Mike Osmond / September 3, 2014
Aging is something we all have in common, and triathlon is a sport where its effects can show up in a variety of ways. Many people would commonly think that as you get older you will just get slower, but this is not necessarily the case. With a variety of distances to choose from and some smart training, you can still excel in the sport. But you do need to develop good habits, and this particularly applies to rolling and stretching.
Repetitive riding and running takes its toll on your body and this can start to become apparent with little ‘niggles’ in our hamstrings, calves, hips and feet. These things should not be ignored. Tight hips can have the same affect on your body as rubbing brake pads on your bike, and most of us would not ride around with rubbing brakes. The solution is to develop a regular habit of rolling and stretching several days a week.
For triathletes, one of the most overlooked areas of your body is your adductors, or inner thighs. These muscles can become super tight and contribute to groin, hip and ITB issues. Though many of us would rather poke our eyes out than spend time on a foam roller, even spending a few minutes each day rolling will go a long way to improving your ability to produce maximal power. And more power equals more speed.
A good stretching regime is just as important. Hips, hamstrings, and calves, all become tighter as we ride and run. Regular, effective stretching exercises will help to maintain your flexibility, and in fact, may increase it, resulting again in some free speed. And we all love that.