Why’s it better to have a Triathlon Coach who coaches you for all three disciplines

I was coaching my Fluid Movements squad at the pool this morning, and an athlete’s question reminded me why it is important to have a tri coach who coaches you for all three disciplines, being swim, bike and run.

The athlete asked can we use fins (speed assisted) for the final set of 4 x 25m f/s sprints?! In response I said no, as I knew what the athletes had done the night before, a strong sustained run on a cross country course, which I coached them for at Fluid Movements squad training 12hours earlier.

If I had of said yes, it’s likely with the extra resistance of the fins under load that some of the athletes would have cramped due to the fatigued state their calves were in from the run.

It’s very important in a balanced triathlon training program to manage the weekly load over all sessions. Your coach in my view should have an awareness of the state of fatigue that you turn up to your session in, and program the session accordingly. Only a tri coach who coaches you for all disciplines would intimately know that.

Sessions across week of a triathlon squad program MUST be complimentary, it’s one sport with 3 disciplines not 3 separate sports remember…

I have held this view and practised this for the last 20years as a coach, it was instilled into me when I was a coached and it still rings true today.

My 2cents…

Coach Foz

 

How to make your Lactate Threshold training most effective

When you are doing a lactate threshold (La.t) set (85-92%mhr), be it in the water or on the track it’s important to hit and hold your intensity just below La.T for as many reps of the set as possible.  This will ensure the effectiveness of the session

For example – 10 x 400m at La.T on the track with a 200m recovery.

A great way to ensure this happens is to take note of the pace you hold for the 3^rd repetition of the set. This pace or interval time is likely to be the most attainable pace you can hold for the final 7reps of the set.

Usually the 1^st and to a lesser extent the 2^nd rep where you are the freshest isn’t sustainable, but by the 3^rd rep you are likely to have hit your hardest sustainable rhythm that you can hold for the rest if giving it your all.   

Challenge yourself by using a pace and striving to hit the mark every time. You will be amazed at how deep you can go into the set whilst still hitting the mark.

Coach Foz

*For more info on training with Coach Foz visit www.fluidmovements.com

Critical Swim Speed Testing & Training

As our swimmers move into a more specific swim phase next week, I took them through a Critical Swim Speed (CSS) test on Tuesday with a 400 and a 200m Swim TT. This test looks at the relationship between the speeds of the 2 TT’s and gives a swimmer their current distance per second at threshold intensity.

This morning being 48hours later we set a quality set of 200’s with short rests at each swimmers 100m CSS split based on the Tuesday test

CSS testing effectively finds what your threshold pace in the pool, and sets a 100m split to work off. This time can be used for subsequent threshold sets from 100m to 400m reps or so. Rests between are usually short and between 10-30sec. This set works to increases your anaerobic threshold and aerobic capacity, with the short rests ensuring HR doesn’t drop and HR averages remain high for the entire set

It’s a perfect set for this time of year for our Fluid Movements swimmers.

Variables in CSS

One thing that I have noticed over the years is CSS sets generally favour swimmers with more endurance than swimmers who are naturally powerful but with less endurance (or unfit). They have the ability to hold their CSS pace over longer sets a little more easily.

So when I am watching my swimmers do the set, it can give me an indication of a few things.

1.       Their natural speed and endurance in the water.

2.       Their current fitness and ability to hold speed (speed end) at that time.

Something to Aim for

The exercise of doing CSS testing gives the swimmers a 100m split speed to aim for using the pace clock at the pool. It gives them a mark to strive for that’s based on their current form, and I find that it really motivates them to push the whole set.

Try it out and see what you think

Can’t wait to get stuck into the next 12week block.

 

*For more info on Fluid Movements swimming you can contact Coach Foz at www.fluidmovements.com

Fluid Movements Pre Swim Activation