With the increased participation of women in triathlons, there has been a corresponding rise in the number of female athletes training across the three disciplines. For training to be practical, it needs to be consistent, which means showing up regularly. This can be difficult in terms of finding the time, but lack of confidence is also holding women back from participating as fully as they could. In this blog, Coach Denise examines strategies to build confidence and continue training.
Read MoreWith 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.
Read MoreEvery woman knows that their period has an inconvenient habit of showing up when it is least wanted. Training can be adapted to suit the menstrual cycle but race day can’t be changed. In this blog Coach Denise looks at how athletes can manage to race around their periods.
Read MoreIf you are excited and intrigued by the idea of doing a triathlon, but think it is just for the super fit, think again. In this blog Coach Denise takes a look at the whole sport of triathlon and may just change your mind.
Read MoreOpen water swimming has grown in recent years, after many people discovered it when swimming pools were closed during lockdown. From this start, a growing group of swimmers are looking to take their regular open water dips to the next level. This may be in improving swimming ability, looking to participate in longer swims or wanting to compete against other swimmers in races. In this blog Coach Denise looks at how you can move effectively from swimming for fun to becoming an accomplished, confident swimmer.
Every multisport event has its own logistics challenges, but racing in the cold can add a whole new level of complexity. As the nights draw in, Coach Denise examines the specific demands of winter racing and ensures that all the bases are covered.
Read MoreAt the start of race season, as thoughts turn to open water swims, one of the key considerations is, just how do you swim comfortably in cold water. In this article Coach Denise uses her extensive experience of swimming in Scotland to look at how best to make the transition from the pool to outside, helping you to have the best swim leg you can.
Read MoreAgeing is a natural process which, we hope, we will all get to experience. As we age our bodies change, some more dramatically than others. In this article Coach Denise looks at what changes we can expect and how we can accommodate them, to enable us all to keep training, and racing, for as long as we want to.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreLove 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.
Read MoreIf you are new to the world of triathlon you probably have preconceived ideas of just what the average triathlete is like. In this blog Coach Denise takes a look at triathletes and the results may surprise you.
Read MoreIn this blog Coach Denise looks at how we talk to ourselves and what impact that could be having. Learning to be a little bit kinder to ourselves can have positive impacts on all aspects of our lives.
Read MoreCompetition is an important part of any sport, and looking at the performance of other athletes can help to motivate and drive performance. Taking it too far and over-focusing on what others are doing can lead to stress and worry about one’s own training. In this blog, Coach Denise looks at the good and bad parts of a comparison and how to stay grounded with your own plans and training.
Read MoreIn the previous two blogs, Coach Denise has looked at the female monthly cycle in terms of hormone production and how these changes can then impact the individual throughout the month. These changes and impacts are relevant to a female athlete with no external hormone input, but what happens when an athlete uses hormone-based contraception? In this blog Coach Denise looks at how externally administered hormones can impact a female athlete.
Read MoreIn her previous blog Coach Denise looked at how the female body is affected by the monthly cycle and what chemical changes drive these impacts. In the second of this small series of blogs, Coach Denise looks at how an athlete can work with these changes and get the most out of their training for the long term.
Read MoreFor many years female athletes have been treated like small men. Fortunately, this has changed more recently with the introduction of better female-specific clothing and equipment. There is also a greater understanding of the impact of women’s monthly cycle on training and nutrition needs. In this small series of blogs, Coach Denise looks at the factors that impact female triathletes and how these can be used to advantage within a training plan.
Read MorePlanning what races to enter is a big, fun and exciting part of a triathlon. A common pitfall is getting carried away, entering lots of races, and planning to beast them all. In this blog, Coach Denise explores how to ensure you are best placed for success at your important races throughout the year.
Read MoreMost triathlons feature an open water swim, and familiarity with the water really helps on race day. Many triathletes swim in their local lakes, rivers or sea during training season but stop once the water and air temperatures drop. In this article, coach Denise looks at why and how you can swim outside all year round.
Read MoreAs the Triathlon season in the UK ends, it’s time to think about your goals for 2023 and how you can best prepare for them. In this tongue-in-cheek article, Coach Denise looks at just how you can do this to maximum effect, maybe.
Read MoreA strong foundation of a healthy diet is a great starting point, but when training, it is crucial to ensure that energy used is replaced in a form which is readily accessible. Coach Denise looks at how much fuel is needed, in what form, and some other reasons to train your fuelling strategy well before race day.
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