Your Complete Knowledge Center
D3 University is our library of articles and videos from the D3 coaches and other experts to help you train and race your best.
The Part II: Clarifying Protein Needs by Gender and Carbohydrates by Race Distance
In the article 3 Nutrition Must-Haves for Triathletes I shared information about protein, carbohydrates and hydration needs for endurance athletes. That generated two important questions about protein intake by gender and carbohydrate needs for different race distances. This Part II…
Race Day Readiness with a Proper Warm-up
“This is where my husband was telling me a lot of my race sucking today was in my prep. I didn’t warm up… it was my first swim in the new wetsuit. I didn’t jog or anything beforehand and just…
Race Day Planning, Part 2: The Pre-Mortem
Everyone knows what a post-mortem is: examining a corpse to determine the cause of death. Gruesome, I know, but there is another kind of –mortem that can help you execute your races better. It’s the pre-mortem. It’s a proactive, pre-emptive…
Strategic Race Planning: The Swim
I have been accused often of being a bit overly obsessive about race planning, but my obsession is your gain. This article addresses the swim portion of a race, as the swim is something I always plan out carefully for…
How to Write a Race Plan in 7 Steps
There is some magic between the hand and the eye, the heart and the mind, when you write something down. In triathlon, one of the most important things you can write down is your race plan. Whether it be your…
Using Training Benchmarks to Set Race Goals
Far too often, athletes set their race goals and define their race-day execution based off of fantasy. That fantasy might violate the time-space continuum, as in: I did [insert race] in [insert time] back in [insert today’s date minus 3…
The Power of Proper Pacing
The three D’s of D3 (Determination, Desire and Discipline) are all integral for success in triathlon. However, all to often on race day, many athletes seem to forget or ignore discipline. The discipline required to properly pace their race. Having…
1 Key Tip for a Successful Athlete-Coach Partnership
When you are paying for coaching, you want to make certain you are maximizing your coach’s knowledge. But to get that value and to create the foundation for a strong athlete-coach partnership, you need to pitch in. We asked Coach…
3 KONA COURSE TIPS FROM 13X IMWC FINISHER
Having expert advice from a 13-time Ironman World Champion finisher is invaluable as you prepare for your own race. His approach to racing this course every year is strategic and calculated. Heed his advice on these three-pointers and you might…
Triathlon Minute, Episode 111 – 2 Tips to Control Your Breathing on Race Day
Learning to control your breath during a race is critical to your performance as well as your overall enjoyment. Coach Alison has a tip for each the swim and run to help you bring your breath under control which will…
Triathlon Minute, Episode 110 – Transition Bag Must Haves
Do you have these in your transition bag? Seasoned racer Coach Julie Dunkle includes these in her transition bag.
3 Lessons I learned Watching the 2018 Winter Olympics
I really love watching the Olympics, I look past the politics and look at the essence of the sport and the sportsmanship. I look at what has allowed these amazing athletes to become so successful and what we can take…
Spring Cleaning for Triathletes
Spring is a time of renewal, cleaning, and for many athletes, the start of race season. As you enter the race prep phase of your training, it’s never too early to start organizing your gear and make sure everything is…
The D3 Triathlon Minute, Episode 106, Study the Course Conditions of Your Race
How prepared are you for race day? Did you study the weather elements for the course you’ll be racing and look for opportunities to simulate those during training? Coach AJ explains in this Triathlon Minute video tip.
Guide to Racing the Ironman World Championship Race in Kona
D3 Coach Simon Butterworth will be racing in the Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii for his 13th, YES THIRTEEN, times! He has seen a number of race conditions to give him a solid perspective about how best to prepare for everything…