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If you are looking to compete in a triathlon between May and October in the UK, well look no further. We have put together a list of some of the best triathlons in each month from May to October covering England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

May

THE SLATEMAN

Location: Llanberis, Snowdonia  

Distance: 1km | 51km | 11km

A swim surrounded with mountains, a bike course in the hearty of Snowdonia National Park and a run through an awesome slate quarry. As if this one couldn’t get any better…. Well the crowd is one of the most supportive of any races. There are a few race options available here. The sprint, classic, savage and Legend all available. 

June 

 LLANDUDNO SEA TRIATHLON

Location: Llandudno, Conwy County

Distance: 750m | 19km | 5km

With a thrilling sea swim, a pretty challenging cycle section around the Great Orme with magnificent views of the coastline and a run along the Victorian Promenade to Penrhyn and back this race delivers a truly scenic yet challenging race. One to put in the racing schedule for sure. 

July

 CASTLE HOWARD TRIATHLON

Location: Castle Howard, Yorkshire 

Distance: 1.5km | 40km | 10km

In its tenth year now, the Castle Howard Triathlon features a whole weekend of racing on the southern border of the North York Moors. A course with something for every level of triathlete, starting with the swim in the Great Lake before transitioning into the technical bike route through the glorious rural idyll of Yorkshire and the Howardian Hills. The run leg passes through the countryside of the estate before a sprint finish right into the front doors of the house. 

August

 ELY MONSTER MIDDLE 

Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire 

Distance: 1.9km | 92.8km | 21km

The Monster Standard gives you an iconic river swim, fast and scenic bike leg and fast city run course with brilliant volunteers, support and a fun-filled atmosphere. Not as serious as some of the other but a great and fun day out racing. 

September

 BELFAST TRIATHLON

Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland 

Distance: 1.5km | 38.6km | 10km

The Belfast Titanic Triathlon is by far one of the best in Northern Ireland! You’re surrounded by iconic buildings and features, with the swim in the shadow of the famous Shipyard Cranes and transition by the beautiful Customs House. The bike and run are pancake flat and there’s definitely a big chance of a PB.

October

CRAGGY ISLAND TRI

Location: Argyll & Bute, Scotland

Distance: 550m | 14km | 8km

“Craggy Island stands out as a unique event. The swim starts on the mainland at Oban across to the gorgeous isle of Kerrera, with an off-road bike and run following. This format set amidst a spectacular location is hard to beat.

 

If you are looking for the perfect triathlon gear to take on any of these or other events then take a look at some of our suits here.. MENS / WOMENS 

The ultimate 12 week triathlon training programme

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Actors an actresses can go through brutal workouts and training plans when developing for a role in a movie or TV show, dependent on their character they are playing. Take Gerard Butler in 300, Chris Evans in Captain America or Michael B Jordan in Black Panther. They all went through huge body transformations which take serious discipline and dedication in training and also with their diet. 

Here is the workout Gerard Butler and his fellow cast members took on during their training for the film "300". 

1) Pull-ups – 25 reps

2) Deadlifts with 135lbs – 50 reps

3) Push-ups – 50 reps

4) 24" box jumps – 50 reps

5) Floor wipers – 50 reps

6) Clean-and-press with 36lbs kettlebell – 50 reps

7) Pull-ups – 25 reps

All exercises are done without scheduled rest between moves. Obviously this is an advanced workout... you shouldn't do it unless you are already in moderate shape. If not you can scale this workout down to 150 reps or even take away some of the more complex exercises for easier ones. 

Give it a go and let us know if you can conquer the 300 workout. 

One of the most frequent asked questions around cyclists on google is “How do cyclists get big legs?”

First thing to take note of is that cyclists can come from different disciplines and can have different goals which means they have to train in a completely opposite manner. Just like NFL players, the offensive linemen will train completely different to a wide receiver. A track sprinter versus a grand tour general will have different goals and objectives and thus will have completely different training programmes.

Track sprinters need to be able to produce optimal power very quickly on a flat surface so the power to weight ratio is crucial whereas a GC contender needs to be able to climb and race longer distances with as little fatigue as possible so weight is crucial. Therefore bigger legs as a GC contender would perhaps be a disadvantage. 

But if you did want to get legs like Fostermann then you need to spend some serious time in the gym..

 

Weight training for cyclists

The focus shouldn’t be on getting bigger it should be on getting stronger and more powerful. They key to building that strength is to use heavier weights with lower reps. Your main aim is to get the neural benefits of strength training; essentially working on the way muscle fibres are recruited, so in using heavier weights at lower rep counts will help increase your ceiling of strength.

For cyclists who focus on long rides and climbing then strength training in moderation will help them to maintain a better position on the bike and can help reduce fatigue. The best exercises to focus on are squats, deadlifts, lunges hip thrusts and step ups not venturing past 5 reps for improving strength.

Strength training on the bike

Strength training on the bike is also crucial as it will recruit the exact muscles that you need in the sport. Big gear efforts are obviously the first port of call here focussing on standing starts. For absolutely out and out strength go for one 20 second sprint every 3 minutes or so. For practising multiple attacks practice 20 second sprints with 40 seconds rest for 5 or 6 minutes.

Supplements to consider

Supplements are not essential however if you are looking for training assistance it may be worth looking into Beta Alanine which raises concentration of carnosine which reduces fatigue during explosive efforts. Creatine is another supplement to consider. This helps to fuel muscles during intense activity. Foods high in protein and carbohydrates will also play a fundamental role.

If you haven't already then check out some of our training gear - perfect for building that leg strength in the gym ;) 

There are many ways to start the day right but one thing we would encourage is to get an abundance of key nutrients into your system to start your day off. Here we have put together the ultimate healthy breakfast smoothie packed with a variety of nutrients and other health benefits.

Handful of Kale

Kale is part of the cabbage family and is among the most nutrient dense foods on the planet.  A single cup of raw kale (67 grams) contains:

Vitamin A, Vitamin K, vitamin C, Manganese, Calcium, Copper, Potassium and magnesium.

This coming with a total of 33 calories, 6 grams of carbs (2 of which are fibre) and 3 grams of protein. Kale contains very little fat but a large portion of the fat in it is an omega 3 fatty acid called alpha linolenic acid. It is loaded with powerful antioxidants like quercetin and kaempferol which have powerful heart protective, blood pressure lowering, anti inflammatory, anti viral and anti cancer effects. Kale can also help lower cholesterol, which may reduce the risk of heart disease as well as being an excellent source of vitamin C and K. 

1 Kiwi 

A 100 gram serving of kiwi has 61 calories, 14.66 grams of carbohydrates, 1.1 grams of protein, 0.52 grams of fat and 3 grams of fibre. It is a high source of vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant, it can also be a sleep inducer according to numerous studies, as well as being a great source of dietary fiber, and folate whilst also helping in digestion.

Handful of Spinach

Spinach contains a number of healthy vitamins including K, A C as well as folate, manganese, magnesium, iron, potassium and calcium. It is also a great source of niacin, zinc, protein, fibre, Vitamin E, thiamin, vitamin B6, phosphorous and copper. In other words Spinach is loaded with the things to keep cholesterol from oxidising and protecting from free radicals, particularly in the colon. The folate is also great for maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system which is crucial for all athletes.

1/2 Avocado

The avocado is very high in healthy fats and has some really powerful benefits. Some of the most abundant nutrients in avocado are; Vitamin K, Folate, Vitamin C, potassium, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin E. It also contains a small amount of magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, zinc, phosphorus and vitamins A, B1, B2 and B3. A 100 gram serving would come with 160 calories, 2 grams of protein, and 15 grams of healthy fats. They also contain more potassium than bananas which is a nutrient that people usually don’t get enough of however this helps maintaining electrical gradients in your body’s cells and serves various important functions.

1/2 Banana 

A banana despite being delicious contains a number of health benefits including high fibre content which is great for the heart, support of digestion, whilst building up the metabolism, high iron which is great for those suffering Anaemia. Bananas are also packed with nutrients including, Potassium, calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron, folate niacin, riboflavin, and B6.

1/3rd of a Cucumber 

Commonly thought of a vegetable, cucumber is actually a fruit. Low in calories but great in nutrients. Cucumbers contain antioxidants that block oxidation that can lead to several types of chronic illness, as well as promoting hydration due to there high water content. Cucumbers may also aid in weight loss due to their low calorie count coupled with the amount of fibre. Several studies have also shown that cucumber may help reduce blood sugar levels and prevent some complications of diabetes.

Teaspoon of Spirulina 

Spirulina is an organism that grows in both fresh and salt water, and is a type of cyanobacteria which is a family of single celled microbes that are often referred to as blue green algae. A single teaspoon of 7 grams contains protein, Vitamin B1, B2, B3, Copper and Iron. Gram for gram spirulina may be the single most nutritious food on the planet. Spirulina has powerful antioxidants and anti inflammatory properties as well as lowering total bad LDL cholesterol and raising good DL cholesterol. There is also evidence to suggest that it may improve muscle streght and endurance as exercise induced oxidative damage is a major contribution to muscle fatigue and these antixoidant properties help an athlete minimise this damage.

1/2 pint of Water

Water as we know is essentially to survive however here are a few benefits of drinking enough water; provides energy, promotes healthy weight management, flushes out toxins, maintains regularity, boosts immune system, prevents headaches, regulates your body temperature and also preventing cramps and sprains.

Give it a go and let us know what you think.