Innehållsförteckning för April 2023 från 220 Triathlon

START Fresh from two of their athletes winning the brutal winter 2023 edition of the Spine Race, it's fair to say that the Inov-8 team were having a ‘moment’ in trail running as they emailed us with news of this new shoe. For seasoned trail runners, the rumour of a new Trailfly G 270 is probably enough to get their trail spidey senses twitching – after all, the first version won four ‘trail running shoe of the year’ awards across the industry in 2020. So what's new? HOTTEST NEW GEAR Existing users will be glad to hear that the V2 retains the same outsole and midsole as the original, but the brand has taken the opportunity to do a lot of work on the upper to give it more durability,…

DON'T MISS AN ISSUE! Need some training and racing inspiration? Or fancy signing up for your first race in 2023? Whatever your targets, our one goal here at 220 Triathlon magazine is to make sure you achieve them. In every issue we bring you the best training and racing advice, as well as all the cutting-edge kit you need to perform at your optimum. And, for a limited time, you'll receive this fantastic 2XU tri singlet, worth £55, plus save 30% when you sign up for a subscription. So don't delay, subscribe today!…

1997 – 2012 – 2022 The years Sarah Springman was awarded an OBE, CBE and DBE for her services to sport administration and engineering. 5 – STAR BAYLISS The number of iron-distance races Bella won in 2008 – and the number of Ironman Florida wins she recorded. 13 FROM 13 Chrissie Wellington's record over the full distance including four Ironman world titles and two Challenge Roth wins. 8 M-DOTS FOR THE DOG The number of pro irondistance race wins Lucy Gossage achieved AFTER she went back to work as a doctor. LC-B VERSATILITY In 2021, Charles-Barclay was 2nd in the indoor SLT Arena Games in London, 2nd in the 1,500m Olympic trials in the pool, 5th in the Leeds World Triathlon Series, 1st over 100km in the Collins Cup, raced…

These gloves from Maap sit at the pricier end of the spectrum, but they ooze class. They feature a fleece lining for warmth and a waterproof, windproof membrane. We found them comfortable down to around 5°C, but on higher-intensity rides you'll get a couple of extra degrees out of them. Beyond that, you'll be looking at the brand's Deep Winter gloves instead. Comfort was generally good, but we did find the seams pushed into our fingertips a bit, so if you're between sizes consider going for the larger one. Protection against wind and rain was also decent, while the large Velcro strap delivered a secure fit. The gloves also offered high levels of grip and dexterity, though similarly-priced competitors just edge these in that regard. RS maap.cc 86 % VERDICT…

Here at 220 we're used to trying all the latest wetsuit releases from triathlon specialists, so it canbe easy to forget sometimes that not everyone is in the market for a tri-specific swimming wetsuit. So is there a space in the market for something a little less heavy on the tech (and the wallet?). Enter the Pursuit from marine specialists Gill, aimed – as the name suggests – at those wanting to enjoy the water for outdoor pursuits, whether that be stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, or outdoor swimming. Available in both men's and women's sizing, with women's, as tested here, in sizes 8-18, the suit is constructed with warmth in mind and as such features a mix of 4mm and 3mm uncoated neoprene. For added cold-reduction it features glued and blindstitched…

Many of you might feel that the off-season's lasted all year but, as race season approaches, it's finally time to start increasing the miles to make sure you're competition ready. And that's where your long run comes in, so here are our top tips to help you get the most out of this key session. 1 One long run a week is a surefire way to lay strong aerobic foundations, boost fat burning and improve running economy. 2 Ensure you add miles and time gradually. As a general rule, increase your longest run by no more than 1.5km – maybe 2km – each week. 3 It's a sound idea to increase distance three weeks in a row before enjoying a recovery run in the fourth week. Week five should see…

KIT ZONE BRAND VISITS: SOAR RUNNING 85% SOAR WOOL-TECH TOP Read our review in issue 411 “THIS IS THE BIT I KEEP TALKING ABOUT AND PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BUT WHY THE HELL DON'T NIKE, ADIDAS AND PUMA RELEASE THEIR OWN ELITE RUN CLOTHING TO THE PUBLIC?” It's not atypical for a 220 Triathlon interviewee to run 50-60 miles a week as part of their job, but whereas it's usually a pro triathlete looking to get fitter and faster, this time it's a former D] and fashion designer focused on a very different goal. Tim Soar, founder of Soar Running, takes his role as product tester seriously. Every garment is put rigorously through its paces on the parks, pavements and towpaths of north-east London, and as a bonus his company benefits from one…

SHORTSLEEVED TRI-SUITS Performance is key for race tri-suits, so consider chamois, grippers and pocket options. Fabric should also be quick-drying and sweat-wicking. ORCA Athlex Aero Race Suit £149 Speedy yet supportive suit that's highly breathable for warmer climes. Issue 404 orca.com CASTELLI PR Speed Tri Suit £300 Made to be highly aero, with feather-thin fabric and ample pocket storage. Issue 404 saddleback.co.uk ASSOS Triator SS Speedsuit £380 Oozes quality, with comfy chamois, honeycomb arms and fast-drying material. Issue 404 assos.com STOLEN GOAT Upstart Tri-suit £160 Striking suit with aero sleeves, a splitfront design and comfy material. Issue 404 stolengoat.com TRI-FIT Evo Next Gen £189 Classy suit with silky-smooth fabrics and well-crafted tri flourishes. Issue 404 tri-fitathletic.com TOP-END WETSUITS If your goal is to exit Tl at the front of the…

TRAINING NUTRITION For triathletes, carbohydraterich foods are the optimum and most accessible fuel for energy. So even if you have friends extolling the virtues of going carb-free or ‘keto’, you may want to think twice before following them. This is because, once digested, carbohydrate is converted into blood glucose and used for energy or stored in the liver and muscle, in the form of ‘glycogen’. We rely on this stored carbohydrate, or glycogen, to drip-feed energy to keep us going when we exercise. We can store enough glycogen to fuel energy for about 90mins of intense exercise, after which we need to top up to prevent ‘hitting the wall’. When training consistently everyday it's important to eat carbohydrate-rich foods regularly to keep your glycogen levels topped up. I use the phrase…

JODIE SWALLOW CUNNAMA Jodie is a former Olympian, Ironman 70.3 and two-time World Triathlon longdistance champion. Having moved back to the UK from South Africa, with husband and former pro James, and children Jack, Johnnie and Jade, the 41-year-old juggles being a mother with a successful coaching business that supports athletes all over the world. As a swimmer and runner growing up in Essex, I started triathlon in 2000 and qualified for the British junior team in my first race. Looking back, I'd have liked it to be a slower progression because the expectation on my performance was immediate. Being selected for the 2004 Athens Olympics was one of the proudest moments of my career, but I suffered an Achilles injury in the build-up. I pushed through pain, passed the…

GB pro J ames Teagle, 27, briefly became a global news sensation when he benefited from an incredible act of sportsmanship during a pro triathlon in the pandemic-hit summer of 2020. Yet while he might never top that incident for media coverage, the well-rounded Cambridge-based pro is hoping that his move to long-course racing will give him plenty more headlines over the coming years. Let's talk tri… 220: What first led you to triathlon? James Teagle: My first race was a charity triathlon in Loughborough following tragic circumstances when one of our talented swimmers, Sophie Konderak, suffered a cardiac arrest in the pool and died aged 16. I took part to raise funds and awareness for heart screening. By the age of 11 I was swimming 10 times a week.…

MEET THE TEST TEAM OUR RATINGS 90+ % BUY NOW A GENUINE CLASS LEADER 80-89 % IMPRESSIVE ONE OF THE BEST YOU CAN BUY 70-79 % GOOD A DECENT PERFORMER 50-68 % AVERAGE IT'LL DO THE JOB WELL ENOUGH 0-49 % POOR SIMPLY PUT, DON'T BOTHER! HELEN WEBSTER 220's editor is also a qualified open-water swimming coach. ROB SLADE 220's content editor and resident adventure seeker. MATT BAIRD Has spent years testing tri kit and accessories for 220. JACK SEXTY A strong age-grouper focusing on top-end gains. JAMES WITTS He's a published author writing about sports science.…

As mentioned, these Endura tights are £10 cheaper than Scott's, so was there any major difference in comfort or performance? Well, the first thing to highlight is that unlike the Scotts, these utilise a durable, water-repellent coating on the outer, which offers a protective layer against road spray and light rain. That said, anything heavier or more sustained will get through. The Thermoroubaix fabric delivers a decent amount of warmth and just edges out its competitor in that regard. As such, we were comfortable wearing these in anything down to and around freezing. The brushed inner also feels lovely against the skin. However, while we liked the high waist and zip for extra coverage and easy access for toilet stops, we did find the zip slightly irritating when fully done…

KIT ZONE There's long been a debate about whether it's safe to use a pressure washer on your bike, but Muc-Off aims to get around that by designing this specifically to be bearingand suspension friendly. So what do you get with this bikespecific bundle? In the box you'll find the pressure washer, a motorcycle cleaning lance, bicycle lance and adjustable lance, plus a snow foam lance that can be used with a bottle of cleaner to coat your bike in foam. The bundle also comes with two bottles of cleaner, a Bike Protect spray, cloth and a dry bag to keep it all in. Given all the extras, it feels like reasonable value, but you can also just get the pressure washer, bag, three lances and one bottle of cleaner…

Unlike most run shorts, these eight-inch ones use merino wool in their construction. Being naturally anti-microbial and having great thermo-regulating properties makes merino a great material to use in the lining. It's comfortable, odour-resistant and offers warmth for winter runs. Given that, and the length of these shorts, they're best suited to colder months, but we also found them useful for gym visits. Two side pockets and one zipped rear pocket offer storage, while the drawstring delivers a secure fit. The liner isn't the most supportive, so they wouldn't be our first choice for fast-paced efforts, but they're a good versatile choice for offseason. RS smartwool.co.uk 82 % VERDICT Super comfortable and great for off-season, but avoid in summer…

Many people think cushioned run shoes are the sole preserve of training, while flatter, ‘faster’ shoes are more appropriate for race day. But if you're taking on a longer triathlon or are simply a runner who's more comfortable in cushioned shoes, you may not want to switch to racing flats. Plus with technology in shoes intended for high mileage progressing in recent years, you don't necessarily need to. If anything, changing your shoes for race day is a recipe for disaster, especially if you're not used to lower drops. But there are a few things to consider when it comes to race day and your run shoes, which can make transitions easier, if nothing else… 1 Switching the supplied laces for a set of elastic laces will make transition much…

Tim Soar says: “Soar Milers is a way of bringing our community together. They get a unique racing kit and receive access to new products earlier and special offers by way of a reward for PBs. Its a way of moving our brand beyond the commercial relationship of just selling, and customers feel like they can interact above and beyond making purchases. It's £lOO to subscribe for the year and you receive a free race vest and socks. The race vest alone is worth £70 so it's good bang for your buck.”…

UNDER £22 TYR BIG MESH MUMMY BAG £21.24 Nothing gets more unwieldy than a load of soggy swim tools – but this budget bag will easily take a kickboard, fins, pull buoy and more, with small pockets on the front for your goggles/cap and a bottle. tyr.eu UNDER £80 KIT BRIX £79.90 Rugged, durable and with a nifty design that can be zipped together, these handy ‘brix’ offer a neat storage solution for someone that does multiple sports. We find they fit well in a car boot and also allow easy portability. kitbrix.com UNDER £100 HUBB TT BAG £99.99 It might be heading into luxury price tag territory, but this tri-specific bag is both compact enough to be easy to use, while large enough for all you need for training…

CRY offers subsidised testing and public events that sporting groups and individuals can sign up to – although they get booked up very quickly. They've screened more than 250,000 people in the past 27 years. www.c-r-y.org.uk/screening The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust has been set up to raise awareness and understanding about sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) in young people. The Trust was set up after the tragic loss of Joe, who died while out jogging with his friend in October 2012. www.jhmt.org.uk Since 2017, World Triathlon has introduced compulsory preparticipation screening for all junior athletes entered into its races and British Triathlon issue Fit To Compete certification for those who have completed the evaluation.…

Spring man has more national titles than any other GB triathlete but they've been surpassed by the service she's given to the sport and beyond, including being president of British Triathlon and vice-president of the ITU (now World Triathlon). Now Principal of Oxford University's St Hilda's College, she also holds indoor rowing world records and was made a Dame in 2022. A veteran of over 50 Ironman races and a 16-time winner, Bayliss remained relatable and brutally honest throughout. As one half of the Iron Couple alongside husband Stephen, she continues to run a successful coaching business in some of the best locations in Europe including Malaga and Andorra, sharing the wisdom of almost three decades of devotion to tri (baylissmultisport.com). From an endurance base gained while MTB trekking in…

Coros has made massive moves in the competitive training-tool market in recent years thanks to a range of impressive products, while being given a huge marketing nudge by signing the likes of sub-2hr superstar Eliud Kipchoge and trailrunning demi-god Kilian Jornet. The success of their Apex range, in particular, has laid the foundations for high-tech accessories including this secondedition pod, which is designed to deliver myriad running metrics and greater accuracy. That greater accuracy's needed, Coros admits, when running in areas of tall buildings that interferes with satellite data; when running indoors; and the fact that wherever you run, pace changes on a training watch can have a 10sec delay. Arguably the greatest change over incarnation one is what Coros term the ‘Effort Pace’ feature, replacing the power feature of…

There can be no denying that Garmin has released a series of epic watches in recent years – only this one is Epix by name, too. Coming in very close to the top of the product range, what does it offer that isn't already sitting on the wrists of triathletes – and can it really be worth £900? Well, handily Garmin has a product comparison tool on their website. Here, the Epix includes all the top-end features you would expect and is similar to the Fenix in terms of widgets, tracking and health features. What differs is the construction materials (the version shown here has a titanium case) and one big difference – the addition of an AMOLED display. Standing for ‘active matrix organic lightemitting diode’ (oh yes), in short…

We love to see brands be kinder to the planet and that's the case here. The 73 Zero uses recycled polyester in much of its construction and it's also 100% recyclable. The jacket doesn't offer any protection against rain, but it does act as a decent block against the wind. Unfortunately, it doesn't fit all that closely, so it'll catch gusts, while the cuffs also fit loosely, which isn't ideal when you're trying to keep the elements out. That said, those loose cuffs, the deep zip on the front and a series of vents allow for decent ventilation. There are also two, roomy mesh-lined pockets that'll swallow any essentials you need to take on your run, but they do bounce around. The rear pocket doubles as a stuff sack, while…

THIS MONTH'S COACHING PANEL NIK COOK Winter bike training Cycling writer Nik is a competitive multisporter who's competed for Team GB in duathlon. TAREN GESELL Zone 2 running tips Taren is a triathlete, coach and YouTube personality who hosts the show ‘Tri Taren’. He's also the founder of the MOTTIV training app. ANDREW SHEAFF Swim shoulder injury Andrew is a swim coach at the University of Virginia, the reigning NCAA champions. MAT BRETT Bike speed wobbles Mat is a top cycling journalist and former editor of 220 Triathlon magazine. WINTER BIKE TRAINING Q My seasoned cycling buddy says I should just be riding long and slow over the winter. Is this right? Phillip Brown AStrict, steady winter base training can be effective for professional riders, who can log 30hr-plus weeks. The…

HOW TO GET THERE We flew with Ryanair (ryanair.com) to Eilat from Edinburgh via Krakow. At the time of writing, there are no direct flights from the UK, but this looks to be changing soon. It's a 20min bus transfer to the town centre. WHERE TO STAY We stayed at the all-inclusive Laguna Hotel (isrotel.com), which is part of the Isrotel chain. The chain has several hotels linked to the race, most of which are very close to race HQ. Competitors get a discounted rate, and for more details visit israman.co.il. HOW TO MAKE A WEEK OF IT There's plenty to do in the area if you're feeling adventurous. Hiking, for one, is a great and rewarding experience. We found hike-israel.com helpful while doing our planning. Dolphin Reef is also…