butt in training only to finish ten minutes behind you in a race? If so, they lack that mental toughness and preparation.
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