How do the top carbon shoes make runners faster?

Over recent years there has been a boom in carbon-plated running shoes. Following Nike’s revolutionary Vaporfly 4%, most of the major running shoe brands have now developed their own carbon-plated models. These shoes are all about improving efficiency and, as a result, enhancing your performance. In this two-part blog, Coach Jon explores how these work and how they can make you faster.

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Pressure or Expectation?

We live in a world of ‘results’ within triathlon and what ‘results’ are can be different between individuals. As coaches, we have the privilege to see under the bonnet or behind the curtains of many athletes’ performances and it is this perspective that gives us the ability to give a logical opinion on performance. Recently and more frequently we are experiencing athletes having difficulty digesting and sharing their experience of an event with what ‘everyone’ else thinks. Here Coach Alan has written about one of his races to give a framework to help structure planning, doing and reviewing a race.

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How to Warm Up?

In this second article on warm-ups Coach Alan takes you through each of these steps to give you the details on how to warm up so that you can be firing on all cylinders from the moment you cross the start line of your next race.

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Running every day: Coach Jon’s experience

Having recently completed a ‘run every day’ challenge earlier this year, Coach Jon reflects on his experience of completing the challenge.

Earlier this year, I set myself the challenge of running every day for a month, with no rules, no targets, just lace up the trainers and get out of the door every day. Why? No real reason, apart from a self-fulfilling sense of achievement and a desire to investigate whether a little and often approach would bring about any tangible running improvements. Before I let you know how I got on, let’s take a look at some of the benefits and negative aspects of running every day.

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Why do you warm up?

How important is it to warm up? How does it make a difference? Why should you warm-up? How could you warm up for your upcoming triathlon race over any distance? Read on to find out as Coach Alan takes you through each of these steps to give you the knowledge to be firing on all cylinders from the moment you cross the start line of your next race.

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Why should you Race Local?

Many people know about the significant events on the race calendar. In fact, one of the bigger, more well-known events is probably how you got into the sport or learned about triathlon. However, smaller, more low-key events are critical to the success and popularity of the sport. In this article, Coach Denise looks at the perks of racing local and how you can use local races to succeed this season.

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Why should you clean your wetsuit after every open water swim?

In most triathlons, the swim takes place outside, either in a lake, river or the sea. Training in a similar environment makes sure you are fully ready to take on the first leg of the race and gives you a chance to test out all of the race kit, especially your wetsuit. Your wetsuit is likely to be the most expensive item of equipment you have for swimming, and looking after it is crucial. In this article, Coach Denise looks at why it should be cleaned and how to do it.

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