Like us on Facebook to be eligible for prizes with the next issue of Forward!
[SPORTS PHYS | NUTRITION | AoM | GEAR REVIEW | CT CHRONICLES | ALEX'S RECOVERY | FFT Partners | ProDev TEAM SPONSORS | RACE REPORTS ]
Sports Physiology Review – Economy Training
Eric Bean, MD, MS
What is Economy training? In brief, Economy training is comprised of short intervals that are 80-90% of sprint speed with full recoveries between each interval. The goal of Economy (which we typically do for 6-8 weeks), is to drastically improve one’s economy of motion (aka: “efficiency”, “technique”, or whatever you want to call it). With improved technique and efficiency, you will increase your speed and endurance in every subsequent training phase the remainder of the season. In other words, when you become a more efficient runner, your VO2 max velocity and Lactate Threshold velocity increase, even if your VO2max or LT power remain constant. Increased efficiency upgrades your speed at [read more...]
Nutrition – Electrolytes and Hydration
Alex McDonald, MD
Many athletes are familiar with the image of an athlete towards the end of their workout or race on a hot day, they are sweaty and often caked in a grainy white powder, electrolytes lost in sweat. Furthermore, many athletes have heard about the importance of sodium to consume to avoid the [read more...]
Gear Review – CompuTrainer
Eric Bean, MD, MS
Going faster on the bike is simple. Either reduce your drag, or increase your power. The CompuTrainer ergometer (CT) is a computer-controlled stationary trainer that can help you do the latter. Not only does it measure power, it can demand that a rider produce a pre-programmed or manually controlled power regardless of cadence. Additionally, it simulates real courses (with GPS and video) or user-designed virtual courses and analyzes a rider’s pedaling efficiency. In terms of speed gain per dollar spent, the CT is second only to aerobars [read more...]
CompuTrainer Chronicles
Brian Duffy Jr., FFT/IOS Pro Development Team
Leading up to Oceanside, the weather was cold in Philadelphia and I had limited time to build up my fitness. One of the most difficult aspects to the beginning of a season, for me, is re-accustoming my mind to handle the pain during workouts, and gaining back the ability to push myself to that next level of hurt. The CompuTrainer helped me quickly progress my cycling fitness as I was able to set a targeted wattage for each workout, forcing me to output a specific level of power. I focused on developing my [read more...]
Coach Alex’s Recovery Blog
Alex McDonald, MD
As many of you know Alex was hit by a truck while out training on his bike on Feburary 24th. He suffered two broken legs and several broken ribs, however, all of us at FFT are extremely grateful that his injuries were not worse.
First off, sorry for the random, twisting thoughts in this blog, but it many ways, it is my own therapy and wanted to share it with you. It has been 8 weeks since my accident and there is a huge mountain standing in my [read more...]
UNC Wellness Center and IOSDT partner with FFT
FFT Staff
Fast Forward Triathlon and Inside-Out Sports Delta Triathlon Team are very happy to announce their partnership for the rest of the 2011 season. With over 200 members and growing, the IOS DT is one of the largest triathlon clubs in the Research Triangle Park 
area. Aside from the great benefits they already experience, the IOS DT can now gain from the experience,[read more...]
2011 FFT Pro Development Team Sponsors
FFT Staff
Here at FFT we are very excited to announce our partners for the 2011 season.
Inside-Out Sports – The FFT Pro Development Team in it’s second year is again presented by Inside-Out Sports, which is a premier specialty running store and the East Coast’s largest and most complete triathlon shop. The Team is also proud to be joined by again by CompuTrainer, and for it’s new sponsors Cervelo, TYR, CEP, FuelBelt, and TrainingPeaks… [read more...]
RACE REPORTS
Jackie Arendt 2nd Pro at Ironman St. George
FFT Staff
St. George, Utah–Jackie Arendt (FFT/TIMEX), racing in her professional debut, placed 2nd to Canadian Heather Wurtele at Saturday’s Ironman St. George. Arendt, a two-time podium finisher in the W25-29 age-group in Kona, was 7th overall including pros at last year’s IM StG while racing as an amateur. Arendt simply outlasted the rest of her competitors, save Wurtele, during yesterday’s race on the Utah course that is renowned as being the toughest in the world. [read more...]
NOLA 70.3 Race Report
Kristen Andrews, FFT/IOS Pro Development Team
Orleans was my first 70.3 as a pro so I was excited to race. I got down to New Orleans on Wednesday the week before the race and it was definitely nice to have some time to find my way around and do some workouts on the course. Since I had brought work with me, I didn’t get to explore New Orleans too much but a friend/ training partner, Sam, set us up with great places to swim, run, eat, and took us on rides, and hooked me up to stay with his Mom which was one of the highlights of my trip! She made an awesome dinner for us all on Friday night before the race and was an incredible hostess! [read more...]
Tobacco Road 1/2 Marathon Race Report
John Blausey, FFT Athlete
I recently finished the Tobacco Half Marathon and apparently I did pretty well. With a time of 1:28:55 I was the 30th guy to cross the finish and have a big beer mug that says 2nd place age group. If I sound surprised, I kind of am. It isn’t that I didn’t work really hard. Rather I remember how a friend described my 8min/mi running just three years ago, [read more...]
Duke Triathlon Club Collegiate Nationals Report
Brad Pansing, Duke University Triathlon Club
Thursday April 7, 2011 sixteen Duke undergrads, graduate students, and employees packed their bikes, gear and themselves onto a charter bus for the day long journey to USAT Collegiate Triathlon nationals in Tuscaloosa, AL. For 6 of the 13 Olympic distance athletes, this was to be their first Olympic distance [read more...]
Cannell’s doping suspension gives Bean TT National Championship
FFT Staff
On April 16, 2010, Peter Cannell, 37, of Mebane, North Carolina, provided a urine sample to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in a no-advanced-notice out of competition test. Mr. Cannell’s sample returned an “adverse analytical finding”, or positive test result, for the anabolic steroid drostanolone. For his doping offense, Cannell accepted a two-year suspension beginning on May 17th, 2010, and forfeited his competitive results since February 6, 2007. The retroactive date of the competitive results forfeiture is because during the course of the investigation, Mr. Cannell admitted to prior use of anabolic agents. [read more...]
Strong Start – Charelston 1/2 Race Report
George Worrell, FFT
Erg’s on the computrainer, 20 minute FTP tests, tempo rides with the Quarq, 1,000 yard TT’s in the pool, mile repeats on the track – sheesh, all good and fun in trying to determine how lazy or not you’ve been over the winter, but sometimes it’s just more fun to go and race, especially when you find a Half-Ironman in Chucktown, SC. In just its’ second year, The Try-Charleston ½ was this past Saturday, April 30th, put on by Jeremy Davis, a superb race director and all around great, and hilarious guy. [read more...]
