Triathlon coaching, advice and statistics.
Racing
Challenge Henley in Perspective
Immediately after I published my Henley race report I had reservations. It accurately reflected the day, but as has since been pointed out was very critical of my performance. I believe that if you are chasing improvements you need to be able to recognise when you fall short; the desire not to repeat your mistakes, […]
Challenge Henley Race Report
Standing on the bank of the Thames, shivering in the cold morning air, I questioned the wisdom of entering a late season Ironman. Wetsuit and swim cap did nothing to warm me; if the riverside was this cold, what would the water be like? I sorely missed the warm bed I’d left a couple of […]
The Challenge Henley Race Plan
An ironman distance event right on my doorstep, my entry was in within hours of Challenge Henley opening. The start is thirty minutes from my front door, I would know the course and could train on it daily. Perfect preparation. If that wasn’t enough, the prospect of sleeping in my own bed on race night […]
An Unconventional Approach to Tapering
A week until my next Ironman and once again I feel woefully underprepared. Pre-race nerves have a schedule as well timed as my final weeks of preparation. Anxiety grows, doubts form and I look to my training diary for reassurance. Ultimately this blog relieves the tension, giving me the means to express those doubts and […]
National Club Relay Championships – Impersonating a Police Officer
Wednesday morning and once again I slept in; eight hours and I was still tired. Not that this was unexpected, I’ve survived enough Epic Camps to know what would come – the inevitable crash. From the peak of fitness to the depth of lethargy, the legs that towed the bunch across the Alps had vanished. […]
The Outlaw Triathlon – Post-Race Analysis
Tough races are often the best learning experiences. I knew I would have problems at the Outlaw, but come away with useful data and insights for future events. It was about the bike, a chance to test the one area I’d really trained this season. Performance was good, I pushed hard, though felt there was […]
The Brief Outlaw Triathlon Race Report
Evidently I’ve forgotten a lot in nine months. Racing the Outlaw Triathlon felt like my first Ironman – the pre-race nerves, the pressure and checking kit over multiple times. I was a rookie again, it showed throughout race day. Despite expectations to perform my mind wasn’t completely in the game. The oversights started at breakfast […]
The Outlaw Triathlon Race Plan – Death or Glory
I’ve made many excuses this week, managing expectations a little too well. By Wednesday I’d even convinced myself and was ready to consign the Outlaw to training; no taper, no rest and no recovery. The following day’s ride made me revisit the question – testing my pacing plan, the numbers were good, but my legs […]
The Outlaw Triathlon – Setting My Expectations Low
There are five stages of Ironman training. I’m not describing the process of periodisation, but the emotional journey played out race after race in the archives of this blog. The Outlaw triathlon is less than a week away, my first race in nine months and I have reached the final stage – acceptance. I entered […]
Post-Race Analysis – A Detailed Look at Ironman Austria Bike Performance
The European Ironman season is at its peak, Sunday’s are spent on my laptop tracking triathletes. Having athletes in Ironman Austria and Challenge Roth has ensured a busy fortnight; when the race is over the analysis begins. Debriefings are a pleasure if the day went to plan, but when goals were missed it is a […]
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