It's all too easy to remember how good it feels when you cross the finish line of any race you do. But race day is the easy part, right? Triathlon is tough. Three very different disciplines back-to-back and hundreds of hours of training just to get on the start line. Up and coming #TeamTCUK athlete, 17 year-old Reece Allen, offers his hugely insightful reflections on his 2018 season.

 

It's cold, it's wet, it's December! Training during the winter months can be tough but refuelling post-swim, bike or run needn't be. Our resident nutritionist, Jon Hodgkinson, founder of Real Food Func, has devised this hearty Pork Meatball & Chickpea Tagine recipe.

It's the perfect combination of protein and carbohydrate for a slow release of energy without spiking blood sugar levels that lead to hunger pangs!

Just completed a training session? Now's the time to refuel and here's why.

Following on from his video earlier this month discussing the importance of fuelling during training, coach James is back! In this video, James offers an informative and insightful guide to post-training refuelling and nutrition and why it's key to helping your body recover and adapt to the demands of triathlon.

Wondering what 'sweet spot' training is and how it can benefit you? Here's coach James to explain all!

If you haven't completed a 'sweet spot' training session on the turbo or watt bike yet, you may well be doing soon! Training at your 'sweet spot' or sub-threshold intensity provides an ideal training effect for many reasons. Here's #TeamTCUK coach and co-founder, James Pryke, with all you need to know about 'sweet spot' and the benefits it can bring as part of your periodised training programme.

Want to train with more consistency? Strength and conditioning exercises are the answer!

Ever since we started TCUK, we have included specific strength & conditioning exercises in our weekly programmes for all of our athletes. Why? Here's coach Matt Sanderson to explain how S&C sessions can benefit not only your overall performance and help to reduce injuries, but improve your training consistency too.

Fuelling during training: why is it so important?

We're often asked by our athletes: which training sessions do I need to fuel? Closely followed by "and why is that?" #TeamTCUK coach and co-founder, James Pryke, has studied sports nutrition over many years and has a special interest in the subject. As such, he's put together a short video outlining just why fuelling during your training sessions is vital for performance.

Sarah Crisp, resident #TeamTCUK physiotherapist, talks about shoulder impingement and what you can do about it if you're suffering with this painful condition! 

"One of the most common conditions I encounter as a physiotherapist is shoulder impingement. Chances are, if you haven't had it yourself, you'll know someone who has. You may have heard it referred to as something else; rotator cuff pain, bursitis and tendinitis being the most common alternative names. As a triathlete, you may hear it referred to as 'swimmer's shoulder'.

Coach James explains everything you need to know about FTP tests!

If you've just started your training programme for next season, chances are your #TeamTCUK coach will have set you an FTP test, or threshold bike test. FTP stands for Functional Threshold Power and enables your coach to collect a variety of different data to inform and create a truly bespoke training plan. Find out more from #TeamTCUK coach and co-founder, James Pryke, as he explains exactly what's involved with an FTP test and why it's important you perform one.

Thinking of racing Iron distance in 2019? Wondering whether adding a marathon to your early season race training is a good or bad idea? Here's our advice!

You're almost certainly one of many #TeamTCUK athletes busy planning your races for next year. And, if you're thinking of signing up for an Iron distance race, you've probably already contemplated adding a marathon event to your early season race plan.

It's October and many athletes are looking at races for next year.