Sported.ae camp in association with Trisutto
Our inaugural camp at the Oceanic Hotel was a good mixture of practical training sessions combined with learning the Trisutto training methodologies. We were based at the Oceanic Hotel which really is a haven for not only triathletes but cyclists and trail runners too. Ian Philips, the General Manager and his team go above and beyond expectations to ensure every athlete has an amazing customer experience and most importantly that we stay safe and hydrated on the roads.
At Trisutto we look at Triathlon as one sport and not just swim + bike + run. It is about getting to the finish line as fast and in the most efficient manner possible. How we train for one discipline impacts on the others. We do sports specific strength training rather than hours in the gym, such as using paddles and pull buoy when we swim, big gear reps when we bike and hills and fartlek running. Consistency is the key, avoiding injury with repetition of workouts over days and weeks, avoiding the boom and bust of big training days and weeks that can lead to fatigue, injuries and sickness. We develop “feel” for the body rather than relying on gadgets.
At the camp we spent some time in the pool, using our pull bouys and net paddles to develop strength in the the upper bodies so we become arm dominant. PLACE, PRESS, PUSH makes my swim go Whoosooosh.
The pool set was followed by some leg burning big gear work upto the Al Rafisah Dam. A nice 4km incline to develop leg strength. Big gear low cadence work is a staple of the training regime and this really develops an athletes leg strength. The shallow descent back to the town is used to practice descending and bike handling skills. It was windy so this required extra concentration. But hey you cannot pick your weather on race day!
Ian organized a real treat for the camp on the Saturday afternoon arranging for the use of the 400m athletics track. A superb facility where we practiced another TriSutto set “Jelly rolls” where we increase our running pace as we move from lane 8 to lane 1.
Saturday saw cooler and calmer weather and to get used to the sensation of transitioning from bike to run we did a brick, performed 3x. The circuit was short allowing some little one-on-one competitions to develop which spiced it up.
Finally we finished the camp with a gentle sea swim to practice open water skills such as sighting and some Aussie exits.
Triathlon is one sport that can be enjoyed for life and something where you can potentially get better with age! It is an aerobic sport where the swimming and cycling are easy on the body. It promotes a healthy lifestyle. Do a triathlon and take in a few days holiday as well – it’s a great way to see the world.
By David Hunt Certified Trisutto Coach. See David’s Coaches Profile here.