Chris Leiferman and Kennett Peterson: The Kona Rookies Share Their Training Secrets

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American pro triathletes Chris Leiferman and Kennett Peterson joined us on our weekly Facebook Live AMA show on Wednesday to talk all things triathlon. Chris and Kennett covered a wide range of topics including avoiding injury and overtraining, conquering the Ironman distance, and looking forward to their debuts at the Ironman World Championship. You’ll learn a lot about long-distance triathlon in this Q&A. See highlights below. (P.S. you have until midnight tonight (July 10) to enter to win Goodr sunglasses provided by JackRabbit.)

Join us next Wednesday (July 17) at 1 p.m. MDT for our Facebook Live AMA with swim coach Gerry Rodrigues.

Highlights of our AMA with Chris Leiferman and Kennett Peterson:

Minute 1: How did you get into triathlon?

Minute 3: Chris talks about managing walking in the marathon of an Ironman.

Minute 3: Kennett and Chris talk about how they mentally train for triathlon.

Minute 5: Who do you train with in Boulder? Do you train alone?

Minute 5: How do you get faster in the swim?

Minute 6: How much sleep do you get each night?

Minute 7: Kennett talks about recovering from Ironman Boulder.

Minute 8: Chris and Kennett talk about a unique experience they had with nature while riding a bike.

Minute 10: Both athletes give advice for anyone first getting into the sport.

Minute 12: Chris and Kennett talk about the importance of focusing on your own training and not overdoing it. (Find what works for you!)

Minute 13: What is the structure of your training week?

Minute 15: What keeps you motivated to perform well in sport?

Minute 17: Kennett and Chris talk about celebrating an Ironman finish.

Minute 17: The diet they each implement the month before a race. (Hint: They eat quite a bit!)

Minute 20: What do they eat the night before a race? The morning before?

Minute 21: How have you worked on your swim if it doesn’t come naturally?

Minute 22: What is your Kona buildup like?

Minute 23:  What is your hardest training session? Favorite? (Both of these athletes love the long rides!)

Minute 24: Both athletes talk about the hardest part of Ironman. (There answers are probably the same as yours!)

Minute 25: What is your “why”?

Minute 27: Kennett and Chris talk about avoiding injury.

Minute 28: Do you have a coach?

Minute 29: Do you think new athletes should have a coach?

Minute 31: Both athletes comment on the concept of training after a PR. (Go after the big performance, not the big time!)

Minute 33: The proper type of run training to do so that you don’t have to walk in a race.

Minute 34: Both athletes comment on their favorite distances.

12:35 Kennett and Chris talk about heading into Kona as underdog athletes.

12:36 Both share what the rest of their season looks like.

12:37 Kennett talks about the transition of going from being a pro cyclist to pro triathlete. “It’s two different types of suffering.”