Posts tagged Biomechanics

What is the best gradient for hill reps?

In this article Coach Alan writes a short guide on running hill reps and running technique.

Alan WardMarch 10, 2023Alan Ward, Training, Running, Biomechanics Comment

Is straight arm swimming better than high elbow?

In this article Coach Alan writes about how the recovery part of your swim stroke can play a significant role in your performance. Swimming is renowned in age group triathlon for often being the difficult ‘one’, the one in which no matter how hard you try it doesn’t seem to get any better. Often this is put down to a lack of ‘correct’ technique, but was it correct technique? In this instance which is correct: a straight arm recovery or a high elbow recovery?

‘It depends’ is often the coach’s default answer but in this article, Coach Alan will try and explain ‘how’ it depends.

Alan WardJuly 1, 2021Swimming, Open Water, Alan Ward, BiomechanicsComment

How is running more technical than swimming?

Here coach Kevin talks about running mechanics and how running could be considered more technical than swimming. However, we spend so much more time talking about swimming technique and “long runs”. Have we got this the wrong way round?

Kevin SmithJune 17, 2021Kevin Smith, Running, Training, coaching, BiomechanicsComment

Different times call for different approaches to keep you learning and improve your swimming.

Coach Tracy discusses the benefits of virtual land-based swim training, having already witnessed the success of the first TTH-swim-live program that has been implemented since January.

Tracy CookMarch 17, 2021Tracy Cook, Swimming, coaching, BiomechanicsComment

A Beginner's Guide to IRONMAN – After the Sign Up

In the second of our three-part articles, coach Soraya talks us through the key steps to go through just before you have signed up for, just after signing up for and the final lead into to an IRONMAN race. Read on for the beginner’s guide to IRONMAN.

Soraya MerryleesSeptember 25, 2020Soraya Merrylees, Training, IRONMAN, Coaching, BiomechanicsComment

Specificity and Including Open water in your IRONMAN Training Plan

Keeping training on plan and IRONMAN specific as well as conquering the open water are two big considerations for IRONMAN athletes in their final block of training. Maintaining focus in training and overcoming a huge barrier to IRONMAN events (the open water swim) can prove problematic for some athletes. In this blog we' will try to guide you through these two areas of your preparation.

Philip HatzisNovember 30, 2018triathlon, Training, Swimming, Philip Hatzis, BiomechanicsComment

Should I change my Running Technique?

We often get asked: "how can you make a meaningful difference using run analysis while on a 1 week training camp?". This is a very fair point as it’s easy when doing video analysis to just 'say what you see' and end up patching up or correcting outcomes rather than identifying root-causes. When it comes to video analysis, there is an old saying which is that the analysis is only as good as the person interpreting the data. This blog explores whether run analysis could help you understand if you should be changing your running technique.

Philip HatzisMarch 1, 2018Philip Hatzis, Coaching, running, BiomechanicsComment

Should I take an Off Season?

As athletes we get to that time in the year when all races have been raced and we are in our 'off season'. However, for most of us we notice the only thing that changes is that we have said we are taking an off season. Is that change in approach sufficient? Or should we be more strict on taking time out? Here we discuss the benefits of taking time out and how an off-season can help you to peak higher than you have before.

tritrainingharderOctober 18, 2017Coaching, Training, Triathlon, BiomechanicsComment

2016 Looking Back and Springing Forwards

Elaine Garvican reflects on her 2016 season. Her coach, Philip Hatzis dissects some of the observations and offers some insights to where changes were made in order to improve her overall performance in the races that mattered.

Philip HatzisJanuary 27, 2017Coaching, Race Team, Racing, Philip Hatzis, BiomechanicsComment

Swim Clinics - what to expect?

tritrainingharderJuly 30, 2014Swimming, Training, BiomechanicsComment

How to pick the best Race Buddies

Are you planning on racing with a bunch of clubmates or friends? Do you know how you will cope? Will you be the easygoing traveller, or will you be the one who carries their nerves quite obviously? Coach Philip addresses some key points of self-reflection that athletes should go through before travelling to a race with others.

Endurance Athletes – Training Through the Menopause

Training through the menopause is often a confusing and difficult time. In this article, which was first published for the Castle Race Series, Coach Philip looks at the changes and how athletes can navigate them.

Are Training Plans Dead?

In this latest article, coach Philip explores whether a training plan is now dead. He also looks into the rise of artificial intelligence and its impact on the sports industry.

How do you get faster at endurance races without any training?

In this article, Coach Philip explores how athletes are often distracted by the enormity of the task and get excited about the headline sessions instead of ensuring that all the fundamentals are in place to improve their chances of success or, more importantly, reduce the probability of failure.

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How to be an endurance athlete post menopause?

In a recent series of blogs Coach Denise has looked at the impact of the menstrual cycle, contraception and perimenopause on the female athlete. In this article she looks at what athletes and coaches should consider in the postmenopausal phase of life.

Should we dial down our FTP after the off-season?

In this latest article, coach Philip Hatzis explores how much we should dial back our FTP after an off-season break, or even if we should!? Read on to learn how to adapt your training after taking some time off.

Perimenopause and the athlete

In earlier articles Coach Denise has looked at the impact of the menstrual cycle on the female athlete, and how to train effectively within the body’s natural rhythm. In this article, Coach Denise looks at the impact that perimenopause can have on the athlete, and how to continue to train effectively through this phase of your life.

How can I do better at test sessions?

As we look to the new season, testing is one of the first things many athletes will do. This will be the form of benchmarking to understand initial fitness levels, biomechanics or other areas. Various aspects of training and performance will be measured and improved upon in the coming months. Yet, often, athletes dislike “test week” and miss out on brilliant opportunities to improve. Coach Philip Hatzis explores the topic of improving your testing sessions in this article.

How do I know if I should train if I am not feeling 100%?

At some point in their athletic career, every athlete has a point when they’re unsure if they should or should not train. This is often a result of illness or fatigue or something similar. They are feeling a bit “yuck” but do not necessarily understand why, which makes deciding whether they should train a tough challenge. In this article, coach Philip Hatzis explores how athletes can decide whether to train or not.

Should Goals be Time-bound?

In this article, Coach Philip explores goal setting and the commonly accepted approach to goal-setting that may actually inhibit performance by forcing a time constraint on athletes where no time may be the best option.

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Are Coaches Sacrificing Health for Performance?

In this article, Coach Philip explores some trends we are starting to see with new athletes who have been previously coached by others. Though athletes often start working with coaches for performance, we are also responsible for ensuring that athletes are healthy and safe. This article looks at some examples and highlights some things that athletes and coaches can do to enable a better approach to athlete welfare.

How to plan for a triathlon season

Love it or loathe it, the topic of planning is central to all sports, none more so than multi discipline endurance sports. Helping to focus time, effort and energy, great plans can produce the best results on race day. In this blog Coach Denise looks at the topic of planning, why it helps within the sport of triathlon and how a coach can help you to help yourself.

How to become effective in swimming in the waves

Being able to swim in a pool is not quite the same as being able to swim in open water. In this latest article, Coach Rita explores her learning experience when she took an open water swim session with some British athletes and her surprise at the skills gap between their swimming ability and open water experience.

How simple mistakes in reflection can you stifle your athletic development?

In this latest article, Coach Philip looks at some common ways that athletes fail to reflect appropriately and lose an excellent opportunity to learn, grow and evolve between seasons. Have a read at how you can ensure you don’t make the same mistakes and build on each season.

How athletes should build up, not just back

Too many people strive without addressing the basics and miss the greater opportunities. Equally, some people never dream big enough. Both realities hinder performance and progression, but both can be fixed with genuine self-awareness and feedback. Read on to see what you can learn.

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