Train smarter
When the weather turns cold, wet and icy, training suddenly seems a lot less enjoyable, so you can grit your teeth and face whatever nature throws at you, or grind out the miles on the treadmill and the turbo trainer. Or you could be smart and do both.
Elite triathlete Stuart Hayes (stuarthayes.com) says, "Training smart is the best way to improve performance. Only you can decide if it is best for you to be outside or not.
"The majority of triathletes juggle family life with stressful work commitments so there is a tendency to be run-down most of the time, which means the rain, mud wind or snow can add to these stresses. Training outside is not worth an athlete being sick or injured during most of the winter."
But doing battle with winter can offer the kind of variety you'll never experience indoors. Professional long-distance triathlete Joanna Carritt (joannacarritt.co.uk) says, "Nasty conditions make the traditional long ride or run a bit more of a challenge. You do have to be mindful of dangers such as iced roads, but if you can get out there and tap out the miles, it's a great way to warm yourself up."
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