Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2025 i 220 Triathlon

Are we all guilty of taking training too seriously..? Saying this as Editor of a triathlon magazine might seem strange and if I'm honest, our team Monday morning conversations tend to be around training sessions completed, long runs conquered, PBs set and number of weeks left until that ‘A’-race. When we only focus on performance as a motivator, I think we're missing a trick though. Finding the fun in swimming, cycling and running can lift our mood, get the endorphins flowing and make the toughest session feel easier – and so that's the focus of this month's Masterclass feature on p70. Whether it's engaging with your surroundings, picking up a new skill or finding ways of adding fun competition to club sessions, you might be surprised at the benefits. Hope…

“This was the first wetsuit I sent into 220 Triathlon to test and we scored 10 out of 10. We never looked back.” The words of James Lock, founder of Zone3, set adrift on multisport memory bliss. I've headed to Send near Woking, Zone3's HQ for the launch of the 2025 Aspire wetsuit. I was editor of 220 when Zone3 launched their first products in 2009. Lock, one day shy of 40 when we meet, retains the chiselled visage and lithe physique that once saw him race elite with a VO2max in the 80s. I, on the other hand, am 48, a stone heavier and grey whiskers dominate. “You don't look any different,” Lock says. I don't know whether to take it as a compliment or an insult. I guess…

Recent converts to the world of triathlon or road cycling might think that Ribble Cycles is a new kid on the bike-manufacturing block with plush retail showrooms like that seen at nearby (to me) Cribbs Causeway in Bristol showcasing a flotilla of sleek bikes across all genres, from hybrid to gravel and electric to road. In fact, Ribble's one of the oldest brands in cycling with a story that stretches back to 1897. That's over 125 years of two-wheeled history. But does that heritage, that know-how, shine through in the popular Ribble Ultra-Aero SL R? A GRAND VISION “Meet the Ultra Road, a road bike designed with a simple brief – to be the fastest aero road bike in the world. Not just designed to be the fastest when tested…

“Upgrade to disc brakes for better stopping power in the wet” JAMES WITTS Former 220 Triathlon magazine editor James is a cycling and sports writer, editor and author, and has written three books, including The Science of the Tour de France. A Obviously you can work on your skills to improve confidence and ability when riding in the wet, but yes, there are plenty of things you can do to give your bike more grip and make it safer. Not to mention what you actually wear, too! Let's consider your bike set up for riding in the wet first, because this will have considerable influence on your performance… 1. Tyres When you pump up your tyres, use around six atmospheres rather than the seven or eight that would more normally…

CELTMAN EXTREME SCOTTISH TRIATHLON 14 JUNE 2025 Take on the race that many claim is ‘tougher than Norseman’ at your peril… • EUROPEAN CHAMPS QUALIFIER • WORLD CHAMPS QUALIFIER MARCH 2025 23 ELY 115 SQUADRON DUATHLON (various dists) Ely, Cambridgeshire. elytriclub.co.uk LINGWOOD DUATHLON (various distances and events) Lingwood Village Hall, Norwich. tri-anglia.club TRIWORKS EAST FORTUNE DUATHLON (• SPRINT) (various distances and events) East Fortune race track, Edinburgh, Scotland. tri-works.co.uk APRIL 6 NORTHUMBERLAND DUATHLON (• STANDARD) (various dists) Druridge, Northumberland. vo2maxracingevents.co.uk OULTON PARK DUATHLON (• STANDARD) (various dists) Oulton Park Race Track, Little Budworth, Tarporley, Cheshire. opevents.co.uk 13 DYFI DASH TRIATHLON (400m S/20km B/ 5km R) Bro Dyfi Leisure Centre, Machynlleth. ceristtriathlon.org.uk WEST LANCASHIRE SPRING TRIATHLON & DUATHLON (various distances and events) Edge Hill University, Ormskirk. epicevents.co.uk STRATFORD TRIATHLON (various distances)…

MARTYN BRUNT Martyn is tri's foremost average athlete and is living proof that hours of training and endless new kit are no substitute for ability. The sun is out, the roads are dry, my back is not covered in a thin stripe of brown mud, and after five months of keeping them out of sight I have just unveiled my bare knees to an unsuspecting public. All this can only mean that after months of darkness and dampness spring is finally springing. Despite the general sense of excitement that spring brings to ever optimistic age-groupers like me that this will finally – FINALLY – be the season that I burst on to the world triathlon stage, spring can be a tricky time for triathletes, not least while out cycling, because…

TIM HEMING Cutting through the spin of tri to address the issues that matter, Tim is a sports journalist who has written extensively on triathlon for the national press. There's a fine line between innovation and exploitation, a grey area where smart minds study the rulebook and try to gain an edge. Some athletes tread cautiously. Others seize opportunities before the authorities catch up. Magnus Ditlev, the Danish powerhouse, arrived at last year's Ironman World Championship in Kona with a rear-mounted hydration system that was more Formula 1 aero package than bottle cage. Designed to hold fluids but offering an aerodynamic advantage, it's been described as a hybrid between a pannier frame and a spoiler, but few have set eyes on it. Being the gentleman his reputation is built on,…

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED For short-course athletes, 2025 is post-Olympic Games season. Which translates as expect the unexpected. This is the year where short-course stars break free from the Games’ four-year cycle for a season, try their hand at longer events, attempt off-road ventures, experience single-discipline racing, focus on family and, well, just have some fun. In 2013, reigning Olympic champ Alistair Brownlee turned some of his attention to the 10,000m on the track. After another successful games at Rio 2016, Brownlee first tried his hand at Ironman 70.3 racing the next season, while his fellow Rio gold medallist Gwen Jorgensen took time away to become a mum. Cut to 2025 and Paris Olympic champion Cassandre Beaugrand has already raced 5k track events this February (posting a French national record of…

As triathletes, we spend an awful lot of time training on two wheels, especially when we're reaching our peak in summer. So it's key that our kit is up to the task and bike jerseys are no exception. They need to look good, of course, but they also need to be comfortable (particularly in warm weather), provide storage for nutrition or other essentials and, depending on your goals, provide you with any possible aero gains. While style is subjective, comfort typically comes down to the fabrics used, a zip and seams that don't irritate you, and good range of movement. The best summer jerseys also wick away moisture with ease and allow airflow to keep you cool. In terms of storage, three elasticated pockets on the rear are pretty much…

1. GET LOST! Remember orienteering from school camp? I do and it was great fun. And then I forgot about it for 30 years. But I've just rediscovered it and it's still a blast, offering a test of mind, map and compass as participants navigate around rural or urban events in search of control points. Local clubs run most orienteering events (some are free or expect to pay around £3-12 – britishorienteering.org.uk has a list of clubs), with a range of colour-coded courses depending on the length and difficulty. The course lengths (i.e. 2.5km) might sound short to tri folk, but you'll likely run much further than this depending on the route you choose between the control points. There are also permanent and virtual courses that you can follow independently…

“Endurance runners tend to be lean yet powerful, with efficient muscles” KATE MILSON Kate is 220 ‘s former staff writer. She's a keen endurance triathlete, marathon runner, and bikepacker and her interests include cycling, nutrition and sports injury. A The short answer is yes, you can absolutely build muscle from running. What kind of running, the duration, and the distance, plays a big part in muscle gain though. A 2017 study found that high-intensity, short-duration running (like sprints or hill repeats) can stimulate muscle growth, particularly in the lower body. Long-distance running, on the other hand, can sometimes lead to muscle breakdown. This is because prolonged endurance efforts can cause muscle protein breakdown (MPB) at a faster rate than muscle protein synthesis (MPS). This could counteract any potential muscle growth,…

“A recent flood drained the oasis and created this lake, so here we are… The water is 13 degrees and cold” MEET SEAN Sean McFarlane was runner-up in the inaugural Celtman, City to Summit and Brutal extreme triathlons. He runs This Way Up Media, a film production company, and Athletico Management with Dougie Vipond and Andy McCandlish. It's so strange to think that the lake I'm now swimming in wasn't here a few weeks ago, yet this is a place where you can't but help embrace the contrasts with home. As I make my way through the recently formed cool waters, I miss the heat from the nomad's fire that warmed my hands pre-race. I wonder what he thinks of all of this. That heat is now rapidly draining from…

MEET THE TEST TEAM HELEN WEBSTER 220's editor is also a qualified open-water swimming coach. ROB SLADE 220's content editor and resident adventure seeker. MATT BAIRD Has spent years testing tri kit and accessories for 220. JACK SEXTY A strong age-grouper focusing on top-end gains. JAMES WITTS Former 220 editor James specialises in sports science. OUR RATINGS 0-49 % POOR SIMPLY PUT, DON'T BOTHER! 50-69 % AVERAGE IT'LL DO THE JOB WELL ENOUGH 70-79 % GOOD A DECENT PERFORMER 80-89 % IMPRESSIVE ONE OF THE BEST YOU CAN BUY 90+ % BUY NOW A GENUINE CLASS LEADER “A study published in 2021 in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that male and female runners across a number of high-profile marathons were around 2% and 2.6% faster when wearing carbon-plate shoes”…

1. Acclimatise. Before starting your swim, spend a few minutes getting used to the temperature. 2. Wear a tow float. Also known as a safety buoy, it makes you more visible to others in water and on land. 3. Learn to sight. Practice looking ahead during your swim to find a ‘marker’ in the distance to guide you. 4. Practise bilateral breathing. Being comfortable on both sides means you can adjust to conditions. 5. Pick the right goggles. Choose the right ones for the conditions, or photochromatic ones for varied sun.…

Bike shoes or tri bike shoes? For those wondering why you'd need two pairs, think of it a little like race day run shoes (with elastic laces and lighter in weight) and day-to-day run shoes (durable and cushioned with normal laces). The same concept applies with bike shoes. The triathlon version will feature additional things like velcro straps for easy closing and opening on the fly, a large heel loop for pulling them on quickly and a lighter weight and breathability appropriate for race day. While they're fancy though, you likely won't want to use them every day – which is where the trusty road bike shoe comes in. Over the page I've tried out six pairs of road bike shoes to assess them for value, comfort, ease of set-up…

Are you a lunchbox ninja or are you hooked on your regular meal deal? With a little prior planning, it's easy to boost your lunch hour with more nutrients and fl avour, which will help make sure you have the nutrients for training and recovery. Plus in many cases, this will help you save money too. Try these four easy-to-prep meals and get ready for some serious work-colleague envy! Firstly, something to cheer up those dull, rainy workdays. This warm and spicy Red lentil, spinach and coconut soup is packed with goodness, including sustaining, nutrient-rich carbs, protein and fibre. It's an excellent source of vitamins and minerals too. Great if you're planning a training session after work. Fresh ginger is also good to use in your training diet as it…

“Being three sports in one, a triathlon training schedule can sometimes feel demanding” KATE MILSON Kate is 220 ‘s former staff writer. She's a keen endurance triathlete, marathon runner, and bikepacker and her interests include cycling, nutrition and sports injury. A The feeling of burnout when it relates to sport and triathlon in particular refers to severe emotional and mental exhaustion. Often, burnout comes hand in hand with overtraining. While overtraining is primarily physical, it can lead to burnout. Being burnt-out can also affect your sense of general wellbeing and be linked to multiple aspects of your life. Far from simple fatigue, burnout is described in the Oxford dictionary as a ‘physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress’. In science, burnout is the process in which a fuel…

‘A’-Race The most important race of your season Age-grouper Non-pro triathlete Aerobic Aerobic exercise involves oxygen consumption by the body Anaerobic How much energy your body can produce without using oxygen Aquabike Race with just swim and bike elements, no run Bilateral breathing Breathing every three strokes when swimming Biomechanics The forces applied to your body during exercise Bonking Running out of energy mid-race or training session Brick session When you ‘brick’ two disciplines together, e.g. bike and run Cadence Pedal rate on bike, in revolutions per minute (rpm) 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 Core strength Development of the stomach and lower back area in support of strength DNS/DNF Did…