Triathlon Training Articles
Practical, no-nonsense advice for the age-group triathlete. From time-crunched scheduling and race strategy to mindset and technical skills, this is where I share the "why" and "how" behind training smarter.
New here? Start with these guides:
• 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
Beyond the Numbers: The 3 Durability Benchmarks That Build Real Performance
We have more sensors than sense. The modern triathlete is drowning in data yet becoming more fragile. Why? Because we are optimising for vanity metrics like FTP and VO2 Max, numbers that only matter when you are fresh. But the race doesn't happen in the first hour; it happens in the fourth. This manifesto challenges the "ceiling" mindset and introduces three benchmarks to measure your true Durability. Stop chasing the peak. Build the floor.
When Motivation Is Gone: A Practical Playbook
When motivation disappears, it’s rarely a character flaw. It’s a signal that your body or brain is in debt. This playbook shows how to triage the problem using simple markers, reduce training friction, and apply a minimum effective dose week that protects fitness without digging a deeper hole.
The Quiet Athlete: Winning Without Needing to Prove It
Quiet confidence is boring and effective. This piece shows what secure training looks like when nobody’s clapping, how it holds up under fatigue, and how to stop chasing validation every session.
The Mental Trap of Always Feeling Fit
Competitive triathletes often feel pressured to maintain peak performance daily, experiencing panic when fatigue sets in. This article emphasizes that feeling flat is normal during training and part of the adaptation process. By understanding the psychological and physiological aspects, athletes can embrace these valleys for long-term development and avoid the pitfalls of chasing constant freshness.
Serious Fun: Why Play Matters in Triathlon
Play is not a distraction, it’s a training tool. This piece shows where it fits in your week, what it improves, and how to keep it from turning into random chaos.
The Missing Ingredient in Athlete Development: Pressure
The key to breaking performance plateaus in triathlon training lies in applying purposeful pressure rather than simply increasing volume. Athletes must step outside their comfort zones, embracing physical, technical, psychological, and ego-based pressures to foster adaptation and resilience. This approach transforms stagnation into growth, enhancing preparation for race-day challenges.
Unlock Unstoppable Race-Day Confidence: Beyond Physical Training
Race-day confidence doesn’t come from last-minute hype; it comes from months of consistent training, a clear plan, and a mind that’s already rehearsed the hard moments. This article shows you how to build that kind of calm, repeatable confidence so you stand on the start line knowing you’re ready, not hoping you are.
The Cost of a Frictionless Life: Losing Joy and Meaning in Life and Training
The pursuit of a frictionless life may seem appealing, but it minimizes the joy and meaning derived from overcoming challenges. Struggles in triathlon and life foster growth, resilience, and deeper connections. Embracing friction allows individuals to rediscover joy in effort and the transformative power of adversity, leading to richer experiences and personal evolution.
The Secret to Endurance Success: Grit Over Gift
Most athletes secretly hope they’re “naturally gifted,” but enduring success in sport has far more to do with stubborn patience than special DNA. This article digs into why grit, consistency, and showing up on the hard, unglamorous days will take you further than talent ever will.
Let your Belief in the Process Fuel your Athletic Success
In triathlon and endurance sport, grit and talent only take you so far. Real progress comes when you commit to a clear plan, trust the process and the coach behind it, and keep showing up even when the results seem slow. This article explores how belief, communication and consistency turn solid training into long-term success.
Secure and Insecure Strivers
The post discusses the distinction between "secure" and "insecure strivers" in triathlons. Insecure strivers seek validation through accomplishments, risking burnout and injury. In contrast, secure strivers focus on long-term growth, handling setbacks with resilience and a balanced approach. Coaches should nurture secure strivers to promote sustained success and fulfillment in the sport.
Learning to Endure
Endurance isn’t just fitness. It’s the ability to stay organised when it starts to bite, keep making good decisions, and hold your basics when your legs stop cooperating. This article is about building that capacity in training and carrying it into race day.