While my recent (presumed) encounter with COVID19 may not be particularly unusual or dramatic (thankfully), I thought my experiences and thoughts may be of some use to fellow athletes. I would also say it fully reinforces what most coaches have been advising through this crisis. I fully understand the endurance community being so concerned with training restrictions, when we’ll be …
What am I training for?
The coronavirus or Covid-19 is causing havoc across the world and its presence is being felt here in the UK, with the cancellation of most sporting events and now all our social training groups. I’ve seen many comments on social media: ‘I’m not actually sure what I’m training for’, ‘running for therapy’ ‘running for life’, ‘running for love’. It is exactly this! If nothing else this situation will remind us of why we train and run. It’ll take us back to the reason we first started on our journeys and quite possibly rekindle the love affair.
How to Fit in Training: An Ironman, Three Kids, an Ultra-wife, Coaching and a Full Time Job!
I’m often asked how I manage to train for triathlon, alongside everything else our family gets up to, (3 very active children, an ultra-running wife, my day job and coaching!). Even more so this year, when I decided to give Ironman another go, this time Wales! The simple answer is – learn to love early mornings, and be creative! The …
Ironman Bolton 2016 – “Alex Ralton – You are an IronMan”
After nearly a year’s worth of training the 17th July 2016, the IronMan UK event at Bolton, rushed over the horizon to meet my fellow Chippenham Tri entrants Mike Bright and Jim Hutchenson with open arms to them and what felt to me to be a kick in my solar plexus. For almost all of the 48 hours until …
5 Ways to Fit Training into Life – Morning Runs
Chris and I are asked so many times, so how do you fit your training in? We have 3 young kids, our twin boys are also young triathletes, swimming 3 times per week, cycling, running, playing football for their club and singing in a boys’ choir. Our daughter does gymnastics, ballet, swims twice per week and plays football too. …
Taper Madness! The art of Carb-Loading and Keeping Sane!
Yeah, the training is basically over, this 2-3 weeks to go till marathon period usually starts with huge elation, mixed with relief that you have made it this far. Then, the reality hits, especially in the final week, with less training, and anxiety about the race, you become a very difficult person to live with or even to be around!! …
Significant Gains – Part 2 – Fitness Testing & Training Smart
This is the second part of my “significant gains” blog. Building on the bike set-up aspects discussed in part one, we now focus on training at the right intensity. While the first part was focussed on the bike, this topic is equally applicable to running, and indeed swimming. As amateur triathletes we all want to maximise the training benefits from …
Significant Gains – Part One – Balancing Aerodynamics with Power
Brailsford’s “marginal gains” is perhaps an over-used term, but the two aspects covered in this 2-part blog would arguably be more in the “significant gains” category. When it comes to cycling, there are two broad areas to focus on when you’re looking to take seconds or even minutes off your race time: Equipment and fitness. Let’s start with the kit… …
When should I begin training again post marathon? My legs feel fine…
So we’ve all been there…just run a marathon, sore for a couple of days but then the nagging in the back of our head, ‘You will lose fitness’, ‘You will put on weight’, so you put on your trainers after just a few days rest, and it feels OK… but then. Two weeks later you feel awful, you get ill …
Chicago World Triathlon Championships 2015!
It all started in 2012! The Brownlee’s impressive performances at the London Olympics, reignited my passion for triathlon after an eight year break. My fourth return from competitive sport soon followed in 2013 (I’m on a par with George Forman for come-backs!). So it all began with a 4km-400km-40km triathlon challenge for my 40th birthday, then dabbling in local races, …
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