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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Strength Training for Triathletes: Build Strength and Crush Races with Sense Endurance
Strength training in triathlon isn’t a side hobby or a winter accessory. It’s how you hold form, keep producing force, and stop the late-race fade becoming your personality. This piece covers what to do, how to fit it in, and what actually carries into racing.
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.
Master Your Marathon: Effective Training Tips
Preparing for a marathon requires a strategic approach focused on developing aerobic base, muscular endurance, and efficient pacing. Key training includes controlled effort sessions, varied intervals, and long runs by feel. Nutrition plays a crucial role, along with avoiding common pitfalls like neglecting recovery. With the right strategies, athletes can finish strong.
Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Growth and New Beginnings
In 2024, I transitioned from a legal translator to a full-time triathlon coach, driven by my passion and extensive part-time experience. I aimed to address the lack of professionalism in coaching by offering personalized, race-specific training plans. This year has fostered personal growth, athlete connections, and a commitment to elevate coaching standards.
Simplifying Triathlon Nutrition: The Myths and Realities
Triathletes often face nutrition myths that complicate their diet. The article clarifies that expensive products are unnecessary, real food can meet protein needs, and consuming too many carbs during races may hinder performance. Simple strategies, like homemade sports drinks and familiar snacks, are emphasized for effective fueling in endurance events, promoting efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
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.
How to Swim Sense Endurance Style
This guide emphasizes the importance of efficient swimming for triathletes, highlighting the Sense Endurance approach. It outlines key techniques, including maintaining a neutral head position, effective hand movements, and utilizing body mechanics to enhance stroke power and conserve energy. Regular use of tools like pull buoys and paddles builds strength and rhythm essential for racing.
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.
Why Triathletes Overcomplicate Their Training
Triathletes often overcomplicate their training with gadgets and conflicting advice, leading to confusion and insecurity. Sense Endurance advocates for simplicity, focusing on fundamental training, reducing cognitive load, and trusting the process. By setting clear goals and limiting metrics, athletes can improve performance and enjoyment while developing confidence in their capabilities.
What working with Brett Sutton taught me
With 15 years in triathlon, I founded Sense Endurance Coaching to simplify training, focusing on aerobic development and biomechanics. Using the Trisutto method, I emphasize manageable techniques under fatigue, low RPM cycling for strength, efficient running form, and mental resilience to build adaptable athletes. Results improve with a focus on fundamentals over metrics.
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.
The ebbs and flows of athlete development
Progress in sport is rarely a straight line. Some phases feel fast and exciting, others slower, heavier, or simply flat, and all of them are part of becoming a better athlete. This article looks at how to recognise those natural ups and downs, adjust your training, and keep moving forward without losing your head or your motivation.