Tabla de contenidos para February 2026 en 220 Triathlon

220 Triathlon|February 2026

FROM THE EDITOR…

Happy new year! Hopefully you all had a wonderful festive break with some good tri-related pressies and are looking forward to a shiny new year of training and racing. This issue I'm afraid we're not taking you into 2026 gently though, as we seem to have put together a magazine which has tough athletes and tough races as a theme (though I do think toughness is relative – if you're joining us as a new triathlete then your first race will be plenty tough enough for now!). We've got a recap of the Ironman 70.3 World Champs which saw Lucy Charles-Barclay move on from Kona heartbreak to take the victory, a show of fortitude that has definitely inspired me for the year ahead. From page 78 is an update of…

1 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

“YOU JUST HAVE TO PUSH THROUGH WHAT YOU ONCE THOUGHT IMPOSSIBLE”

LUKE AMBER Luke Ambler, 35, is a former professional rugby league player turned mental health campaigner from Halifax. After his brother-in-law, Andy Roberts, died by suicide in 2016, Luke co-founded Andy's Man Club, a volunteer-led UK charity offering peer-topeer support for men. It has gone from strength to strength launching hundreds of talking groups all over the UK. Rugby League was an opportunity to express myself when I was young. Give a big kid a rugby ball and he can run through people, so it became my career. I played in the Super League for Salford City Reds and Leeds Rhinos, and went on to represent Ireland at international level. In April 2016, tragically and with no warning signs, my 23-yearold brother-in-law Andrew took his own life. It left the…

4 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

AI TRAINING APPS

HUMANGO A coach in your pocket, HumanGo's AI-powered digital instructor sets and updates training schedules based on performance metrics but also health data like heart rate variability and resting heart rate. It also includes strength training and can tailor goals to a spectrum of sports – from general fitness to ultra-distance epics. Cost: From $9 a month. humango.ai TRIDOT Powered by AI and more than 20 years of athlete data, TriDot tailors your training based on age, sex and athletic experience. Plans are updated in the background after every workout and users also get access to RaceX – a comprehensive race-rehearsal tool that can guide you through every step of a multi-sport event. Cost: From £14 .99 a month tridot.com TRIQ The triathlon-specific app uses its own algorithm to create…

1 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

BUYING GUIDE: WINTER BIKE KIT

Whether you like it or not, we're definitely in the depths of winter now. Inevitably, this means you'll probably take a lot of your training indoors, but the joy of being outside on two wheels doesn't have to be banished entirely until spring. You just need the right bike kit to handle the elements. The key here is layering. Opt for a thick winter jacket and chances are, unless you're genuinely riding in subzero conditions, you'll overheat. But layer up with base layers, long sleeve jerseys, gilets and wind or water-repellent jackets, and you can customise your outfit to suit the specific conditions you're riding in. Add in some high-performance bib tights and decent wintery gloves, plus accessories such as shoe covers, a hat and arm warmers, and you'll be…

15 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

CONSISTENCY EQUALS RAPIDITY

1. Indoor warm-up. One of the responses to cold is shutting down bloodflow to your peripheral arteries. When that happens, it's hard to open them up again, impairing your session. So warm up inside before heading out for a ride or run. Stepping up and down a staircase for 10mins will get the blood flowing, but not to the stage of sweating. 2. Ice bath to prep you. When it's cold outside, endurance legend Sean Conway has a quick ice bath. He says that the ice bath is so cold that all of a sudden the outside conditions feel ‘warm’ and it resets his resilience bar. A cold shower works, too. 3. Ensure you're dressed for the elements, whether that's the cold, wind or/and rain. That means layering, which more…

1 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

THE WORLD'S TOUGHEST TRIATHLONS

What is ‘type 2 fun’? There's a handful of different definitions around, but one of our favourites goes like this: ‘Miserable while it's happening, but fun in retrospect’. How do you know if you've experienced type 2 fun? Well, if you've been gasping for oxygen on a tough climb, swearing loudly while getting battered by a headwind or gritting your teeth in agony as your legs cramp up, and you still signed up for another race afterward, then you've probably experienced it. The very fact you keep signing up to challenges despite the pain and discomfort you've battled through shows you relish such fun. And boy do we have some cracking ideas that'll enable you to push yourself to new heights. On the pages that follow, we've curated a list…

9 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

TRI SPEAK

Supported by ‘A’-Race The most important race of your season Age-grouper Non-pro triathlete Aerobic Aerobic exercise involves oxygen consumption by the body Anaerobic How much energy your body can produce without using oxygen Aquabike Race with just swim and bike elements, no run Bilateral breathing Breathing every three strokes when swimming Biomechanics The forces applied to your body during exercise Bonking Running out of energy mid-race or training session Brick session When you ‘brick’ two disciplines together, e.g. bike and run Cadence Pedal rate on bike, in revolutions per minute (rpm) Carb-loading Eating a carb-heavy meal prior to a race to boost energy Catch The part of the swim stroke where you pull on the water Core strength Development of the stomach and lower back area in support of strength…

3 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

START

THE BIG PIC GB's Jess Learmonth battles through the baking hot 18km run during Dubai T100 on 15 November. The Tokyo Olympic relay gold medallist would finish third overall, behind compatriot Kate Waugh in second and Julie Derron (SUI) in first. Fellow Brits Georgia TaylorBrown and Holly Lawrence would take fourth and fifth, respectively.…

1 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

THE PARISIENNE POWERHOUSE

Career highlights Cassandre Beaugrand has known success across individual and mixed relay racing – most notably at a little event in Paris at the end of July, 2024… 9 x WTCS victories 2025 Supertri E Champion 2024 WTCS champion 2024 Olympic champion, Paris 4 x World Mixed Relay Champions (2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 Cassandre Beaugrand remains one of triathlon's most intriguing figures. The Paris-born star's victory at her home Games catapulted her into the global spotlight; a career-defining moment that brought with it a huge sense of accomplishment but also heightened scrutiny and expectation. A change of pace soon followed, as Beaugrand upped sticks from Loughborough and the tutelage of coach Gavin Smith to join Glenn Poleunis’ set-up in Girona, allowing her to rediscover the balance and motivation she needed…

8 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

KIT ZONE

MEET THE TEST TEAM HELEN WEBSTER 220's editor is also a qualified open-water swimming coach. ROB SLADE 220's resident adventure seeker and former staffer. EDWARD PICKERING Cycling author, also races run distances from mile to marathon. JAMES WITTS Sports scientist and author of multiple sports books. SARAH BROADLEY Keen endurance athlete and open water swim coach. OUR RATINGS 0-49 % POOR SIMPLY PUT, DON'T BOTHER! 50-69 % AVERAGE IT'LL DO THE JOB WELL ENOUGH 70-79 % GOOD A DECENT PERFORMER 80-89 % IMPRESSIVE ONE OF THE BEST YOU CAN BUY 90+ % BUY NOW A GENUINE CLASS LEADER…

1 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

ON TEST: CARBON RUN SHOES

MIZUNO WAVE REBELLION PRO 3 £210 emea.mizuno.com As soon as the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 3s came out of the box, I could tell that Mizuno were really thinking outside the box when they designed this shoe. They are striking in their look - the wedge cut-out at the back makes them look like they are itching to get moving and the 60mm stack at the heel is huge. Turn the shoe over, and there's a large cutout in the sole. They're also incredibly striking in their feel - that thick stack means that I felt a lot taller in these shoes, and the cut-out gave them the sensation of propulsive momentum at speed, even aggression. And they bounce. This manifests itself in two ways. At speed, these shoes made…

11 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

OFF-SEASON EXCITEMENT

New Year's Day Triathlon 1 January 2026 Royal Commonwealth Pool, Edinburgh 400m pool swim, 11-mile bike, 3.5-mile run Celebrate the New Year by satiating your competitive appetite (albeit maybe check the start times before signing up if you're planning to really celebrate Hogmanay!). Dorney Duathlon 18 January 2026 Dorney Lake, Windsor 10km run, 38km bike, 5km run The standard-distance offering is one of five race options. The remaining quartet are sprint, sprint relay, standard relay and super-sprint. The Frosty Aquathlon 1 March 2026 Littlehampton, West Sussex 800m swim, 10km run Sign up for some south-coast swim-bike fun with the choice of two distances: 400m swim, 5km run or the above. Hampton Pool Chilly Triathlon 8 March 2026 Hampton outdoor pool, London 432m swim, 20km bike, 5km run Take part in…

1 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

2026 220 RACE CALENDAR

T100 LONDON 25-26 JULY 2026 City racing for all levels. Places now at t100triathlon.com EUROPEAN CHAMPS QUALIFIER WORLD CHAMPS QUALIFIER JANUARY 1 NEW YEAR'S DAY TRIATHLON (various dist and events) Royal Commonwealth Pool, Edinburgh. edinburghtri.org 18 DORNEY DUATHLON JANUARY (various distances) Dorney Lake, Windsor atwevents.co.uk FEBRUARY 7 DORNEY DUATHLON FEBRUARY (various distances) Dorney Lake, Windsor atwevents.co.uk 15 GRAVESEND CYCLOPARK WINTER DUATHLON (various distances) Gravesend Cyclopark, Gravesend bridgetriathlon.co.uk 21 UOB AQUATHLON 2026 (400m S/5km R) University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham sportandfitness.bham.ac.uk 22 TEWKESBURY TRI – 2026 AQUATHLON SERIES – RACE 1 (400m S/5km R) Tewkesbury Leisure Centre, Tewkesbury tewkesburytriathlon.co.uk MARCH 1 FROSTY AQUATHLON (various distances) Littlehampton Wave, Littlehampton, West Sussex tuff-fitty.co.uk/frosty/ 8 CARLISLE SPRING DUATHLON (5km R/19.3km B/2.5km R) Carlisle Airport, Carlisle eventsupnorth.co.uk DORNEY DUATHLON MARCH (various distances) Dorney Lake, Windsor…

5 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

JUST SAY NO

MARTYN BRUNT Martyn is tri's foremost average athlete and is living proof that hours of training and endless new kit are no substitute for ability. “No!” See, it's easy. “No, no, NO!” There, I can say it after all. Except, it seems that I can't say it – at least I can't seem to when I should. There have been several times when not being able to say “no” has led me into a world of aggravation. Examples include: • “Do you want to come and do the Superman Triathlon Vlaanderen in Belgium?” This was asked when I had literally just completed my first-ever triathlon. “No” should have been the answer because I was nowhere near ready. Sadly, “yes” came out. • “Are you going to do Ironman Lanzarote?” said…

3 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

WORLD TRIATHLON MOVES TO SILENCE CRITICS

TIM HEMING Cutting through the spin of tri to address the issues that matter, Tim is a sports journalist who has written extensively on triathlon for the national press. Amid the spectacle of elite and age-group racing at the World Triathlon Grand Finals in Australia, another endurance event was unfolding in the city: hours of congress sessions in which the sport's governance was dissected and debated. Most triathletes might claim little interest in the business end of their sport, yet decisions taken by the executive board and its sub-committees shape every aspect of what athletes experience – from race distances and rulebooks to host cities and how triathlon is presented to the wider sporting world, including the International Olympic Committee. In short, the stewardship of the sport rests with World…

3 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

CAN AN AI COACH GET YOU RACEREADY IN 8 WEEKS?

“Hi Charlie, it looks like you didn't train as much as planned last week. Maybe this was a tough time for training. No worries, let's replan – I know you can do this!” Six weeks into my eight-week training block for a duathlon, and I've let Hugo, my coach, down. The previous week had involved travel for work, and although this included a two-hour ride into the outskirts of Copenhagen for a bike launch (the perks of being a triathlon journalist), a relentless itinerary and tight article deadlines meant the running trainers I'd packed had remained firmly in my suitcase. I'm not that worried that I've disappointed Hugo, though. In fact, I don't think it would be possible. While there are plenty who would describe their coach as emotionless, mine…

9 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

GEAR OF THE YEAR 2025

95% DDIPP SEA MONSTER HYDRO Issue: January 2025 £150 In a busy market, the Sea Monster has a cool name and a warm design, with 100% recycled material, removable sleeves and super-soft fleece. ddipp.com 93% GOREWEAR SPINSHIFT GTX JACKET Issue: March 2025 £224.99 Kudos to Gore for the bold visibility here, as well as lightweight construction that is also superbly waterproof. Plenty of carefully considered details and a real investment piece. gorewear.com 90% SHIMANO ULTEGRA PD-R800 Issue: February 2025 £159.99 These pedals pack plenty of bang for the buck and despite being on the market for a few years now stood the test of time with last year's 90% rating. freewheel.co.uk 91% SOAR TEMPO Issue: January 2025 £155 This lightweight running shirt with 3D textured weave fabric is comfortable and…

5 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

FACE THE FREEZE

Indoor training is a triathlete's off-season staple due to the technological revolution and apps like Zwift; heat training is very much in vogue due to research over the past few years extolling the benefits of cranking up the mercury to boost performance in all climes. Both clearly have their merits and have their place in your winter training. But as triathletes, your maximal gains will come from heading outside and battling Mother Nature. As you'll discover, she delivers myriad benefits that you simply won't find inside… WHAT IS THE COLD? But before you swim, pedal and stride forth through the elements, it's relevant to ask: what is cold? A stupid question? Not at all, says Dr Michael Kennedy, associate professor in the faculty of kinesiology at the University of Alberta…

10 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

NUTRITION POST-SESSION BRUNCHES

Never underestimate the power of a good brunch to nourish the busy triathlete! Triathlon training is not just about getting out there and following the plan. Rest, relaxation, quality sleep and fuelling your body with good food is, as some say, the ‘fourth discipline’. If you like to train early on a Sunday morning, brunch is the time you can sit back, unwind and enjoy valuable time with friends and family. You'll not only boost your recovery from the morning's activities, you'll also nourish your soul and be happier for it. And so to my four current favourite brunch recipes. I've geared these recipes to serve two, but if you're catering for more, just increase the ingredients accordingly. First up, why not invite your bike buddies back to share this…

5 min.

220 Triathlon|February 2026

CALENDAR 2026

APRIL 19 STRATFORD TRIATHLON 2 distances, pool based Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire. MAY 09 CHESHIRE KIDS DUATHLON 6 distances, for 5 to 16yrs Barony Park Nantwich 10 CHESHIRE TRIATHLON 2 distances, outdoor pool Barony Park & Nantwich Leisure Centre, Cheshire 16 GLASGOW TRIATHLON + Kids Triathlon 3 distances, pool based Bellahouston Park 30 HENLEY KIDS TRITHLON 6 distances, for 5 to 16yrs Henley Leisure Centre, Henley-on- Thames, Oxfordshire 31 HENLEY TRIATHLON 2 distances, pool based Henley Leisure Centre, Henley-on- Thames, Oxfordshire JUNE 13 SHROPSHIRE TRIATHLON 2 distances, lake swim The Mere, Cremorne Gardens, Ellesmere, Shropshire 14 ULTIMATE 150 TRIATHLON 3km S - 117km B - 30km R Lake swim The Mere, Cremorne Gardens, Ellesmere, Shropshire 14 ULTIMATE 100 TRIATHLON 2km S - 78km B - 20km R Lake swim The…

1 min.