Triathlon Running Foundations: A Simple System for Every Triathlete to Finish the Run Feeling Strong, No Matter Their Athletic Background

by “Triathlon Taren” Gesell

Forget what you think you know. Triathlon running is not like typical running. The triathlon run comes after a swim and a bike, making training, pacing, and technique requirements very different from regular running. But this isn’t what triathletes have been told!

Fortunately, with the right kind of run training, the triathlon run doesn’t have to be a long, painful slog with a stumble to the finish. Triathlon Running Foundations provides the specific information you need in order to feel strong for every step of the run, all the way to the finish. For anyone who has ever said they dread the run, can't seem to improve, get injured, or feel like they’re “just not built to run,” this book will be the solution!

Taren Gesell is a successful age-group endurance athlete who originally became known for his wildly popular YouTube channel, Instagram account and podcast, where he shares tips, tricks, hacks, scientifically backed research, and time-tested knowledge to help new and developing endurance athletes get to their start lines confident and their finish lines strong. Taren is the founder of MōTTIV, which offers a full-service endurance training app that guides athletes of every ability level. The app offers an inclusive, welcoming community of amateur endurance athletes around the world who are working hard to be the best version of themselves every day!

196 pages, Paperback

Published April 7, 2020

Reviews

[Hariprasad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book distinguishes itself by focusing completely on the specific needs/challenges of the triathlon run - ability to train with limited time and race on tired legs.

Core message: You need 3 workouts every week to train (in decreasing order of importance) - long easy run (=14-16k for Olympic Tri), brick run (=1-4k for Olympic Tri) and intense run (=Hill repeats/track intervals/20 min tempo for Olympic Tri).

My key takeaways from the book:
1. Don't mix the long run with the brick run, running on tired legs will develop bad muscular patterns.
2. Prefer softer surfaces like dirt/gravel/synthetic track except closer to the race when you switch to 70% pavement.
3. Towards the end of the run (when you are very tired) focus on form - run tall, keep cadence up and drive the arms back and forth.

There are other tips/drills for good form, strength building/injury prevention, faster transition and nutrition.

[Emma Bacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a beginner to all things Tri I am loving this series of books. I downloaded a whole load of different books and these are the ones that really resonated with me as being logical, science based and encourage efficient, effective training without spending hours slogging away without seeing much reward. The book is well laid out, offers precise and clear advice and training programmes via a link. Would thoroughly recommend.

[Daniel Ottenwalder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically the key is building up your aerobic base via low heart rate training as well as incorporating brick runs, in order to make your legs get used to running after biking. I have improved my time over 3 minutes per mile using this method but I am still warming up to the sport, so a lot more improvement to be had.

[jamie j shorey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

This is an absolute great read in the topic. There is a lot of references to go to the app and the videos there. There is an option to see the materials mentioned without downloading.