Broadhaven Olympic Triathlon Race Report: Coached Athlete Tom Foster

Coached triathlete Tom Foster raced the Broadhaven olympic distance triathlon last weekend, here's what he had so say about his race! 

I last raced the Pembrokeshire Coast Triathlon in 2012, before most races I tend to have a look back at my Strava file or the results to see how I did. In 2012 I finished in 15th with a time 2.34.05, reflecting on my approach to racing then and now, it is barely comparable. Yes I am riding the same bike (OK - different wheels) wearing the same helmet, the same shoes but now my training is so much more intelligent, training with power and working with a coach (WhittleFit) has made me much more economical – I probably train similar hours, but just so much more effective.

I have the good fortune of being able to stay near the race start at Broad Haven, which makes such a difference, however less so than in previous years as the race start was not until a cushy 9am due to the tide times.

Why triathletes shouldn't want all the gear but no idea!!!

Triathletes love gadgets! I totally get that! We're all magpies, really. But you need to find a balance. Listen up and learn how to avoid being that triathlete with "all the gear but no idea"…

Without a doubt, technology can benefit us hugely in training and racing. But where do we draw the line between focusing on (and relying on) gadgets, and putting our energy into good old-fashioned hard work? What's more important: skill, will, technique, effort, genetics or technology? They're all important, but I often find myself wishing today's triathletes would focus less on tech and more on effort. 

Andrew "Pops" Martin races the European Sprint Triathlon Champs!

Congratulations to WhittleFit coached triathlete Andrew “Pops” Martin who raced for Great Britain at the European Sprint Triathlon Champs on Friday in Kitzbuhel, Austria.

Pops had a great race, leading everyone out of the 750m swim portion of the race (with the eventual winner getting a free ride on his feet all the way round!), into a nasty, hilly, wet bike course and into a super fast 5km run to finish! Pops had a strong race and finished in an amazing 7th place in his age group! Very well done Pops, awesome racing! 

5 ways to get past the post-race blues

We've all been there. The excitement of training, the euphoric highs of race day… followed by the crashing lows of that post-race period. Nobody likes the post-race blues. Here are my 5 suggestions for getting past them before they can strike.

1. Focus on active recovery: Us type-A individuals often cope better if we have a plan and feel as if we're achieving something. So why not turn the post-race period into a dedicated time of active recovery? See, you're not tired… you're recovering! This is a good strategy if your race was a marathon, Ironman or other long distance endurance event which demands a little down time (just when you feel least like resting up). Use the week or two after your race to do all those things which have been on your to-do list for ages:

• sports massages
• yoga or Pilates
• foam rolling, myofacial release, stretching
• strengthening and postural exercises
• online shopping for new kit, bike parts or sportswear
• fettling and fixing your bike/s

2. Make a smooth transition: If that was your last race of the season, focus on making the switch to your next block of training. Any good periodised training approach includes a transition phase after race day. Work with your coach, or put your own plans in place, to recover properly, address any injuries or imbalances, enjoy life outside of training, and then refocus on your next sporting goal.