In this article, Coach Tim explores the common misconception that lifting weights will make you bulk out. For an endurance athlete, bulking up doesn’t conjure images of better performances, but Tim explains how a proper strength and conditioning programme can add to your endurance performance gains.
Read MoreIn this final of three articles, Coach Kevin looks at reintroducing carbohydrates after becoming ‘fat'-adapted’ through a low-carb, high-fat diet. This is pertinent to those who are working in a low-carb environment but want to perform. Carbohydrate periodisation is all about timing your intake to facilitate bouts of higher intensity training or racing. Read on to find out more.
Read MoreGetting a coach at any point in your athletic career is a big deal. In triathlon, athletes can have access to coaches at an early point through the club system. New athletes are often reluctant to go to a club or coached sessions, fearful that they aren’t good enough or the stigma that coaching is for the “good athletes”. Coach Diogo looks specifically into how a coach will help a beginner athlete and how the very opposite is true.
Read MoreIn our recent blog, we investigated the effects of missing an entire night's sleep on race performance. We summarised that a complete lack of sleep the night before a race may alter your perception of effort and possibly slow down your reaction times on race day. In this blog Coach Jon gives us his tips on how to keep those pre-race nerves at bay and get the best night’s sleep before your race.
Read MoreEver feel yourself lying in bed, restless, the night before a big competition? “What if I don’t sleep at all?! Will my race be ruined!?”
In this blog, Coach Jon aims to find out whether lack of sleep the night before a big race really matters.
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In this article Coach Alan writes about the age group athlete journey and how a little bit of perspective can help with performance, longevity and enjoyment of the sport of triathlon.
Read MoreBalance in life can be amazing. Unfortunately, not many of us can achieve it consistently. When it comes to competing in triathlons, balance in a triathlete’s life and training is essential. Coach Tim looks into how to find that balance between three sports and strength and conditioning.
Read MoreThere are several different physiological tests and metrics that are available to athletes depending on their goals, ambitions and lifestyle choices. It can be confusing and conflicting at times without knowing how they influence and interact with each other, contribute to the different types of training sessions and overall structured plans.
One of these is the VO2Max test. Let’s look at the VO2Max, what it is, how it could benefit you and what it means to you as an athlete. To give you the knowledge to enable you to challenge yourself, if you want to!
Read MoreIn this article, Coach Kevin looks at scheduling and the tricky question of when is the best time to train? Everyone has a preference, some prefer first thing, others swear by doing evening sessions, but when is the best time to train?
Read MoreIn this blog, Coach Alan writes about why body composition is far more important to athletic performance than weight.
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In this article, Coach Alan rights a piece that provides a generalist approach to nutrition to help provide a spectrum based perspective on how to approach nutrition for performance and, even more importantly, health.
Read MoreCoach Kevin recently wrote an article comparing high carbohydrate to high fat (or ketogenic diets). Hopefully, by the end, you had a better idea of whether you should stick with the norm (high carb), or consider trying out a high-fat option. This article is for those who are thinking about giving keto a go – Kevin will explain the potential benefits, downsides, and how to do it right from an athlete’s perspective using both his experiences and science.
Read MoreOften triathletes reach for the open water early season to get ready for their first race. Initially, this dive in may be more about braving the cold than anything that can resemble a decent training session. For time-starved athletes, there may be a questionable benefit of a short swim with travel and preparation/changing time) included. Read on to find out how to make the most of the open water swim sessions.
Read MoreIn this article, we look at Energy Availability and get under the hood of what makes us healthy and what makes us strong. Performance correlates with consistency in training, so avoiding skipped training sessions through illness or injury is critical to success. How can we use Energy Availability and an understanding of our body’s needs to enable better performances and body compositions?
Read MoreIn this article, Coach Alan writes about how too little energy for athletes can lead to a negative spiral of health and performance. What is RED-s and how can it affect athletes?
Read MoreCoach Kevin looks into the somewhat controversial topic of carbohydrates versus fat as a performance nutritional strategy. Kevin looks objectively into the science and information out there as well as bringing in some of his own personal experiences. The information may surprise you!
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In this article Coach Alan looks at FTP – what is it, how can we use it and why may FTP might be misleading your cycling training. Once we can understand all of that, we can better understand what we can do with this information and how you can inform your training.
Read MoreIn this article, coach Kevin looks through the mechanics of how an athlete actually gets faster. What are the adaptions? What changes does your body make and importantly, what does it need to make those changes? If you want to get under the hood and work out what makes you faster, read on below.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreYou've completed your training, feeling good, fit and excited about your fast approaching triathlon. The next consideration is to arrive at the start line in the best possible shape as possible. Tapering for a triathlon is not easy. But if you manage to get it right it could make the difference to a good day and a great day. But let’s not forget this process is very much athlete-specific and needs trial and error depending on the distance of the race. Read on to find out more.
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