QT2 News/Blogs

In order to swim, you must have the mental and physical capabilities to perform an elaborate physics experiment.  No other sport, requires such a high demand of physical suppleness and awareness to engage properly with the environment to propel ones self forward.  In cycling, you engage with the bike at 5 spots.  This physical engagement propels you forward.  In running, there are two points of contact with the solid earth, which through physical engagement will propel you forward.  In swimming, we have the challenge of being face down in the water, trying to grab this liquid substance with a hand, with the goal of moving the body forward.  What we often don’t realize is that the body moves past the hand and arm.  Upon entry the catch is initialized, at this moment the hand and arm are now stationary in the water.   The next process is what separates the efficient swimmer from the inefficient swimmer.

Heat training relates to the techniques directed to improve performance in warm climates, while heat acclimation is the process by which an athlete becomes accustomed to increased heat over a 4 to 14-day period. Putting these two things together, and you get acclimatization. Acclimatization, is the entire spectrum of heat training, including the initial acclimation period through the time frame, leading to race day. 

Curious about pracing the run portion of a triathlon and how that differs from pacing open run races?  Read what Coach Doug MacLean has to say on the topic!

Caffeine can be a great tool for athletes of all abilities used to enhance performance. However, when abused (or not used as a tool), it can be a detriment to your training and racing.

A few weekends ago I had the opportunity to coach 116 athletes at the Austin half marathon. For these athletes their why is a concrete one. To find a cure for an illness they are all in one way or another impacted by. I had the honor and privilege to speak as the charities inspirational speaker the night before the race where I talked about the importance of having a why. Having an intention for our training and racing can mentally be that extra 1% that pushes us just a little harder. Our whys can change race to race and its important to go back to them on a regular basis. 

QT2 Systems, LLC (LLC) has announced a partnership with ZWIFT.

Under the new agreement, ZWIFT will be QT2 Systems, LLC’s preferred choice of multi-rider virtual cycling and/or running races, virtual cycling and/or running events, as well as individual and group training sessions.

Read about Coach Doug MacLean's journey from back surgery to 100K finish line.

“What’s your A race?” This is a pretty common question among triathletes heading into a new season. For many of us, we have just one race a season that is most important to us. For others it might be two. You may want to be able to treat every race in a season as the most important race, but the fact of the matter is that for most triathletes, it’s simply not possible to truly peak more than once or twice a year. 

One of the most significant life changing moments for me was when I became a Mom.  The added responsibility of taking care of another human being has been extremely overwhelming, and the sacrifices along the way have been endless.   The days of just worrying about myself have come and gone.  Today it is all about balance and finding that happy medium, which does exist…if you let it.

When I first entered the world of triathlon almost two decades ago, I followed the path of so many - I dove in head first, not knowing what I was taking on.  My first race was an Olympic Distance, followed quickly by a Half Ironman Distance, and then by an Ironman distance.  Although an athlete growing up, more than 10 years had passed since my high school glory days, and to say that I lived a sedentary lifestyle was an under-estimation.  I was an attorney in New York City and all what I did was work.  But as I approached 30, I became tired of being stressed and unfit, so in January of 2000 I hopped on the treadmill and did a two mile run.  It nearly killed me.