If you want to train well for a triathlon, you need to track patterns in your workouts in order to optimize performance improvement. At one point, athletes only had stopwatches to track their times and keep up with personal goals while training for a race.
Now, the technology available in a digital training tracker gives athletes a full range of metrics to help prepare for triathlons.
These devices not only help track the physical workout, they’re great for gaging how to change your diet. They can even help monitor your sleep. The best part is they are convenient and easy to use.
If you race in triathlons and don’t use a fitness tracker, you’re losing an edge on the competition.
Let’s break down how you benefit from using one while training.
Stay Motivated
Let’s face it, training for a triathlon is grueling. It takes serious discipline to continuously push yourself to train harder and reach personal goals. You can’t afford to have a dip in motivation.
Many people work with a partner to help stay motivated. However, a partner is sometimes hard to find given the intense nature of your workouts. This is where a training tracker can work wonders.
The number of features now available make the training process more interactive and enjoyable. This ensures you don’t lose focus when working towards your next goal.
A tracker stores times and notifies you when you’ve broken a personal best. You can also interact with fellow athletes online by uploading your times. This creates a great social environment where you can compete and get feedback from others.
All this helps you to stay motivated to push yourself harder. A personal tracker acts like your own virtual trainer that’s with you at every step.
Prevent Injury
The only way to properly prepare for triathlons is frequent training. This means putting your body through a lot of physical stress in order to perform at a level you’re satisfied with.
You’ll no doubt take measures to keep your body in tip-top shape. Everything from massage therapy to acupuncture will help the body recover from intense training.
A training tracker will take this care you put towards your body to the next level and cut down on the possibility of injury.
By closely monitoring levels such as heart rate, speed, and duration, you can track how your body responds to increased training. This helps you determine recovery times and what your next workout should look like.
You can now tell if you need an easy workout instead of pushing yourself too hard and risking injury. This helps with your overall conditioning and ensures you’ll be in peak physical shape come race day.
Keep a Close Eye on Your Diet
While training, you’re going to be watching your diet. This is essential when fine-tuning your body.
Many fitness trackers tell you the number of calories you’ve eaten to help you maintain the right diet. Some even break down how many calories came from carbohydrates, fats, and protein.
Others record and track your weight and body fat percentage. You can also chart your body mass index.
This is invaluable information when trying to ensure you’re getting a good nutritional balance. When shopping for a training tracker, look into the available features and make sure the one you use can help with your diet.
Track Your Sleeping Habits
If you’re not resting well, you’re not going to perform as well as you’re able. It’s that simple.
Years ago, pinpointing issues with your sleep cycles meant going to a sleep lab and being monitored by doctors. A fitness tracker brings this capability to you in a convenient and non-intrusive device.
By monitoring your body’s movements while you sleep, a training tracker will tell you if you’re getting quality rest at night. Tracking your movements while sleeping lets you know if you’re achieving REM sleep or if something is off.
Healthy sleep cycles are essential of a higher quality of life all around. This includes restoring the energy you’ll need to train properly.
You’re likely training while also juggling work and family life. In order to do this and remain in top mental and physical condition, you need to know you’re getting good rest. Let a fitness tracker help you out.
Keep Yourself Accountable
If you’re going to perform well in a triathlon, you have to stay on top of your training regimen. How do you know when you’re slipping, though?
If you’re not working directly with a personal trainer who’s keeping track of your progress, you need something else in place to alert you to problems with your progress. A digital training tracker is your solution.
Many devises come with reminder and accountability features. These let you know if your goals are or aren’t being reached. This makes it hard to ignore what you need to do on a given day.
By tracking trends in your training routine, a fitness tracker will be your digital coach and make sure you’re doing enough to reach your goals.
Ease of Use
If you’ve been hesitant about buying a training tracker because you’re not tech savvy, not to worry. You don’t have to read an extensive manual in order to work one. In fact, the instructions are clear and concise and it shouldn’t take long to figure out.
What’s even better, once the device is set up, day-to-day use is a breeze. You’ll probably realize very quickly that you enjoy interacting with it.
Compact and smart design means they won’t get in the way while training. Most fit snuggly on your wrist like a digital stopwatch.
Prepare for Race Day with a Training Tracker
If you have the option of using technology to your advantage during your training, then why wouldn’t you. Fitness trackers will give you an edge over the competition and help mold your future training habits. They also help ensure an overall healthy lifestyle off the track.
At Triathlon.net, we provide triathletes with techniques, gear and fitness tools to help them improve performance. Check out our health and fitness section to learn more.