TRAINING
Sam is one of the UK's leading cross country athletes specialising in triathlon. 2008/9 successes include 1st Japan Xterra , 1st Guam Xterra 3rd Malaysian Xterra... you get the picture.
Sam's offered to share some racing tips and will hope to add to these throughout the season, so please revisit this page soon.
Racing tips
Swim
- Wear 2 swim caps if you're cold, or a neoprene hat if really cold, head loses heat quicker than any other part of the body.
- Wear you goggles under the cap to stop them being ripped off in open water swim starts.
- Put a sock or plastic bag over your foot when putting your wetsuit on.
- Make sure your finger nails are cut (or use care) to ensure you don't rip the wetsuit neoprene.
- Make sure the crutch of your wetsuit is tight to your body, this will give you more movement in the shoulders.
- Don't try to start too fast, keep a relaxed technique that you can hold for 1500m.
Bike
- If you get a puncture, always check your tyre before mending it, bear in mind some punctures can be 'pinch punctures' from hitting a pot hole or rock.
- Keep your pedal cadence high, even up the hills, seated as much as possible.
Run
- If you run with tense shoulders or feel them tensing up, hold you're thumb and forefinger together in an 'ok' sign.
- Change your running shoes regularly.
- Have 2-3 pairs of running shoes and rotate these on a daily basis for the shoe cushioning to recover.
- Practice running without socks or else you'll get bad blisters when you first do it in a race.
