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
The Noise in the Kitchen: A Practical Guide to Training Nutrition
Most age-groupers eat the same thing on a rest day as they do on a threshold day, skip meals before early sessions, and spend money on supplements that replace nothing a fridge full of real food cannot do better. Here is what training nutrition actually looks like when you strip the noise away.
Signal over Noise
The endurance industry is crawling with Fixers: people with a surplus of opinions and a total deficit of skin in the game. They will sell you a ceramic pulley wheel, a ketone ester, and a wind-tunnel-tested aero bottle before they ever suggest you just ride your bike consistently. The hardest part of modern performance isn't the physical load. It's the mental discipline to say "no" to the noise.
The Myth of the Bleeding Hero: Redefining Greatness for the Age-Group Triathlete
The endurance world loves the romance of suffering, but pushing through pain doesn't make an amateur athlete great. It just breaks them. A breakdown of the biological toll of 'toughing it out' and why the ultimate competitive advantage is leaving your ego at the door.
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.
The ‘No-Nonsense’ Gear Manifesto: Equipment That Actually Survives the Sport
We face a paradox in triathlon: as equipment becomes more "advanced," it becomes less robust. From bikes that can't survive a flight to "wellness" metrics that convince you you're tired before you even start, we are stuck in a "Gear Trap." In this deep dive, we explore why the fastest equipment is actually the stuff that works every single time.
What To Do in Winter – Off‑Season Triathlon Training Principles
Winter is not a five month hiatus or a time for aimless base miles. Here we treat the off-season as a strategic reset, building discipline-specific strength, sharpening skills, using indoor and outdoor sessions intelligently, and avoiding the common winter mistakes that leave triathletes flat by spring.
You 're Not a Norwegian Triathlete — And You Shouldn't Train Like One
The Norwegian Method in triathlon emphasizes high-volume training, double-threshold sessions, and precise data monitoring, leading to Olympic success. While effective for professionals, age-group athletes risk injury and burnout if they mimic this approach. Understanding the principles and personalizing training within real-life constraints promotes sustainable improvement without unnecessary complexity.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Zone 2 Obsession? Here’s What You’re Missing
Zone 2 training is widely embraced by triathletes but may hinder real progress by encouraging a static approach to endurance. While essential for building a base, exclusive reliance on it can stifle strength, speed, and race readiness. A more dynamic strategy, emphasizing strength and varied intensity, fosters true development for races.
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.
Avoid These Common Triathlon Training Plan Mistakes
Most triathletes don’t blow their season with one big mistake. They bleed away progress through a training plan that doesn’t quite fit their life, goals, or body. This article breaks down the most common triathlon training plan errors and shows you how to fix them so your plan actually does what it’s supposed to: make you faster.
Sense Endurance’s Approach to Triathlon Periodisation: Smarter Triathlon Training
Most periodisation models look clever on paper but fall apart the moment real life intervenes. This article breaks down the Sense Endurance approach to triathlon periodisation: simple, time-crunched friendly blocks, clear priorities, and a flexible structure that still gets you properly strong and ready to race when it counts.
Fads in Triathlon: Why You Don’t Need Gadgets, Gimmicks, or the Next Big Supplement
Triathletes often face pressure from a saturated market of gadgets and supplements promising enhanced performance but delivering minimal real value. Many of these products are overpriced and distract athletes from consistent training and proper nutrition. Instead, genuine success lies in mastering the fundamentals: smart training, balanced diet, and effective recovery practices.
Why Lab Testing is a Waste of Money for Triathletes
Endless lab tests make you feel “serious” about your triathlon, but most of the time they give you numbers you don’t really use and training advice you don’t really follow. This article explains why lab testing is usually a poor investment for age-group triathletes and where your time, money, and energy are far better spent if you actually want to race faster.