IRONMAN has released its updated 2026 Global Competition Rules, introducing some of the most significant changes in years. Whether you’re racing your first 70.3 or chasing a Kona slot, these rules affect how you train, what you wear, and how you behave on course. Here’s a full breakdown of what’s changed and what it means…
One of the hardest decisions any triathlete faces is whether to train through discomfort or step back and rest. Push too hard and you risk turning a minor niggle into a serious injury. Rest too readily and you lose valuable fitness. This guide gives you a clear framework for making smarter decisions when your body…
Nothing derails a triathlon performance quite like a muscle cramp. That sudden, involuntary spasm in your calf, quad, or hamstring can stop you dead mid-run — and once it starts, it is very hard to shift. Understanding why cramps happen and how to prevent them can be the difference between a personal best and a…
Racing in the heat is a serious challenge — and one that catches many UK-based triathletes completely off guard. After months of cool, grey training, arriving at a summer destination race to face 25-35°C temperatures can shatter a perfectly prepared race. The good news: your body can adapt, and targeted heat acclimatisation strategies can protect…
Why the Transition Back Outside Feels Hard After months of treadmill running over winter, getting back outside in spring feels like a fresh start — but it often comes with an unexpected challenge: the outdoor environment makes running feel much harder than it did on the belt. Wind resistance, uneven ground, real hills and the…
Why Transitions Matter More Than You Think In triathlon, transition is sometimes called the “fourth discipline” — and for good reason. A slow, disorganised transition can cost you 2–3 minutes that weeks of training can’t recover. A fast, practised transition can be the difference between a new PB and missing your goal. The good news…
Why Open Water is Different from the Pool If you’ve only ever trained in a pool, your first open water swim can feel like a different sport entirely. There are no lane ropes to hold onto, no black line on the bottom to follow, no wall to push off every 25 metres — and depending…
February and early March represent the final weeks of winter training for most UK triathletes, with the race season beginning as soon as late March at events like the Oulton Park Duathlon. If you’ve been consistent through winter, now is the time to sharpen your aerobic base before specific race prep begins. If you’re just…
What Is a Race Week Taper? The taper is the period of reduced training volume in the final days before a triathlon. Done correctly, it allows your body to recover from accumulated training fatigue while retaining the fitness you have built. Most athletes arrive at race day feeling fresher, faster, and more confident after a…
Why Course Maps Matter Studying a triathlon course map before race day is one of the highest-value pre-race preparation tasks you can do. Athletes who know the course can plan their nutrition, identify effort sections, anticipate tight corners, and choose their kit with confidence. Here is how to get the most out of any course…
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