Triathlon Training Articles

Practical, no-nonsense articles for age-group triathletes. From time-crunched training and race strategy to strength, technique and mindset, this is where you can dive deeper into how I coach and how you can train smarter.

If you are new here or want a clear picture of how I coach, start with these guides on time-crunched training, technical skills, full distance strategy and strength work.

The Time-Crunched Triathlete: Maximising Limited Training Hours
Why You’re Not Getting Faster: The Forgotten Role of Technical Skills in Triathlon
Full Distance Race Strategy: Calm Execution Beats Chaos
Strength Training for Triathletes: Build Strength and Crush Races

Structuring Your Triathlon Season with A, B, and C Races – A Practical Approach

Structuring Your Triathlon Season with A, B, and C Races – A Practical Approach

Planning a triathlon season effectively involves categorizing races into A, B, and C events. A races are primary goals requiring peak performance, B races serve as tests or stepping stones, while C races allow for training and fun. Adopting flexibility in training schedules fosters adaptability and ensures athletes remain engaged and healthy throughout their competitive journey.

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Challenge Roth – What Racing There Is Really Like

Challenge Roth – What Racing There Is Really Like

Roth stands out as a unique triathlon experience, drawing athletes for its festival-like atmosphere. However, the race week can overwhelm with distractions, making planning essential. Success relies on discipline, adaptability, and avoiding the temptation to expend energy too early. Athletes must balance excitement with strategy to perform well.

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Triathlon Training in Your 40s, 50s, and Beyond

Triathlon Training in Your 40s, 50s, and Beyond

Triathlon is not exclusive to the young; athletes aged 40 and above can excel by understanding age-related changes in endurance performance. This article explores how to adapt training strategies, emphasizing continued fitness through strength training, managing intensity, prioritizing recovery, and maintaining proper technique. Embracing a growth mindset and redefining success can enhance performance at any age.

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The Time-Crunched Triathlete: Maximising Limited Training Hours

The Time-Crunched Triathlete: Maximising Limited Training Hours

This article emphasizes that triathletes, even with busy schedules, can effectively prepare for Ironman events through a quality-over-quantity approach. Key principles include maximizing training purpose, focusing on technique, strategically using intensity, and prioritizing recovery. This strategy leads to optimal performance while balancing family and work commitments, fostering both enjoyment and improvement.

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Why You’re Not Getting Faster: The Forgotten Role of Technical Skills in Triathlon

Why You’re Not Getting Faster: The Forgotten Role of Technical Skills in Triathlon

Triathletes often focus solely on fitness for performance but neglect technical skills, which are equally crucial. Technical deficiencies manifest under fatigue, leading to efficiency loss. This article emphasizes prioritizing technique alongside endurance training to improve race performance and prevent injuries. A mindset shift from ego-driven training to efficiency is essential for true progress.

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Why Your Training Isn't Boring—You Just Don’t Understand It

Why Your Training Isn't Boring—You Just Don’t Understand It

Ironman training may seem monotonous, but effective preparation relies on consistent, purposeful repetition rather than constant novelty. Athletes often misinterpret boredom as a flaw in training, neglecting its significance. Embracing a disciplined approach fosters adaptation, strength, and endurance, transforming perceived dullness into a pathway for achievement and improved performance.

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You’re Not “Overtrained”—You’re Underprepared or Misaligned

You’re Not “Overtrained”—You’re Underprepared or Misaligned

Many endurance athletes often mislabel their fatigue as Overtraining Syndrome (OTS), a rare condition. In reality, issues like inadequate nutrition, poor sleep, high life stress, and misaligned training plans frequently cause fatigue. Understanding these factors can lead to actionable solutions, allowing athletes to correct their approach and improve performance.

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Stuck in No-Man’s-Land: Why Triathletes Plateau and How to Break Through

Stuck in No-Man’s-Land: Why Triathletes Plateau and How to Break Through

Triathletes don’t plateau because they’re lazy. They plateau because almost everything they do sits in the same grey zone: not easy enough to truly recover, not specific or hard enough to force real adaptation. This article unpacks how that “no-man’s land” creeps into your swim, bike, and run, and shows you how to restructure training so you finally move the needle again.

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Slow Doesn’t Mean Safe: Why Conservative Training Can Still Get You Injured

Slow Doesn’t Mean Safe: Why Conservative Training Can Still Get You Injured

Triathletes often mistakenly believe that training at low intensity prevents injuries, yet overuse injuries frequently occur during these supposedly safe sessions. Smart training involves a balanced approach that includes purposefully increasing intensity, incorporating strength work, and focusing on biomechanical efficiency. This promotes resilience, ultimately reducing injury risk and enhancing performance.

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How Fitness Actually Builds: Recovery, Adaptation, and Timing in Triathlon Training

How Fitness Actually Builds: Recovery, Adaptation, and Timing in Triathlon Training

Many triathletes mistakenly believe continuous training yields fitness gains, neglecting the importance of recovery. True adaptation occurs during rest, not during strenuous workouts. Proper training balances stress with recovery, which is essential for progress. Recognizing and managing fatigue can prevent overtraining, leading to improved performance through patience and strategic recovery.

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Marginal Gains in Triathlon: A Costly Myth

Marginal Gains in Triathlon: A Costly Myth

Many amateur triathletes mistakenly prioritize expensive gear upgrades, believing in "marginal gains" to improve performance, while neglecting fundamental training principles. Elite athletes employ marginal gains as fine-tuning after perfecting core skills. To enhance performance, amateurs should focus on consistent training, skill development, recovery, and nutrition rather than costly equipment.

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Coaching the Committed vs the Curious Athlete

Coaching the Committed vs the Curious Athlete

The text discusses two distinct athlete mindsets: committed and curious. Committed athletes demonstrate dedication through structured training and goal-setting, while curious athletes embrace exploration and intrinsic motivation. Both approaches have strengths and challenges, and blending them can foster long-term success. Ultimately, understanding one's style leads to a more fulfilling athletic journey.

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Indoor vs Outdoor Triathlon Training: What Actually Helps You Race Better?

Indoor vs Outdoor Triathlon Training: What Actually Helps You Race Better?

Balancing indoor and outdoor training is crucial for triathlon success. Indoor sessions provide consistency and structure, enhancing technique and mental toughness, while outdoor training builds adaptability and resilience. Both environments complement each other, enabling athletes to refine their skills, boost endurance, and prepare effectively for race day. Utilize each wisely.

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Full Distance Race Strategy: Calm Execution Beats Chaos

Full Distance Race Strategy: Calm Execution Beats Chaos

The article emphasizes that successful racing in long-distance triathlons, particularly Ironman, relies not on speed but on maintaining calmness. Athletes should focus on disciplined execution, smart nutrition, and emotional steadiness throughout the race. A consistent, measured approach enables peak performance, even when challenges arise, distinguishing strong racers from others.

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Stop Treating Swim, Bike, and Run Like Separate Sports

Stop Treating Swim, Bike, and Run Like Separate Sports

Many triathletes approach training as three separate sports: swimming, biking, and running. However, effective triathlon training must integrate these elements into one continuous event. Success lies in managing cumulative fatigue and performance under stress, emphasizing race-specific workouts. Adopting a triathlete mindset is crucial for improved race-day performance.

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Triathlon Coaching That Gets You Faster & Stronger—Without Wasted Effort

Triathlon Coaching That Gets You Faster & Stronger—Without Wasted Effort

Sense Endurance Coaching offers a results-oriented triathlon coaching approach focused on efficiency and performance. Head Coach Tom emphasizes smart training to enhance athletes' strength, technique, and race execution. The process includes initial consultations, personalized training plans, and continuous communication. Athletes are guided through all phases of preparation, ensuring tailored support and optimal race strategies.

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Training Through and After Illness: A Triathlete’s Guide to Recovery

Training Through and After Illness: A Triathlete’s Guide to Recovery

Triathletes often struggle with deciding between training through fatigue or resting to recover. Increased training loads can weaken the immune system, making illness more likely. The guidance includes resting for serious symptoms and easing back into training gradually. Mental resilience during illness is emphasized as crucial for long-term success.

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Ironman Training the Sense Endurance Way: Maximise Gains in Minimal Time

Ironman Training the Sense Endurance Way: Maximise Gains in Minimal Time

Training effectively for an Ironman doesn’t require excessive hours; instead, focus on structured, quality workouts that build endurance and strength efficiently. The Sense Endurance principles emphasize purposeful training, consistency, and strength work while avoiding junk miles. Proper planning ensures athletes manage fatigue and perform well without overwhelming their lives.

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