After the summer season you will be able to read quite a few articles on what I triathletes should be doing in the off-season. The articles correctly bring out how this is a time for rest and then to begin preparation for the new season. There are many recommendations given on how this should be done.
For example, one of the most frequently seen recommendations is to work on your weaknesses. This is a good but very general recommendation. On the surface it sounds great but what does it really mean? Doesn’t mean you need improvement in your technique of swimming, running or cycling? Or does it mean you must improve your physical abilities as they relate to your technique in each of these sports? How is each determined?
In your examination for weaknesses you should have a biomechanical technique analysis of the technique. If done correctly the analysis will also bring out weaknesses in your physical abilities specific to the technique. You can then work to correct both. This is much more effective than merely being told that if your weaknesses is in swimming, then you should spend two-three extra weeks working on swimming.
Understand that analyzing technique and the physical qualities specific to the technique are abilities that most athletes do not have because they are not trained to identify technique and specific physical ability weaknesses or even how to make corrections. Nor is this taught in clinics or even in the universities.
Because of this you are usually unable to fix the weakness as effectively as possible. To do this you typically need specialized strength training in which the strength exercise duplicate the same neuromuscular pathway as seen in execution of the specific joint action in the skill execution.
Of the three events in the triathlon, there are many articles that deal with technique training in swimming but little in running or on the bike. In regard to the latter the articles usually revolve around adjustments on the bike, new equipment, positioning on the bike etc. We do not see articles dealing with training the muscles to do the work that is necessary to improve pedaling technique and power.
In addition, we rarely see the results of such recommendations. If the triathlete makes adjustments in his technique on the bike, how much time did he gain in the race? In regard to running, it appears that this event is taken for granted as there are very few articles that deal with running technique or specific strength training for running. Those that do appear are very general in nature.
The time has come for more specificity. We must have specific recommendations and specific solutions if we are to see progress in the development of triathletes. In addition, it is necessary to know the level of athlete since the training for high and low level athletes should be different and follow a different periodization scheme.
For more information on training and improvement of technique and the physical abilities see Build a Better Athlete. For specific information on technique analysis and specialized strength exercises that duplicate what occurs in running see Explosive Running.