Why might a female triathlete consider joining a triathlon training squad?
With the growing number of women participating in triathlon events, there has been a corresponding rise in female athletes seeking effective training methods. Squad training, either through traditional triathlon club memberships or virtual squads, is a widely recognised approach. Coach Denise explores the advantages of squad membership, particularly for female triathletes.
Recent years have seen increased media attention on women's sports, with notable success stories in football, cricket, and rugby contributing to heightened interest. The 2025 Rugby World Cup final, for example, sold out Twickenham Stadium, with a capacity of 82,000, compared with the crowd of 13,000 in 2010, reflecting the growing public enthusiasm for women's sport at elite levels. A recent government report examined ongoing barriers facing girls and women in various sports and provided actionable recommendations designed to facilitate progress.
This surge in interest has prompted sporting organisations to develop programmes supporting female participation, such as English squad girls' football sessions; and Street-game sessions run by Us Girls and Sport England, which aim to encourage girls to get into football. Specifically in triathlon, the Triathlon Industry Association reported an increase in female participants from 32% to 37% between 2023 and 2024. Higher event participation necessitates more women engaging in swimming, cycling, running, and strength training to prepare for competition.
Despite progress on gender roles, data indicate women typically account for over half of childcare and household responsibilities, which can create challenges in making time for training. Establishing a regular training routine can help balance these demands, allowing households to coordinate their schedules more efficiently. Additionally, mothers who prioritise training serve as positive role models for their children, especially daughters.
Membership in a training squad offers several benefits, including regular training sessions, enhanced motivation, peer support, and access to a diverse range of experiences among squad members. This diversity fosters idea sharing and provides practical input on how to accommodate training within busy lives. Locally based squads often consist of triathlon club members who offer mutual support through organised swim, run, and bike sessions. Group training also enhances safety, particularly when running in urban areas or during low-light conditions. The regular sessions may also be easier to fit into a weekly routine.
Technological advancements have facilitated the formation of virtual training squads, offering many of the advantages of local clubs with increased flexibility regarding scheduling. Platforms such as Zwift, Peloton, and TrainingPeaks enable athletes to participate in sessions at various times to suit their individual needs. These sessions can then be compared within the virtual squad, providing a sense of participating in a group while retaining the flexibility to accommodate complex work and life patterns.
While joining a training squad may initially appear intimidating, it is typically a highly supportive environment. Squad membership encompasses athletes of varying abilities and ambitions, from personal enjoyment to competitive age-group qualification, enabling collective improvement and fostering a sense of community among all members. So, find a local squad or sign up for the Tri Training Harder virtual squad to start reaping the benefits immediately.
Denise has been coaching triathletes since 2019 as a coach at her local triathlon club in West Lothian. Between 2019 and 2022, Denise was the Head coach in the club, working with a team of coaches to support and develop triathletes with a wide range of capabilities, completing her BTF Triathlon Level 2 coaching qualification in 2021.
Denise joined Tri Training Harder as a coach in 2021, building on the qualifications through the experience and knowledge passed on by the coaching team.
In 2019 Denise set up and continues to run her own Jog Scotland running group, a mixed ability group of runners who meet weekly. This delivers on her passion for helping people to do much more than they think they can.
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