If you’ve been logging endless laps in the pool, you may have noticed a sharp ache or dull throb in your elbow that lingers after training. That pain is often swimmer’s elbow, a common overuse injury among triathletes. Unlike a simple muscle tweak, this issue builds over time as thousands of strokes strain the tendons around the joint. Add the gripping from cycling and the arm swing of running, and your elbow rarely gets a break. The good news? With smart training, recovery strategies, an...| SportCoaching
As a coach, I have seen athletes get race prep wrong more often than they get it right. Not because they didn’t train hard, but because tapering for endurance athletes can be confusing. If you learn how to taper correctly, you can set yourself up for peak performance. Tapering for Endurance Athletes vs. Peaking…| 80/20 Endurance
Discover the best triathlons in the UK, from the iconic Blenheim Palace Triathlon to Ironman Leeds. Find beginner races and courses across England.| SportCoaching
Want to run faster and longer? Learn how lactate training helps runners build endurance, push past limits, and get stronger with every workout.| Evolution Physical Therapy
Most athletes tell me something like this before they begin the ‘Ironman Marathon’ or run leg of an Ironman: “I’m going to start at 7:00/mile and hold on.” “If I feel good halfway, I’ll pick it up.” “I want to go hard from mile one to break my competition.” This kind of thinking…| 80/20 Endurance
At the Ironman, pacing isn’t just about hitting target numbers—it’s about racing smart. Recent studies highlight the real impact of how professional triathletes distribute their effort across the bike and run to achieve success. What the Research Shows for World Championship Ironman Pacing 1. Downhill speed matters when it comes to Ironman pacing I…| 80/20 Endurance
Great workouts don’t start with your first stride, pedal stroke, or lap—they start before that. What you do before a workout can determine whether you adapt, plateau, or even regress. These five pre-workout steps will help you train with purpose, not just motion. 1. Clear Your Mind Before a Workout Stress from work, family,…| 80/20 Endurance
Are you a runner looking for relief from heel pain? Learn more about how physical therapy can help runners with plantar heel pain in our blog!| Evolution Physical Therapy
The last six months have been all about running, and I haven’t written anything about it because I was starting to feel superstitious. Getting to the BMO start line was uncertain thanks to injury, and I didn’t want to write about something that I wasn’t completely sure I could do. And then, when I […]| Michelle Barker
The big push is on. The distances are climbing. The fatigue is mounting. Consuming enough food has become a serious challenge, as has staying awake in the middle of the day. I’m getting sick of pasta. I was already sick of rice. Chicken breast? Starting to annoy me. But I’ll never be sick of […]| Michelle Barker
The training for Ironman is never linear, and this time was no different. There were many low points along the way—one shoulder got sore, then the other, then the lower back… and then three weeks before the race, despite being as careful as possible, I caught Covid. Luckily it was a mild case, though […]| Michelle Barker
There was an interesting discussion recently on Strava sparked by someone who’s training for an Olympic-distance triathlon. His race date is approaching but his motivation is waning. What if it’s not fun anymore? he asked. How do I keep going? I think there are two important issues to consider here. The first is burnout. […]| Michelle Barker
Nearly every long workout offers lessons, and I’ve had some good ones over the past few days. I’m consistently surprised by how much our minds can f*ck with us. Mine is an expert at causing trouble. It routinely tries to convince me that I can’t do something and therefore shouldn’t attempt it. It can even […]| Michelle Barker
This race has become an annual tradition for me. VOWSA (the Vancouver Open Water Swim Association) always does a great job. The event runs smoothly, starts on time, and … there’s food and coffee! Plus, it’s at Sasamat Lake, one of my favorite places to swim. This year, however, I approached it with a bit […]| Michelle Barker
Doing a solo 70.3 training day for Ironman is a great way to learn what's working...and what isn't.| Michelle Barker
First club ride of the season was on Saturday. What did I forget? A lot, as it turns out. I forgot how fun it was to be outside. How lucky I am to belong to such a wonderful cycling club. How great to do long rides again—though this one actually wasn’t very long but it […]| Michelle Barker
Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? But it passes quickly. From where I’m standing now, it’s hard to imagine being ready. I am comfortably swimming around 3k, riding about 60k and running 12-14k. And not all in one day. Which means I have a loooong way to go. But it always seems impossible to imagine […]| Michelle Barker
Happy (very belated) New Year, everyone. January is the time to plan races and figure out what the coming year will look like—in theory, anyway. But theories are good, so here’s mine. Having made a full recovery from last year’s stupid concussion, I have thrown myself into training for Ironman Chattanooga which will happen at […]| Michelle Barker
After years of research, sports science updates, and coaching, I’ve completely updated my comprehensive training guide, The Triathlete’s Training Bible, in a new fifth edition. Available this January, you can order now to get yourself ready for spring training and race preparation. The new 5th edition has been updated to include: A whole new intensity […]| Joe Friel