One Year On From the Wildfires in Portugal

Our Portuguese training holiday catering team, Scott and Lynn express their thanks in an update one year since the Portuguese fires devastated their house and village in northern Portugal. They were fortunate to survive as well as find their house itself miraculously untouched, despite the fire tearing right through it. We look forward to seeing them in the Algarve again in November 2018 and then for the 2019 season.

We created a crowd funding site where the TTH family managed to raise over £4,000 to help them reset after the fires. We are so grateful to everyone who gave generously.

Tri Training HarderOctober 18, 2018 Comment

Triathlon Kit List

Using our wealth of experience competing in, organising and coaching at triathlons, we have put together a comprehensive kit list of what you need to bring with you when you’re racing in a triathlon. You may find it useful to download, print and use this check list for your next race.

Philip HatzisSeptember 27, 2018triathlon, RacingComment

Learning a New Skill - Diving!

Once in a while with training, it is good to learn a new trick. This blog will help you get to grips with the benefits of learning to dive and also the basic coaching points associated!

Alan WardSeptember 27, 2018Swimming, Triathlon, Alan WardComment

Training as a Pregnant Triathlete

In this blog, sponsored athlete Elaine Garvican gives her thoughts on life as a pregnant athlete and how she has managed training through her pregnancy.

Philip HatzisAugust 26, 2018triathlon, TrainingComment

How To Take a Mid-Season Break

Taking a mid-season break feels like the worst possible thing to do. However, given the length of most people’s season and for those competitive athletes looking to peak in both qualifiers as well as championship events, a mid season break may be just what is required to avoid a burnout, injury or illness.

Philip HatzisAugust 2, 2018Training, triathlonComment

Are you prioritising Specific Training?

Training for a triathlon can seem somewhat straightforward: swim, bike, run, eat, repeat. Race with friends and if your legs are sore, then you have had a good work out; if your arms are sore, then you have had a good workout and as long as your segments or your efforts seem to be going in a positive direction, you are fitter than you have ever been before, right? However, does all that equate to a great race result? This article explores the art of specificity and how you can ensure your training is geared to the race you have signed up for.

Philip HatzisJuly 26, 2018triathlon, Training, Racing, Philip HatzisComment

Why do I always need the toilet before a race?

Dr. Ollie Stoten, one of our excellent ultra distance running athletes and a polar explorer with a very keen medical mind turns his attention to that last hour before your race. Ollie offers a humorous, yet informative insight into your bodily functions in the last few minutes before you race; answering that all important question: "Why is the toilet queue so long before race start and why do I always need to go?"

Tri Training HarderJuly 26, 2018Nutrition, RacingComment

Damien McConaghy - IMUK Revisited

With just a few weeks to go until the 2018 edition of IRONMAN UK we thought it was perfect time to check in with coached athlete Damien McConaghy. If you are not aware of Damien's story then please read this TRI247 article before reading the Q&A below. In short, Damien missed the cutoff for IRONMAN UK in 2017 by 2 mins and 23 secs. A heartbreaking end to a long day out!

Tri Training HarderJune 18, 2018triathlon, Racing, TrainingComment

How to Plan for Race Week

As we near the race season with many people getting close to their A race, we provide a few reminders on what to focus on to ensure you have a great day out and limit race nerves. For the most part it is about being organised but remember, it isn't just organising yourself.

Philip HatzisJune 8, 2018triathlon, Racing, Philip HatzisComment

Preparing to Suffer On Race Day

Racing a triathlon is tough. Yes, there are countless sayings: "winter miles, summer smiles", "train hard, race easy”, etc. etc. However, that isn’t really why we race, that describes why we train. We race for a variety of different reasons, some very personal to ourselves. This article helps you define what question you are asking yourself by racing and helps you get ready to answer it.

Philip HatzisJune 1, 2018Psychology, Racing, Training, Philip HatzisComment

Open Water Swim Session 2

Having attempted Session 1 let's perhaps move on to three specific parts of open water to work out how to progress with your open water skills, confidence and performance.

Alan WardJune 1, 2018triathlon, Swimming, Alan WardComment

Training Hard or Hardly Training?

In the triathlon world there is often kudos given for doing “more” training. It is thought to be hardcore to add an extra rep to your session, or if you do a little extra, than you have prepped yourself a bit better for your race. Social Training Apps reward big weeks or rank athletes based on miles completed or otherwise.

Philip HatzisMay 29, 2018Philip HatzisComment

Open Water Swim Session 1

Here is a quick set to consider doing before you next open water session – This is more than just trying to get as many loops done as you can!

The purpose of this session is to have awareness of different speeds while you are swimming. Throughout the whole session you will have to be sighting and you may even get the opportunity to settle into some drafting if you find another swimmer who is swimming at the right pace for you.

Philip HatzisMay 15, 2018triathlon, Swimming, Philip HatzisComment

How to Use Injury to Your Advantage

Injuries happen, that is sport - it's how you deal with them that defines your recovery more than what the injury is. Read on to see how you can turn an injury from having a negative impact on your season to having a positive one.

Philip HatzisMay 11, 2018Training, Physiotherapy, Triathlon, Philip HatzisComment

How Do You Know If You Are Over Training?

Over-training is a term brandished around athletes all the time and occasionally it is assumed injury is the inevitable outcome but can you be sure over-training was the cause of an injury? Could your nutrition be the reason you had an injury? Is training tired normal and something you just need to deal with? Read on to find out more.

Philip HatzisMay 7, 2018Training, triathlon, Psychology, Philip HatzisComment

Is Social Media Helpful for Athletes?

Social Media has its phenomenal uses and is well documented where it falls down. However, here we look at social media can have an impact on your athletic performance and/or approach to training?

Philip HatzisApril 9, 2018Training, Philip HatzisComment

Macro Nutrition Guidelines from Helen Money

Helen Money of The Bosworth Clinic has provided a great general rough guideline of what you should be eating and how much. This is a general guideline and as always, if you are unsure it is best to get the professional help of someone like Helen! Here we recommend you look at tracking what you are eating and reflect at the end of a week and see if there are areas you can improve. You can track using an app like myfitnesspal which links straight into your Training Peaks account! Nutrition is never a stationary goal post, it changes with the season and your training load or cycle. So it is always worth reviewing how you are doing with it. Read below to see where you sit and if you are unsure, chat with your coach to get more advice.

Tri Training HarderApril 9, 2018Coaching, Integrated Coaching Package, Nutrition Comment

How to Balance Training with a Busy Schedule. Athlete Profile: Hagai and Tevfik

Here we introduce Tevfik, who works in the financial services bouncing his time between London and Turkey while training for IRONMAN and Hagai who balances his family, working life in the city with training for long course and middle distance races. They have both been working with Tri Training Harder for a few years and are certainly fantastic characters. They kindly give us an insight to how they fit their training into a busy schedule. See what you can learn from these two:

Tri Training HarderMarch 8, 2018Coached Athlete, triathlon, Training, Racing, AGComment

If You Only Had 8 Hours To Train, What Should You Do?

In this blog Coach Philip gives us his suggestions on where he would spend time focusing on when coaching an athlete who "only" has 8 hours to train per week. Have a look at this insightful breakdown of training effort and maybe you will learn something about prioritising your own training!

Philip HatzisMarch 7, 2018Training, Coaching, triathlonComment

What is Fatigue?

Dr Ollie Stoten, ultra-marathon runner, Polar explorer and genuinely all round top bloke takes a closer look at what actually is Fatigue and highlights just how important being honest about our rest days really is. If you aren't too tired...read on!

Tri Training HarderMarch 2, 2018Training, CoachingComment

Execution Over Perfection

Confidence on race day is not something that can be simply wished into existence; it is built over time by recognising genuine improvements in training and racing. By consistently seeing what they are capable of, athletes build a solid foundation of self-belief, known as self-efficacy, that they can rely on when it matters most. The key to unlocking genuine race-day confidence lies in evidence, experience, and focusing on process goals. This article explores a recent Podcast discussion with Coaches Philip and Diogo and summarises their conversation.

AI Training Plans Versus the Human Coach: Navigating the Future of Endurance Sport

Artificial Intelligence is making waves in every industry, and endurance sport is no exception. As coaches and athletes, we’re now faced with a new question: what’s the real difference between a training plan built by AI and one delivered by a coach who uses AI as a tool? With so many platforms offering AI-generated plans, and some athletes even turning to tools like ChatGPT for their schedules, it’s important to understand how these options stack up against the support and expertise a human coach brings.

Why Consistent Training Doesn't Always Lead to Improvement: A Coach’s Perspective.

Many triathletes and endurance athletes find themselves in a frustrating cycle: they train consistently, yet performance stalls. The key disconnect is between the athlete’s narrow perception of progress and the broader view necessary for long-term gains. True consistency and progression in endurance sports depend on more than just showing up for every session. This article was created from the Podcast Episode with coaches Diogo and Philip.

Breathing in Freestyle: How to Fix Common Mistakes

Adult swimmers often overcomplicate swimming. There are too many gurus online offering quick fixes and ideas that ultimately lead to further complications. In this article, Coach Philip explores freestyle breathing and how to correct common mistakes.

You never regret the session you do, just the ones you don’t do

Mantras – what do they really mean and how can they help?

Many people have mantras, either for how they live their lives, or relating to how they turn up and train. In this small series, Coach Denise looks at the mantras which have meaning to her personally, and shares how they help her with both life and training.

“If you think you can or you think you can’t, you are probably right”

I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul

Many people have mantras, either for how they live their lives, or relating to how they

turn up and train. In this small series, Coach Denise looks at the mantras which have

meaning to her personally, and shares how they help her with both life and training.

Overcoming Barriers: How Female Athletes Build Confidence in the Pool, on the Bike, and at the Track?

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.

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.

Are you racing for others or yourself?

It's common for athletes to feel pressure to perform well for others, but genuine pride from loved ones comes from an athlete's attitude, daily habits, and dedication to training, rather than a single race result. This article explores how a continued application of good habits is more impactful on others than a single race result.

Are you willing or just wanting to achieve something?

Endurance athletes are often caught up in their next dream. Whether trying to win an age group, qualify for a championship, or simply complete their first race, these goals ignite their passion and drive. At the beginning, when their motivation is high, training seems effortless – of course, the athlete wants to complete their goal, and they tell everyone what they want to achieve. However, there is a subtle yet significant difference between wanting to achieve these goals and being willing to do what it takes to get there.

Are you coachable?

This article explores the concept of coachability and how mindset, vulnerability, and self-talk play vital roles in an athlete's development. It discusses the differences between fixed and growth mindsets and explains why openness to feedback and embracing vulnerability are crucial for success.

What happens if my period comes when I am racing?

Every 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.

Indoor or Outdoor Cycling – Which is the best for training?

Recently, indoor training technology has transformed how endurance athletes approach their cycling training. Meanwhile, traditional outdoor riding offers unique physiological and psychological benefits that no virtual platform can fully replicate.

Read the latest content from Tri Training Harder Coaching

Sign up to receive the latest news and updates from Tri Training Harder

Believe. Strive. Achieve.