I like to call this time of year “pre-season”. Generally, our “A” race has come and gone. We have taken a few weeks off and are now planning our goals and race schedules for the upcoming season. We will begin our base building training phase soon and it’s a great time to work on our weaknesses.
One way to do so is to incorporate some functional strength training into our training plans. LYNX club member, Barb, recently gave a group talk on what this means.
She began the session explaining what “functional strength training” for a triathlete means. It involves doing work specific to the movement patterns involved in swimming, biking and running. She explained that the repetitive movements of all 3 sports can also create muscular imbalances and weaknesses. Resulting in injuries and causing to setbacks. For this reason, “functional movement training” should also include exercises in planes of motion that are not typically involved in swimming, biking and running.
For example, road cycling and running involve repetitive motion in the sagittal plane. When we move in this plane we are moving ourselves forwards and backwards. To make our bodies more functional, we should add in some movements in the transverse plane where movements are rotational.
It is best for these types of specific exercises to be designed by a personal trainer who can prescribe what you need, ensure you are executing them properly, and progress your program appropriately.
Barb concluded her talk saying that her most successful triathlon season to date was when she added in progressive and periodized functional movement training.
A huge thank you goes out to Barb for sharing her knowledge and experience on the topic and to all club members in attendance and their generous food bank donations.
LYNX will be coordinating a 12-week functional movement program with a strength and conditioning coach this fall.