to recover from the demands of the race season, reduces your chance of injury and rekindles your competitive zeal for the next season. It doesn't have to be a complete break from all exercise, but should involve a reduction in intensity and volume
of stepping up to a higher level of competition can help motivate you to higher levels of performance and enjoyment.Test yourselfIf you don't fancy the intensity of such competitions, you can try testing yourself in more challenging events. The Escape from
age-group structure. However old you are, triathlon gives you the opportunity to compete against other athletes of a similar vintage. This means you can race for your country whether you're 25 or 85 without being a full-time, professional athlete
the national long-distance triathlon championships, and decided to take three months unpaid leave from work so that I could train full-time. I ended up finishing tenth. I had a terrible race, and was exhausted from beginning to end. I had overdone my training
and exercise psychologist at Sheffield Hallam University, to develop strategies that will enable him to reach his Ironman goal.This summer he'll take part in small triathlons to become used to the atmosphere at races. "Rob is helping me to develop strategies
'. And there's no better time to do so than during autumn and winter, so you'll be primed for next year's race season.The confidence gameConfidence comes from the belief that you can do what you are about to do. It's based in part on the training you have put
Paratriathlon's popularity is skyrocketing. Last year there were more than 350 triathlon race starts by paratriathletes in the UK, an increase of an astonishing 500 per cent on the 2006 race season. And these numbers probably underestimate total
habit to get into and a hard one to break."8. Train hardTo build the resilience to finish a race, practise in training. "Training hard gives you the confidence to race well," says Hayes.For Annie Williams, the prospect of competition motivates her during
Jodie Swallow, every week you take off will put your training back by two weeks."If you completely stop, your body switches off," she says. "This is fine at the end of the racing season when you need a break, but not bang in the middle when you
, and they all get so much from listening to each other; it's very motivational," he says.2. Go the extra mile If you haven't changed your race distance since you started triathlons, then the chances are your training hasn't change much, either. Even if you
