Joe Friel’s Blog

There are 7 basic training assumptions that keep me on the right path with the athletes I coach. These certainly aren’t earth-shaking thoughts but they lead in a direction that perhaps you hadn’t … [Read more...] about 7 Basic Training Assumptions

I knew someone would ask. I don't know why this whole matter of the 30-minute test is so difficult for folks to understand. So here's the latest question, the one which I mentioned in a … [Read more...] about Would You Believe It? Another 30-Minute Test Question!

In the Build period, weeks 3 to 12 before your race, you should be focused only on workouts – and making them racelike. What your weekly volume (hours, miles, kilometers) is has little importance. … [Read more...] about The Build Period and Racelike Workouts

I love working with athletes. I really do.  For the most part thay are healthy, happy, motivated and driven to succeed. Helping athletes learn more about training and racing is great fun. But on … [Read more...] about The 30-Minute Test Is Easy. Really.

I am asked yet again how to find one's lactate threshold heart rate (LTHR) by doing a 30-minute time trial. I really don't understand what seems to be so difficult about this. All that's … [Read more...] about Determining your LTHR

A German reader asked me today how fast fitness is lost if you miss a day or, heaven forbid, several days of training. There are lots of confounding factors here but I’ll take a shot at it. This is a … [Read more...] about Never Miss a Workout

I got an email yesterday regarding my most recent post on training with z3 to boost FTP. The writer wanted to know what I meant by zone 3. That's a good question because there are all sorts of … [Read more...] about What Is Zone 3?

This is just a quick comment in regards to the post I did a few days ago on measuring aerobic endurance progress. In that post I suggested that for experienced and generally fit athletes that training … [Read more...] about Zone 3 and FTP

The following is another question sent my way by a somewhat discouraged-sounding athlete who must be in his early Base period. In fact, this is an extension of the same question I answered in my last … [Read more...] about Q&A: Easy Workouts too Easy?

I get questions from athletes daily. Unfortunately, I have to pay the bills (just like you, I expect) so can’t devote my time to answering them all. Consequently, our team of TrainingBible coaches and … [Read more...] about Q&A: Measuring Aerobic Endurance Progress

I’m somewhat of a technology geek. I like things that hold out the promise of doing something more effectively and efficiently, especially in sport. I can only recall one time when I was totally wrong … [Read more...] about Reflections on Technology and Endurance Sport

I'm in Calella, Spain, near Barcelona, for my Women's-Only Triathlon Camp over the next week. So I'm working on my Spanish a bit. Hence, the "dos" in the title. I took 4 … [Read more...] about What’s Wrong With Periodization: Part Dos

The most basic element of race preparation is the workout. Each workout should have a purpose related to your performance goals. The purpose should be clearly defined. If in the Base period the … [Read more...] about Workout Analysis

About two weeks ago I posted here showing that cyclists may experience a loss of bone minerals possibly resulting in brittle bones and an increased likelihood of breaks. I mentioned then that I would … [Read more...] about More on Bone Health

In the Build period focus on key workouts, not weekly volume numbers. Quality, not quantity, determines performance now. I posted the above comment to my Twitter account yesterday and got a response … [Read more...] about Quality Training

I receive lots of questions from athletes every week. They seem to come in topical groups. For some unknown reason this spring I’ve gotten a lot of questions from athletes who believe their heart … [Read more...] about High Heart Rate Questions

I'm taking a brief break from brittle bones to write about other topics. My next posts on bone health will have to do with what the reserahc suggests is effective. Turnsa out that there is a lot … [Read more...] about Aerodynamic Head Position in Cycling

There is a research study going on at the University of Colorado regarding bone density in cyclists.  Nanna Meyer, PhD, is leading the project and is looking for  high-caliber cyclists in … [Read more...] about CU Looking for Bone Study Subjects

Although we tend to associate brittle bones with women older than age 65, it can also occur in men. And you don’t have to be “old” to experience it. When my son, Dirk Friel, was 29 (he’s now 40) he … [Read more...] about Bones and Cyclists

I’m still often asked if I have the cleats on my cycling shoes in the midsole position as I first reported here in January of 2007 and then followed up with more posts in December, 2007, and December, … [Read more...] about Midsole Bike Cleat & Running Performance

It’s been a couple of years since I last checked the research for the latest on compression clothing. When I first wrote about this topic back in October, 2007 there really wasn’t much available. By … [Read more...] about An Update on Compression Clothing

One of the fastest ways to grow as a athlete is to attend a camp. But it shouldn’t be a random decision. In choosing a camp you should decide what it is you hope to get out of it. Camps offer a wide … [Read more...] about Choosing a Camp

I was recently asked about "crash" training, which I wrote about in my Training Bibles. I've written about this before, but not in much detail. So perhaps it's time to go back to … [Read more...] about “Crash” Training

An author asked me today what purchases I'd suggest triathletes make to help them improve and grow based on their ability and experience levels. This is a tough one as there are many, many … [Read more...] about Triathlon Purchases by Ability & Experience