Do I need to Progress my Swim Technique?

We watch swimmers a fraction of our age gracefully slice through the water or faster runners effortlessly stride round the track. Each movement looking precise, exact and deliberate. Are they naturals? Why do you have to keep re-visiting technique all of the time? Why is it necessary? For the purposes of this article let's specifically look at swimming, but understand that some of these principles can be expanded to your running and cycling, and other sports outside of swim, bike and run.

Alan WardDecember 21, 2017Alan WardComment

Does Great Athletic Achievement Breed Stellar Coaching Skills?

In many situations those who are performing well in sport, become role-models or leaders to others wishing to perform to a similar standard. On some occasions, these model athletes sometimes do make excellent coaches. However, there is a key distinction: coaching skills and athletic prowess are not the same thing even though there may be overlaps. However, in our experience of working with developing coaches, these overlaps are made through the character and attitude of the athlete as they make their move to coaching and not the achievements themselves nor knowledge which just can't make that gap from great athlete to great coach. Frequently a coach's empathy, interpretation and compassion go a lot further than fitting athletes into a mould to become better.

Philip HatzisDecember 21, 2017Coaching, triathlon, Philip HatzisComment

Helen Money - How does Alcohol affect Performance Over the festive period?

As we get to the holiday season, we look towards the general free-flowing of alcohol that goes with it. Helen Money of The Bosworth Clinic talks to us about just how alcohol can impair our training. Drinking in moderation can have its benefits, though the Christmas indulgence over a prolonged period will have it's negative impact on training; a one of session with the family may be part of your holiday season rituals. Don't let your alcoholic tolerance get in the way of enjoying yourself with the family but be mindful of when too much can show its detrimental effects!

Tri Training HarderDecember 21, 2017NutritionComment

How many Christmas dinners are there in a triathlon?

Our partnered Nutritionist, Helen Money, from The Bosworth Clinic talks to us about Christmas day and just what this means in more digestible format than calories: triathlons. We also consider just how good (or bad) Christmas can be to triathletes. There is no point in getting bogged down in this one-off feast, as some people can do – have fun and enjoy yourself, in our experience you should be more concerned by the after dinner games, charades and overly-competitive family cardboard box games than how much you eat on Christmas Day!

Tri Training HarderDecember 21, 2017NutritionComment

Do I need a Cycle Power Meter?

Power meters are the rage now with many companies offering more and more competitive prices on power meters. Furthermore, understanding and analysing the data becomes easier with some great pieces of software. Coaches have a far greater understanding of it all too so the question we ask now is "Do I need a Cycle Power Meter?"

Philip HatzisDecember 18, 2017Cycling, Training, coaching, Philip HatzisComment

Triathlon Coaching or Physical Training?

Quite often I find it amusing when I meet people for the first time. After the initial question of "What is your name?", the follow up is always the tricky one to explain. "What do you do?". When you say "coach", immediately, your new acquaintance says: "Oh, a PT!" proudly as if they know what you do. Though both a professional coach and a professional PT work with people in a sports and leisure environment, the reality is they don't have as much in common than first appears. It like when someone says they work as Civil Engineer. To say they shovel tarmac is their job...is indirectly what they do, but it is a different role completely. Clearly, the athletes we work with do physical activity but as a result of what we do not as our purpose.

Philip HatzisDecember 18, 2017Triathlon, Coaching, Strength & Conditioning, Philip HatzisComment

Choose your races

This may seem like an odd question to write a blog about, but it is an incredibly common topic that comes up between an athlete and a coach for more reasons than you may first expect.

Alan WardDecember 14, 2017Alan WardComment

Christmas Ideas for Triathletes...From Your Coach!

Christmas is nearly upon us and we are here to help with some Christmas suggestions for every triathlete who seems to already have everything out there. These are all gifts recommended by us to help get the best out of your training – we aren't looking for the next bit of bling, rather we want to ensure that you are able to continue training and get the gift that keeps on giving!

Will MundayDecember 14, 2017triathlon, Will MundayComment

TTH BOOK CLUB

Alan WardDecember 14, 2017Alan WardComment

Q&A with Coached Athlete Chris Ashford

Chris Ashford has had an outstanding season, read more about it here. However, now we want to get to grips with who Chris really is and what were some of the defining factors for this year. In this article both Chris and his coach Philip talk openly about the season and provide some useful insights to both sides of the coaching relationship

Tri Training HarderDecember 12, 2017AG, running, Racing, 1stultraComment

How to Plan a Training Camp into your Routine

A lot of people choose to go to the warmer climates for training and as the days get colder, so what better season to consider when is the best time to go abroad and how to capitalise the benefits that 'fun in the sun' gives you. There are so many positive reasons to go away for some training, but the key point is to make sure you understand when you are going and what training effect you are trying to generate. Finally, you must ensure you use the time away effectively to come back stronger and ready to go to the next phase, not broken, fatigued and knackered. Read on to find out more.

Philip HatzisDecember 11, 2017Training Holidays, Training, TriathlonComment

Whats Hot - December 2017

Well it's December so unless you are suffering the luxury that is some sunshine outside of the UK or the heating is turned up to the max there is only one thing that gets any of us hot and that is indoor training! Particularly so when it comes to cycling, ice and rubber just don't go well together.

Alan WardDecember 11, 2017Cycling, Training, News, Alan WardComment

Can I Run With Power?

About a year ago we mentioned we were going to start using running power meters more and had them available to try in our Portuguese training holiday location. A year on we thought we'd pass on our views and experiences of them and see if you want to run with power.

Philip HatzisDecember 11, 2017running, coaching, Training, Philip HatzisComment

In the Bleak Mid Winter - don't get left out in the cold

Have you ever come back from the off season and had your trusty triathlon buddy come back better than you? You know the scenario, you were always neck and neck in training sessions, that one person you could gauge whether you were improving or not by being able to keep up with them....and then suddenly, come Spring time - it's like they have been secretly training all winter and have left you behind!

Guest UserDecember 7, 2017Winter, Training, Off season, Recovery, Strength and Conditioning, Swimming, Running, Cycling, Sorrel WilliamsComment

How to Improve your Running Times – Run Less!

Elaine Garvican opens up about how she has spent two years improving her running economy and some of her honest frustrations about not running for the sake of long-term good. A very frank and insightful read with a definite conclusion that you need to believe in the process to seek the long term gains. "Don't stop believing" is not always an easy task and in the day of social media where everyone seems to be putting in killer run sessions, doing hops, and jumps doesn't really seem like you are ever going to succeed. Read on to find out more!

Tri Training HarderDecember 5, 2017Running, Training, AG, Philip HatzisComment

Three Common Injuries I see with Triathletes

Sharon Simpson, one of the physio's who has worked with us for a couple of years in Portugal and now resides at The Bosworth Clinic is always on hand to help with her insight and expertise. Below she explores three very common injuries she sees and likely causes to help you avoid them and stay consistent with your training.

Tri Training HarderDecember 5, 2017Strength and Conditioning, Coaching, Integrated Coaching Package, Philip HatzisComment

S&C your way to Faster Cycling - 3 Exercises to do

This blog looks at three simple strength and conditioning exercises and demonstrates how you can use them to become a more efficient cyclist and fundamentally get faster. These are great as strengthening work, or as a bit of fun/challenge to add to your cycling training routine.

Alan WardDecember 5, 2017Coaching, Strength and Conditioning, Training, Alan WardComment

Do you speak to your coach enough?

With 'coaching' being a norm for triathletes, it shouldn't be a taboo subject to suggest that it may not be working for you in the way you expected it to. With most advertisements talking about why you 'need' a coach, you can easily become withdrawn from the coaching process when you don't feel it is working for you. Athletes are a proud breed, always striving to improve but sometimes pride gets in the way. Here we discuss a few different indicators to watch out for that may mean you should sit down and have an honest conversation with your coach.

Philip HatzisNovember 16, 2017Coaching, Philip HatzisComment

Chris Ashford Reflects on his Running Achievements in 2017

In this blog, coached athlete Chris Ashford reflects on his season where he finally completed the Comrades Marathon – you can't say you have until you do 'up' and 'down' on back to back years ! – Placed highly in the British ultra marathon championships, represented England in the Masters Marathon Championships (and broke the coveted 2:30 mark) and then the week later backed it up with a marathon win at the inaugural Birmingham Marathon. In April we said he would be one to watch and he certainly didn't disappoint us!

Tri Training HarderNovember 13, 20171stultraComment

GO and TRI a GO TRI

GO TRI is an initiative set up and funded by Triathlon England to make multi discipline sport more accessible to everyone. The GO TRI events are generally shorter in distance than 'normal' events with slightly relaxed rules and a huge emphasis on giving it a go and having fun. These events are designed to be very beginner friendly with the majority (if not all!) the participants completing something like this for the first time.

Sorrel WilliamsNovember 7, 2017AG, News, Racing, Sorrel WilliamsComment

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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