Media 2009...
Triathlon Training: Jump on the Bilateral Breathing Bandwagon
Posted: May 14, 2009 by Sara McLarty at Inside Triathlon
Learning how to breathe bilaterally can be beneficial in chaotic situations.
Photo by Kurt Hoy.
Professional triathlete and super-swimmer Sara McLarty explains why you should to breathe bilaterally, and it's not just because all the cool kids are doing it.
Which of the following scenarios have you ever found yourself in during a triathlon?
• Waking up on race morning and checking the weather by peering out the hotel window. Howling and gusting winds greet you with the rising sun. The open water that you splashed around in the day before is now a frothy mess of white water.
• Standing on the beach before a race, you notice that the water isn't exactly flat like the pool. Instead, there are beautiful sets of four- to five-foot breakers crashing into shore. The race course is about to take you 100 meters out, then along the shore line before leading you back through... Read Story at Triathlon Competitor
How to Swim Like Sara McLarty
www.active.com
The title of this article probably caught your attention for one of two reasons. Either you recognize my name and you hope there is a super-special swimming secret in this article, or you have no idea who I am and you started reading to figure out why you should care.
Most likely you fall into the second category and therefore I should officially introduce myself. My name is Sara McLarty (duh) and I am a professional triathlete. In the world of triathlon, I am considered a fast swimmer. I claim the title "first out of the water" at every race. My biggest lead was 90 seconds at the... Read Story at active.com
ITU Tongyeong - South Korea...
May 4, 2009 -- The 1500m two lap swim was led out by American super-swimmer Sara McLarty with Emma Moffatt stuck to her heels. The American cruised through the water and kept her unbeaten record in the swim at ITU events with a rapid 19:13 clocking. Britain's Jodie Swallow and Canada's Kirsten Sweetland headed the rest of the field with Emma Snowsill in close contention. The then two established an early lead on the 40km cycle but were caught by the charging chase packs led by Switzerland 's Daniela Ryf and Samantha Warriner from New Zealand.
Profile Design Miami International Triathlon...
March 15, 2009 --In the women's field many of the highly anticipated competitors ended up not starting the race, leaving six women to battle for the top spot. Sarah McLarty built a minute lead over the next best competitors on the swim, heading into T1 at 17:03. Onto the bike, McLarty carried her lead throughout and headed into the last transition in first position. Jasmine Oeinck was the fastest biker and headed into the run close behind McLarty.
Orlando Sentinal...
posted by Steve Ruiz on Feb 10, 2009 4:06:28 PM
Even in the midst of a cold, Sara McLarty can be inspiring She was a state-championship swimmer at DeLand High School, a 15-time All-American at the University of Florida and is in her fifth year as a professional triathlete.
Sara, who will turn 26 on Feb. 25, has a long-term goal of reaching the Olympics. In the meantime, beating her brother, Dustin, in a match race in April at the St. Anthony's Triathlon in St. Petersburg will have to do.
"I think it will be pretty close,'' said Sara, who is set to defend her title at the Florida's Great Escape triathlon Sunday at Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont. "I might have a slight advantage, though, because I am a professional triathlete who does this all the time and he has to study.''
Dustin is studying engineering at graduate school at the University of California-Irvine. They come from a family of triathletes that includes parents Brent and Karen. When Mom and Dad trained, Sara and Dustin often would tag along. The family would plan trips around triathlons that turned into hiking/camping adventures.
Still, there was competition, albeit friendly. "I can remember the first time I beat my mom in a race,'' Sara said. "I was 13. When I was 15, that was the first time my brother beat me.''
Now that triathlon is a full-time job for Sara -- she also serves as a triathlon coach, master's swimming coach and camp organizer at the National Training Center in Clermont -- much of her week is devoted to training. She said she trains 30 hours per week (13 on the bike, 10 in the pool, seven running) and also does 2-3 hours of weight training per week. Two hours of massage weekly helps work out the kinks.
"The road has been well-traveled,'' said Sara, who has competed in more than 150 triathlons. "Not to say it doesn't get monotonous, but every day is different. Today, I feel terrible, but Sunday, I felt like a rock star.''
Sara has this advance for fitness enthusiasts considering their first triathlon: "Go with one goal: Have fun and don't worry about anything else. Finish with a smile on your face. If you have fun, then you will be more likely to come back for a second triathlon.''
Never Idle...
While not racing, Sara found the perfect spot to focus her energies. If you missed the December issue of Triathlete Magazine, you can catch the article here. It features the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida, and Sara McLarty --
"Further demonstrating its commitment to multisport, the NTC recently hired ITU standout Sara McLarty to build a number of triathlon-specific-programs. McLarty has already set up a camp for tri-newbies on Jan. 17-18, as well as a train-with-the-pros camp on Feb. 14-15. Athletes attending the February camp will have the opportunity to train under the guidance of McLarty and a number of other professional triathletes for a weekend. Every athlete in the camp will receive free entry to Florida's Great Escape Triathlon, held in Clermont on Feb. 15.
Not ony does McLarty work at the NTC, she uses the facilities on a daily basis.
'When I moved back to Clermont, I made it my number one priority that my house be within a mile of the NTC', McLarty says. 'I spend that much time there.'" Triathletemag.com December 2008
Unexpected Lift
Not the normal media fair, but one with lasting effect, making all the hard work, crazy training, and long days worth every second!
A very special email...January 6, 2009
Sara - I felt compelled to go onto your website and get your e-mail because I wanted to pay my highest compliments to your writing style and obvious teaching talent. I have great respect for all that you have accomplished to date and your sacrifices and dedication required to achieve it all. I hope that you keep publishing. In this growing triathlon industry-- you seem to be very well positioned to shine yourself and to positively affect others with whom you coach and race. My very best of luck and continued success.
Sara's response: Thanks so much for the kind words. I will continue to have success as long as I am able to motivate or inspire people through the sport of triathlon!
National Training Center New Year's Festival
Clermont, FL ( Jan. 3, 2009 ) A fun day of at the National Training Center in Clermont.
Motivating, training and encouraging athletes provides Sara with a deep sense of fulfillment. Working at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida gives her ample opportunity to exercise her skills in developing training programs, coaching athletes, and coordinating events.
Photo Gallery... View
Back In Action
After a difficult time with a problem foot that finally required pause from racing, Sara found relief through surgery on October 13, 2008. For those who may have wondered why Sara dipped below the horizon, below is a re-post of a release she posted on her blog in October. Sara divulges the added pain she experienced during the endurable pain of training and racing, and her expectations for full recovery following the pain of surgery.
To all my Family, Friends, Supporters, and Fans:
Thank you so much for your words of encouragement over the past 14 months as I have struggled with the biggest set-back of my athletic career -- a painful and aggravating foot injury. It was extremely unlucky that I was in pain and unable to train and race at such a critical time in an Olympic quad. Not qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games was disappointing, but just not being able to train for a decent finish at the Trials races was extremely frustrating.
During the past year (2008), I have reasonably attempted all the popular (and unpopular) treatment methods for my condition. Nothing was able to cure the injury or alleviate the symptoms. Eventually, I decided to take a mental and physical break for two months to allow my mind and body to rest, heal and recover.
At the end of August, I was eager to start training and I even went for a couple of short jogs. I was very disappointed when my foot started hurting after just four short runs on the grass. I finally realized that it was time to take the next step and research an invasive procedure to remedy my foot pain.
A few days later, I was on the pool deck when my swim coach introduced me to the father of a swim teammate. Dr. Funk is a Foot and Ankle Orthopedic surgeon in Orlando. He sat down with me on the pool deck for 30 minutes and gave me more information and better answers than I had ever received. Not only is he a specialist for my specific injury, he's a triathlete and marathoner!
I could not be any happier and confident about the procedures that Dr. Funk is going to perform on my left foot at 7:00 a.m. on the morning of Monday, October 13th. I honestly believe that my career as a triathlete would be over if I could not find a solution for the pain. This has given me hope that I will be back on the starting line to give some of the best athletes in the world a run for their money !
The recovery time is very short…after just two weeks I can get back in the pool and walk in sneakers! Around six weeks I should be able to start jogging lightly and all the reports say that full activity is allowed at just three months! Perfect timing for the 2009 season!
I will continue to post updates on my blog and I promise to write a great story about my surgery experience as soon as I am awake and coherent (the Doc tells me I'm getting 'happy drugs')! If anyone has any questions, I will answer the best I can. Thank you all for your continuing support!
Later Gators,
Sara McLarty
