Innehållsförteckning för June 2024 från 220 Triathlon

WHY I TRI Dad was 17 and living in France when he started triathlon and continued competing when he moved to Dubai with Mum in 1998, including the 2002 Ironman World Championship. Mum [Delphine] was pregnant with Rio at the time and Dad said that the thought that helped him to the finish line was one day competing with his son. When Rio was a few months old, they discovered he had a rare chromosome disorder, ‘1q44 deletion denovo’, which causes many disabilities. In 2014, Dad and Rio did their first tri together, with Dad pulling Rio in a kayak, cycling on our adapted bike where Rio has a seat on the front and then pushing Rio in his run chair. Rio loved inclusive racing and being among a community…

As well as a stunning range of cycle jerseys, bib shorts, arm warmers and socks, Alfonsina’s inaugural collection includes the impressive L’Originale Tri-Suit. L’Originale Tri-Suit is constructed from a mix of recycled nylon, recycled polyester and elastane that ’s light, durable and wicks moisture away to keep you cool when the racing’s hot. It features an innovative elasticated front waist panel that delivers a snug, supported feeling. The chamois is entitled ‘Super Tri 2 Women’ and is designed specifically for triathlon and the female triathlete. A trio of back pockets, plus pockets incorporated within thigh side panels means bonking may be a thing of the past. It’s designed as an aerodynamic and hydrodynamic suit that feels fast. Available from XXS to XL. thealfonsina.com…

TOP-END WETSUITS If your goal is to exit T1 first, you’ll want a suit that strikes the balance between flexibility, buoyancy and comfort, while also being super easy to remove on the fly. Aquasphere Racer V3 £558 Incredibly supple; improved hydrodynamics. Issue 417 uk.aquasphereswim.com Orca Apex Flex £589 Soft and flexible; ideal for good swimmers. Issue 417 orca.com Yonda Ghost 3 £589 Impressive mix of flexibility and buoyancy. Issue 417 yondasports.com Zone3 Vanquish X £699 A dizzying array of tech put to good use. Issue 415 zone3.com Sailfish Ultimate IPS Plus 3 £925 A classy high-end suit with a price to match. Issue 406 sailfish.com BUDGET WETSUITS Always try before you buy as sizes can vary massively between brands. Then consider your swim ability, as some features may be lost…

We are all, to greater or lesser extents, creatures of habit. The human body has an incredible ability to adapt to extreme conditions and treatment to achieve stasis. The mind is probably even more impressive in how it can adapt to extraordinary circumstances and environments to create internal stability. As endurance athletes, my guess is that we’re even further down the scale of habit, process and routine than the average person. This is a good thing because consistency is critical to endurance development and routine is critical to consistency. But it can also create its own problems. Personally, I love routine both for myself and for athletes I work with. It’s my start point when I begin working with someone. It’s how I make sense of putting together a structure…

As USA’s Andrew Starykowicz calls time on his professional triathlon career this year, the 42-year-old from Chicago will leave a legacy as one of the sport’s most powerful cyclists. An All-American swimmer in college, who races by the mantra of ‘fighting hard to win and punish’, Starky – as he often referred to – would blow races apart on the bike, then try and stay strong on the run. Never afraid to speak his mind, it’s been colourful and controversial at times. Detained in the Middle East following an in-race collision, there was also a public spat with Ironman after a failed drugs test in 2019 for a non-approved inhaler when sick. Starykowicz even had a spoof alterego created online that later turned into an irreverent satirical triathlon podcast, The…

Animal-based proteins. Grass-fed beef, organic chicken breast, lean pork fillet, lean shaved ham and eggs. “Lean, natural and single-ingredient protein sources work better for me and don’t leave me feeling bloated or heavy. Beef, chicken and pork are also favourites for the family so there’s always ample in the fridge. The ham is a daily request for sandwiches, and I have it with some avocado on rice cakes for a snack.” Plain Greek yoghurt. “Naturally high in protein and low in fat. Always a staple in my fridge and is a quick and easy go-to snack when time is not on my side. Our girls love a bowl of Greek yoghurt with some fresh berries and a drizzle of honey, and a few nuts sprinkled on top.” Babybel cheese. “Again, a…

KIT ZONE Short-sleeved tri-suits are increasingly common across all tri distances, the benefits being better sun protection, an aerodynamic boost and perhaps greater aesthetic appeal over vested styles. The downside can be restriction on the swim and chafing from extra seams. While some tri-suits can set you back in excess of £300 (see next issue), there are some great-value options out there, too, which is what we have on test here. Finding the right fit is essential for comfort and aerodynamics, so study the sizing charts and returns policies intently. Also key is your intended schedule and future goals. Some of the suits here are best suited to short races, while others fit the bill for going long. So think about pocket type and size, aerodynamic qualities and material composition.…

PREP 10mins COOK 20mins SERVES 20-24 INGREDIENTS 100g finely grated courgettes • 1 large free-range egg • 80g unsalted butter, softened • 80g soft brown sugar • 30g runny honey • 60g roasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped • 60g raisins • 60g dried apricots, chopped • 60g dates, chopped • 80g jumbo porridge oats • 100g self-raising flour • Good pinch salt • ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda • ½ tsp ground nutmeg • ½ tsp ground cinnamon 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4 and lightly grease two baking trays with butter. Put the grated courgettes in a sieve and squeeze out any excess juice. 2 Place the egg, butter, sugar and honey in a large bowl and beat until smooth. Stir in the raisins, apricots, dates and roasted…

THIS MONTH'S COACHING PANEL HANNAH WRIGHT Hips don’t lie Hannah has worked as a physiotherapist with pro athletes since 2009, including at Club La Santa. JAMES WITTS Watts occuring? Former 220 Triathlon editor James is a cycling and sports writer, editor and author. ANDREW SHEAFF Powerful ending US swim coach Andrew has been helping swimmers improve for 20+ years. He specialises in helping triathletes improve their swimming through online coaching. → THE HIPS DON'T LIE Q I think I might have ‘hip impingement’ as I have a sore hip. Is it a possibility? Dave Brewster A Maybe. Hip impingement or Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome (FAIS) is a persistent condition caused by different malformations of the femoral head or acetabulum (the ball and socket joint). It can create soft tissue irritation, when…

IRONMAN ADVICE Been inspired to do an iron-distance triathlon for the first time? We’re here to help. And while we can’t guarantee you’ll be swimming exactly like Lucy Charles-Barclay, biking like Magnus Ditlev or running like Anne Haug, we can provide the knowledge you’ll need to help make your first full-distance an enjoyable success. The great news is that whether you want to go full M-Dot with the Ironman brand, or fancy a smaller, local race in the UK, there’s plenty of choice. But deciding where you want to make your debut is just the start. If race day is the celebration, then the journey to the start-line is often the real achievement. Taking charge of logistics, training and recovery has to fit around often already busy lives, and it…

You’re a triathlete who strives to be the best. In your own world, where you juggle life, the universe and everything else, you’re breaking down barriers to achieve your goals. You’re inspiring. As is an Italian female cyclist that you’ve likely never heard of but will do soon with the launch of new premium triathlon and cycling apparel brand Alfonsina, designed by women for women. Alfonsina Strada, like Alfonsina’s limited-edition clothing collections, championed female empowerment and left an enduring legacy in the fight against gender discrimination. You simply won’t believe this story… REMEMBERING ALFONSINA The upcoming launch of women’s triathlon and cycling apparel brand Alfonsina is timely as this year’s Giro d’Italia Women, which takes place between 7-14 July, features for the first time ever in this magnificent race, a…

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 50-69 % 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 agegrouper focusing on top-end gains. JAMES WITTS He’s a published author writing about sports science. HOKA SKYWARD X £185 Hoka is well known for its high-stack, max cushioned shoes, and the brand has innovated once more with even more stack and cushion. The Skyward X left me taken…

Finding the right pair of goggles can make or break your open-water swim. Luckily, we have a whopping 14 pairs on test this issue! It can be tempting to skimp on your open-water goggles and just use the same ones you’ve had in your kit bag all winter for pool swimming. Do so and you’ll be missing a trick, though. Open-water goggles are designed to make visbility in open-water easier, so you’ll find many have larger, curved lenses for better peripheral visibility as well as visibility forward when sighting. The tints will be different to allow for bright sunlight, low light and/or difficult underwater visibility (so think about your race conditions before buying). Many even have polarised, mirrored or chromareactive lenses. With so much to think about, personal preference plays…

BALANCED RECOVERY MARVELLOUS MARBLE PANCAKES PREP 5mins COOK 5mins MAKES 10-12 INGREDIENTS • 125g self-raising flour • 1 tsp baking powder • 2 tsp caster sugar • Pinch salt • 2 tbsp natural yoghurt • 75ml milk • 10g melted butter • 1 egg • Knob of butter • 1 tsp rapeseed oil Chocolate pancake • 1 tbsp cocoa • 1 tsp sugar • 10ml milk Avocado pancake • ½ ripe avocado, mashed • 1 tsp vanilla Chocolate sauce • 25g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids) • 5g butter METHOD 1 Combine the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, beat together the yoghurt, milk, melted butter and egg. Pour onto the flour mixture. Mix until just combined. 2 Divide this mixture into two bowls.…

Q Is a cereal like Ready Brek fine for breakfast? A Ready Brek and similar options are processed so are high on the glycaemic index (GI). Ideally, you’re after slower-releasing, low-GI foods so go for unprocessed organic oats instead. They’ll sustain you through your morning session much better. A relatively unripe banana will also have a lower GI than normal, as will dried-fruit alternatives. Q What should I look for in a good running shoe? A Choosing the right running shoe can be very subjective as feet come in many different shapes and sizes, with different pronation and muscle/ tendon builds. Bear this in mind when choosing your next running shoe. That being said, there are some key features to look out for. Firstly, consider what terrain and distance you…