Innehållsförteckning för June 2025 från 220 Triathlon

Overheard at my swimming pool this week: two leisurely swimmers: “Busy this morning”, grumbles one. “Yes,” the other wisely nods. “All the triathletes are back!” Not that they've really been away over the winter months to be honest, but it did make me smile – and as a theme for this month's issue ‘the triathletes are back’ works pretty well! Yep, it's the time of year when the races entered in the off-season seem to suddenly be much closer and frantic scribbles on training plans try to factor in weeks left versus other life obligations, levels of fitness and (let's be honest) whether the challenges chosen from the sofa in January match our ability come May… Luckily from training tips via 70.3 champ Javier Gomez to easy ways to gain…

India Lee has raced almost every major race series that tri has to offer – World Triathlon, 70.3, Ironman, Challenge and T100. But it's in the latter, the Professional Triathletes Organisation's newfor-2024 format, where the 36-year-old Winchester-born pro has found her home. In the first race of the new series, Lee was the surprise winner. But the result proved to her that “anyone can have their day”. Yet despite the overall success of her inaugural season, and being one of the more versatile British women in multisport, it wouldn't turn out to be Lee's day at her first-ever Ironman World Champs, in Nice in September, where a DNF has left her with some, potentially, unfinished business. But right now the focus is 100% T100, with Lee talking to us just…

It was a shoulder injury that eventually ended the triathlon career of Spain's Maria Ortega, but as she speaks at the launch of the On Triathlon Academy, it is the debilitating anxiety over at tempting Olympic qualification that is her most powerful recollection. Ortega didn't quite make it to represent Spain in those Rio Games of 2016, but it was the experience along the way that proved the catalyst for her true vocation, supporting athletes, and particularly developing athletes, to not only thrive in their careers, but have fun along the way. The new On Tria thlon Academy is Ortega's brainchild and a promise to be the antidote to her own experiences. In a sport where resources (or lack of them) can be the difference between failure and success, it offers…

MEET THE TEST TEAM 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 Former 220 editor James specialises in sports science. OUR RATINGS 0-49 % POOR SIMPLY PUT, DON'T BOTHER! 50-69 % AVERAGE IT'LL DO THE JOB WELL ENOUGH 70-79 % GOOD A DECENT PERFORMER 80-89 % IMPRESSIVE ONE OF THE BEST YOU CAN BUY 90+ % BUY NOW A GENUINE CLASS LEADER “Flip up the aerial on the charging case to turn it into a transmitter unit. That then sits by the water and as long as your phone is within 30 metres it will…

Everyone loves a good takeaway, right? But making your own is often cheaper, more convenient and far more nutritious. Here's how… A combination of my personal favourites and Britain's favourite takeaways – what's not to like about this month's brief?! What has surprised me, however, is that with a little ‘Go Faster’ treatment, these homemade ‘takeaways’ are packed with goodness and are great additions to the training diet. Firstly, a take on my current go-to take-out – Chilli prawn ramen. Deliciously fresh and nutritious, this main meal soup takes minutes to make and is perfect for post long-run muscle recovery and replenishing electrolytes lost through sweat. It's low in fat, rich in protein and carbohydrate and packed with vitamins, minerals, sodium and anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as garlic, chilli and ginger.…

MARTYN BRUNT Martyn is tri's foremost average athlete and is living proof that hours of training and endless new kit are no substitute for ability. I note with interest that Aussie elite triathlete Cam Wurf was recently disqualified from a triathlon for going too fast. Like most agegroupers reading that my immediate thought was “chance would be a fine thing”. Most of us are probably more concerned with being disqualified for going too slowly. In fairness despite my best efforts I have yet to be DQ'd for not being fast enough, although I remember knowing how it feels during the Superman Triathlon Vlaanderen in Belgium after cycling cross-eyed with effort into a headwind to stay ahead of the broom wagon down a succession of flat, narrow lanes. I've never forgotten…

TIM HEMING Cutting through the spin of tri to address the issues that matter, Tim is a sports journalist who has written extensively on triathlon for the national press. The launch of the T100 series, the consolidation of supertri, plus World Triathlon, Ironman, Challenge and XTERRA… if you're an elite triathlete looking for a platform for your talents, there's never been more choice. But while some of these organisations have become more bullish about showcasing professionals – luring triathletes with contracts, increased prize money and bonus pool payments – the start of 2025 has underscored a long-held truth about the sport: as certain as death, taxes and Donald Trump's tariffs, when it comes to swim, bike and run, participation is the only business model proven to work. STATE OF PLAY…

AA decent pair of bibs will be your battlehardened friend for interval sets and endurance sessions on the bike and turbo. But which pair of bib shorts is best and offers the best comfort and ventilation for cycling? Yes, when worn alone they look like a 1980s wrestling outfit (please don't do this…), but a pair of bib-shorts are one of the key training investments a triathlete can make. Due to their durability and versatility for turbo training and outdoor bike sets of every type, their cost-perwear ratio is one of the lowest in the tri wardrobe. While they all look fairly similar, with an array of fabric types, pad options and strap combinations, there are subtle differences to look out for when buying your bibs. Fit, as ever, is…

Survive or thrive? When it comes to open-water swimming for triathlon, there are two camps of thought. The competitors who just want to get through it without losing too much time (or swallowing too much water) and the competitors who want to make the most of every advantage to have a good start to their race. There's no doubting that the open water is the element of triathlon that can cause the most trepidation, but the good news? You don't need to be an amazing swimmer to gain the edge. Making the most of what you've got is the key, so whether it's choosing the best kit for your event or practising how you approach the course markers, marginal gains are in reach for every swimmer. So a confession: despite…

HELEN WEBSTER 220's Editor is also a qualified Level 2 OpenWater Swim Coach focusing on open-water confidence and cold water safety. She is also an RLSS UK Open Water Lifeguard trainer assessor. A Ouch! There's nothing worse than chafing, so I don't blame you from wanting to get this sorted as soon as possible. As with running or cycling, chafing is caused by friction between your skin and the kit you are using, with areas where you find repetitive movements the worst. In a wetsuit, areas susceptible tend to be around the neck where the wetsuit touches the delicate skin of the back and sides of your neck and the throat and where irritation can be caused by the regular head turns to breathe. It is also common under the…

FAQ Comfort while you ride is essential, but many people's seating set-up can do a race and body damage. And while it's a pretty simple job mechanically, there's still a fair amount of patient experimentation involved in getting it right. Make one small change at a time and keep a note of what it was. It can take a while for your body to adapt, so again give it time to see if the new setup works. SADDLE HEIGHT Sit on your bike as though riding it. •Loosen the bolt(s) that clamp the seatpost into the frame. Be careful when re-tightening – it's easy to strip an alloy thread with a steel bolt. •Sit on your bike and put your heel on the pedal when it's at its lowest point…

If you use a do-it-all pair of swimming goggles for both the pool and open water, you could be missing a trick. I use different goggles for each for a few reasons. Firstly I prefer the feel of smaller goggles, but there is sometimes a compromise with width of vision which makes them less suitable to outdoors. Secondly, the tint of my open water goggles (especially the ones I use in summer) will be too dark for the pool! So what makes a good set of pool-specific swimming goggles? Typically these will be smaller and fit more ‘inside’ your eye socket. The reason for this is two-fold. Smaller goggles are more streamlined, so will create less drag than a larger goggle. If you're racing at all in Masters competitions, this…

01 Choose your race carefully. If you want to put in the best performance you can, then try to enter a triathlon with a swim that plays to the strengths you have built in training. For example if you live in a landlocked area and train in a lake, then one of the coastal races may not be for you, as you'll have to get accustomed to waves, currents and salt water ahead of event day. 02 Find out what kind of race start the event has and practise it! The easiest start is a rolling start (where you walk into the water and start swimming, more common since lockdown and changes in race protocols) but many races will have a deep water mass start. They key here? Get into a good…

“Away from the men and women in white coats, you can estimate calorie burn with simple tools” JACK EVANS Jack is an NCTJtrained freelance sports journalist. He's worked for the Kyiv Post, SWNS press agency and BikeRadar. A runner turned cyclist, Jack loves a challenge on the bike, whether that ‘s a 300km audax or steep hill climb race. A Knowing how many calories cycling burns enables you to more closely match your energy intake and expenditure to maximise performance and manage weight. Scientists use calories to measure the quantity of energy in food and drink. We use this energy to keep our body functioning as it should and move when we exercise. Without access to a laboratory, it's impossible to calculate our calorie expenditure particularly accurately. But using different…

MEET MICHELLE Michelle Farrow is a 25 year old veterinary researcher from Wiltshire. Michelle has competed in triathlon since 2018. She enjoys a range of different activities and events including Athx, Canicross (with her 3 spaniels and lab), CrossFit, Hyrox, SwimRun and much more – there isn't much she hasn't tried! Last year Michelle completed an Ironman 70.3 and this year is working towards the new Leeds Ironman in July. I decrease my speed and meticulously navigate the first chicane. A burst of energy helps power me out the other side and chase down my first target. My bottom lifts out of the seat as I drive the pedals round. The metres close, my heart is racing and I'm open-mouth breathing. Three, two, one… Our wheels are now within inches…

‘A’-Race The most important race of your season Age-grouper Non-pro triathlete Aerobic Aerobic exercise involves oxygen consumption by the body Anaerobic How much energy your body can produce without using oxygen Aquabike Race with just swim and bike elements, no run Bilateral breathing Breathing every three strokes when swimming Biomechanics The forces applied to your body during exercise Bonking Running out of energy mid-race or training session Brick session When you ‘brick’ two disciplines together, e.g. bike and run Cadence Pedal rate on bike, in revolutions per minute (rpm) Carb-loading Eating a carbheavy meal prior to a race to boost energy Catch The part of the swim stroke where you pull on the water Core strength Development of the stomach and lower back area in support of strength DNS/DNF Did…