Table of contents for Spring 2021 in 220 Triathlon

1 Key for remaining visible and being able to see your run path is a powerful headtorch. One with a long 50hr battery life and a mighty 500 lumens is the secure-fit HR5 CORE Ledlenser (£79.95). ledlenser.co.uk 2 If you don’t like wearing lights on your head, this comfy and adjustable Gato chest strap (£40) is ideal for hands-free movement. gatosports.com 3 Protect yourself from cold, wet and windy weather in a visible and durable run jacket. We loved the quality of this Proviz Hi-Vis jacket (£84.99) provizsports.com 4 Carrying extra hydration and nutrition is essential for those harder, long runs. We liked the ease of the UP Airaforce 2 belt (£25.99). ultimate performance.com 5 Be prepared with a compact first aid kit, such as the waterproof Lifesystems Nano (£13.99),…

“Growing up, I didn’t have any role models in the media and that made it harder for me to feel comfortable with who I was” Growing up, my family lived in Dubai. Mum had a scare with water as a kid, so made it a priority for us to learn to swim. I hated it initially. I was so afraid, but went on to swim in four Paralympics – and in Athens I was the youngest female on the squad. It really was being thrown in at the deep end. I’m passionate about the Paralympic movement and hope to inspire as many people as possible with a disability to take part in sport. Swimming gave me the confidence I’d lacked as a young teenager. Take it from me, there’s a…

RUNNING BACKPACK The cornerstone of any rural adventure, a durable hydration pack with extra pockets to stash gels, a compass and extra layer is essential. Our choice is the ergonomic Phantom 12 (£100) from OMM. theomm.com FELL-RUNNING SHOES Think trail shoes, but on steroids. A sturdy pair of fell shoes, designed to endure rough ground, sharp rocks and water-clogged flats, are a wise investment for adventure running. We like Inov-8’s Mudclaw range. inov-8.com WATERPROOF JACKET For a cutting-edge rain jacket with dual-dry material and those all-important taped seams, look no further than the Odlo Dual Dry (£220). In terms of practicality, the secure hood and breathable fit make this an easy choice. odlo.com…

EAT ON THE DOWNHILLS For most Everesters, the downhills will be the time to chow down, whether that’s when hopping off the turbo or sitting in a support vehicle. Just be careful snacking if you’re freewheeling downhill – especially as fatigue sets in. DON’T RELY ON REFINED CARBS Don’t rely on refined carbs, instead have a mixed bag of nutritious options, both solid and liquid sustenance. Your palate preference is likely to change as you go. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ELECTROLYTES There may be less crampons, but there’ll certainly be more cramps. With such extensive fluid loss, you’ll need to stay on top of electrolytes. Firms such as Precision Hydration specialise in products to match sweat rates and help replenish those lost nutrients.…

After years of playing second fiddle to wetsuits, these are heady days for trisuit design, a point highlighted by the techy creations on test here without a stinker in view. The men’s test featured Castelli, Huub, Santini and Trimtex all vying for the dollar of the more experienced (and financially lavish) crowd; all are good suits, with the Huub and Santini our picks for 70.3, and the Castelli for full-distance racing if money were no object. But price tags were a factor in this test, and that’s why the Zone3 Lava beats Castelli (and the 2XU) to the ‘Best on Test’ badge for its broadest appeal of aerodynamics, long-course comfort and a sub-£200 price tag. Sort those pockets and the 2022 gong will be Zone3’s to lose. It’s now great…

TRI-SUITS Comfort is key for all levels, so consider pads, grippers and material quality. Full-length zippers are also handy for mid-race toilet stops. 2XU Perform Full £130 Performs very well on both the bike and run thanks to top-quality fabrics. Issue 378 2xu.com TRI-FIT Evo £179 Comfort, aerodynamics and features… a standout suit for all distances. Issue 378 tri-fitathletic.com ZONE3 Lava Short Sleeve £190 Very comfortable woven fabrics and excellent temperature control. Issue 378 zone3.co.uk LOUIS GARNEAU Aero Tri Suit £287.90 Aero and comfort benefits combine in a fantastic iron suit. Issue 376 garneau.com ENDURA QDC D2Z £349.99 The fastest suit on test in the wind tunnel, yet with comfort and style. Issue 376 endurasport.com TRIATHLON WETSUITS These hit a range of abilities. Newcomers will look for greater buoyancy, especially…

Scan the transition areas at any triathlon event and you’ll see some of the most amazing bikes on the market. That’s because the majority of a triathlete’s expenditure is on our two-wheeled pride and joy. And there’s good reason for this, as the bike section of any triathlon will make up the majority of the race distance and race time. The 40km bike leg of an Olympic-distance race, for example, makes up 77% of the total distance – if you do a 3hr finish, the bike will likely have taken up half of that. And so it makes complete sense to spend a larger portion of training time on improving your bike prowess. This eight-week plan is based around training for an Olympic-distance bike leg of a triathlon, but it…

“Since being diagnosed with low bone density, I’ve paid much more attention to my training and nutrition to support my bones. As a young woman I lost my menstrual cycle and as a result my bone health. However, my latest bone scans have shown improvement and I’m still building up.” Anna, Essex “Strength training and eating more has reduced the number of injuries I’ve had. This year I’ve had less time off training than ever, and I’m fitter than I’ve ever been.” Maddy, Brighton “My mother had osteoporosis, so I’m determined to minimise my risk. I realise now that I’m older that I need to adapt to pay more attention to not just time on the bike, in the pool or on the road, but also include strength training.” Jane,…

‘A’-RACE The most important race of your season AGE-GROUPER Non-pro triathlete (most of us!) AEROBIC Aerobic exercise involves or improves oxygen consumption by the body ANAEROBIC How much energy your body can produce without using oxygen BILATERAL BREATHING Breathing every 3 strokes when swimming BONKING Running out of energy mid-race or training session BRICK SESSION When you ‘brick’ two disciplines together, e.g. bike & run CARB-LOADING Eating a carb-heavy meal prior to a race to boost energy CATCH The part of the swim stroke where you pull on the water DNS/DNF/DQ Did not start/Did not finish/ Disqualified DRAFTING Hitching a ride on someone else’s slipstream in the bike or swim DUATHLON Usually a run/bike/run format ELITE Another word for a ‘pro’ – e.g. the Brownlees HIT High-intensity training HRMAX Your…

Released as earbuds for everyday and active use, the TrueConnect 2s boast a host of improvements over their predecessor. Aimed at endurance athletes, the new model claims a longer 44hr battery life, improved durability, and more microphones for noise isolation and call clarity. Touted as ‘Scottish-weather proof’ (an IP55 sweat- and splash-proof rating should make them functional for outdoor training sessions at any temperature down to -20°c) Glasgow-based audio company RHA says the TC2s focus is on sound clarity and fit, creating ‘technology that connects’. The TC2s also include simple track and volume touch controls, seven different ear tip sizes, and each bud is said to weigh just 6g apiece. The buds are built with Bluetooth 5 technology, which RHA say provide reliable connectivity and clear, immersive audio with a…

GPS BIKE COMPUTER One wrong turn can add an hour onto the route when bikepacking. To prevent this, a GPS bike computer where you can upload routes and follow them on the move is essential. Our pick is the Wahoo Elemnt Roam (£300). wahoo.co.uk WATERPROOF SEATPACK A waterproof seatpack is a must for long bike adventures. The Altura Vortex 2 (£70) comes in at 12l so there’s plenty of storage, while the neat strapping system keeps everything clamped in place. It’s also easy to wipe down. altura.co.uk PUNCTURE PROTECTION As we found to our cost on the King Alfred’s Way, a puncture can ruin your day. Spare tubes and repair kits (plus the ability to get your tyre back on) are mandatory, as is a decent mini pump – the…

In January, the internet lit up with news that Alistair Brownlee was to attempt breaking seven hours for an iron-distance course in spring 2022. Fellow Brit Lucy Charles-Barclay would aim to become the first woman to dip under eight hours. Ineos’ 1:59 project echoed loud as, like Eluid Kipchoge’s sub-two-hour marathon, the appliance of science would win over rules and regulations. Both 7hr and 8hr challenges grabbed the headlines. For a moment. But there’s been little detail since. Until now. We’ve spoken to Alistair, his sponsors, engineers involved in Kipchoge’s effort and a six-time Hawaii winner to see if the fantastical is within the realms of possibility. But first up, we tapped up organiser and former Hawaii champion Chris McCormack to explain more about the challenge… BAHRAIN BEGINNINGS “The seeds…

HUUB AEGIS III £349.99 Do you need a thermal wetsuit? And should it be the Aegis? When Blueseventy launched its Thermal Helix tri wetsuit in 2016, it was one of those ‘why hasn’t anyone done this before?’ moments. With its warm and fuzzy zirconium internal layer, here was a suit that made swimming in all seasons bearable; offering a psychological boost before braving the waters and, anecdotally, adding warmth in the water. The Huub Aegis, Roka Maverick Pro (£700 but currently down to £400) and Zone3 Aspire (£425) soon followed in Blueseventy’s neoprene slipsteam (Blueseventy also released the Thermal Reaction, £436) with their own thermal creations, some boasting fleecey inners (Zone3), others (Roka) strategically-placed thicker panels and liners for warmth retention. To us, thermal wetsuits initially seemed a welcome…

APTONIA ENERGY GEL £3.99 for four The first incarnation of this gel was face-achingly sweet, but, thankfully, the Decathlon-distributed brand has since dropped the butter and toned down the viscosity and sweetness to create a delicious burst of energy. That burst is 23g of carbs (derived from a mix of glucose, fructose and maltodextrin) per 32g gel, which is impressive as, unlike its rivals here, it leaves little volume for water. Despite that, it’s effortlessly consumed, but you might want to complement it with other gels the longer you train to avoid flavour fatigue, and, as always, test before racing. It’s also loaded with vitamins B1, B6, B12, E and zinc, stated as 30% RDA for each, and is a fine price (£2 per hour). Top stuff. decathlon.co.uk 86 %…

LOOK AFTER YOUR BIKE It’s important to keep your bike well-maintained. If you clean it and care for it, you can expect better performances. CHOOSE THE RIGHT INTENSITY Choose which measure of intensity works for you and stick with it. It might be power/pace/heart rate, but keep it specific to you. FUEL SMART Be prepared with the right amount of hydration and energy product. Plus, if you’re training indoors, take a towel as you’re going to sweat! REVIEW YOUR TRAINING Always evaluate your data and be ready to set new targets if you’re improving. It’s good to push yourself to achieve greater outcomes.…

Well first up, an ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’ race are all the same when the gun goes off – you go hard, you race hard, you stick to the plan you’ve worked out with your coach, mates or yourself, and if there’s no plan at all, still just go for it! The only real difference will be your performance level, but it’s relative to what your medium and long-term plans are for the season. The worst thing you can do is go into an early-season race and expect to do a personal best by comparing your current state of fitness to when you were at your best last season (or, most likely, from your 2019 season. There’s no like for like in triathlon, every race and performance are so different.…

UNDER £35 2XU VECTR CUSHION FULL LENGTH SOCK £30 Designed not only to compress for recovery, these also come with X-LOCK technology for plantar fascia and shin protection during your run. Zonal mesh and cushioning securely hold the foot in place. 2xu.com UNDER £45 CEP RUN COMPRESSION SOCKS 3.0 £44.95 Primed to stimulate active recovery during or after running, these long compression socks from CEP have a structured geometry to optimise blood supply and comfort. cepsports.co.uk UNDER £130 RIIXO CALF CUFF £128.99 The innovative Riixo cuffs work to compress your calves while further reducing inflammation and tightness. No need to plug into an energy source, the cuffs function by either heating or freezing before use. riixo.com…

1 @pete_the_triathlete Saturday morning trails! 2 @triathlondiaries A solid recovery score is always encouragement to get out for a hard day’s effort! Bike + run + yoga on the agenda – two down, one to go. 3 @tri_dad86 Three years since picking up this now giant ball of floof #Hunterdoodle. Since then, one of us has gained more hair… one of us less so. 4 @clobambam Aside from a Vimto instead of a vino, I’m currently very pleased with this V’day gift. 5 @celebsuett No ferry today – just a scary tunnel. Using this as the replacement for a commute to work is keeping the routine for when we go back in the office and back to normal life. The end to lockdown is in sight. 6 @jsafit No better…

TOW FLOAT/RUCKRAFT For a true adventure, consider the new Ruckraft, which floats behind you with space to pack warm clothes, a tent and everything else you need for a night beneath the stars. £139.99 from OMM. abovebelow.sc WETSUIT Your tri wetsuit’s fine for most adventures here, but you could consider a swimrun wetsuit. Not only will they speed up transitioning between swimming and running, they’re also easier to transport. We like the entry-level range from Orca. orca.com DRYROBE Even in the warmer months, open water can be cold and, once out, the priority is to get yourself warm. If you can have a Dryrobe waiting, that’s an easy way to cover yourself quickly and give you waterproof shelter to get changed in. dryrobe.com…

Impassioned Melbourne radio host Red Symons’ show had become a lament over the death of the English language. How could the world’s most revered peak be butchered into a verb? Everest had become Everesting. Andy van Bergen grinned. If he hadn’t realised already, it was the moment he knew he’d help create a monster. An 8,848m monster to be precise. It was 2014, and while we were far from peak Everesting, there were plenty gearing up from base camp. “Cycling went nuts for it,” Andy explains. “At the start, I thought we’d maybe get 100 people doing it. Right now, we’re a handful away from hitting 15,000 activities in the hall of fame. Last year was massive for us.” Andy is talking about the exercise phenomenon that sees cyclists and…

When choosing your Ironman tri-suit of choice, first you’ll need to decide what kind of Ironman athlete you are. Are aerodynamics worth the added costs that come with wind-tunnel, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and velodrome action if it means scooping the age-group honours? Or do you just want something comfy and capable of carrying up to 17hrs worth of fuel to that unforgettable 226km (or 113km) finish-line experience? Don’t compromise on your choice of tri-suit for Ironman. If it doesn’t fit properly, try another size. Try not to be influenced by a suit because it’s £25 cheaper or is better looking than the one that really works for you. You’ll be spending many hours racing in your chosen suit of choice and something that bugs you on a 2hr brick…

Bianchi, Cinelli, Colnago, Legend, Santini, Vittoria and Limar. It’d probably be easier to list the Italian cycling brands not based in Bergamo or the surrounding Lombardy area. A city of a million residents 50km east of Milan in the Italian north, Bergamo has long been famous for its production of bikes, parts and clothing. There are also the legendary tarmac and ascents of Passo del Ghisallo, Passo San Marco and Colma di Sormano in close proximity, not to mention the church of the patron saint of cycling, Madonna del Ghisallo. All of which supports the evidence that this is one of the most influential cycling hubs in Italy and, therefore, the world. “Veneto and Lombardia are the two main areas for cycling in Italy,” says Bianca Bernardi, export manager of…

BREAKFAST AND PRE-3.8KM SWIM “My race-day breakfast consists of two bagels with honey, washed down with an Americano. Bagels are a fantastic source of dense calories but are pretty easy on the stomach, while coffee just makes everything better. I’ll then sip an electrolyte drink up until the swim start.” 180KM BIKE “I aim to eat between 60-70g of carbohydrates per hour. In most races, this is a mixture of chopped-up energy bars stored in a bento box that’s strapped to my frame and gels that I squeeze into a water bottle so there’s no faffing around with opening them mid-race. Also, I constantly drink, alternating between bottles of water and a carbohydrate drink. In really hot races (Kona), I’ll swap out the energy bar for jelly blocks as the…