We encourage all our athletes to ask questions relating to their training schedules. We find that the more you understand the reasons WHY you are performing a workout, the more likely you are to be motivated to stick to it.

Some of the most frequently asked questions relate to the duration of the three extensive aerobic workouts we ask you to perform each week (one in each sport).

Our swim workouts gradually increase in distance over a period of weeks and eventually, far exceed the distance you will be asked to swim in the race.

Often athletes ask 'Why do I need to swim 4500 metres in a training session when my race is only 1500 metres?' The answer is simple; if, after a progressive build up you can swim 4500 metres without too much effort, come race day, 1500 metres is not going to phase you or drain your energy reserves significantly. Therefore you should feel fresh exiting the swim and ready for the bike and run. If you feel fatigued, dizzy or get cramp, then the bike and run will be a completely different experience!

The same applies to bike training. It is important to go longer in training than is required on race day. Extra time on the bike helps to increase your aerobic base and will leave you feeling fresher for the triathlon run.

With regards to running, you will be asked to over distance train in sprint, olympic and for most athletes, also in your half ironman programme. For ironman athletes, you will not be asked to run a marathon in training (unless you have an incredible aerobic base!) The extra distance you do in the swim and bike training will provide you with the endurance you need to complete and/or compete in the run, dependant upon your goals.

Running is the hardest of the three sports to recover from. The repetitive impact can leave muscles and tendons feeling sore and the risk of injury from overuse is high (particularly if training volume and intensity are stepped up too quickly).

All of the workouts you perform are at specific intensities and durations. Working within these zones is vital to the success of your training. Should you work at a higher intensity or go longer than your programme requires you to, then you will risk becoming 'over trained'. This adds stress to the body and often leads to injury.