Posts Tagged ‘Triathlon General’

The latest subscription of ‘220 Triathlon’ landed on Saturday morning with great excitement as inside it had a full review of this years IM World Championships from Hawaii. The review of the race battles and various athlete profiles was great, along with the stunning Kona imagery.

However, what really caught my attention in the magazine was the editors choice ‘letter of the month’. To cut a long story short this guy wrote an interesting piece on how the achievements of the GB triathlon medal winners this year have been somewhat overlooked by the British media.

This is something that I’m also very disappointed with and something that needs to change. I’m sure most of the media out there still class triathlon as a ‘minority sport’. Triathlon is one of the fastest growing sports within the UK at present and with more and more regular members of the public taking up the sport I would say it’s growth maybe goes beyond the predictions of the British Triathlon Federation itself. This taken into consideration though, how many of the British media would rather write about triathlon instead of the ‘majority sports’, such as football, rugby and cricket? Get my point?

A recent response on the BBC’s site made comment on how the success of an individual in ‘minority sports’ should not be given the same status in awards ceremonies than people in ‘majority sports’. This comment came from a subscriber to the site and not one of the writers and went onto say that this was because it is much harder to excel in a sport which many people compete in, than it is for something like Ironman. Tell me you’re not shouting out loud at your PC screen at this point!

Yes, lots of people play and compete in the ‘majority sports’, like football, but most will play to a mediocre standard because these type of sports are easier to participate in, unlike the efforts involved in triathlon. Don’t get me wrong, I love football (as well as other sports) and played for the Army at a high standard so I’m not showing disrespect for any other sport here.

Perhaps this subscriber does not understand the commitment that triathlete’s make in order to excel in the sport. To compete at the top in triathlon takes a hell of a lot more than turning up for a mornings training on the football pitch and raking in ten’s of thousands of pounds per week for it. People maybe don’t realise that for most pro triathlete’s it’s more of a lifestyle choice, rather than just a job.

Another fault of the British media is that our sport of triathlon does not get as much live TV exposure as it should. I ended up watching this Octobers Ironman World Championships in Hawaii via a streamed feed from an American channel on the net. Now why couldn’t the UK broadcast this event live rather than airing a pre-recorded version four weeks later? Only recently have more of the ITU world cup events been broadcast live, however in my opinion this is still not enough.

I believe that all sports should be represented whether they are classed as ‘minority sports’ or not, and where true greats such as Chrissie Wellington emerge, they should be rewarded accordingly for their achievements. I wonder if the achievements of Chrissie will again be over-looked when the shortlists are finalised for this years BBC’s sports personality of the year?!?! What does this girl have to do to be recognised and nominated?

Well done to all GB triathletes for your achievements throughout the year, your efforts ‘do not’ go un-noticed by the fans, followers and competitors of triathlon. It’s just a shame the media don’t hold so much regard!

No further questions your honour!!

If you liked this article, why not subscribe to Trispace RSS Feed .

Alternatively subscribe here to receive new articles by email.

Celebrate & Rehydrate
Congratulate your self no matter how you did, because you did the best you could on race day. Make sure that you take time to catch-up with other club members of friends who have also completed the race as well as your travelling supporters. Rehydrate as soon as you’ve finished by replenishing those lost salts and minerals as well as your all important energy reserves.

Recuperation
Continue to have something to eat or drink every 2-3 hours after your race. Consider going for a short walk to help loosen off those muscles and remember to perform a thorough stretch of all the major muscle groups. Not only will this make you feel better immediately following your race but will also help avoid the delayed onset of muscle soreness a day or two later.

Review Your Race
Did you prepare sufficiently for your race? If not, why not? Did you achieve your goals? If you did then congratulate yourself, however if you didn’t then what obstacles can your way? Were your gaols too ambitious? Did you face unexpected mechanical problems out on the course? More importantly what went well during the race that you could take with you to future races? What would you do differently to improve your future performance?

What Next?
With race weekend over and the race completed, you can congratulate yourself on the positives that came from your race and take a short break before you take the next steps in determining your next race and another multi-sport triumph!

Happy Training!!

If you liked this article, why not subscribe to Trispace RSS Feed .

Alternatively subscribe here to receive new articles by email.

If you somehow have failed to read an article relating to cyclists risking infertility then I bet one of your work colleagues or a family member has mentioned this at some point in your triathlon/cycling career!

As with most stories of this nature, people have been quick to jump on the negatives. In a recent documented study, 15 triathletes with an average age of 33 had less than 10% normal looking sperm, compared with the 15-20% seen in the most fertile man.

The figures became significantly worse when distances of more that 186 miles were covered per week. The proportion of sperm that was the correct size and shape had fallen to 4 %, the point at which men may struggle to conceive without fertility treatment. How many triathletes do you know that ride in excess of 180 miles per week? Unless there going for Ironman, or full time pro’s!

Suggested reasons for this result are the heat from being in lycra, pressure and fiction on the saddle and the levels of cellular damage caused by the high levels of training. The choice of subject group were significant as triathletes, like time triallists, tend to sit lower and further forward on the nose of the saddle to achieve the aero position.

This position may add to the heat and the friction, and the group spent more time like this than a casual rider or a standard road racer. The other potential flaw in the study was that you don’t know what the subjects’ fertility was like before they took up competitive triathlon, so without knowing this significant figure it is impossible to place the blame on the sport.

There are steps you can take to improve your own fertility without having to give up cycling. Even reduced mileage doesn’t necessarily mean reduced performance if you are training correctly. A healthy diet high in antioxidant-rich fruit and veg has been shown to aid fertility. And, of course, your lifestyle off the bike is a major factor.

A healthy weight and not too much boozing (and smoking) will all contribute to keeping you in the best reproductive health!

If you liked this article, why not subscribe to Trispace RSS Feed .

Alternatively subscribe here to receive new articles by email.

As you stand there at the start of your long awaited event what goes through your mind? I very rarely make conversation with those other hopefuls around me as I like to prepare myself mentally for the race ahead regardless if it’s a triathlon, duathlon or half marathon.

Last Sunday, May 31st was no different in terms of my silence on the start line, the ‘only’ difference surrounding the event this time was the fact that I was venturing into the unknown by running my first marathon, in Edinburgh. I’d trained for the distance before up to about 18 miles or so but never had I attempted the full 26.2 miles.

My focused to succeed meant that I was following a fairly strict marathon training schedule. I only ran 3-4 times a week and cycled on my ‘cross-training’ days to keep my aerobic capacity on the up.

All my training was completed without too many hitches and I felt prepared enough to get myself round. The only variable that gets me mentally is how quickly I could get round. I managed 2hrs 41min for a 20 mile training run and my training schedule was aimed towards an average 8 min/mile pace which would get me round in 3:26.

So there I was standing among another 15,000 or so other mortals waiting for the starters orders. We were all there for a million different reasons but all our goals were the same, to finish the race.

The most difficult part of any long-distance training programme is getting to the starting line. Many obstacles have to be confronted and there are so many things that could go wrong. However, I was there with the sea of others ready to roll out of Edinburgh on the 26.2 mile journey.

The day itself was amazing, with clear blue skies as far as the eye could see and a slight early morning cool breeze. The crowds were out in there thousands around the start area and the atmosphere was electric. The announcer on the PA system kept everyone entertained with the usual countdown to start wit until the moment of waiting arrived, bang, we were off. I was in the ‘pen’ behind the elite guys so within a minute or so I was over the start line and my journey had begun.

Mile 1was really emotional, the crowds, the runners, the event and the anticipation of seeing my family in the crowds meant it was a one to keep with me for the rest of the race. A quick toilet stop in mile 1 as well as the crowds of runners meant that it was a slow opening 8:38 mile, but thoroughly enjoyable none the less. Miles 2-8 were pretty uneventful; everyone was getting into the swing of things and settling into their running. What did strike me early on in this period was the rate at which the early morning temperature was increasing. The weather forecast for the day was due for a hot one but little did we realise how hot it was going to get.

Mile 8-9 brought us to Mussleborough racecourse area where the first leg of the marathon relay folks would change over, something different to take your mind of the running for a brief second before we were out on the open road again. My pacing was spot on averaging 8 min/mile. Through 8 mile in 1:04.

Throughout my longer training runs I’d been practicing eating drills on the move, which were four jelly babies and four gulps of Lucozade sport every half hour. On race day I was wearing what I’d been wearing in training, a hydration belt which held two 10oz bottles and a little pocket to house the jelly babies.

My eating an drinking drills were going well during the race. I was even more conscious of ‘fluids on board’ during the race due to the weather, so every water stop I made sure to sufficiently rehydrate.

Miles 8-13 took us along the sea front on the out-and-back section of the course, some love it, some hate it. Personally it wasn’t very exciting for me, through some dreary villages and heavily overgrown roadsides meant that whatever sea breeze we had, just disappeared. During this period of the race you’d start to see the odd competitor by the side of the road, tucked in the shade accompanied by paramedics, all the more reason to eat and drink, I though. From mile 11 or so an annoying niggle in my left hamstring appeared, nothing serious enough to stop me from running but certainly enough to play on my mind a little.

Through 13 mile in 1:45. At this point I was now down on my schedule but not too concerned as if I was able to continue at this pace I may still break the magical 3:30.

All of a sudden miles 14 -20 seemed to become fairly demanding. The country roads narrowed and the large hedgerows blocked the sea breeze. During this phase of the race it felt as if there were nowhere to escape the heat. I noticed more runners sat by the side of the road wrapped in silver blankets with paramedics by the side of them and again thought to myself, keep hydrated and fuelled.

I started to see the elite athletes coming into view further down the road on the opposite side and these boys were flying. The winners time was around 2:18 and no wonder, the stride length on the front two boys was awesome and there was us mere mortals just trying to focus on placing one foot in front of another.

I hit mile 16 and decided I needed a little motivational support and luckily I had paced my ipod into my waist belt for this reason. The music went on and I went into a trance, the music blocked out the patter of feet on the road as well as any other distractions from the road side and I managed to tap out a steady tempo. The turning point of the out and back section took us around a large country house, some country house on the coast surrounded by overhanging trees which offering a little rest bite from the searing heat.

This didn’t last long and before we knew it we were back on the same road going in the opposite direction with the same high hedgerows and lack of breeze. Fluids were now being taken on board at an alarming rate. At each water stop I was taking two small bottles of water and a Lucozade sport drink and boy were they well received. I was through 20 mile in 2:45, down on my 20 mile training run by five minutes.

I was now down to an average pace of 8:15 per mile, however things started to deteriorate come mile 21. I read numerous articles relating to hitting the ‘wall’ but never really thought it would happen to me, but boy did it ever. In my years competing I have never experienced anything as strange a feeling as this. It felt as if I was carrying a refrigerator to the finish line. I knew I had to move my legs quicker than they were going but just couldn’t. I felt like I had the energy but they just wouldn’t move quicker. One quote I read before the marathon sums the whole race up and is apparent at this point in the race. It goes; ‘A marathon is 20 miles of hope and 6 miles of truth’.

My time for mile 21 was 9:48, yes that’s right 9:48!! Never have I run such a slow mile in my entire life. The mile markers could not come quick enough, my body felt like it was going into melt down but in my mind I knew one thing; that I would never walk at any point. I wanted to come through this experience and be able to say that I ran the entire 26.2 miles. After mile 21 my pace lifted some what but not quicker the 9 minute miles. The pace varied between 9-9:25 to mile 25.

During mile 23 I managed to tag along side a chap that was running at a similar pace. We didn’t make conversation, make eye contact at any point, or even acknowledge each others existence. The thing we did do though was to keep each other going. Our foot strike seemed to hit the ground at the exact same time which exaggerated the mental trace I was in. We took on water at the last station and passed mile marker number 25. The pace lifted for a brief period due to the thought of finishing the race but again slipped slightly. It didn’t help that my new ‘running buddy’ decided to take off, however only to suffer in the final stages. The sight of the finish at the racecourse seemed to take an eternity to reach. I was running on auto pilot and was just about finished my journey.

I ran into the racecourse area I noticed a type of floor matting underfoot that was covering the grassed area. This played havoc with the legs as I was unable to determine whether there were any uneven ground under the matting that could cause any potential problems. My legs we tired enough without any extra variables to worry about. As I continued through the finish area the crowds really were amazing, shouting and screaming words of encouragement as I made my final steps. I was conscious that my family were waiting among the crowds on the left of the finish approach, so I tried to keep left, look out for them as well a watching my footing.

There they were. The family were going berserk and it was such a welcoming sight. I was mentally and physically drained but the sight of them gave me a massive boost and I made it over the finish line. 26.2 miles in 3 hours 44 mins and 26 seconds of running. A little disappointed I wasn’t able to keep to my schedule of 3;30 but pleased with my achievement.

Everyone who crosses the finish line has earned and deserves the medal. Some complete the marathon in 3 hours, some in 6 hours. The differences between us all aren’t related to paces. The differences are related to genetics, the decisions me make and the priorities we have. The accomplishment however, is identical.

Race Stats;
Miles 26.33
Time: 3:44:26
Avg pace: 8:3/mi
Avg Hr: 86% Max
Calories Burned: 3,792

If you liked this article, why not subscribe to TrispaceRSS Feed.

Alternatively, subscribehere to receive the latest Trispace articles by email.

If you’re like me at the moment and have managed to catch one of the various coughs, colds or flus doing the rounds, then fear not, as this handy guide should foil those preying germs in the future.

I find it so frustrating when these head colds come about, they’re never quite serious enough to make you bed bound yet for me I tend to feel a touch lethargic when it comes to training. It was hit and miss as to whether I should have attended Wednesday’s running club, however I’m pleased I did and funnily enough felt better for it too.

Colds and flu occur when viral bacteria make a home inside your body. There are some simple practices that could mean you foil the germs’ intentions. One is simply to avoid high-risk environments, which can be defined as large numbers of people in closed spaces during the winter months. I was talking to one of the club runners about this very topic whilst out on the run the other night and he’d actually given up using public transport during the winter months to try and evade the dreaded bug fest on the buses and trains.

Another useful measure is the practice of germ hygiene. Most people think that airborne bugs are the leading cause of infection. Actually it’s self-inoculation, because when you grab a germ-infested doorknob and then slyly pick your nose with the same hand, the germs pass on. The good news is that this self-inoculation is largely avoidable; just keep your hands away from your nose and eyes, and wash them frequently. I can sometimes get a little neurotic when it comes to the washing of hands. When using public conveniences or opening doors etc in shopping centres/outlets/malls, restaurants, I’ll make sure not to touch the door handles with my bare hands. I’ll try to use a paper towel or jacket sleeve to make a barrier between myself and any germs. Some people may call it an OCD, however I just don’t trust that the person who went in front of me washed away those bugs. Why plan and train so hard throughout the year only to be set back a couple of weeks because you’ve picked up some germs whilst out shopping?

Flu shots are the simplest of all ways you can foil germs. Here’s an immunity boost you can quantify; flu vaccinations are 85% effective and even when they’re not they tend to lower the severity of infections. Once only recommended for the weak and elderly, they’re now advised to most, however October is the ideal month to get a jab. A bit too late in the day to get one now, however bear this in mind for Autumn.

When you do get sick you have two real objectives; recovering quickly and minimising lost training time. There’s loads of research about in text books that suggest that training with cold symptoms is not a problem. Head colds do not necessarily hamper exercise performance and exercise does not increase the duration or severity of colds. When symptoms move into your chest and lungs, be cautious. Take a precautionary day off and follow up with a test training session to determine how you feel. If you feel awful, give it miss. When you have flu symptoms such as fevers and body aches, do not exercise at all (like you’d want to exercise anyway) and do not resume until a day or two after the symptoms have passed. Seek medial advice from your GP if you are unsure whether to exercise or not.

If you liked this article, why not subscribe to TrispaceRSS Feed.

Alternatively subscribehere to receive new articles by email.

If this Christmas you’re treating yourself to a new pair of running shoes don’t just go and buy the best looking shoes, or the shoes with the biggest discount. Check out the guide below (courtesy of asicstrainers.net) before you buy to make sure you are buying the right type of running shoe for your foot type.

There’s no such thing as the ‘best shoe’ as everyone has different needs. Biomechanics, bodyweight, the surface you run on and the shape of your feet, mean one person’s ideal is someone else’s nightmare.

The first step in finding your shoe needs is to try our ‘wet foot test’. The ‘wet foot test’ works on the basis that the shape of your wet footprint roughly correlates with the amount of stability you might need in your shoe. ‘Roughly’ is the key word here, though it’s a good starting point, but no more. Pay a visit to a biomechanics expert if you are unsure of which shoe type you need based on your foot type.

The Flat Foot
This foot type has a low arch and leaves a print which looks like the whole sole of the foot. It usually indicates an over-pronated foot, i.e. a foot that strikes the ground on the outside of the heel and rolls inwards (pronate) excessively. Over time, this can cause many types of overuse injuries.

Best shoes: Motion control shoes, or high stability shoes with firm midsoles and control features that reduce the degree of pronation. Stay away from highly cushioned, highly curved shoes, with lack of stability features.

The Normal Foot
A normal sized arch will leave a wet footprint that has a flare, but shows the forefoot and heel connected by a broad band. A normal foot lands on the outside of the heel and rolls inwards slightly to absorb the shock. It’s the foot of a runner who has a neutral gait and is bio-mechanically efficient so therefore doesn’t need a motion control shoe.

Best shoes: Stability shoes with moderate control features.

The High Arched Foot
This leaves a print showing a very narrow band or no band at all between the forefoot and the heel. A curved, high arched foot is generally supinated or under-pronated. And because it doesn’t pronate enough, it’s not usually a good shock absorber.

Best shoes: Cushioned (or ‘neutral’) shoes with plenty of flexibility to encourage foot motion. Stay away from motion control or stability shoes, which reduce foot mobility.

If you liked this article, why not subscribe to TrispaceRSS Feed.

Alternatively, subscribehere to receive the latest Trispace articles by email.

Last night’s British Triathlon Annual Award Dinner saw the presentation of the first Gold Pin Awards, awarded to three of the sport’s leading figures to highlight their significant and long standing contribution to triathlon. The three awards went to Dick Poole, Aleck Hunter and Simon Lessing MBE.

Yorkshire’s Alistair Brownlee took home the prestigious British Olympic Association Athlete of the Year award as well as the Male Elite Triathlete prize following his excellent win at the World Under 23 Championships in June and brave front running at the Olympic Games.

Recently married Helen Jenkins (née Tucker), deservedly won the Female Elite Triathlon of the Year award having fought back from prolonged injury to win the World Championships in Vancouver in June whilst inspiring Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington collected her second successive Female Long Distance Triathlete of the Year Award as she maintained her unbeaten record over the long distance discipline since turning professional at the end of 2006.

British Triathlon Annual Awards
BOA Athlete of the Year
Alistair Brownlee

Male Elite Triathlete of the Year
Alistair Brownlee

Female Elite Triathlete of the Year
Helen Jenkins

Male Elite Duathlete of the Year
Paul Amey

Female Elite Duathlete of the Year
Catriona Morrison

Male Long Distance Triathlete of the Year
Stephen Bayliss

Female Long Distance Athlete of the Year
Chrissie Wellington

Male Age Group Athlete of the Year
Dion Harrison

Female Age Group Athlete of the Year
Louise Collins

Male Disabled Triathlete of the Year
Graham Kiff

Female Disabled Triathlete of the Year
Melanie Easter

National Volunteer of the Year
Kay Wilson, Durham Triathlon Club

National Young Volunteer of the Year
Alex Teagle, BRAT Triathlon Club

National Official of the Year
Keith Perry, FVS Triathlon Club

National Coach of the Year
Chris Hunt, Total Fitness Nottingham

National Event of the Year
Gower Peninsula Triathlon, Wales

National Club of the Year
Manchester Triathlon Club

(Courtesy of British Triathlon)

If you liked this article, why not subscribe to TrispaceRSS Feed.

Alternatively subscribehere to receive new articles by email.

Tonights British Triathlon Annual Awards Dinner at the Hilton Hotel, East Midlands Airport, celebrates those members who have achieved outstanding results in both the elite and Age Group categories, and recognises those who have impacted the sport through officiating and volunteering.

The Awards Dinner is an opportunity for Age Group and elite athletes to rub shoulders and recognise exceptional performance at every level. It also gives athletes the chance to acknowledge and applaud the efforts of those behind the scenes: the volunteers, coaches and officials, who give up many hours of their time to put on events, without which there would not be a sport.

The evening is due to start with drinks at 7pm followed by dinner and award presentations. Guest speaker Simon Lessing will close the event and be taking questions from the assembled guests.

I’ve always thought about attending one of these functions, but never actually managed to get there. If any of you are heading there for the evening I’d like to hear from you. Just leave me a comment with how you thought it went. It might get me motivated to get there next year!

If you liked this article, why not subscribe to TrispaceRSS Feed.

Alternatively, subscribehere to receive the latest Trispace articles by email.

 A triathlon blogger from the US wrote this post yesterday which I thought I’d share with everyone on this side of ‘the pond’, thanks Carol!

“Apparently, some guy was using swim fins at IM Florida during the swim. When the race officials pulled him aside, they took the flippers away, and asked for his bib number. He gave them an invalid bib number, so race officials are trying to find out who he is so the appropriate action can be taken, i.e., DQ and/or banning from future races. How could anyone feel good about their finish time if they cheated? I just don’t get it! I suppose maybe he didn’t know they weren’t allowed, but that seems doubtful.

Another one of her friends, who volunteered at IMFL, wrote:

“I actually saw this guy during the race. When he finished the first lap, he left the fins in the water. Then he ran up on shore, crossed the timing mat, and went back to look for the fins. It was obvious that he was looking for something, but nobody knew what. Someone near me suggested that maybe his wetsuit had torn, but I could tell it was fins once he picked up the first one. The amount of time it took him to find them and retrieve them (while trying to hide them so nobody would notice) probably cost him more time than having them save on the swim!”

This is absolutely ludicrous, isn’t it?!?! How on earth could the officials let this guy continue after they noticed he was wearing fins?? Shouldn’t they have just dragged him out the water and DQ’d him there and then? Surely the other guys racing would have also challenged the fact that this chap was wearing fins? I can’t believe that this guy didn’t realise that he wasn’t allowed to wear flippers. After all, he’s completed ‘x’ amount of hours swim training with his buddies in order to be prepared for the race, surely, surely, surely he’d know he was in the wrong?!??! He should be named and shamed !!

If you liked this article, why not subscribe to TrispaceRSS Feed.

Alternatively, subscribehere to receive the latest Trispace articles by email.

I was browsing through the British Triathlon site earlier on today and came across this free music workout mix through the trinews section. I’ve had a listen through it and the music is really motivational. The length of the mix is only 30 minutes but would still be ideal to accompany a short turbo session. It’s very similar to a spinning type mix where there’s a specific structure to the session. It starts with a progressive warm up followed by the main session which includes a few increases in pace, before finishing off with a cool down.

The mix is courtesy Total Fitness Music, who also supply a whole host of other workout mixes which are available to download from iTunes from around £6/$11.

Track listing:
Ricky GZ ‘2 Can Play That Game’
South West Beats ‘It’s Love (Trippin’)’ (Original Mix)
Out Of Office ‘Break Of Dawn 2008′
Silverlake ‘Wide Open Space’ (Original Club Mix)
Karaoke Kids ‘Here (In Your Arms)’ (Extended Mix)
DP vs P&P ‘Get Your Kicks’ (12″ Vocal Mix)
The Potbelleez ‘Don’t Hold Back’ (Sam La More Club Dub)

Total time: 30.22

You can download the free music mix right here.

If you liked this article, why not subscribe to TrispaceRSS Feed.

Alternatively subscribehere to receive new articles by email.