Your support structure needs to be part of your planning process. Support might come from your doctor, family, physio, osteopath, sports massage therapist, bike service mechanic, triathlon coach etc. Like you, they need to be committed to the plan

for avoiding a cold (without becoming a recluse):De-stress:Apparently, training can cause a rise in the hormone cortisol which causes stress. This stress can affect the immune system, which can make you more susceptible to infection! So plan your rest days well

Once upon a time long-distance triathlon was seen as something of a grail, holy or unholy, depending on how you felt about a 140-mile race. It was the preserve of the experienced, the specialists and, maybe, the slightly unhinged. Not any more

, now you can pose your questions straight to the experts as we welcome Speedo's team of swimming and triathlon experts into the triathletesworld.co.uk forums for a series of themed Q+As over the weeks ahead. Speedo works with GB swimmers, triathletes

for you on race day. So I would say that the more time you have to try different sports bars, gels, energy drinks and timings, the better. As well as thinking about which carbohydrate you'll take on board during the race this is also a good time to plan

I can't quite believe I'm writing this but there's only one day to go until our sprint relay challenge, the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series London.We have printed off the event details, my outfit is planned and I have persuaded

and bike to run. We asked some of triathlon's leading elites, coaches and mentors for their tips to ensure speedy transitions.1. Get in the habitStart learning how to save precious seconds in the weeks and months leading up to your race. By setting aside

One of the great joys of triathlon is that it gives you the perfect excuse to travel all over the world to take part in races. But if you don't make plans and take precautions you can easily fall victim to sickness or injury and all your hard work

in the pool searching for the vaguest remnants of my swimming muscle memory. I've drawn up a plan with 3-4 sessions a week, regular swims of 1000-1500m interspersed with shorter sprints and drills.Deep breath - it's going to be a busy couple of months!

:41:33. "This was the best performance of my life," he said afterwards. He and his brother, Michael, had planned to finish first and second at Kona this year, and win $1 million, courtesy of sponsors KSwiss, but Michael, who has been injured, has not qualified