triathlon and will help flush the cruel lactic acid out of your legs. "A massage will prevent blood pooling and, mixed with active recovery, is the ideal way to speed up recovery time," says Kiddle. "For active recovery you should walk, jog, swim, spin legs

With the departure of the forum tri team Pirate Ship of Fools to compete in Ironman Switzerland in seven weeks time, a significant number of the scurvy gang decided to meet in North Wales for the Bala Middle Distance triathlon. Although not quite

Five years ago I was excitedly planning my first middle-distance triathlon. Training was going well but then an incident in a deep lake left me in such a state that I was unable to race. The event involved a sea swim at Weymouth, Dorset

on this: Swim to runFor optimum running form, don't neglect your upper body. "Swimming increases mobility and flex in the arms, shoulders and back, which enhances running style and aerobic capacity," says triathlon coach Barry Jameson (tri4u.co.uk). Start

Two down, one to go. By the time you reach the run leg of a triathlon, your focus may be simply on finishing, but you can have loftier aims. Here are some tricks and tips to speed you through the final tri sport, as well as ways to improve your

have enough energy for those tasks you have to squeeze in around triathlon.The first thing you need to remember is that fuelling your body for training and recovery is not an exact science - a one-size-fits-all approach does not work. There are a huge

of these goals, and how even if everything doesn't go perfectly, you'll accept your performance and bounce-back.THE COURSEEvery triathlon is different, so to understand the challenge ahead, make sure you read the race instructions. If the swim is in a pool, find

This Sunday heralds the return of one of the UK's most prestigious endurance triathlons; Ironman UK. This is the only officially branded Iron distance event in England. More than 1,500 triathletes will be speeding through Lancashire's countryside

you must reach to perform well at any distance of triathlon. Improving base fitness is essential if you want to improve your performance. Every athlete must return to base training every year, regardless of his or her experience or ability, and keep

It's no use just ploughing up and down the pool in a bid to become a more efficient swimmer. And you're probably going to need more than just a swimsuit, hat and goggles, too.Smart swimming certainly involves the element of raw determination, but a