Elaine Garvican Race Report: Ironman World Championship 2017

The 2017 Ironman World Championships was my 3rd experience of racing on the Big Island. I qualified at Ironman Weymouth in September 2016, which gave Philip and I a little over a year to prepare. Thirteen months to dream, to plan and to train for just over 10 hours of swimming, biking and running. I went to Kona aiming at the age group podium and in the end, I fell slightly short. When I started to think about this race report, I was reminded of one a good friend of mine once wrote about a race at which he qualified for Kona whilst also not quite hitting several other goals. He entitled it “A Rather Glorious Failure” and in many ways this is how I feel about my 2017 World Champs race.

tritrainingharderNovember 2, 2017Race Team, Racing, Triathlon Comment

TTH Race Team Athlete Jason Walkley - Training around a new born baby

In this blog, TTH Race Team Athlete Jason Walkley describes how he manages to fit training for IRONMAN racing around a full time job and two young children. The reality of being a top age group athlete means that flexibility and adaptability are key to getting the training done when finding the time and motivation is hard to come by.

Nick PillingNovember 2, 2017Race Team, Training, TriathlonComment

3 Running Strength and Conditioning Exercises you Should be Doing

This blog looks at three simple strength and conditioning exercises and demonstrates how you can use them to become more efficient as a runner, reduce the chance of injury and therefore improve your consistency in running and fundamentally get faster. These are great as strengthening work, or as a bit of fun/challenge to add in to your running training routine.

Philip HatzisNovember 1, 2017Running, Strength and Conditioning, TrainingComment

Swimming in the gym.....3 key S&C exercises for better swimming performance

We all know that to improve your swim performance one of the key things to do is swim more (sorry folks!), but there are a couple of other things that you can do as well as making that almost daily visit to the pool.

Here we show you three key exercises that will help your swimming.

Sorrel WilliamsOctober 31, 2017Strength and Conditioning, Swimming, Training, Sorrel WilliamsComment

Aero testing - is it really worth it?

The term “aero testing” has been banded around for some time now but it has so far always been reserved for those with unlimited budgets, namely professional athletes. As with all new technologies though, they eventually find their way to the mass market. There are now a variety of low(er) cost and easier to source aero testing facilities all aimed at making you go faster for less effort.

Sorrel WilliamsOctober 31, 2017Cycling, Training, Sorrel WilliamsComment

IRONMAN World Championships 2017

With the excitement of the world championships over and most of the athletes back on home soil, we take a quick look back at how TTH athletes fared on the course.

Philip HatzisOctober 31, 2017AG, RacingComment

8 Reasons You Should Start Working with a Coach

There are times in your sport, your job or life where you turn to someone else with experience and knowledge to help you progress and develop. All too often we get far beyond that point in our lives before we actually ask for help and when we do, we look back at all the decisions we had subsequently made before seeking guidance and we ask ourselves: "Why did I wait so long?!". Here we explore some tell-tale signs that indicate that it is time for you to stop being self-coached or relying on "free" coaching from clubs and invest in yourself and start working with a coach in a more formal manner.

Philip HatzisOctober 31, 2017Coaching, Triathlon, Philip HatzisComment

From Snow to Rock – Ollie Stoten

Ollie Stoten, a long term coached athlete, race team athlete and friend of Tri Training Harder embarked on an adventure in 2016 to cross the Antarctic (1,100miles) with a team of reservists (SPEAR17).

Tri Training HarderOctober 27, 2017Coaching, Race Team, RunningComment

Plan Your Off Season

Here we discuss the part of any athletes year of training and how to plan your off season to enable you to have the best possible results for when race season comes around again. It is the part of the training plan so often forgotten simply because it isn't the sexy, racing side!

Philip HatzisOctober 18, 2017Coaching, Training, Triathlon, Philip HatzisComment

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

Assessing your Season

Unfortunately, those evenings are getting darker and it is the time of year when the racing season is coming to an end for the majority of UK Triathletes. It is a natural time for reflection on all the racing that has passed in 2017.

Alan WardOctober 17, 2017Coaching, Training, Triathlon, Alan WardComment

TTH Athlete Q&A: James Briscoe

James Briscoe is a TTH Coached Athlete who first visited us in Portugal 4 years ago while at Swansea University. Since then he has developed in a big way as an athlete while also being coached by TTH. This year James took on the ITU AG World Champs in Rotterdam and also won the Llandudno Sea Triathlon.

Nick PillingOctober 12, 2017AG, TriathlonComment

Super League Triathlon – Here to Stay?

As Superleague Triathlon hits the shores of the British Isles in Jersey, with its new format and glamorous presentation bringing an almost 'Rock'n Roll' atmosphere to the format of a classic triathlon, we explore if this new kid on the block is here to stay and what it means for the sport.

Philip HatzisOctober 3, 2017Coaching, Triathlon, Philip HatzisComment

GO TRI - The Oratory

GO TRI - The Oratory is part of a series of GO TRI Aquathon's being hosted by The Oratory School, Reading and organised by Tri Training Harder.

If you aren't familiar with GO TRI then it is an initiative by Triathlon England to get more people active and interested in multisport events - more information can be found here.

Nick PillingOctober 3, 2017AG, News, TriathlonComment

Elaine Garvican: When is a race not a race?

In my book, pretty much never. If I pin on a number, I want to perform as well as I can on that day, with whatever fitness I have. Personally, I don’t see much point in a “training race” where I purposely hold back. That’s not to say there isn’t a benefit for some people – but I think when you reach a certain level of experience, you don’t necessarily need a race in order to test nutrition, or equipment. I can do those things in training, or in a sportif if the requirement is for a longer ride. For me, a race provides things a training session does not; competition and a level of intensity it is extremely difficult to replicate on your own. Removing these aspects would negate the point of coughing up an entry fee.

Nick PillingOctober 2, 2017Race Team, TriathlonComment

Ollie Stoten – My First Year as a Doctor....

As Ollie Stoten reflects on his first year as a doctor, he realises it probably hasn't been a normal right of passage. After a successful 2016, we look at how 2017 shaped up for Ollie. Crossing continents, Alpine ranges and smashing race results. Here, both Ollie and his Coach Philip Hatzis candidly reflect on a truly unique season. [Read about how his perspective changed through the race season here]

tritrainingharderOctober 2, 2017Coached Athlete, Coaching, Race Report, RunningComment

How to progress your coaching career

Ultimately coach development comes down to a mixture of time and experience, applied on top of solid theoretical knowledge. It can be a difficult journey to walk at times and it can seem like there are frustrating barriers in front of coaches, especially for those coaches who are currently coaching on a voluntary basis but wish to take their coaching further.

Alan WardSeptember 29, 2017Coaching, News, Triathlon, Alan WardComment

5 reasons why you should train with TTH - by Janz Fredo

To some people, training for a week in the beautiful Algarve, Portugal with Tri Training Harder’s coaches can be a bit daunting. A lot of people believe we only cater for serious athletes or at least the pros. This could not be further from the truth and we were lucky enough to stumble on this secret blog from holiday athlete Janz Fredo to his friends on “5 reasons why you should train with Tri Training Harder”.

Sorrel WilliamsSeptember 29, 2017Training, Triathlon, Sorrel WilliamsComment

TTH Athlete Q&A: Kurt Winship

This is the first in a new series of blogs where we will be doing short question and answer sessions with a variety of our athletes so you can get to know them a little better! You will hopefully learn from these that we cater to all athletes, from beginner to elite level across all of our coaching services.

Nick PillingSeptember 13, 2017AG, TriathlonComment

Course Review: IRONMAN Wales 2017

You have stepped up to a significant challenge in what many say is the toughest IRONMAN course of them all. We have put together this course review to give athletes detailed insight into the course so that they arrive fully prepared and ready for the big day.

Nick PillingSeptember 5, 2017AG, Racing, TriathlonComment

What do I need to race well in a winter duathlon or triathlon?

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.

Can you avoid drafting in triathlons? Navigating Reality and Making the Most of Your Race

In this latest article, Coach José explores how drafting is a part of the sport, why there are drafting rules, what to do if you find yourself stuck amongst the drafting group, and how to ensure you race with integrity.

What Makes Tri Training Harder's Athlete Network Special?

In this article, we explore Tri Training Harder’s community-driven approach and how building a supportive and inclusive athlete network fosters success. Featuring stories from Tri Training Harder community members, the article highlights how collaboration and shared knowledge positively impact athletes, emphasising the value of a collective, inclusive environment for athletes of all levels.

Why should you Integrate Physiotherapy and Nutrition into Endurance Training

This article explores the science behind endurance training, focusing on the crucial roles of physiotherapy and nutrition. With insights from Tri Training Harder’s expert partners, including physiotherapists and nutritionists, we highlight how their expertise is integrated into training plans to enhance athlete performance and prevent injury, underscoring the importance of a well-rounded approach to endurance training.

What is The Power of Holistic Endurance Coaching?

This article delves into the power of holistic coaching, emphasising our comprehensive approach that goes beyond just a training plan. By incorporating mental, physical, and emotional support, this coaching strategy has helped athletes thrive. Testimonials from current athletes highlight the significant benefits of this well-rounded methodology, reinforcing the importance of a holistic approach to coaching.

How can you Balance Endurance Training with a Busy Life: Tips from Tri Training Harder

This article explores practical strategies for balancing endurance training with a busy lifestyle. Drawing on insights from TTH coaches, the article offers advice on effective time management, prioritising workouts, and finding the right balance between triathlon training, work commitments, and personal life.

How is fear transmitted amongst athletes before an endurance event?

At some recent events, we have overheard athletes talking about their concerns and have been intrigued by how their fears have rippled out. In this latest article, Coach Philip explores how fear is spread and how it can impact athletes. More importantly, he also identifies how athletes can mitigate this group-social effect and rise above this group phenomenon.

What happens to my swim speed in open water

For most triathletes the majority of their swim training is done in a swimming pool. While this allows for the athlete to spend time on drills, technique and speed work, most triathlons involve a swim in open water. In this article Coach Denise looks at what impacts your speed when moving from the pool into open water.

What should you wear for a cold triathlon?

Although racing in the UK has many perks, one downside is that we don’t usually get the excessive heat that some of our European and US friends are accustomed to racing in. In this article, Coach Philip explores some top tips for racing in the cold.

Warming up for the swim, on the land

The first leg of any triathlon event is the swim, but how can you make sure that you are ready to race from the starting hooter? In some events it is possible to get into the water for a quick few minutes recce, but this is often not an option. In this blog Coach Denise takes a look at how you can get ready to race from the moment you enter the water.

Getting into cold water – acclimatising and having fun

At 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.

Planning to fuel or fuelling to plan?

Every year, nutrition and its strategies take centre stage in our conversations with athletes. It's a subject that sparks genuine curiosity and interest. Yet, the challenge lies in translating this knowledge into effective race strategies. Coach Philip delves into some common pitfalls in nutrition strategy, emphasising the potential for significant performance improvements.

Why is a Warm-up Important?

We all know warm-ups are important, but when it comes to racing, we tend to do things differently than in training. Coach Philip explores why the warm-up is important.

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