. Enter online.Cheshire Classic Aquathlon (Nantwich, November 13)Distance: 750m swim/ 7.5K run If you don't fancy a chilly open-water dip in late autumn, practise your racing skills in the comfort of a heated indoor pool. Set off in waves based on your

. The swim was a straightforward out-and-back affair but the bike, described as "very undulating" was the kind that crushes spirits: it features 2,500ft of ascent. However, it wasn't enough to slow down Karl Alexander, who opened up a big lead and never

decent level of fitness and honing your performance in all three disciplines – swimming, cycling and running – before competition starts again in the spring.The guide will help you achieve the basics in building core strength, developing stamina

muscular breakdown at the end of an Ironman. The key to building that strength lies not just in what you do in the weights room, but also in strength building swim, bike and run workouts.Tailor it to triWhile I am personally in favour of weight training

with thinner material around the shoulders and arms if your stroke is strong enough to benefit from a change in pace. Whatever you choose, try swimming in the suit before you buy it. Most manufacturers allow this and many make their suits available at open

strategies for coping with race day nerves - and the pressure of being the 2012 Olympic triathlon favourite.Do you have a strategy going into the Olympic qualification races?I'd like it to be a hard swim, hard bike, hard run - but I've got to prepared

alternating between training blocks at home and training camps in Lanzarote. It's been good to get away from the snow late last year and to able to get in some good cycling sessions. When I'm at home I focus on my swimming with my club and on my running

of over 60 prizes that can be won throughout the project. Wetsuits, swim lessons, event / show entries, signed memorabilia and magazine subscriptions are all up for grabs in a long list which is still growing - check out the latest prizes here.The TIA

include getting swimming coaching to help you identify ‘dead’ parts in your stroke and practising drills to improve, or following a strength and conditioning programme to help you improve your hillwork on the run and bike, for example

to hear some of the more experienced pirates complaining about the hills, so that made me feel better. That said, anyone who is confident enough with their endurance (and I was) can do this kind of thing. I knew if I finished the swim, I would finish