6 Simple Winter Triathlon Training Tips To Get Stronger, Fitter & Faster

Triathlon season is over, but that’s not an excuse to slack off. In fact, Winter is prime time for getting fitter, stronger and faster. And have fun, too!

Think beyond the pool, turbo and treadmill this Winter and emerge blinking into the sunlight next Spring a fitter, stronger triathlete. Here are six ideas to keep you occupied (and none of them involve the turbo trainer!)

1. Swim Outdoors: Yes, really! Outdoor swimming at this time of year can be safe, contained, and actually beneficial. I don’t advise you head for open water in Winter - it’s just too cold and potentially risky. Instead, seek out one of the UK’s remaining Lidos. Not only are these lovely outdoor pools a good Winter training ground, but us triathletes are one set of a dwindling sub-culture who can save them from extinction. Find your nearest Lido or open air pool by Googling (or try the The Outdoor Swimming Society’s website). I recommend steady-paced swims, or a session which builds the pace progressively. It’s probably best to avoid super-short intervals in very cold water.

Treadmill running this winter???

So, it’s that time of year, when it’s wet and cold outside, and the last thing you want to do to go running, right? 

Well, treadmill training offers the beginner and experienced runner a great opportunity to develop their running training through a controlled environment, where the runner can have total control of the speed, incline and duration of their training sessions.

However, runners usually have a love/hate relationship with the treadmill.

Now I understand that the treadmill has a bad reputation, it’s boring, right? Well, it doesn’t have to be that way!

Testimonial: Ironman Wales triathlete

I received this lovely email testimonial yesterday from a coached triathlete and had to share it with you:

"So I wake up one Autumn day in 2014 and I decide I am going to do Ironman Wales 2015. After the panic faded I realised I needed to find a coach. A conversation down the pub resulted in a recommendation to contact WhittleFit. So I did and off I went to meet coach (Mark) in Barry McDonalds. Odd place to meet a triathlon coach I thought to myself, but off I toddled (I do love a burger!). As it happens we were not there to eat burgers and coach rightly so asked me “why Ironman Wales” and “what is your experience of triathlons”. Well "it’s a dream" I replied, and as for experience, I blurted out that “I had not been in a pool other than ones with slides or lilos since I was 12!, it had taken 6 years of blood sweat and tears to run a sub 2 hour Cardiff half and my cycling experience consisted of commuting to work every day on a 5 year old bike!" 

But It appears he loves a challenge and he agreed to take me on. So a year on, he has transformed me, not only from a fitness perspective, but mentally. I can not express enough gratitude for Mark Whittle. He has literally changed my life for the better. I thoroughly enjoyed the 9 months training for Ironman Wales, and he supported and guided me the whole way. 

I followed coach’s plan to the dot which meant I enjoyed every single second of the Ironman Wales day. He always believed in me and he regularly told me I would smash my 15 hours target, which I did. So I will be forever grateful to Mark for helping me achieve my dream. 
So if you have a dream and need a little help then I can not recommend my amazing and fabulous coach enough. If he can turn me from a fizz loving, burger loving triathlon wannabe into an Ironman, he can help anyone achieve their goals." 
Emma (triathlete)

Thank you Emma, very kind words! 

WhittleFit Athlete Spotlight: Adam Pritchard

At WhittleFit we've decided to do a few short articles on current WhittleFit athletes, so you can get to know them a little bit better and find out what makes them tick!

First up is long distance triathlete mentalist Adam Pritchard. Adam is definitely someone who loves a challenge and only does the weird and wonderful races, like Ironman, the double and triple Brutal triathlon and the crazy Windermere to Cardiff Epic Triathlon Challenge.

• What got you started in endurance or multi-sport events?
• Cycling to work, regular swimming, my brother entering me for the Cardiff Half Marathon and the need to be fit again after several years of doing nothing was how I got into triathlon. 

• How long have you been working with WhittleFit?

• I've been with WhittleFit for 3 years. It's been an education. 

• Tell us about your home and work life.
• I am married to Ann-Marie and we have a 9 year old daughter called, Mia. We are an active family and love travelling. My wife loves her yoga and climbing and my daughter loves her swimming and cycling.  I'm a teacher in a school for children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. It's a tough job, but one that can be very rewarding. However, most of my time is spent cycling, running and swimming. 

• What was your first race?
• My first race was the Cardiff Half Marathon back in 1985 - I was 10. My first triathlon was Ironman UK in 2011. It's this race that got me hooked. 

• How many races have you competed in?
• Not enough. 

• What advice would you give someone just starting out in triathlon?
• If you're serious about triathlon you need to be committed. Simple as that. Getting a coach helps massively with this.

• What has been the most rewarding part of your journey racing in endurance or multi-sport events?
• The most rewarding part of my journey is achieving what I once thought was impossible. Endurance events has given me a great sense of belief and much needed confidence. 

• What is your biggest accomplishment so far?
• My biggest achievement was completing the Double Brutal Triathlon in 2014. Also, a Tri I did with my brother in 2014 - we swam Lake Windermere 10.5miles, then cycled 250 miles to Chepstow and ran 16 miles to Newport. 

Thanks to Adam for being the first up in this WhittleFit Athlete Spotlight series, keep checking back, we should have a new article every month, so you can find out what the WhittleFit coached athletes are all about!!