Triathalon training in the UK. Training Bible.

Thursday 25 March 2010

What's in a TBCUK Training Camp...?

Last week we had our first UK long course training camp at Sandy Balls in the New Forest. Camps like this can provide a real platform to boost your training, add motivation and train with like minded people that are focused on a key goal.

To give you an idea of what's involved at a TBCUK camp, here's a quick run down of the highlights and the sessions we covered. To kick off its always interesting to hear athletes goals for the season and check out where they are in their training. Our group had a mixture of experience, with almost all but one looking to attempt their first Ironman or Long course race this summer.

We met up on Friday evening to outline the weekend ahead and share our goals and expectations of the camp. Sports psychologist and Head of Sports Science at Southampton University Candice Lingam-Wilgoss gave an insightful and interactive session on goal setting. She told us about one of her Olympic athletes and how drilling down into each goal helped to create meaningful milestones in their training. This was a great example of how to maintain motivation and keep us on track.

Saturday morning and it was a 7am start with Swim coach Steve Barratt and a technical stroke session with video analysis, followed by breakfast and a rather wet 45 mile ride round the Forestman bike course. Although it rained, it was good practice to train in those conditions - after all, on race day, we get out and do it whatever the weather. Following lunch the first of the afternoon sessions was taken by TBCUK Senior coach Will Newbery. He gave a practical session on core strength for long course athletes, the importance of which was quickly realised - these simple exercises really demonstrate the need for developing core stability and strength, to keep race form together as fatigue sets in - on both the bike and run.

After a short break, it was time to get back outside for our hill run session. Although the group were pleading with me for a little longer (not!) we headed back to the comfort of a shower and another fuel top up. In the the final session of the day nutritional coach Tony Derbyshire shared valuable insights on the critical issue of getting your recovery and nutrition right for the big event. This proved to be one of the most talked about sessions - especially over dinner an hour or so later; thoughts had turned to macro and micro nutrients - where lean meat and endless portions of fruit and veg became our best friends.

Sunday morning provided the second opportunity to work with Steve on that swim stroke, before heading out for a long bike-run brick. The groups were split, with group leaders leading the pacing. The bike element was supported by a refuel and repair TrainingBible Van. It was a long ride, varying between 56-70 miles and thankfully the sun came out, bringing the beautiful New Forest to life. I filmed a section of the bike ride to show you the kinds of roads we ride on, which I've posted on You Tube. Off the bike and onto what must be one of the toughest off road, long course marathon routes. The groups ran between 6 and 9 miles over the undulating terrain. Tired but happy we tucked into a late afternoon lunch before heading home.

All the athletes that came along worked hard and were buoyed by their achievements over the weekend. Some athletes seemed to get physically stronger, and all will have benefited from the sharing and learning. If you have not tried a camp approach before then it may be worth considering one to enhance your training - it can be a real confidence booster to know that you can go the distance and best of all you can look forward to a real step up in your performance levels a few weeks later.





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