AZ Desert Endurance

Triathletes ride in the aero position primarily to reduce drag, which is one of the biggest forces slowing a cyclist at race speeds. By lowering the torso, narrowing the arms, and reducing frontal area, athletes can often ride faster for the same power or maintain the same speed while using less energy. This matters in triathlon because the bike leg is not an isolated effort; a well-fit aero position allows the athlete to balance speed, sustainable power, comfort, and run readiness, making it one of the most valuable skills for efficient race ex*****on.

Triathletes should practice the aero position regularly because the fastest position is only useful if it can be held comfortably, safely, and consistently on race day. Time spent in aero helps the body adapt to the demands on the body and without sacrificing breathing or power. Practicing also builds confidence with the position in a variety of conditions. The more familiar the position feels in training, the longer it can be held on race day.

Key considerations for riding in the aero position:
• Fit first: A good aero position should reduce drag without compromising breathing, power, comfort, or control.
• Hip angle and power: Avoid closing the hip angle too much, which can reduce power output and make the run feel harder afterward.
• Neck and shoulder comfort: Keep the head relaxed and shoulders stable to reduce tension during longer efforts.
• Core stability: A strong core helps maintain position without overloading the arms, hands, or lower back.
• Handling and safety: Practice riding aero in low-risk environments before using it in stressful conditions.
• Visibility: Keep the eyes looking forward rather than down, even when the head is low.
• Nutrition access: Make sure hydration and nutrition are easy to reach without constantly leaving the aero bars.
• Course conditions: Use aero position strategically; sit up when better control, climbing efficiency, braking, or visibility is needed.
• Progressive adaptation: Build time in aero gradually.
• Race specificity: Practice aero position at race intensity so the body adapts to both the position and the effort.

Triathon & Multisport
Ultrarunning & Trail Running
Half & Full Marathons
Gravel Riding

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As an NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer and strength training enthusiast, I am so excited about the rising popularity of Hyrox in the United States! Of course, I want to do the whole darn thing by myself – I love the challenge that this presents.

Who else would be interested in taking on the Hyrox challenge – either solo, doubles or as a team? Keep an eye on Arizona Desert Endurance, because I will soon be offering a 12-week Hyrox Training Plan!

Want to be on the notification list for this? Shoot me an email at [email protected] and receive 10% off the inaugural class! (Already a coached athlete? You can combine discounts 😊 )

In both TriDot and RunDot, you can find a little icon next to the session title – a heart, lightning bolt or clock. These icons indicate the primary metric you should use to guide and measure your effort during that workout.

Lightning Bolt = Power: Used primarily for bike workouts using wattage

Clock = Pace: Primarily used for the swim and run workouts using speed (min/mile for the run and your 100y pace for the swim)

Heart = Heart Rate: Used primarily for easy or zone 2 sessions for the swim and run workouts; these are meant to be recovery/aerobic capacity building sessions!

The color of the icon correlates with the primary zone being trained during that session and is different for each person. Your specific zones can be found within each session, towards the bottom of the page.

For further questions, reach out to me or click the Support button in your app!

Hey off-road riders!

Arizona Gravel grinDERs are revamped with more race options and an all-new price structure to fit your needs!

You can also join at any time - there are no open and close dates!

Get all the info & join here: https://www.azdesertendurance.com/azde-gravel

Arizona Desert Endurance saw some GREAT racing this weekend!

Matt K and Lillie Robinson duked it out with the heat, dust storms and rain at Stunner Night Run on Saturday night! They both got their runners across the finish line through some fairly tough conditions, while Matt K also finished in the top 10 of his race!

Meanwhile on Sunday, Reese Fortin and Stacey Carron took on the muddy lake and hills of the Mountain Man Olympic Triathlon! Reese Fortin took 2nd place in her age group, while her son Luke took first place in his age group! It must run in the family!
Stacey Carron scored a personal best on this course - from 6 years earlier! Just wow.

Way to go AZDE Athletes! I'm so proud of everything each of you accomplished this weekend.

Persistence—continuing effort despite difficulty, setbacks, or slow progress—is one of the most visible behaviors of mentally tough athletes. In sport psychology, mental toughness is commonly described as the ability to perform consistently and remain focused, confident, and in control under pressure.

How persistence supports mental toughness

1. The behavioral expression of commitment: Mentally tough athletes repeatedly choose behaviors that align with long-term goals—showing up, completing sessions, and staying engaged even when outcomes are not immediate.

2. Trains stress tolerance and “performing anyway”: Mental toughness does not mean an athlete feels no anxiety or discomfort—it means they can execute skills while experiencing them. Persisting through fatigue, monotony, pressure, or distraction creates repeated exposure to stress, which helps athletes regulate emotion and attention instead of shutting down.

3. Builds confidence through mastery experiences: When athletes persist, they accumulate evidence that they can handle hard moments: finishing the final rep, returning from injury, or correcting a technical flaw after repeated failure. Over time, these mastery experiences strengthen belief in one’s capability, making it easier to stay composed and decisive in competition.

Here are six ways you can build persistence (and mental toughness):
1. Set process goals, not just outcome goals.
2. Use “minimum standard” rules on hard days.
3. Train under controlled pressure.
4. Practice self-talk and reset routines.
5. Track your wins – no matter how small.
6. Plan for setbacks.

Persistence plays a central role in mental toughness because it is both a sign of toughness (commitment in action) and a pathway to developing it (repeated practice of coping, focus, and emotional control). When athletes persist through pressure and adversity, they strengthen self-control, build confidence through mastery experiences, and learn to treat challenges as opportunities to improve.

With intentional training—process goals, pressure simulations, and reset routines—persistence can be cultivated, making mental toughness more reliable when it matters most.

TriDot Pool School (TPS) is a technique-focused freestyle swim program designed to help swimmers break through plateaus, become more efficient, and translate better form into faster open-water performance.

Top benefits for swimmers:
• Get faster. TPS is built around technique changes that, on average, produce a 12.8% pace improvement (per TriDot Pool School program reporting).
• Swim with less effort. Better body position and cleaner mechanics reduce drag so your pace feels more sustainable.
• Make open-water swims easier. A more stable, repeatable stroke helps you stay calm and efficient when conditions are crowded or choppy.
• Turn feedback into progress. You’ll learn clear focal points and drills you can keep using long after the weekend ends.

What to expect at Pool School:
• Technique-first coaching. TPS focuses on improving freestyle form rather than adding more “hard yards.”
• Hands-on instruction. Expect a mix of explanation, demonstration, and in-water practice so you can feel the difference immediately.
• Simple, repeatable drills. You’ll leave with a clear progression you can integrate into regular swim training.

Who TPS is for:
TPS is a great fit for triathletes and fitness swimmers who can already swim some freestyle but want better form, more confidence, and faster pace. It’s especially valuable if you feel stuck at the same speed, fatigue early in swims, or struggle to carry pool fitness into open water.

Bottom line:
If you want the biggest return on your swim training time, start with technique. TriDot Pool School gives you targeted instruction and a proven pathway to measurable speed gains—so you can exit the water fresher and ready to bike and run well.

Find Locations & Dates Here: https://tps.tridot.com/tridot-pool-school/registration