| Focusing on a specific distance and not getting pulled | | | | faster' will not do you any favors. |
| into longer ones is a better mind set for some | | | | SWOT By looking honestly at your strengths, |
| people. They like the sprint or Olympic distance, even | | | | weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) to |
| the Super-Sprint distance, and want to get faster at | | | | performing better, you can find ways to help make |
| their chosen distance and improve their Personal Best | | | | you the faster triathlete you want to be. This does |
| (PB). | | | | not mean you can always buy performance; the |
| Critical analysis | | | | biggest gains come from the training, not the |
| This is a stark look at how fast you did your triathlon | | | | equipment. Perhaps you could ask another triathlete |
| and how much better you can realistically improve. | | | | to also rate your SWOT, and between you, can |
| It's not patting yourself on the back or being a day | | | | identify some clear areas where you can improve. |
| dreamer; this is logically breaking down how you | | | | Time trial testing Once you have moved from |
| performed and where it can get better. Extend this | | | | completing to competing, you can use your training |
| analysis to your training diary as well. Did you really | | | | sessions to improve your fitness and test if you are |
| do as much as you could have done or could you be | | | | getting faster. By setting up time trials in each sport |
| more dedicated or better at time management? You | | | | once a month, you can assess if your training and |
| cannot just try harder; you also will have to prepare | | | | equipment are leading to improved speed. Examples |
| even better if you want to improve your PB. | | | | are swim 400-750m, bike 8-10 miles and run 3-5k. |
| Seeking out one per cent On a one-hour event, just | | | | Expect to see your speed improving through |
| improving by one per cent means you are 36 | | | | February until the peak season. |
| seconds faster. It may not seem like a lot but, with | | | | Did you know Those athletes who spend a year |
| three sports, transitions and a lot of equipment to | | | | training, using good nutrition practices and investing in |
| factor in, one per cent in five areas makes a | | | | equipment typically see a three to eight per cent |
| significant difference. The hard work is making these | | | | payback in improved speed. There are no |
| theoretical one per cent changes happen. Never | | | | guarantees, but logical planning and focused |
| assume you are faster than what you have done. | | | | commitment should give you similar improvements. |
| Being a hypothetical athlete who 'could have gone | | | | |