Triathlon coaching, advice and statistics.
Racing
Ironman Racing – Putting The Plan Together
This month I’ve outlined my approach to Ironman racing. From the process of tapering through to the nutrition and pacing strategies I favour. The methods have worked for me and so far this season have worked for my athletes, but as with any broad plan it needs testing and adapting to fit each individual. To […]
Ironman Racing – A Pacing Plan
The faster you go the sooner you finish. Obviously pacing decides the outcome of an Ironman; the aim is to be as fast as possible, but too fast can be disastrous. Determining correct pace requires testing and practice during training and an appreciation of the importance of nutrition to sustain the effort. Ironman is about […]
Ironman Racing – A Nutrition Plan
Pacing and nutrition are the two critical elements of an Ironman race plan. The energy requirements of race day demand a regular intake of calories. The harder you race the more critical fuelling becomes – intensity determines the rate calories are burned and the composition of fuel used. Successful Ironman racing involves balancing intensity and […]
Ironman Racing – A Two Week Taper Plan
During the taper a triathlete’s fears transform from ‘am I doing enough?‘ to ‘am I doing too much?‘. Many struggle with the unfamiliar emphasis on reducing effort and resting. Last Tuesday I wrote about the principles behind a good taper, providing a broad outline of the structure I use. This week I want to focus […]
Ironman Racing – The Fine Art of Tapering
Goal races are imminent. Training plans have focussed on tapers with half my athletes racing Ironman or 70.3 events during June and July. I’ve also received a lot of emails about race strategy, pacing and nutrition so the blog is focussing on Ironman racing for the coming month. Starting today with an overview of the […]
The Ridiculous Swim – Eton 10K Open Water Swim Race Report
At some point swimming ten kilometres seemed a good idea. Sufficiently good for me to enter yesterday’s Eton 10K Open Water Swim. I hoped fear would be enough motivation to get me back in the pool. I wasn’t afraid; as an unusual birthday celebration I’d swum seven kilometres in the Tri2O Lake two year’s ago, […]
Ironman Lanzarote 2011 – A Spectator’s Report
Normally I struggle to sleep after an Ironman, waking in the early hours and writing a race report instead. Spectating was tiring, but lacked the long term soreness of race participation. I slept heavily last night; my spectator’s report waiting till this afternoon. Comparing my external perspective with athlete’s stories is interesting, what we experience […]
Racing Ironman Lanzarote – A Coach’s Perspective
Ironman Lanzarote is just five days away. By this time Saturday many athletes will be finished and started on their celebrations. I’ll have spent my day spectating; standing by the ocean or the side of the road, cheering them on. I may squeeze an easy run in during the morning whilst they’re out on the […]
Ironman Austria Withdrawal and Perspective
In six years of triathlon I’ve never DNFed. Every time I’ve made it to the start, I’ve made it to the finish. There have been close calls: the first time I raced Ironman Lanzarote I nearly quit. Fitness was there; I’d spent a month riding on the island, but an extreme saddle sore almost stopped […]
Early Season Racing
For northern hemisphere athletes the season is starting up. Half of March’s training plans involved a race. As a rule these early season events aren’t the focus for an athlete. They’re a test of winter training, a progress check and a motivational boost. A bit of fun loosely relate to season goals. Planning a season […]
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