Complete Triathlon Guide

Triathletes, rejoice! For the first time, USA Triathlon, its elite athletes, and the nation’s most respected coaches share their secrets, strategies, and advice for every stage, every event, and every aspect of the world’s most demanding sport. From training to technique, fueling to recovery, if it’s essential to the sport, it is covered in Complete Triathlon Guide.

In this guide, you’ll find invaluable bike-handling techniques straight from the pros, learn how to assess running form and improve running cadence and stride, troubleshoot your freestyle swim stroke, and shave seconds off starts and transitions. And you’ll go inside the sport for expert instruction and personal insights from triathlon’s biggest names:

Joe Friel

Gordon Byrn

Bob Seebohar

Sage Rountree

Ian Murray

Sara McLarty

Linda Cleveland

George Dallam

Steve Tarpinian

Krista Austin

Iñigo Mujika

Alicia Kendig

Barb Lindquist

Christine Palmquist

Graham Wilson

Jackie Dowdeswell

Jess Manning

Joe Umphenour

Karl Riecken

Katie Baker

Kristen Dieffenbach

Kurt Perham

Mathew Wilson

Michael Kellmann

Mike Ricci

Scott Schnitzspahn

Sergio Borges

Sharone Aharon

Suzanne M. Atkinson

Timothy Carlson

Yann Le Meur

With Complete Triathlon Guide you’ll enhance your training regimen with the most effective workouts, including stage-specific programs for swimming, cycling, and running; programs for strength, flexibility, and endurance; tactics that address individual weaknesses; and advice on tapering to ensure you’re in peak physical condition on race day.

From the latest on equipment and technology to preventing injuries and dehydration, this guide has you covered. Whether you’re gearing up for your first race or you’re a hard-core competitor looking to stay ahead of the pack, Complete Triathlon Guide is the one book you should not be without.

Linda Cleveland MS, CSCS, is a USA Triathlon LII certified coach and the coach development manager at USA Triathlon. She has a BS degree in exercise fitness management with a minor in health promotion from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh and an MS in exercise and wellness from Arizona State University. She has been an adjunct faculty member at Arizona State University; worked in corporate wellness at Motorola in Phoenix; and coached triathletes, cyclists, and runners since 2004.

Linda has been with USA Triathlon since 2005. As the coach development manager, she is responsible for overseeing a variety of programs in the education department, including coaching certification clinics and curriculum, mentorship opportunities in elite coaching, performance coaching newsletters, USAT University, webinars, and youth clinics. Since joining USAT, she has made the coaching education program one of the most highly regarded in any national governing body. Linda offers high-performance coaches the opportunity to learn what it takes to work with world-class athletes. She has also served as a head coach at several ITU races, including continental cups, world cups, and world championship series races.

Linda keeps her skills fresh by coaching age-group triathletes and training for triathlons herself. Linda resides in the mountains of Colorado with her husband, son, and two big dogs. She enjoys hiking, camping, mountain biking, skiing, snowshoeing, fishing, and spending time in the great outdoors.

About USA Triathlon

USA Triathlon is the national governing body for multisport in the United States. The organization serves as the sanctioning authority for more than 3,500 diverse events ranging from grassroots to national championship races across the country. The organization works to create interest and participation in a variety of programs, including camps, clinics, races, and educational opportunities. USA Triathlon’s 140,000-plus members are athletes of all ages, coaches, officials, parents, and fans who strengthen multisport.

On the elite level, USA Triathlon is responsible for the selection and training of teams to represent the United States in international competition, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan Am Games, and Summer Olympic Games. It conducts national camps and clinics and provides coaching education programs.

On the developmental level, USA Triathlon fosters grassroots expansion of the sport, which is facilitated by the sanctioning of age-group events and triathlon clubs. National and regional championships are held for triathletes from ages 7 to 80-plus.

The USA Triathlon mission is to encourage, support, and enhance the multisport experience in the United States while promoting fitness and health through exercise, the spirit of competitiveness, and the pursuit of excellence.

“Complete Triathlon Guide will appeal to beginners, experts, and everyone in between. If you want to get into the sport or improve your performance, this book is for you.”

Bobby McGee-- Olympic Endurance Coach

"Athletes know that recovery can be as important as training. Complete Triathlon Guide covers both . . . and so much more. It is the must-have resource for every triathlete."

Sarah Haskins-- 2010 Winner of Miami International, St. Anthony's, MN LifeTime Fitness, and Chicago Triathlons, 2008 Olympic Team Member (11th Place), 2007 Pan American Games Silver Medalist, 2006 U.S. National Champion

“The breadth of information in Complete Triathlon Guide is unmatched in any other work. If you’re looking for a resource covering triathlon topics not found elsewhere, this book is for you.”

Gale Bernhardt-- 2004 USA Triathlon Men’s and Women’s Olympic Coach