4 Ways Triathlon Makes You A Better All-Around Athlete

From LAVA Magazine

  • By Ben Greenfield

A triathlete

A quick glance at triathlon reveals a host of professional athletes from other sports who have turned to long-distance swimming, cycling and running to enhance their fitness, hone their athletic prowess and improve their mental fortitude. Such athletes include Eric Byrnes and Jeff Conine (professional baseball); Tony Kanaan, Jimmie Johnson and Jenson Button (professional race car drivers); Hines Ward and Don Davey (former pro football players); Mike Richter and Tyler Wright (professional hockey); and Sean Green (professional basketball). 

So what exactly is it about triathlon that seems to attract a host of talented athletes? Is it possible that dabbling in triathlon goes way beyond a mere hobby, a teammate’s dare, or the desire to be on the Kona television coverage? Can swimming, cycling and running actually enhance athletic potential in other sports?

I’d suggest that the answer is a definite yes, and you’re about to discover why triathlon can make you a better athlete in any other sport you might want to take on.

How Swimming Makes You a Better Athlete

Let’s begin with swimming and let’s be frank: if you toss most lean, muscle-bound football, basketball, baseball or other athletes into the water, they tend to ail like wounded fish. Sure, years of following Malcolm Gladwell’s “10,000- Hour Rule” of consistent devotion to practice has made them absolute masters at hitting a ball or tackling a running back, but those skills don’t translate too well into a watery medium.
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About the Author

LAVA Magazine

Founded in 2010 and named after the iconic volcanic rock fields found at the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, LAVA Magazine is the world's premier triathlon magazine. Along with the magazine's stunning photography and design, every issue is full of the newest gear debuts and reviews, training advice from the world's best coaches, and in-depth athlete profiles. Go to Lavamagazine.com for up-to-the-minute training, racing and triathlon news, and follow them at @LavaMagazine.
Founded in 2010 and named after the iconic volcanic rock fields found at the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, LAVA Magazine is the world's premier triathlon magazine. Along with the magazine's stunning photography and design, every issue is full of the newest gear debuts and reviews, training advice from the world's best coaches, and in-depth athlete profiles. Go to Lavamagazine.com for up-to-the-minute training, racing and triathlon news, and follow them at @LavaMagazine.

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