, too often, you will wind up sick, injured or overtrained. Too little intensity and you will not achieve your potential in races. If you get the intensity wrong it doesn't matter if you are doing everything else right - you will not reach your full

to maintain the right technique when you begin to tire. Conditioning is traditionally done during winter to prepare you for race season. You should include exercises such as squats, lunges and step-ups. Abdominal exercises are also vital for maintaining strong

minute) A measure of heart rate.Brick Training session combining two disciplines (e.g. cycling and running) used to simulate race experience and help your body adapt to switching sports quickly. BTF (British Triathlon Federation) The national

in so much debt that you cannot afford to go on holiday for years to come.Travel insurance is essential when you are going away to either train or race, and because you are a triathlete, regular policies are unlikely to cover you. The reason

Hestler, who’s also raced on the road. Know what you’re doing, and you’ll ride faster. Here are his top tips:Cross-chaining"The conventional wisdom is that cross-chaining - riding in a combination of the big chain ring and the big cog, or the small ring

. "If you're just starting out in triathlons, a few hundred pounds will get you a basic road bike to take you through your first races," says Cook. "As you improve you can then think about keeping your first bike as a dedicated training bike - and buy a

. "The rivalry in actual triathlon races is not that great. I think he is still better than me and that I should concentrate on others rather than him. If I beat them, it normally means that I have beaten the best in the world."We've always been very competitive

's success goes hand in hand with the growing popularity of long-distance triathlon. Gone are the days of being able to pick and choose which race to do. These days entering requires stealth, plenty of planning and a speedy internet connection so you can sign

In the kit-crazed world of triathlon, we are sometimes judged by our fashion sense as well as our sporting ability, often by the more elite (and more than a little vain) among us. But many style rules exist for a purpose - not only do they prevent

Triathlon, insist all competitors wear them, for safety reasons.While a few triathletes still subscribe to the notion that wetsuits are for wimps, a modern, triathlon-specific suit will speed you through the first leg of your race faster and fresher than