Your first race of the season is exciting and daunting in equal measure! It's probably been a while since your last race, so you're probably a little rusty on some of the basics of racing logistics, tactics and strategy. In this video, we explain 3 of the most common issues we hear about people having at the start of every race season. Give yoursel…

Did you know almost everybody's power numbers are different outdoors when compared to indoors? Often there's as much as a 5-10% difference, with the more "favourable" numbers from training indoors. I've spoken to dozens - probably hundreds - of IRONMAN athletes who assumed their indoor power numbers were directly transferable to outdoor riding, res…

The "more is better" mentality is very common amongst triathletes, but often causes more problems than it solves. If you've ever experienced the feeling of overwhelming fatigue, and "easy" training sessions feeling anything but easy, you're most likely a victim of overtraining. This video is a must watch for you! We dive into the importance of reco…

Have you ever wondered what it takes for professional athletes to be able to deliver the jaw-dropping performances we see? Having spoken to and quizzed many of the world's best triathletes over the years, it's really clear how they train, why they train like that, what they prioritise and why. I share the details n this video, and I can guarantee t…

Fuelling (hydration, electrolytes & nutrition) can so easily derail your performance on race day, even if you're in the shape of your life. In fact for many age-group triathletes, it's an afterthought. So many people jeopardise the hundreds of hours of training they've completed by not taking care of fluid and calorie needs on race day. Do you know…

If you've ever been tempted to train when you're feeling under the weather, because you're worried that you'll lose fitness if you don't, this video is a must-watch for you! This week I talk about common mistakes I see athletes make when they're ill or injured, and why more often than not their gut-instinct risks significant damage to their trainin…

Almost all age-group triathletes make at least one of these mistakes in their swim training, and you probably are too. Fix these issues, and you'll become a faster, more efficient swimmer for less effort - the holy grail for triathletes! * * * * * * * * SPONSORS * * * * * * * * Like what you heard in this interview? Join hundreds of other age group…

Coach Rob's top 3 things that he sees triathletes not doing, or doing wrong time and time again in their run training. You'll quickly learn how to become a significantly faster runner off the bike WITHOUT risking injury. If you've struggled with run injuries, or found you're simply not getting any faster despite your training, this video is for you…

Coach Rob explains 3 of the most common, and usually most disastrous mistakes that age-groupers make in their bike training. And - how to easily avoid them so that you're able to translate your fitness into the race performance you're capable of, and can be proud of. * * * * * * * * SPONSORS * * * * * * * * Like what you heard in this interview? Jo…

In this episode of the Ironman Training Series, Coach Rob talks about the challenges of staying motivated during long-distance training and how to avoid burnout. He shares some great tips and strategies to help you stay focused and energised throughout your Ironman training. In this episode, you’ll hear about: 🔥 Recognizing the Signs of Burnout: It…

In this special edition, Coach Rob discusses how to structure your Ironman race specific training phase. At the end of this episode, you’ll know: 👉 The specific changes to your training schedule that MUST happen as you move from your Winter Training block to the Race Specific phase 👉 What the Key and Supporting sessions should consist of each week,…

This week Coach Rob answers some of the questions that have been emailed in by listeners, and that have come up in conversation with Team Oxygenaddict athletes this week. Including: How to best prepare for hilly IRONMAN courses like Wales... How to estimate realistic swim, bike and run splits come race day based on training performances... What to …

In this episode, Coaches Rob and Chris focus on the transition from winter block of training, to the Race Specific Preparation phase of training. They recap the purpose of each block, and discuss the similarities and differences between the two. Also, they discuss the mental aspects of baseline testing at the end of a block, and give athletes some …

How do you train to improve your swimming for Ironman and 70.3 triathlon? In this episode, you’ll hear: Why learning to be calm and efficient can be more important than improving speed Why runners and cyclists often struggle to translate aerobic fitness into swim speed - and what to do about it Breathing techniques and practices to help you stay ca…

Nadia Wells raced at the 2023 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. It had taken her ten years, and nearly as many Ironmans, to finally qualify. This is her Age Group Story. SPONSORS Like what you heard in this interview? Join hundreds of other age group triathletes making the most of their limited training time, training with Team OxygenAdd…

Recently, Coach Rob hosted a webinar for the Ironman Wales race organisers, to help athletes prepare for Ironman Wales 2024. In this episode, Coach Rob and Coach Chris answer twenty questions that were asked by athletes who attended that webinar. We really think that these questions will help athletes prepare for any Ironman event this year - wheth…

Sports scientists Andy Blow and Emily Arrell join us from Precision Fuel and Hydration to help age group athletes understand the three key levers of performance: Hydration, Electrolytes and Fueling. PFH have built up a bank of over 200 case studies of professional athletes competing at Ironman and 70.3 events, logging their carbohydrate, electrolyt…

Coaches Rob Wilby and Chris Palfreyman talk you through everything you need to know about the six months of training leading up to your Ironman. They cover: 👉 The structure of your basic week of training - frequency, intensity and duration of swims, bikes and runs. 👉 The benefits of focusing on swim technique over endurance and distance, especially…

Sam Laidlow joins us back on the show to talk about his win at the 2023 Ironman World Championships. We first had Sam as a guest on the show back in 2019 when he won the Lakesman Iron distance race. Since then, he’s gone on to become one of the World’s biggest triathlon stars, finishing second in Kona in 2022, and then winning in Nice in 2023. Sam …

As we kick off the new year, this episode is dedicated to helping you set and achieve your Ironman goals, ensuring you have your best season yet. In this episode, you'll learn about: Setting Realistic Goals: Coaches Rob and Chris discuss how to set achievable Ironman goals that align with your abilities and lifestyle. Defining Clear and Specific Ta…

Happy Christmas, everybody! This week we bring you a special Christmas treat from the archive - an interview with 2023 Ironman World Champion Lucy Charles-Barclay. This interview originally was published in late 2019. Sponsors Like what you heard in this interview? Join hundreds of other age group triathletes making the most of their limited traini…

In this episode of the Oxygenaddict Podcast, we're focusing on how to spend the crucial Christmas week in a way that sets you up for a healthy and recovered start to the New Year. Coaches Rob Wilby and Chris Palfreyman discuss the SEEDS approach: Sleep, Eating, Exercise, Drinking, and Stress management, taking inspiration from the work of Dr. Simon…

In this episode of the Oxygenaddict Podcast, Coaches Rob Wilby and Chris Palfreyman conduct an in-depth review of the first winter training block. This episode is essential for understanding the progress made over the last eight weeks and planning ahead for continued improvement in your Ironman training. You'll hear a comprehensive review on: Train…

This week, we have Team Oxygenaddict athlete Jessie Hassall back on the show to hear all about her incredible experience racing the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. We hear all about swimming with turtles in crystal clear waters, flying along the Queen K highway on the bike, and the unbelievable heat and humidity of that marathon! From …

Coaches Rob & Chris chat through some of the most common myths they hear from athletes about their triathlon training. By hearing 9 "triathlon myths" debunked, you'll be MUCH better equipped to improve your swimming, biking & running in the most efficient, effective way possible. Including: Why swimming more WON'T necessarily make you FASTER (and h…

This week Coach Rob chats to Team Oxygenaddict Tullia Turner about her successful full-distance debut at IRONMAN Wales. Tullia's story is one that many listeners will resonate with, as you hear how she used triathlon as a force for good when she was in a tough place mentally. Rob and Tullia chat about: How Tullia's personal struggles motivated her …

In this week's episode, Coach Rob provides an invaluable step-by-step walkthrough of how, why and when to test your bike power, swim speed and run fitness throughout the year. 👉 Why accuracy in testing & results is the ONLY important consideration 👉 Why making excuses for your test results and assuming you "are capable of more" is a sure-fire way t…

This week's episode is jam-packed advice to make sure you get the most out of your winter training block. Coach Rob gives 10 rapid-fire tips to help ensure you see an increase in your bike power, run speed and swim technique & efficiency. Including: 👉 The critical mistake of training like a swimmer, biker & runner INSTEAD of as a TRIATHLETE, and ho…

On this week’s show, coaches Rob and Chris answer questions from listeners & athletes with an Ironman in their sights for the coming season. They cover: Will you progress faster by adding more intensity to your training? What to do if your FTP dropped since your last test? How should you adapt training if you’re ill? How often should you add run ra…

This week we let you behind the scenes of Team Oxygenaddict, as Coach Rob describes the fundamental principles of winter training for Team OA athletes. The 'Winter FTP Build' has become one of the phases of the year that our athletes look forward to the most - two focused interval sessions on the bike each week, supplemented by aerobic volume runs …

On this week’s show, coaches Rob and Chris answer listener and athlete questions. Including: ❓Should you train on your road bike or TT bike over the winter? ❓How should you set up your heart rate zones? ❓If you’re training abroad, is it better to hire a road bike or fly with your own bike? ❓What would you look for in a first bike for Ironman Wales?…

This week we’re joined by Peter Connolly, who achieved a lifelong goal when he completed IRONMAN UK this year. This episode will really help anyone who suffers from swim anxiety, as Pete talks about the strategies he developed with Coach Chris to help move him from someone who was too anxious to even get into the swimming pool at the start of the y…

Embracing the Ironman Off-Season In this episode of the Oxygenaddict Triathlon Podcast, Coach Rob Wilby dives deep into the pivotal role of the off-season in an athlete's journey. While the Ironman season brings its own set of challenges and highs, the off-season isn't just about downtime. It's an opportunity to rejuvenate, refocus, and reshape you…

This week, we bring you the story of age grouper Emma Yates as she battled for the win at Ironman Wales. We hear about the build up to the race, her race day strategy, including her nutrition and hydration approach, and get inside her mindset as she runs side by side with a great rival. We also hear about how she bounced back from the disappointmen…

Dean Culshaw completed his first Ironman at Copenhagen at the age of 70, winning his age group by nearly an hour in the amazing time of 12.54. Dean joins us on the show to tell us all about the journey to his race at Copenhagen, but also shares his experience of continuing to train and compete as an athlete aging up. He shares some tips with us tha…

This week, we bring you a review of the Ironman World Championships 2023 in Nice. We’re joined by Andy Blow from Precision Fuel and Hydration, who was present for 8 days in Nice and got to experience the build up to the race, race day itself, and post race conversations with athletes. Sponsors Like what you heard in this interview? Join hundreds of…

This week, Coaches Rob and Chris discuss this weekend’s upcoming Ironman World Championship in Nice. We have an update on recent race results for Team Oxygenaddict athletes at Ironman Wales, Ironman Copenhagen, The 70.3 World Championships and the ETU Middle Distance Championships. We also have a Coaches’ Couch section detailing what to do when you…

This week, we bring you the recording of the live training session that coaches Rob Wilby and Andy Heaps delivered for the Ironman Wales entrants. As part of Team Oxygenaddict’s collaboration with Ironman Europe, our coaches have been delivering coaching seminars and answering athlete questions throughout 2023, and this is your chance to be a fly o…

Age Group Story: Sarah McDonald. Podium in first Ironman! This week we’re joined by Team Oxygenaddict athlete Sarah McDonald to hear all about her first Ironman, where she finished on the age group podium. Sarah is a great example to people who have always wanted to enter an Ironman but are concerned they are too busy and don’t have enough time. We…

Ever considered stepping up from shorter triathlons to the ultimate test of endurance, the Ironman? Or perhaps you’re coming back to triathlon after years out of the sport and have always wanted to complete an Ironman? Coaches Chris and Rob dive deep into what it truly takes to conquer this challenge. In this episode, you'll discover: Evaluating Yo…

Emma Deakin was Head of Performance Health Services and Lead Physiotherapist at British Triathlon. From 2009, she was part of the team from the English Institute of Sport coordinating the support for the British Triathlon athletes which helped deliver multiple Olympic medals at London 2012, Rio 2016, and most recently Tokyo 2021. She’s also been th…

In this episode, Coaches Rob Wilby and Chris Palfreyman delve into the strategic concept of "Understanding the Double Peak" in your training season. In this episode, you'll hear: The Second Half of the Season: They talk about how the latter part of the season can be an opportunity for more relaxed, fun activities that build on the fitness you've al…

In this episode, host Rob Wilby engages in another conversation with the expert swim coach Paul Newsome from Swim Smooth as he returns to the show. Building on their previous dialogue, this time they delve into "Racing in Open Water," with Paul sharing his insights on how to tackle common challenges and maximise performance during race day. In this…

In this episode, coaches Chris Palfreyman and Rob Wilby unpack the concept of "Going the Distance: Strategies to Prevent Ironman DNF." They delve into practical strategies to help athletes avoid the dreaded 'Did Not Finish' status in an Ironman event. In this episode, you'll hear: Proper Preparation: The coaches discuss the importance of structured…

Today, we are delighted to welcome back Taryn Richardson, an accredited sports dietitian from Australia. With her wealth of experience, including her tenure as a consultant to Triathlon Australia and running the Triathlon Nutrition Academy, Taryn joins us again to delve deeper into the complex world of triathlon nutrition. In this episode titled "M…

In this episode, host Coach Rob Wilby has a detailed conversation with Paul Newsome, a renowned swim coach and founder of Swim Smooth. Paul brings nearly two decades of experience in enhancing the performance of triathletes and open water swimmers, including Chelsea Sodaro, the 2022 Ironman World Championship winner. The discussion is focused on "T…

A special edition of the show, helping you to work out your optimal fuelling strategy for Ironman, 70.3, Olympic and sprint distance triathlon, as well as running and cycling endurance events. We cover the science of calorie intake, electrolyte intake, and fluid intake, as well as some personal experience and stories from the endurance world, to he…

In this episode, coaches Rob Wilby and Chris Palfreyman delve into the critical phase of training for an Ironman triathlon: the taper. They demystify what tapering truly means and why it's an essential part of your race preparation. In this episode, you'll hear: An in-depth discussion on understanding tapering, including its importance in the overa…

In this episode, hosts Coach Rob Wilby and Coach Chris Palfreyman take a deep dive into the challenge of performing in high temperatures. They explore the physiology of how our bodies react to heat during exercise, the effects of humidity, and the complex task our circulatory system performs to balance oxygen delivery and temperature regulation. In…

This week, we have a guide to optimising triathlon nutrition with guest Taryn Richardson, an accredited sports dietitian from Australia. With years of experience as a consultant to Triathlon Australia, as well as running the Triathlon Nutrition Academy, Taryn brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. In addition, as a 'retired age group triathlete…