POOL SWIMMING: MAXIMISE YOUR INDOOR TRAINING
how to
ice swim
Ross Edgley shares
his tips & advice
BATTLE
OF ROYALE
Army, Navy and RAF
take on the military tri
No. 398 £5.50
January 2022
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DANIEL_JAMES_PIX
Winter swimming FROM THE EDITOR...
always forms part of
Helen’s off-season Now we’re firmly in the off-season, with the colder temperatures and
training, but it’s darker evenings come new challenges. How will you adapt and find
important to consider new ways of training? If swimming is your thing (as it is mine!), or you
safety in cold water. just need to improve for 2022, we’ve got a couple of options for you
Find out more on p28. this month. Our training masterclass guides you through taking your
tri swimming training into the pool (p72), so come race season you’ve
got the core skills nailed ready for open water. On the flip side,
this issue we also have endurance swimmer Ross Edgley
exploring the need to ‘get wintered’ in your training and the
benefits of cold-water swimming (p28)! I’ll be doing a mix of
both, plus some muddy trail-running races, which for me are
the closest thing to being a kid again! Enjoy the issue,
Helen webster, editor
EXCLUSIVE OFFER WITH FREE HOME DELIVERY
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January 2022 / /3
START 34
P6 THE BIG PIC
P10 QUICK SCIENCE BATTLE ROYALE:
P11 HOTTEST NEW GEAR ARMY VS
P12 WHY I TRI RAF VS NAVY
P14 STATE OF PLAY
P18 PRO Q&A We take an
KIT ZONE exclusive look
P42 KIT ZONE
P49 TRAIL SHOES behind the scenes
P55 BIKE JACKETS
P58 BIKE LIGHTS at the Inter-
P60 ALU BIKE TEST
P68 KIT GUIDE Services Triathlon
TRAINING
P72 WINTER MASTERCLASS
P79 NUTRITION
P82 Q&AS
P85 WOMEN’S TRAINING
REGULARS
P16 FAO 220
P20 SUBSCRIBE
P88 HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?
P94 RACE CALENDAR
P98 WEEKEND WARRIOR
KIT ZONE
TRAINING
KNOWHOW
TURN OVER FOR MOREi
DANIEL_JAMES_PIX/JAMES CROFT
4 / / January 2022
STEVE SAYERS ON THE COVER
60
ALLOY
ASSAULT
The Cannondale
CAAD13 goes up against
the Bowman Palace 3 in
a bid to be crowned best
aluminium race bike
THE YEAR OF YEE 22 28
22This month’s cover star SUPER LEAGUE TRIATHLON ON HARVEY GIBSON / RED BULL
Alex Yee, tells us all ALEX LLOYDJENKINS THE
about his breakthrough COVER
year, chasing run PBs and how he 88
stays so level-headed 79
THE ART OF
GETTING WINTERED
28In an exclusive extract
from his new book,
extreme swimmer Ross
Edgley talks cold-water swimming
PASTA POWER
79Get creative with
everyone’s favourite
carb this month and
cook up these four quick-and-
easy pre- and post-training meals
RACE REPORT:
SWYD TRIATHLON
88220’s Matt Baird swaps
out his usual laid-back
prep to racing for a
more measured approach in an
attempt to finish in the top 50%
STEVE SAYERS
January 2022 / /5
DIVE INTO THE WORLD OF TRI
6 / / January 2022
the Taking on the stunning off-
big road mountain bike trails in
pic Majjistral Nature Reserve
and crystal blue waters of
Golden Bay, a hardy 110
triathletes took on Xterra
Malta on 23 October.
Winners of the main event,
Jens Emil Nielsen from
Norway (2:25:26) and
France’s Morgane Riou
(2:52:04), led the way along
the 1.5km sea swim and
30km mountain bike amble
over cliff top ridges and clay
paths towards the famous
Popeye Village movie set,
culminating in a final
10km trail run.
CAREL DU PLESSIS/XTERRA
January 2022 / /7
WAGNER ARAUJO/TRIATHLON ORG
Sweltering temperatures
accompanied 105 of the
world’s top triathletes racing
at WTCS Abu Dhabi on 5
November. The short sprint
course was a pressure-filled
affair, setting off with a swift
non-wetsuit 750m, before a
technical and winding 20km
bike and a fast two-lap 5km
dash to the finish. Jelle Geens
took the tape just 5secs ahead
of world champion Vincent
Luis in 52:20, with Olympic
champion Flora Duffy winning
the women’s race in 55:42.
OCTAVIO PASSOS/GETTY IMAGES
Thousands flocked to
the sunny coastal town of
Cascais on 23 October for
Portugal’s first full-distance
IM event, Ironman Cascais.
Athletes battled brutal heat,
strong headwinds and some
tough climbs on the course.
A sheltered 3.8km swim
in Ribeira Bay preceeded
a mountainous bike leg,
followed by a multi-lap
marathon along the
Guincho road to Cabo Raso
and back to Cascais. First
to the line were France’s
Jérémy Beaudi (8:56:28) and
up-and-coming Brit Stephanie
Clutterbuck (9:52:47).
8 / / January 2022
JANOS M SCHMIDT/TRIATHLON ORG
The inaugural World
Triathlon Cup Haeundae set
off from the striking South
Korean coast on 23 October,
with Great Britain’s Beth
Potter (cap no.3) dominating
the race from the get go
(56:25). Plunging into the 21°C
waters of Haeundae Beach,
the swift sprint event included
a five-lap bike course and a
short, four-lap 5km run along
Busan’s roads. Winner of the
men’s race was Frenchman
Anthony Pujades in 50:19.
Claiming to be the UK’s
toughest duathlon, Storm the
Castle athletes tackled tough
and undulating 5km and
10km run legs on 24 October,
circuiting Whitcliffe Common
and scaling the ‘lactic ladder’,
before lapping Ludlow
Castle en route. The middle
33km bike leg spelt constant
hills along the Shropshire
countryside, with over 500m
elevation over two main
sections. The only athlete
to break two hours was race
winner Pat Wright (1:56:04),
while first woman was Lucy
Commander (2:18:51).
MICK HALL PHOTOS January 2022 / /9
DANIEL SEEX
TRIATHLON More than 47,500 men are diagnosed saw a significant suppression of the
FOR LIFE
with prostate cancer every year in the growth of these cells from the post-
Recent research suggests training
can help athletes with prostate cancer. UK and around 11,500 men die. It’s training blood,” commented study
And potentially other cancers, too…
statistics like these that prompted a supervisor Professor Robert Newton.
team from Edith Cowan University in Why’s down to the protein myokine,
Australia to investigate potential says Newton, as these are
treatments – and discovered quick secreted by muscles during
that exercise can not only exercise. They potentially
suppress tumour growth but science signalforcancercellstogrow
fight cancerous cells, too. slower and also signal to
A clinical trial saw patients immune cells, known as
undergo regular training over a T-cells, to attack and kill the
12-week period, giving blood samples cancer cells. It’s reason to keep on
before and after the exercise training if your condition permits.
programme. Researchers then took The researchers also believe this
the samples and applied them directly mechanism helps all forms of cancers,
onto living prostate cancer cells. “We albeit further research is required.
10 / / January 2022
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Heat-Tech and Polar Fleece fabrics Velcro straps on the wrist cuffs and
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keeping you warm. 400. zone3.com
January 2022 / / 11
why
i tri
“I JUST WANT
TO EXPERIENCE
EVERYTHING”
In 2016, triathlete Nigel Shaddick was
diagnosed with cancer and given just
12 months to live. Five years on he’s in
remission and has just completed the
gruelling Starman Night Triathlon
When I was 40 I gave up smoking ED EDSMITHPHOTOGRAPHY COM
and adopted a healthier lifestyle. I
joined Triathlon Inverness in 2012.
By 2014 I was racing Ironman-
distance including Outlaw and the
Celtman. I do it for the social side
and to keep fit.
I was diagnosed with “I’d go for my Gradually it just chipped away at it
mesothelioma [a rare form of infusions and then until December 2020 when I was in
cancer that’s usually linked to get on a plane and full remission.
exposure to asbestos] in 2016 and go to Lanzarote
my health deteriorated. I had with my bike” I’m back to full-time work and I’m
stage-three lung cancer but was back at the triathlon club now. The
still able to cycle 100 miles. just watch, wait and see what Starman Triathlon was my first race
happens. They didn’t want to put back. It’s sort of like a half Celtman,
NIGEL Before diagnosis, I knew me on chemo because it’s horrible, but it’s at night – it was brilliant.
SHADDICK something wasn’t right. I did so I just carried on cycling, going to The organisers were great. Their
Ironman Wales and then a swimrun Majorca to do the big rides and took ethos is they want everyone to be
Inverness-based event, which didn’t go that well at time off work. safe, everyone to have a good time
Nigel, 54, was all. I had to retire and it was my and if you get over the finish line
diagnosed with first-ever DNF. I just wasn’t After about three months I you get a medal. They weren’t too
lung cancer in breathing well, was knackered and managed to find a clinical trial for bothered if you only did one
2016 but took part couldn’t keep up. I went to my an immunotherapy drug. That was mountain, two mountains or half
in a clinical trial doctor, who was a local athlete, and in August 2017. The infusions were the swim, as long as you let them
for pioneering he sent me for an X-ray. once every two weeks. It was no know. It was great, really good fun.
immunotherapy bother; it wasn’t like chemo at all
treatment. His last The radiographer spotted and you hardly get any side-effects. I’m learning how to run again.
CT scans have something and sent me for a CT Mine was in Edinburgh, so it meant I’m so unfit compared to how I was.
shown the cancer scan. Then they did a biopsy, which I could go for my infusions and then I was diagnosed at 50 and now I’m
is in remission. took three weeks to analyse. I just get on a plane and go to Lanzarote nearly 55. All of a sudden I’m having
Triathlon has carried on cycling every day for with my bike. to fight against my age as well as
played a huge three weeks and then I got the my lung fitness. But I’m going to do
part in his diagnosis – I probably had a year. It I had scans every six weeks and by the Starman again next year. I just
rehabilitation. was devastating. They decided we’d the time November came around want to experience everything. It’s
the tumour had reduced massively. a bit much sometimes and I go to
bed absolutely exhausted. I think
back to when I couldn’t run, so
I’m out running and swimming
loads now.
12 / / January 2022
SEE THE ROAD AHEAD.
Learn more about the gold medal-winning
Karoo 2 at Hammerhead.io
Flora Duffy,
Olympic Champion
DANIEL SEEX
DRAFTING XCLUDER
A former pro from New Zealand has led the development of an ingenious solution
TIM to overcome the blight of long-distance triathlon and make for fairer racing
HEMING
Ask competitive triathletes their and many sleepless nights of those looking to cheat are being
Cutting through biggest frustration at Ironman events, retired New Zealand short-course tracked – even when they’re not
the spin of tri to and many will say drafting on the racer, James Elvery. being watched.
address the issues
that matter, Tim is bike. The energy-saving advantage RaceRanger, the product of more The innovation doesn’t end
a sports journalist there. Any triathlete picking up a
who has written gained by athletes encroaching into than five years’ hard work by Elvery stand-down penalty can pull into a
extensively on smart penalty tent that automatically
triathlon for the the draft zone of those in front has and his team, is a patented system detects when they arrive and leave,
national press. rather than an official scrambling
long been the bugbear of that claims to judge distances to with pen, paper and stopwatch to
make sure it’s been correctly served.
advocates for fairer racing. state within 10cm. Each competitor
It’s hard to judge with the of has two sensors affixed to
play their bike, one on the front
human eye and it’s even forks, the other to the seat
harder to police, but
increasingly the evidence post beneath the saddle. As It will be delivered as a service
shows that its benefits are the following cyclist approaches to event organisers in a similar
huge. Even at legal distance, a rider at the draft zone, a light on the rear way to how timing systems are
the front of a paceline could be laying sensor of the bike ahead flashes red. currently in place. To make it
down 50% more power than the Once they enter the draft zone, it financially viable it must be
athlete in 10th. turns blue, then every 5secs flashes embraced by organisers for use
Solutions have been tried – red again so the passing rider knows with both age-groupers and pros,
extended draft zones, more how many of the 25secs they have to and while costs need to be worked
technical officials, harsher pass legally have elapsed. out, it could add around £20 to race
sanctions – but it seems technology While the triathlete knows when entry, initially making it more
may finally be coming to the rescue they’re in the draft zone, so too do appropriate for long- course racing
through the innovation, dedication the technical officials, because the such as Ironman. Testing is currently
race number and any time spent taking place, with the hope that it
“The draft-busting beauty infringing is fed back to a screen the can be actively used in competition
of RaceRanger is that TOs view on a backpack worn by their by the summer of 2022.
motorcycle driver. Given a rule-
breaking triathlete can often hear a It’s a hackneyed expression, but
the more Elvery explains the product,
cheaters are tracked” race referee approaching, the draft- the more the term ‘game-changer’
busting beauty of RaceRanger is that comes to mind.
14 / / January 2022
WANT MORE TRI THE NEXT-
CONTENT? GENERATION
CYCLING
VISIT 220TRIATHLON.COM NOW COMPUTER
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220
Your emails
& pictures
star ESCAPEE TO WORLD CHAMP “I was so Reader Claudia Wilesmith winning
letter overwhelmed by it the 45-49 age-group title at the
During a traumatic divorce, I started all that I cried in 2021 Cross Tri World Champs
Got an opinion running for mental and physical the bike racking”
to share? Then escapism. A couple of years later I kindly took me through the process
email us at fao220 met (my now partner) Scott who 220 replies: What a birthday present, of breathing out under water and
@220triathlon.com was already a keen triathlete. He Claudia! Thanks for sharing your story sighting etc. and slowly but surely, I
introduced me to trail running and with the readers, and congratulations started to improve. I was swimming!
provided me with a bike. I hadn’t on your win. Here’s to many more!
ridden since my childhood, so he Paddling beyond my depth was
taught me the basics. FAMILY INSPIRATION another story, as was learning how
to swim safely with the changing
For my 40th birthday in 2016, My name is Nathan, I’m a lorry tides and unseen currents. I set my
Scott gave me an entry for a 70.3 driver with a loving wife and two sights on completing a mile by the
Ironman six months later. It was girls - Charlotte, nine, and end of this summer and I’m happy
obvious I was going to need to Annabelle, six. Both of my girls are to report that I finally made it.
re-learn to swim. I hadn’t been in a into their triathlon, having recently
swimming pool for 25 years! taken on Torbay Triathlon. Now, picking up the latest issue of
220 (397) and reading all about
Before completing the 70.3, I did a I myself am 24 stone and have [editor] Helen’s 8km Coniston swim
sprint-distance race as my first challenged myself to do the Torbay I am all admiration. We’ve both
triathlon. I was so overwhelmed by Tri next April. I’m a very reserved summitted our own Everests
everything that I cried in the bike 43-year-old, with anxiety problems though, and I couldn’t be prouder of
racking before the event started. But and dyslexia, but your October issue myself. Virginie Breuiller
I loved the race. I finished second (issue 395) was the first thing I’ve
female and was now an actual read cover-to-cover in a long time. 220 replies: And as well you should be,
triathlete. I was hooked. Wish me luck. Nathan Chard Virginie. What an achievement. See you
in Windermere next year??
The 70.3 was an awesome 220 replies: Huge respect to you
experience, and out of a small field I Nathan, for writing in and signing up TRAIL-TASTIC
finished third in my age-group. to your first race. We bet your girls are
incredibly proud. All the very best. After having a browse on your
Fast forward through Covid to the website and reading up on how best
2021 Cross Tri World Champs. The PUSHING MY LIMITS to run safely in the dark, I invested
forecast ahead of race day was for in a hi-vis run jacket and headtorch
torrential rain. The weather guys got Over the pandemic I finally decided to be my companions during those
it right and much of our course was to get over my fear of open-water winter slogs. Now it’s two weeks
in or under water (and that wasn’t swimming as I only live a stone’s since I’ve become a fully-fledged
just the swimmy bit). It turns out us throw away from some beautiful headtorch runner and I can’t believe
Brits are good at performing in wet Cornish beaches. But my was it I didn’t invest sooner (I’ll be 46 next
weather (no surprise there), and I harder than I thought! month). I love hitting the trails
finally snagged my first win. before work then having time to
Claudia Wilesmith At first I could only manage 10m mess about with the kids when
at a time before I got completely out we’re both home from work/school.
STAR of breath and all flustered. A friend If you’re after some winter
LETTER inspiration, here’s your sign.
Dougie Benson
WINS
220 replies: Great to hear, Dougie. If
SUNDRIED anyone else is inspired to do the same,
CYCLING ARM check out 220tri.com for more
dark-weather kit and training sessions.
AND LEG
WARMERS
WORTH
WWW SUNDRIED COM
16 / / January 2022
yIoNurSTAGRAM TRI Tag your
PICTURES pictures
#220gram
WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
01 02 03
04 05 06
07 08 09
1 @heelsforhills Boston! Completed the distance event and loved every minute of it 7 @vogtri Choppy day so more of a splash
to prove to myself that I still have what it takes to 4 @jodiemountford Looking back at the most around/trying not to drown than an actual swim
cover 26.2 miles awesome season 8 @thatsportsphoto justgiving.com/bat2 great
2 @milly_tri From running in 37 degrees to biking 5 @berkshiretrisquad Last stop of the Giro de character at the Weekend Warrior Weekend
in 7 I am definitely solar powered but couldn’t say Caffe hosted by @velolife #triclub Blenheim. How he runs and carries a bucket for
no to some beautiful rolling hills 6 @lionelwille_tricoach New acquaintances, new several sprint tri’s is beyond me...
3 @iron_journey_s.findlay A flashback to last friends, new adventures and so much more. It is a 9 @baz_harper86 Making friends with the
week’s triathlon at @outlawtriathlon A great privilege to guide athletes dreadmill, 30mins #winteriscoming
January 2022 / / 17
FEATURE
Q&A
SWISS PRECISION NICOLASPIRIG
Nicola Spirig: GOAT? The 39-year-old Swiss star faces some tough
competition among the pantheon of multisporting greats, but
for one-day feats of endurance she has to be in with a shout. The
mother-of-three and qualified lawyer has competed at five
Olympic Games since she started ITU racing in 1998, aged 16. In
Athens she finished 19th, Beijing sixth, London first, Rio second and Tokyo
sixth. In that time, she’s also won six European standard-distance titles and
her first Ironman on debut. This year alone she’s finished second in the
10,000m at the Swiss National Athletics Champs and won the European
Middle-Distance Champs in June. It begs the question: how does she do it…?
On 27 July 2021, Switzerland’s Nicola 220: Congratulations on another ns: I’m very happy with my career and
Spirig, 39, lined up for her fifth Olympic Olympic top-10. How did this differ never thought I would go to five
to your other Games’ races? Olympics. With three kids, life is
Games triathlon with the goal of nicolaspirig:The races before the very busy and full of important
winning a record third medal. Here we Olympics showed that I was in good things away from sport. We will sit
talk through her Tokyo race, training shape, running several PBs over together as a family and discuss how
around three kids and what’s next for 10km, winning the World Cup in we will continue our life so that
Lisbon and becoming European everyone is happy.
the Super Swiss athlete… champion over the half-Ironman
distance. I felt fit and well prepared. 220: How did you juggle training
Interview Liz Barrett and family during the pandemic?
But I also knew that about seven ns:We [husband and three-time
swimmers would get away in the triathlon Olympian Reto Hug]
swim and work well together on the had to home school during the first
bike, so it’d be hard to catch them. I lockdown, in spring 2020, but not
prepared for this scenario, and I for long. And after the Olympics
don’t think I’ve ever ridden as strong were postponed it was pretty
as I have this year. I can’t think of relaxed, with neither us nor
anything I could have done the kids having any events and
differently. But you can’t influence appointments. Training-wise, not
everything. Having no one helping in being able to swim was difficult for a
my pack, and the front pack having while, otherwise I’m used to training
three TV motorbikes, which certainly at home or close to home, and by
gave some extra draft, didn’t help myself, so that wasn’t a problem.
[us] catch up with the first pack. I
trained for another medal and I think 220: Would you like your children
I would have had a good chance in to get into triathlon?
another race situation. ns: They’ve done some little
triathlons from our own kids’ series
220: Do you hope to race Paris 2024 that we organise in Switzerland
or is six Games ‘enough’?
NICOLA’S TOP 5 CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
22 JUL 2001 05 JUL 2009 04 AUG 2012 23 MAY 2021 MAY 2022
Wins her biggest Her first major Claims the biggest Wins the World Final flourish? Spirig
title to date, the senior international title in triathlon by Triathlon Cup in aims to become
Junior World title comes in winning the Lisbon at the grand the first female
Championships in Holten, Olympic Games in age of 39. triathlete to break
Edmonton, Canada. Netherlands, at the London. She’d win 8hrs for long-course
European Champs. silver in Rio four in the Sub-8 project.
years later.
18 / / January 2022
NICOLA SPIRIG Q&A
Images Getty images
this year over 10km, became
European champion and went to my
fifth Olympics. I finished my studies
as a lawyer, have my own foundation
and other projects, and love my job
because I can see my family after
every session. I think you can have a
life with many different aspects and
be happy if you’re willing to work
hard and have support.
[Pho3nix Kids Triathlon by Nicola *The Pho3nix e 220: How would you like to see the
Spirig]. But they don’t train for it, Foundation is a non- Nicola celebrates sport grow?
just have some fun. To us, it’s profit organisation winning Olympic ns: It would be great if more women
important they just find something silver in Rio with could do what I’m able to do; to stay
they have a passion for, no matter if created by Polish her family, professional athletes should they
that’s in sports or another area. businessman including husband wish to after having kids and being
and former pro, able to provide the financial needs
220: What does an average day Sebastian Kulczyk, Reto Hug. for the whole family. For this, prize
look like for you? with the purpose of money and sponsorship need to
ns:Every day looks a bit different, but promoting physical 220: Tell us about your Pho3nix improve, for women and for men.
usually I get up and eat breakfast activity as a way to Kids’ organisation.
with the kids before I train, see them improve health and ns: My husband and I have organised 220: What advice would you give
in between the sessions and am done wellbeing among a kid’s triathlon series in Switzerland anyone considering tri but who are
at 6pm at the latest, to eat dinner since 2014, to inspire kids to be apprehensive about juggling work,
with them and help get them to bed. children with a active. I also have a foundation, family and training?
My husband is at home, so we have particular focus on which is trying to deliver the same ns: Combine family and training by
quite a lot of time together with the message to the kids, going into taking the kids with you in the baby
kids and see this as a privilege. Going those in schools and showing them why sport jogger or on the bike. Or combine
into big events I usually train three disadvantaged is so important and how it can help work and training by riding to work,
times a day, from home or take the them in all aspects of their life. We train early when the kids are still
family with me to training camps situations. now have a great partnership with sleeping, etc. For me, it’s about
with my international squad the Pho3nix Foundation, too, which finding what works best every day.
whenever possible. To read the full shares the same goal.
220 interview with 220: You’re a sporting hero for
220: What do you have planned for 220: How do you hope your many, but who’s yours and why?
the rest of the year and beyond? Nicola, head to achievements in tri resonate with ns:Roger Federer. Not just for what
ns:I’ll do some races to help maintain 220triathlon.com readers, and women in particular? he did in his sporting career, but how
motivation in the lead-up for the ns: I hope I can inspire many others to he treats the people around him –
Sub8 project in May next year, with follow their dreams and goals. I also always polite, always patient, always
the Pho3nix Foundation*. hope I can show women that there friendly, which really impressed me.
are different lifestyles and different A champion on and off the court.
ways of organising your family with
your partner. Not one lifestyle suits 220: What has tri meant to you?
everyone, but you should discuss ns:I often say I handled my studies
what is best for you and your family much better thanks to triathlon,
and then find the support from your because I knew how to work
environment and make it work. efficiently, how to deal with
problems, how to handle pressure.
I’m 39, have three kids, I ran It gave me more self-confidence
personal bests after a 23-year career and made me proud of myself, not
only for the victories and medals,
but for how I prepared races and
handled bad times. Triathlon has
given me a lot.
January 2022 / / 19
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January 2022 / / 21
FEATURE
From his firstWorld Triathlonwin,via a double medal haul at the Tokyo
Olympics, to Super Leaguevictory, 2021 has been 23-year-oldAlexYee’s
annus mirabilis.We caught upwith British Tri’s superstarto reflect
on the last 12 months and look ahead to the next…
Words Tim Heming Image Super League Triathlon
what a year! What a Yee-hah! Yee delivered by retaining the grace and
Excuse the hyperbole, but gratitude that has been the hallmark of his rise to
when describing the last 12 prominence from an upbring in Brockley and
months of Britain’s gold and early development with Crystal Palace
silver Olympic triathlon Triathletes, to recovering from a horror bike
medallist Alex Yee, it’s crash in 2017, and winning the British 10km title
(almost) forgivable. the following year.
Set against the misery of the pandemic, the
tonic of a couple of late nights in July watching It hasn’t all been about the Olympics in
the 23-year-old from southeast London stride to 2021 either. Yee hit the ground running in the
silver in the individual event in Tokyo and then World Triathlon Championship Series – his
anchor the GB relay quartet to gold could hardly first WTCS win in Leeds in front of a sell-out
have been more welcome. crowd was a memory to cherish, and he put
There’s little doubt UK tri fans have been spoiled the disappointment of missing out on the
since London 2012. A combined five medals from world title in Edmonton behind him to embark
the Brownlees and Vicky Holland meant the heat on a hectic four-week Super League programme
was on in the Far East – and the weight of and emerge the victor. With all this and much
expectation rested on the slight frame of Yee. more to chat about, 220 caught up with Alex to
reflect on the year of Yee.f
22 / / January 2022
ALEX YEE INTERVIEW
January 2022 / / 23
FEATURE
Interview Start JAMIE SQUIRE/GETTY IMAGES
220: It’s been a busy year for you. the heat chamber where I did 5 x c where I built a foundation that’s
Time to put your feet up? 2km. We’d previously used heat The Tokyo mixed meant I’ve been free from bone-
with light aerobic exercise to get a relay gold-medal- stress, overuse-type injuries so far.
Alex Yee: I had three weeks off after stimulus. I ran around 2:55min/km
Super League, watched my and thought it’d give me a good winning team, 220: The Leeds WTCS win secured
girlfriend Liv [Mathias] race in chance in an attritional race. from L-R: Jess your Olympic berth and put an ear-
Barcelona, then flew to Crete, and Learmonth, to-ear grin on your face. What are
spent a few days in Santorini. It 220: If you compare yourself now Jonny Brownlee, your memories of that day?
allowed this year to sink in, but I’m to how you were as a junior athlete, Georgia Taylor-
looking forward to winter training what are the big changes? Brown and Yee AY: Probably my most complete race
now. Towards the end of my break, I of the year – a proud moment that
was relating everything to triathlon, AY: More training consistency and made me believe in myself and what
and think Liv was getting annoyed. race experience. Triathlon is one of I was doing. We hadn’t had crowds
the few sports where there’s no for so long, and there were friends
220: What will your winter look like? other way of getting to the top – you and family and Liv raced
must be extremely hard working. beforehand. I remember being so
AY: I’ll spend most of it in the UK. Another one is being surrounded by present and able to make such clear
I’d love to race cross-country or excellence. In Leeds, I was training race decisions. I was really living.
cyclocross. Cross-country and tri with Ali, Jonny, Jess [Learmonth],
running are similar in that it’s about Georgia [Taylor-Brown] and Tom 220: On to Tokyo, was there a
the first across the line irrespective [Bishop]. I learnt from them and moment you thought you might
of a time. Those fundamentals are brought a bit to Loughborough. win Olympic gold in the individual
hard to teach in training. race – or lose it in the mixed relay?
220: The 2017 bike crash in Italy led
220: Taking you back a couple of to broken ribs, vertebrae and a AY: I didn’t want to give myself the
years, was there a moment where collapsed lung. Talk us through opportunity to think about being an
you realised you could be an your recovery.
Olympic medal contender? “Maybe I could’ve been
AY: The healing process was more tactically aware when
AY: I wouldn’t say I felt like a medal extremely smooth, and I went from
contender heading into Tokyo! But being unsure whether I’d ever run Blummenfelt went, but I
there was one bike-run session I again to winning the British 10km struggle to believe I’d have
did in February that gave me champs the following year. It gave been able to do much. It’s like
confidence. The weather was me perspective, you realise that
horrendous, but I ran just under health is the No. 1 thing. And it gave nothing I’ve ever seen”
8:30mins for 3km finishing around me clarity that I loved triathlon. The
2:30min/km. Also, a later session in crash also meant a lot of gym rehab
24 / / January 2022
Olympic champion, I just wanted to treat it 220: Do you get obsessive about data or is ALEX YEE INTERVIEW
like any other race, so I wouldn’t be it more about feel?
overwhelmed. I don’t have any regrets. b
Maybe I could have been a bit more AY: Over the winter I keep it simple, using
tactically aware when [gold medallist power for bike sessions and speed for run The path to
Kristian] Blummenfelt went, but the way sessions. But with coach Adam Elliott, we success
he was accelerating I struggle to believe I’d were meticulous for the Olympics. We had
have been able to do much. It’s like access to physiologists, nutritionists and I It’s a long way to the top if
nothing I’ve ever seen. did a lot of work with hydration. We broke you want Olympic gold
down the Olympic test event power file
The mixed relay was almost the opposite. and did a deep-dive for training August 2012
The work of the first three – probably the specificity. I stood at the start with
three best mixed relay legs of all time – complete clarity that I’d done everything I Watches Brownlee brothers’
was so worthy of a gold medal, I couldn’t could and what would be would be. success in London 2012
lose! The moment Vincent [Luis] came
through on the bike, I really had to dig in. 220: Was 11th place in Edmonton and Among thousands in Hyde Park to see
missing the world title a disappointment? British triathlon Olympic medal success
220: While you managed the heat and for the first time – proving that a dream
humidity in Tokyo, I understand there AY: I definitely struggled with the attention
were different challenges during Super and demands [after Tokyo] and maybe could become reality.
League Triathlon? hadn’t trained appropriately leading in.
But Edmonton was a learning curve, and June 2017
AY: I raced in Jersey in 2018 and really I’m at complete peace that I didn’t win
struggled with the cold water. This year I because I don’t feel I’m at that point where Suffers horror bike crash in Italy
wore a swimskin under my tri-suit which I can call myself a world champ. Collides with a concrete bollard in
acted as a base layer and didn’t affect my first World Cup race in Cagliari,
stride or pedal stroke too much. It was 220: Do you call yourself an Olympic suffering broken ribs, vertebrae
probably a placebo, but I felt it helped. champion, though?
When it’s just over 20°C and non-wetsuit, and a collapsed lung.
I still really struggle. AY: Not often, no. Maybe that should be f
May 2018
Yee on his way to his first
WTCS race win in Leeds Wins British 10,000m title on debut
in June… and with it the Defeats veterans Andy Vernon and Chris
Thompson at Highgate to take national
Tokyo start line title in 27:51:94 – barely 5secs outside Dave
Bedford’s British U23 record set in 1971.
July 2018
Runs 13:34mins over 5,000m in
London Anniversary Games
A first taste of Diamond League action
against world’s best track runners in
Olympic stadium. Returns the following
year to improve PB by 5secs.
February/March 2019
Makes mark on world senior stage
Wins first World Cup in Cape Town
then finishes runner-up to world
champion Mario Mola in Abu
Dhabi on World Series debut.
June 2021
Wins first World Series race in Leeds
Secures Olympic qualification and thrills
bumper home crowd in Roundhay Park
and a live audience on BBC with
accomplished all-around victory.
July 2021
Wins Olympic silver and gold
Anchors Team GB’s mixed team relay
squad to inaugural Olympic title five days
after finishing runner-up to a charging
Kristian Blummenfelt in individual race.
August 2021
Misses out on world title in Edmonton
Despite the fastest 10km run by 40secs,
finishes 11th and must settle for third
in the series as Blummenfelt adds
world title to Olympic success.
September 2021
Hero’s return for first leg of
Super League Triathlon
Sun and crowds out for a return to racing
on home soil in London’s docklands as
SLT starts four-week mini-season.
Finishes fifth in Triple Mix format.
Wins Super League Triathlon
title in Malibu
After placing third in Munich and winning
in Jersey, takes overall crown after beating
Marten van Riel in a sprint finish in
California and scoops $120k.
TOMMY ZAFARES/TRIATHLON ORG b
January 2022 / / 25
FEATURE
ARTIST LIONEL STANHOPE
SUPER LEAGUE TRIATHLON c undeniable romance with the track.
Left: Yee and Jonny I love the energy it brings every time
my new Twitter bio. Alistair joked Brownlee sprint for the I step on it, even for a Tuesday track
with Jonny that he’s not more line at Super League session. I still think there’s space
successful [in winning the relay] Jersey in September; for me to do some track racing. I also
because it’s only a quarter of a gold! Above: This mural in went to the London Marathon this
Yee’s hometown was year and was lucky enough to be at
220: But you are Super League modified to celebrate the finish watching Phil Sesemann
Triathlon champion for 2021. Aside his achievements come home [as first Brit]. I trained
from the $120,000 cheque, what with Phil at Kent AC for a few
were your highlights? in Tokyo months. Then we saw Lucy Charles-
Barclay come across the line and it
AY: The big attraction was being able now moving to 50-200m, 200- was ‘What’s going on? You were in
to learn – you get exposed to so 400m and onwards. We’re also Malibu last weekend!’ It made me
much racing the best in the world. going to look at my response to really want to do a marathon. I’d
The SLT format doesn’t really suit cold-water swimming and a deep- love to go under 2:10 before I retire.
me, but I found a way to be dive into the physiological aspects, My 27:51 10km was in 2018 and pre-
competitive. Racing in London is which will be interesting. carbon innovation, so you wonder
just different gravy, the support was what could happen.
incredible. Another highlight was 220: You’ve always come across as
the sprint finish with Jonny in level-headed. Where does that
Jersey. For us and Jess and Georgia influence come from?
to both go one-two was a cool
statement after we’d been Olympic AY: I’ve been fortunate to have firm “I love triathlon and want
mixed relay champions together. but fair parents who’ve taught me to explore what my body
good values and brought me up well. can give, at least until Paris.
220: What are your aims for 2022? They were never pushy, but let me But there’s an undeniable
do things because I wanted to. romance with the track. I love
AY: I’d love to race well at the
Commonwealth Games. I feel I’m a 220: Southeast London basked in the energy it brings”
product of London 2012. To have the your Olympic achievements. How
Olympics on my doorstep and watch much did you enjoy the hero’s
Ali and Jonny fly by really lit a fire reception?
for me. I’d love to have the same
opportunity to race on the streets of AY: The response has been CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES
Birmingham and inspire people. incredible. Seeing the mural by
Brockley Station bridge for the first
220: And beyond? time was overwhelming – the area
reciprocated how I feel about them.
AY: The big goal is to be competitive I was taking a few photos, and
in any race scenario. I have work to people were beeping driving past or
do on the bike and especially on the saying they stayed up late to watch. I
swim. We had a big project working guess you don’t realise the impact
on my 50m breakout speed. We’re until people tell you.
220: The British athletics fraternity
would love you to drop the swim
and bike, head for track and
eventually the marathon. How
tempted are you?
AY: I love triathlon and want to Yee during the 40km bike leg
explore what my body can give, at of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics…
least until Paris. But there’s an he would win silver on debut
26 / / January 2022
ALEX YEE INTERVIEW
Yee has his sights set on Paris
2024, but beyond that he’s keen
to do some track racing and have
a crack at running marathons
SUPER LEAGUE TRIATHLON
b 220: You’re currently second on the all- [Charles-Barclay] coming in, and Jess and
time parkrun list by just 9secs. Fancy Georgia staying, it’s the way the sport will
top 3 run tips having a shot at the record? be on the female side for a few years.
Nail your sprint finish AY: Turning up at a parkrun now, I’ll just 220: Can the British men achieve three
want to jog around with my mum. There spots for Paris?
Know the course. In Jersey there was aren’t many opportunities to go home to
the dead turn just before the line. London, and Dulwich, where I’d love to AY: In 2016, you probably wouldn’t have
Be first into the corner and carry give it a crack. Although by the third lap put me in the frame for 2020-21. There’ll
as much speed as you can through I’m having to weave around people. be a surprise, someone who’ll develop
well when they move to university and
each turn. Relax the shoulders, drive 220: You’re now in Loughborough living find structure in training. Ben [Dijkstra] is
the arms through and your legs will and training with girlfriend Liv Mathias. an incredible athlete and not really got a
How do you keep the work-life balance? weakness. Sam [Dickinson] is an
follow – and time the dip right. aggressive racer and his style will pay
AY: We were training partners through the dividends. There are also talented juniors
Pace a 10K to perfection start of lockdown so to share that was like Dan Dixon and Connor Bentley.
special. She was a big reason why I moved
Try for an even or negative split for the to Loughborough, my partner in crime. 220: The inevitable question. Do you
fastest time. The first mile or two is easy eventually see yourself racing Ironman?
speed, the adrenalin spurs you on. After 220: With the competition so tough, does
that it’s a ‘maybe pace’ where you don’t Liv have a chance for Paris 2024? AY: I’ve found that people who have plans
never stick to them. You heard Jonny say it
quite know if you can hold it until the AY: I truly believe she does, she knows would be his last Olympics, and then he’ll
end. That’s your limit pacing-wise. what it takes. It’s similar to where I was in be in Paris. I’d love to have a go at long-
2019. It isn’t easy and there’s a lot of course racing but would also love to do
Stay mentally strong talent, but I believe she can make the some marathons, so if there’s a way of
breaks we saw in Leeds, Edmonton and marrying the two, I’d be interested. You
Try to stay in the moment. Your brain can Tokyo. And potentially with Lucy never know until you try.
spiral and the chimp on your shoulder
can come and tell you it’s hard. I always
come back to: ‘What’s next? What’s the
best thing I can do in the next 30secs to
get me to the next 30secs in the best
possible shape?’
January 2022 / / 27
FEATURE
28 / / January 2022
ROSS EDGLEY ICE SWIMMING
Is ice swimming something ou’d think once Ross Edgley had finished
for the hardy fringes of our recovering from the Great British Swim –
which involved an epic 157 days at sea and
sport, or is it something 1,791 miles of swimming (not to mention
we should all include in our 2.3 million swim strokes and 100 jellyfish stings)
training cycles? In an extract – he’d want a break. But no, after a long period of
from his new book, Blueprint, ‘recovery’, which included learning to walk again
we join Great British Swim and embracing barefoot running (Edgley’s feet
record holder Ross Edgley and atrophied while at sea), as well as shoulder surgery to
World’s Strongest Man Eddie repair damage sustained during the challenge, he
was back at it. This began with breaking his training
Hall as they take a dip… cycle down into its various phases – a cycle which
begins with the base mesocycle.
WORDS ROSS EDGLEY As part of this base mesocycle, a cold-water swim
IMAGES RED BULL/ROSS EDGLEY was in order. In the following extract from Blueprint,
Edgley explains why his training kicked off with an
ice swim. Joined by World’s Strongest Man Eddie
Hall, the two explore a lesson in the benefits of cold-
water swimming, how to stay safe and whether you
can actually get frostbite on your genitals…f
January 2022 / / 29
FEATURE
S ARTWITH
A SWIM
It’s 7 on 18 January 2019 in Cheshire, England. become a tradition of mine to start every year’s base cEdgley and Hall face
After eks of routine rest and rehab (of the mesocycle with an ice swim to ‘wash away’ any the feeze in Manley
baref and brachiating variety) my recovery spiritual decay as I start to habituate the stress Mere, on a day when the
meso le had come to an end and I no longer caused by a higher volume and intensity of training. temps in the water
owne pair of squishy sea feet or battered rotator It’s one of the best forms of adventure-based dipped below 2°C.
cuffs. w I was eager to begin my next phase of aske¯sis and healthy hardship, and is inspired by this
traini and build a solid athletic foundation with a ancient Greek army’s concept of ‘getting wintered’.
well- grammed base mesocycle, which would
begin at Manley Mere, a lakeside water sports centre Of course, normally I use this idea of becoming
and adventure park that’s owned by good friends of ‘battle ready’ in the figurative sense, but for today’s
mine (Alistair and Kate). session I did mean it quite literally. For I would be
joined by my good friend Eddie Hall, the 2017
Manley Mere had been converted from their world’s strongest man who was preparing to make
family’s dairy farm in 1984 and was nestled among his boxing debut the following year. He too was at
40 acres of fields in the English countryside. the start of his base mesocycle, so we agreed to meet
Equipped with a huge lake to swim in, an adventure up and train in the sub-zero temperatures wearing
trail to run across and an old farmyard full of nothing but trunks and a smile.
equipment to perform old-style strongman training
with, today there was a thin layer of frost covering INTO THE WATER
the ground which meant the water temperature
dipped below 2°C. These were the perfect conditions Entering into the water that day, I must admit I was
to habituate stress and get ‘wintered’. nervous. Although Eddie was a very accomplished
swimmer in his youth, winter swimming is a
This is an idea that should be central to everyone’s completely different sport and if anything went
base mesocycle and is inspired by the ancient Greek wrong I’m not sure conventional lifesaving
philosopher Epictetus, who advocated a period of techniques apply to a man weighing 28 stone (177.8
cold, hard and brutal training for soldiers as they kg) and standing 6ft 3in (1.92
prepared for war. He famously said, ‘We must m) tall. This is why I was so
undergo a hard winter training and not rush into keen to communicate all the
things for which we haven’t prepared’, because so dangers we would face today as
often wars were not fought in the winter in ancient we waded into the lake up to
Greece, therefore this time should be spent training our waists. But before I could
and preparing for battles that could come in spring. get into the science, it became
immediately obvious that the
Through ice swimming and adventure-based sensation was foreign to
aske¯sis I work to habituate stress, so psychologically Eddie’s physiology and
and physiologically I am able to positively tolerate was something his genitals
training that’s higher in intensity and longer in didn’t like.
volume (work capacity). This final point is so
important, but so often overlooked. This is why it’s eEddie Hall joining
Edgley for a warmer
swim... As a teen Hall
was a National Swim
Champ, before turning
to Strong Man training
and competing.
ROSS EDGLEY ICE SWIMMING
“I ASSURED HIM THAT BECAUSE WE WERE IN A FRESHWATER LAKE ABOVE
FREEZING, THAT WHATEVER HE WAS FEELING IN HIS TRUNKS WASN’T FROSTBITE ”
“Oh no . . . I can’t feel my testicles,” he According to research published in the Interestingly, these figures are often cited
said with genuine unease. British Journal of Sports Medicine, ‘This is as science-backed estimates. Since
a physiological response of a gasp and although the core body temperature
“But I don’t understand why you need uncontrollable hyperventilation, initiated associated with death is often quoted as
to feel them right now?” I laughed. by the dynamic response of the cutaneous 25°C, the lowest temperature recorded (to
cold receptors, resulting in the aspiration date) after accidental exposure to cold
“No, no, I’m being serious. Can you get of the small volume of water necessary to water (with a full recovery) was a body
frostbite on your penis?” he asked. initiate the drowning process.’ temperature of 13.7°C.
Basically, you panic, hyperventilate and
“Hmm . . . I’d be surprised,” I said. start drowning. DANGER 3: ‘AFTER DROP’
“Surprised? But you’re not saying ‘no’
entirely,” he continued to quiz me. DANGER 2: HYPOTHERMIA Time: 60 minutes+
In many ways it was a fair question. As a
sea swimmer and sports scientist who’s Time: 20 30 minutes The mistake many people make is
swum in some of the world’s coldest Hypothermia occurs when your body loses thinking they’re safe once they’ve exited
environments, I’d coincidentally come heat faster than it can produce heat, the water, but the truth is they must be
across research on this very topic. So I told causing a dangerously low body very cautious of another physiological
him that although it’s a rare occurrence, temperature. Obviously, there are many phenomenon called ‘after drop’. When
studies show it is possible (in theory) factors that will impact on how you’re submerged in cold water, your body
since seawater freezes at –1.9°C and susceptible a person is to hypothermia, reduces blood flow to the skin and
human tissue at –0.55°C. but progressive signs and symptoms are: extremities (arms, legs, hands and feet)
I then assured him that because we through something called ‘peripheral
were in a freshwater lake that’s just above y 37°C (core) temperature: Your body vasoconstriction’ and increases blood
freezing, that whatever he was feeling in functions as normal. flow to the core to protect your vital
his trunks wasn’t frostbite and that the organs. This is an innate self-
safety and wellbeing of his penis was y 36°C (core) temperature: Shivering. preservation mechanism that occurs to
actually low down on the list of dangers y 35°C (core) temperature: Confusion, ensure we retain heat and can survive in
surrounding ice swimming. “If the safety cold water longer.
of my shlong is a low priority, do I want to disorientation and introversion.
know what you consider high?” he asked. y 34°C (core) temperature: Amnesia. But as you exit the water and start to
Inviting him to walk deeper into the y 33°C (core) temperature: Cardiac warm up, this process is reversed and the
lake, I then listed the three biggest blood starts to leave your core and vital
dangers that everyone must understand arrhythmias. organs and recirculate back to your f
when ice swimming: y 33°C–30°C (core) temperature: Clouding extremities and peripheral blood vessels,
cooling as it travels. As a result, you can
DANGER 1: ‘COLD SHOCK’ of consciousness. lose up to 4.5°C from your core
y 0°C (core) temperature: Loss of temperature which in turn can cause you
Time: 0 10 seconds. to shiver, develop hypothermia or lose
consciousness. consciousness. What’s worse is that f
The biggest factor that accounts for most y 28°C (core) temperature: Ventricular
cold-water deaths is ‘cold shock’.
fibrillation.
y 25°C (core) temperature: Death.
January 2022 / / 31
FEATURE
studies show if you attempt to rush this process of “WHENYOU’RESUBMERGEDIN COLDWATER,YOURBODY
re-warming by having a warm shower, you risk REDUCES BLOOD FLOW TO THE SKIN AND EXTREMITIES”
warm blood (that has pooled in your core) returning
to your hands and feet at speed, leading to rapid
cooling. This is why it was so important the team
warmed up slowly and gradually.
Finally, studies show that if you’re able to do all of
the above in a safe manner and systematically
subject your body to lower temperatures and longer
immersion in the cold, then you train your body (and
brain’s) ability to habituate stress.
HABITUATE STRESS suggest that experience may modulate next 15 minutes would be (and the
the coordination of emotional severity of the ‘after drop’), Eddie
Habituation is a psychological learning process response with cortisol reactivity to then burst into a sprint to catch me
where there is a decrease in response to a stimulus skydiving’ and ‘alters the individual’s up. Aggressively generating heat
after being repeatedly exposed to it. It sounds engagement of the hypothalamic– through his giant quads, after just five
complicated, but it’s not. It means any stressor pituitary–adrenal axis.’ minutes of running I then witnessed
you’re exposed to (whether it be psychological or something I had never seen before.
physiological) provokes a stress response. However, The same happens when cold water Eddie had an almost superhuman
the more times you’re exposed to it the less stressful swimming, too, since, according to ability to re-heat and recoHvaellra.nd Edgley refuelling...
it becomes. the Journal of Military Medicine, When researching ice swimwWoemu’rldeebnroesto,suurrseniafcickeocfrcehaomice
‘Acclimatization to cold is a scientists discovered subjaefctetrsahfraedezaing swim!
It was first described in the landmark paper by R F complicated phenomenon’ but ‘after much higher percentage of body fat,
Thompson and W A Spencer in 1966 entitled repeated (five to 10) exposures, less which can serve as a great way to
Habituation: A model phenomenon for the study of shivering is produced. In fact, this insulate and retain heat. Almost like a
neuronal substrates of behaviour, but has since been adaptation can be so powerful that it’s polar bear, seal and other cold-
expanded upon to find habituation causes a variety been reported nomadic civilisations of acclimatised animals.
of responses in the body and mind which can the arctic feel so comfortable in the
influence behaviour. cold they can sleep in it.’ Studies also found that muscle
mass helps to generate heat and Eddie
One of these responses is related to our fight-or- THE WORLD’S STRONGEST ICE had a plentiful amount of that too. It
flight response and the release of hormones, since it SWIMMER? meant his 28 stone (177.8 kg) body
has been known that ‘the magnitude of possessed a unique amount of bulk
hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) activation Back at Manley Mere and after 15 (fat and muscle) to both generate heat
occurring in response to a stressor declines minutes Eddie emerged from the and retain it. In fact, by the time we
with repeated exposure to that same stressor.’ water, shivering but successful. Of finished a single loop of the lake (one
course, we weren’t safe yet. With his mile) his lips were no longer blue and
This explains why scientists found karate fighters lips a strange shade of blue, it was he was visibly sweating, as steam
with three years of experience had a greater control clear the blood had drained from his could be seen from his gigantic
over their stress hormone release compared to skin and extremities (arms, legs, shoulders as he stood there wearing
untrained subjects. Researchers found ‘long- term hands and feet) to increase blood flow nothing but a smile, swimming trunks
karate practice is associated with to his core to protect his vital organs. and a bobble hat...
a significant modulation of stress hormones’. As a result, I knew he was moments
away from a severe case of ‘after drop’ ON SALE
Now, these are only preliminary results and while and needed to re-heat his body as fast NOW
some studies show most people’s stress response as possible. Fortunately, this wasn’t
decreases the more times they’re exposed to my first rodeo and I had prepared a > Blueprint (RRP
something psychologically stressful, for some it bag full of towels and woollen hats. £20) is published
does not change or even increases. This is largely by Harper Collins
based on your ‘subjective’ evaluation of the “Quick, put this on,” I said, passing and available now
situation, sport or adventure and the level of stress. him a knitted bobble hat. through Amazon
and all good book
Let’s take skydiving, for example. Research “Ok, now what?” Eddie asked. retailers.
published in Frontiers of Human Neuroscience
stated: ‘It is uncertain whether stress reactivity hat around the lake.
habituates to this stressor given that skydiving Understanding how important the
remains a risky, life-threatening challenge with
every jump despite experience.’ But, ‘Results
Hall and Edgley refuelling...
We’re not sure if ice cream
would be our snack of choice
after a freezing swim!
32 / / January 2022
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FEATURE
WORDS ROB SLADE IMAGES DANIEL_JAMES_PIX
Triathlons are competitive by their very nature,
but when you add in a rivalry that’s spanned
decades, things go to a whole new level.
Step forward the Inter-Services Triathlon…
34 / / January 2022
ARMY VS RAF VS NAVY
January 2022 / / 35
On Wednesday 15 “We deliver about nine events a Triathletes from all decided to bring everyone together
September 2021, year for military-only personnel,” three services get for one big showdown.
hundreds of army, navy says Stuart Irving, secretary of the ready to race
and RAF men and women Army Triathlon Association (ATA) The result is 220 confirmed
descended on sleepy Cotswold and the man responsible for entrants as opposed to the 85 that
villages near Tetbury. It was an organising the race today. As with a would normally compete, but even
invasion, but not the sort you’d lot of things, the race didn’t manage that is just scratching the surface of
normally associate with the armed to go ahead last year due to the how popular triathlon is within the
forces. Sure, they were here for pandemic, and this year things have armed forces.
battle, but wetsuits, Lycra and bikes gone a little differently. Normally,
were their weapons of choice. They the athletes in each service’s elite “Two years ago we had 261
were here for the Inter-Services squads would battle it out for members,” Irving explains.
Triathlon. honours, but this year the organisers “Since then we’ve expanded and
now have over 720 members.
We’re the biggest collective
triathlon club in the country.”
Among its members are people
with varying skillsets and
experience, from beginners to Team
GB age-groupers and even pro
athlete Kat Matthews, who wasn’t
racing here due to her involvement
in the 70.3 Worlds.
A NATURAL FIT
Meanwhile, the RAF Triathlon
Association is roughly 550
members strong, including Dave
Ellis’ paratri guide, Luke Pollard
(who also wasn’t racing today).
Then there’s Royal Navy
Triathlon, with roughly 300
members, which is significantly
down on the other two, but still
pretty big numbers for a tri club.
“We’ve noticed a real dramatic
increase in the number of people
36 / / January 2022
ARMY VS RAF VS NAVY
“Triathlon is popular because From the starting
soldiers are competitive. You horn to the finish
don’t go to war to come second” line the focus is on
one thing only:
winning
coming in at grassroots level,” says achieve what they set out to achieve, FAST
Robert Govier, head coach of Royal it’s not good for them moving FACTS
Navy Triathlon. “Everyone in the forward. Quite often we lose
armed forces is relatively fit and triathletes because of that. By 720+
healthy anyway, but we’re finding making sure our athletes enjoy
that there are athletes coming themselves first and foremost, Army Triathlon
forward that have an aptitude we’re finding we’re keeping people Association
for triathlon.” involved for much longer.” members
So why is it so popular? Irving It’s a refreshing take, but looking 550+
reckons it’s a natural fit: “Within across the start line that morning it
the military everything is about was clear to see that everyone was RAF Triathlon
that will to win. You don’t go into focused on the task at hand. The Association
war to come second. Where else can course was an Olympic distance, members
you best practise and hone those with a 1.5km swim in the waters of
skills? On the sports field. It’s about Lake 32 in the Cotswolds, followed 300+
that physical fitness, it’s about by a 40km bike leg around the
mental resilience, it’s about the surrounding lanes and villages, Royal Navy
delivery of training to reach that and four 2.5km loops of the lake on Triathlon
goal. Triathlon fits extremely well foot. Conditions were perfect. The members
because soldiers are über water was calm and there wasn’t a
competitive. Everyone wants to cloud in the sky. 220
win. It’s that will to win until you
get to your objective. The objective READY FOR BATTLE Inter-Services
today for some is just to finish, for Triathlon entries
some it’s to break a time and for Competitors set off in three waves,
others it’s to get into the top 10.” with mixed abilities in each one to
help spread the field out. As
BRAGGING RIGHTS expected, the army starts strongly,
but with waves starting at different
Of course, for many, the objective is times, it’s hard to know exactly
to claim bragging rights over the who’s in the driving seat.
other two services. I’m told that the
army has dominated the event in Streams of triathletes clamber
recent times, but perhaps that’s no out of the lake to the sound of the
surprise when you compare the appropriately-named Shouty
strength in depth.
“The whole aim of Army Triathlon
is to win the Inter-Services race,”
says Benjamin Leach, head coach for
the ATA. “All of our funding is geared
toward creating teams to win that.”
It’s a view that’s echoed by the
head coach of the RAF Triathlon
Association, Sue Pugh: “The overall
aim of the association is absolutely
the Inter Services competition. As
you’ll have gathered, the rivalry is
quite competitive.”
Interestingly, Govier suggests
there’s a slightly different ethos for
the navy. “While we really like to
win, our main goal is to encourage
the guys to enjoy themselves, get
out there, keep fit and healthy and
support them. If we end up with a
win that’s an added bonus.
“There’s a danger that individuals
put too much pressure on
themselves. Then when they don’t
FEATURE
“Approaching the finish line, one
athlete shoulder-charged his
rival straight into the barrier”
Dave, bellowing instructions to An armed services the perfect scene that really BE
guide them in. There’s a torrent of triathlete leaves captures the almost ruthless THE
people clad in army tri-suits, who transition for the competitiveness of this unique BEST
are all met with shouts of final run-leg battle event. The final 50m involves a tight
encouragement and timing splits hairpin bend before a last-gasp MALE WINNER
from their coaching team as they sprint over 20m to try and shave off
run into transition. If we needed a vital seconds. Dozens of servicemen Sam Wordely
reminder of how much the race and women line the barriers,
means, this is it. These guys are screaming at their teammates to 1:59:28
taking it incredibly seriously. snatch crucial positions.
NAVY
Gradually, the lake empties of Two triathletes suddenly burst
athletes as they move onto the final around the corner, shoulder to FEMALE WINNER
two disciplines. The bike is far from shoulder. “Take him!” screams
straightforward with traffic on the the person next to us. Happy Sam Rose
roads and road works popping up to oblige, the army triathlete
unexpectedly, but the views shoulder-charges his navy rival 2:17:22
through the Cotswolds make for a straight into the barrier in front
stunning backdrop. Not that many of us, costing him vital time, a RAF
will have noticed, such is their position and, potentially, some
steely focus on the race. mild bruising! At the finish line TEAM WINNERS
tempers are bubbling, but it’s
While the athletes may have short-lived and there’s generally a MALE SENIOR
made a gingerly return into friendly, supportive atmosphere
transition through fear of slipping once the racing’s over. Army
over on a tight turn, there were no
such worries as they head out onto “We all want to win,” explains FEMALE SENIOR
the run, putting the power down the army’s George Steele, who’ll
knowing they have just 10km in eventually claim sixth. “Especially RAF
which to gain time and positions. the individuals and as a team. But
when you come down here, you MALE MASTERS
RUTHLESS COMPETITION know so many people from the
other services that it’s like one Army
Standing at the finish line, big family. You cheer on everyone
watching droves of athletes that you see.” FEMALE MASTERS
finish their race, we’re treated to
Army
38 / / January 2022
ARMY VS RAF VS NAVY
As more and more athletes cross away deployed. We’ve just sent Clockwise L-R: but because that was a planned tour
the finish line the results picture 3,500 people off with HMS Queen Pushing on under the with structure, he was able to train
becomes clearer, and it transpires Elizabeth, some of them triathletes, beating sun; Sam in his downtime.
that the army hasn’t dominated so they’re on the opposite side of Rose collects her
quite as much as expected. the world at the moment.” winner’s medal; Sam Naturally, the knowledge that you
Wordley picks up always need to be fit and ready to do
While they took the masters UNIQUE CHALLENGES the top prize your job brings another dynamic to
category, the RAF’s Sam Rose took training and racing, as ATA
the tape for the women in 2:17:22 Clearly the people racing here have chairwoman Fiona Scotter explains.
and the navy’s Sam Wordley a unique set of challenges to face. “You want to race hard, but at the
finished first in the men’s overall It’s something seventh-place male end of the day you’ve got a job to do
category with a time of 1:59:28. It’s a finisher Luke Mason knows all too as well. To be injured doing your job
result that’s made sweeter by the well. The 20-year-old joined 2 Para can sometimes mean you don’t get
fact that Wordley wasn’t sure if he’d (Second Battalion, Parachute to deploy with your regimental
even be able to race. Regiment) aged 16 and only started family. No one wants to be in that
competing in triathlon two years position, they want to be out there
“I’ve been away on ship, so I ago, but he regularly places in the doing what they’ve trained to do.
missed the first half of the season,” top 10. “I’ve just come back from Triathlon’s great, but it’s not the be
the 24-year-old Royal Marine told Operation Pitting, where we were all and end all.” That being said, we
us post-race. “You can bike and processing eligible Afghan civilians didn’t see a single person holding
run while on the ship, but you to the UK. I got the call at 4pm and back on race day.
can’t swim. I come from a we were on the coach the day after.
swimming background, though, The job comes first, especially being Although being in the forces
so it’s not too bad.” in the parachute regiment.” has its challenges, it also gives
these athletes a useful attribute:
It’s an obstacle faced by many, Mason was also on tour for eight discipline. “Motivation comes and
Govier tells me: “We struggle to get months last year in Afghanistan, goes,” says Leach. “If you just base
a lot of our guys here because they’re your training around motivation
you’re going to be up and down.
But if you put it down to good
discipline and create good habits,
that discipline will get you through
that session. You don’t need
motivation, you just need
discipline.” And for these athletes,
that just comes as standard.
January 2022 / / 39
STAGES SMART BIKE. MAKE THIS YEAR YOUR MOST POWERFUL YET.
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OUR W hen is a vaping device macronutrient content depending
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A GENUINE you’re veering toward fat-burning or
CLASS LEADER carb-burning. Further question marks hang over
the unit’s usability. You’re advised to
80-89 KATE MILSOM It works by breathing into said use the Lumen several times a day.
% unit, which broadly calculates your Throw in the fact that all too often we
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IMPRESSIVE a keen endurance athlete. the ratio between the metabolic and your day can start to be
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ONE OF THE BEST uptake of oxygen. For the Lumen, it’s hard to verify the accuracy of the
YOU CAN BUY the focus is on measuring carbon results. You’re pointed to peer
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% generate CO2 and release it into your undertaken by at least one of the
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into CO2 levels in your breath, which On the positive, the app’s usable
A DECENT the Lumen measures. and there’s some good information
PERFORMER on there about individual food’s
Why is this information useful? macronutrient content, though the
50-69 JACK SEXTY Seen through a health prism, much ‘meals inspiration’ section doesn’t
% of the population consumes too provide cooking instructions.
A strong age-grouper much sugar, leading to high levels of
AVERAGE focusing on top-end gains. carb burning and fat accumulation. As for cost, there are various
The Lumen app, which the unit options starting from £249. This
IT’LL DO THE JOB neatly syncs to, will tell you whether is for the unit, plus six months’
WELL ENOUGH you’re mainly burning fat (one or use of the app. After this time, you
two on a scale out of five) or mainly pay £19 per month, but you can
0-49 carbs (four to five). If, for example, cancel at any time.
% you’re burning high levels of carbs
through snacking, the app would For someone looking to improve
POOR then suggest higher good-fat health, this could be a worthwhile
alternatives to reduce the likelihood investment. For triathletes,
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Seen through a triathlon lens,
JAMES WITTS there’s potential benefit here if you 70 VERDICT AUSEFULTOOL,
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He’s a published author model, where you play around with
writing about sports science. ACTIVETRIATHLETE
42 / / January 2022
KIT ZONE
“The Lumen app,
which the unit neatly
syncs to, will tell you
whether you mainly
burn fat or carbs”
January 2022 / / 43
KIT ZONE
SCOTT HOKA ONE ONE
PURSUIT RINCON 3
£130 A shoe worth pursuing? £105 The ultimate do-it-all trainers for tri?
In the rugged, racey and durable Kinabalu and Fondly remembered by boys of a certain age, the plot
Supertrac, Scott have produced this reviewer’s of Weird Science involves two high school kids
current favourite trail shoes. And yet we’ve never creating their dream woman. Swap those computer
clicked with the brand’s limited road range, which has for nerds for a pair of serious triathletes and the resulting
2021 clearly been influenced by the oversized shoe creation could well have been the Hoka Rincons 3, as they
movement (surely here to stay). tick every box for multisport. They’re impossibly light
Released at the same time as Scott’s Speed Carbon RC (197g for a UK7) yet cushioned, suitable for training and
(£170, see issue 395), the Pursuits boast the same hefty, racing from 5km to the Ironman marathon, with swift
supportive yet lightweight midsole wedge (heel drainage, a breathable upper and even a heel loop
height is 30mm, heel drop 8mm and overall weight OVERSIZED and race-focussed tongue.
236g for a UK 7) and they’re certainly worthy of the RUN SHOES After the gentle refinement of the still
ER2 Evolved Rocker tag as there’s plenty of forward
impressive Rincon 2s, the 3s have seen more of an
propulsion. Similar to the Rincon 3s, there’s a quality overhaul. Weight comes down thanks to the ultra-
one-piece mesh upper that’s breathable and durable, slim asymmetrical tongue, outsole grooves and
though we ditched the cheap supplied laces right away. slender mesh upper, and it’s now available in standard
So far, mostly so good, but once again we had trouble and a new wider version. But it’s long-term durability, an
indoors. Where the Speed Carbon had a lack of security oft-cited criticism of previous Rincons, where the major
in the heel, the Pursuits have a very high arch, which overhauls have taken place. Extra rubber has been added
caused intense rubbing on our instep from about 5km to the outsole and the midsole has been reinforced, yet
onwards, no matter how much we applied lube or broke not at the expense of propulsion from the Meta-Rocker.
them in. Supinators or runners with high arches might The heel-to-toe drop is Hoka’s standard 5mm (heel
not fare as badly, but trying before you buy is essential height is 29mm), but there’s nothing just standard here.
here. MB scott-sports.com These are Hoka’s best shoe yet. MB hoka.com
74 VERDICT IMPRESSIVE 94 VERDICT ABARNSTORMER
% MIDSOLEANDUPPER,BUT % FORHOKAFANSNEWANDOLD.
INTERNALISSUES ANDATADECENTPRICE,TOO
44 / / January 2022
KIT ZONE
FOR EVERY ADVENTURE
FOCUS RACE SUIT
£195 Sustainable ‘slow fashion’ tri-suit
S ustainability and inclusivity As expected in a race suit, the
is at the core of founder chamois pad isn’t massively thick,
Annie Brooks’ new line of but proved to be quick-drying and
kit, with the Focus Race Suit crowned provided enough padding for rides
as queen of the line. Made to be ‘fast, of a few hours without causing any
fun and functional’, it ticked all sore pressure spots or chafing.
those boxes and more for us. Though we didn’t find the flower
pattern super flattering, this will be
Unlike some other tri-suits, the the perfect design for those who
wide aero-grip bands on the legs love wearing bold and fun kit.
of this colourful suit didn’t dig
in or cause any sore sausage leg One of the biggest pros of
situations. Instead, the soft silicone choosing this new brand is their
coating keeping them in place over sustainable mindset. The use of
long efforts on the bike and run. recycled materials and carbon
offsetting via tree planting goes
Large aeriated side panels kept us hand in hand with a focus on slow
from overheating and felt durable fashion, with a pre-order production
despite being wafer-thin, while we process that prevents stock waste.
liked the ribbed, aero arm sleeves This does, however, come at a price.
with secure gripper, which were KM foreveryadventure.com
tight without being restrictive. A
large rear pocket with access via 88 VERDICT FUNAND
both sides provided ample room for % COLOURFUL, WITH QUALITY AND
our gels and keys, though you’d
struggle stuffing a phone in for SUSTAINABILITY AT ITS CORE
training rides.
SELLE ITALIA
FLITE BOOST
£314.90 Top-end saddle
As used by Chris Froome’s AQUA SPHERE
Israel Start-Up Nation pro ALPHA FINS
cycling team, the Flite Boost
Pro Team Kit Carbonio Superflow is a £22.99 Useful training aid
top-end flat racing saddle with a price
tag to match. Full carbon rails, Made with moulded EVA foam, it’s
minimal padding and a cut-out to no wonder these Aqua Sphere fins
reduce pressure add up to a saddle that are supremely comfortable and feel as
weighs just 170g in a large size. Shaped light as a feather in the water. The
to suit flexible, dynamic riders, we unusual design mimics your natural kick
found it easy to position ourselves, movement and the buoyant material
including on the nose when sprinting. avoids any sinky-leg syndrome,
Padding is minimal so we sometimes allowing us to focus on technique
got a sharp shock when switching unhampered. A stylish and practical
from thicker saddles, but when we pair of fins. KM aquasphereswim.com
found our groove the pressure quickly
reduced and rides of three hours or
more were fine. If you combine road
racing with short- course tri and are
flexible enough to take advantage of a
very light, flat saddle, you won’t be
disappointed. JSselleitalia.com
85 VERDICT LUXURY 92 VERDICT COMFY,LIGHT
% LIGHTWEIGHT SADDLE FOR % AND HYDRO IN THE WATER;
SHORT COURSESPEEDSTERS AFFORDABLE PRICE
January 2022 / / 45
KIT ZONE
ON
CLOUDBOOM ECHO
£210 Elite speed-conscious marathon shoe
Slip on these sleek, wafer-thin feel pretty minimalist, and we’d
kicks and you’ll feel the question the durability of the ultra-
propulsion from the very first light upper. While we wouldn’t wear
step. At only 186g (per shoe, UK size these to log super long training miles,
5.5), the Cloudboom Echo really is the Echo was made to compete and
requires less energy to run fast than
‘shaped for speed’. These shoes your typical sub-£100 road shoe.
feel extremely light, with an
almost translucent 100% The Echo was tested in
recycled polyester mesh collaboration with some of the
upper and light foam world’s fastest athletes, including
midsole. Simply by shifting Tim Don and Javier Gomez. And this
is a shoe for fast runners, for those
your weight to your forefeet with good form and technique who
from standing, you’ll feel the don’t need much support or
extreme rocker thrusting you cushioning in a shoe, and are
forwards and into motion. The carbon ultimately just looking for the lightest
Speedboard sole adds to this and most responsive ride. If this is
propulsion for huge energy retention you, you can’t do much better than
from footstrike to toe-off. investing in a pair of these marathon
The brand’s typical CloudTec lugs speed machines. KM on-running.com
along the bottom of the shoe give that
classic, bouncy On feel, aiming to 94 VERDICT INCREDIBLYHIGH
propel the runner as quickly as % TECH AND FAST MARATHON
possible onto their forefoot and away.
We’re unsure on the ‘enhanced RUNNERS, BUT PRICEY
forefoot cushioning’ though, as these
RENPHO
R3 MASSAGE
GUN
£99.99 Bargain massage gun
RESILIENT For just shy of £100 you get a lot
NUTRITION for your money with the Renpho
R3, including a handy carry case
£4.99 Nut butter pouches and five heads, each suited to a
different area of your body. It can be
With 546 calories and 27.3g protein, used on five different speed settings up
these 100g nut butter pouches to 3,200rpm, the same rpm as the
are ideal for fuelling and rebuilding Hyperice Hypervolt Go we reviewed in
while training or racing. Added issue 396, but that gun definitely felt
caffeine, L-theanine and L-leucine more powerful. Despite that, we found
help boost performance, focus and the R3 still helped reduce muscle
muscle growth. The dark chocolate and fatigue. On the lower settings, it was no
hazelnut flavour split opinion, but noisier than an electric toothbrush (45
other flavours and versions are decibels) but it was more disruptive on
available. RS resilientnutrition.com higher speeds (55-60 decibels). It’s
easy to use and weighs just 740g, but
there’s no Bluetooth connectivity or
app and the attachments caught on
clothes at times. At this price, we can
forgive its indiscretions. RS renpho.com
85 VERDICT AGREATSNACK 87 VERDICTIMPRESSIVEVALUEFOR
% OPTIONDURINGENDURANCE % MONEYANDEXTREMELY
FUNCTIONAL
EXERCISEANDRECOVERY
46 / / January 2022
AFGHAN
CRISIS
APPEAL
‘We’re treating malnourished children and their number is increasing...’
MARIA FIX Our paediatric department is It’s very moving to see a child who happy and proud that MSF has
MSF NURSE, overwhelmed. We’re treating a lot has been so sick and malnourished stayed. e people here are su ering
AFGHANISTAN of malnourished children and their recover and come back to life. But and it’s vital for us to be here,
number is increasing. it’s challenging at the same time, providing medical care to people
“At the moment, particularly when you know that, who so desperately need it.”
we are the only Even before the change of even if we stabilise them here and
major hospital in the region that government, around half of the they recover, they’re going to face Right now, we re tre ting people
is functioning. ere are around population relied for food support the same problems – the same lack wounded byw r, m lnourished children,
1.5 million people living in on aid organisations, but now a lot of food – as soon as we discharge nd vulner ble pregn nt women. In five
Helmand province and the health of that support has collapsed and them. But we do what we can and loc tions cross the country, our te ms
system across the region has many children are going hungry. it’s important that we do. re tre ting emergencytr um c ses
essentially collapsed. nd providing lifes ving medic l c re.
I don’t think you ever get used to It’s so important that MSF is here.
Our hospital is super-congested seeing malnourished children. When I was preparing to travel THANKYOU.
and we’re incredibly busy. We have Often they arrive dehydrated to Afghanistan at the end of August,
300 beds, but at times recently we’ve and in shock. We work to stabilise people asked me why I was going 100% offunding for our work in Afghanistan
had between 330 and 350 patients. them in the emergency room there just as everybody else was comes from private donors. It’s your support
before moving them to intensive leaving. When you’re here, it does that enables us to continue providing
at means a lot of juggling and care and then to the inpatient feel like Afghanistan has been medical care. You havethe powerto help
making do, with children sharing therapeutic feeding centre, where abandoned – so many international the people of Afghanistan.
beds. It’s not ideal, but otherwise we we feed them and slowly build organisations have left. But I’m so
wouldn’t be able to treat all the up their strength. The Afghan Crisis Appeal will fund MSF’s work
patients coming to us. in Afghanistan as well as supporting our work
in neighbouring countries.
Above: An MSF doctor checks on a premature baby in the neonatal unit of MSF’s maternity hospital in Khost, 18 October 2021. Photograph © Oriane Zerah
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Please fill in this form, place in an envelope and return postage free to: By supportingMSF, youwill receive ourquarterly magazine Dispatches, eventinvitations,and
FREEPOST RUBA-GYZY-YXST, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Bumpers Way, Bumpers Farm, occasionalemergencyappealswithrequestsfor donations bypost. You canchange howyou hear
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KIT ZONE TRAIL SHOES
It’s time to hit the trails for some off-season adventuring.
But before you do, check out our off-road shoe picks…
WORDS KATE MILSOM & ROB SLADE IMAGES STEVE SAYERS
Gusseted tongue
Attaches the tongue to the
shoe via side wings to aid
comfort, prevent debris
ingress and improve fit
Lugs
Durable and grippy soles
with at least 4mm lugs will
help avoid any slipping and
sliding on wet ground
Gaiter heel tab Breathable upper
A heel tab will make A mesh and aeriated upper
attaching gaiters easier will prevent any water
during those particularly pooling in the shoes and
gnarly and wet sections encourage quicker drying
Rocker Toe bumper
A curved sole that aids A reinforced toe-box
in propulsion from will help prevent any
toe-stubbing from errant
foot strike to toe-off rocks on the trails
Off-road running should play an In this test we paid close attention to comfort, taking
important role in your training year- into account the level of cushioning around the ankle
round. Getting out on soft grass, and sole and whether the shoe is true to size. Tested on a
squelchy mud tracks and technical rocky mix of terrain, we also looked for high amounts of
paths will not only spice up your weekly traction in the lugs, protective toe bumpers and
training schedule, but also allow you to breathable uppers with quick drainage.
keep running for longer thanks to the softer surfaces
absorbing foot-strike impact. Finally, we weighed each shoe on our own scales
(quoted weights are per shoe) and tested them on longer,
Undulating and technical trails will also provide a endurance runs as well as short, sharp efforts. Each
whole-body workout, engaging your core and activating model is available in men’s and women’s sizing (apart
those quads and glutes to stabilise and power you up from Adidas), so be sure to have a scan of all the reviews
those particularly tricky sections. to find your ideal next trail companion.f
January 2022 / / 49
KIT ZONE
BEST ON
TEST
HOKA ONE ONE INOV-8 TRAILFLY
ZINAL ULTRA G 300 MAX
£140 Primed for shorter trail ambles and off-road racing, Hoka’s £170 Cushioned to the max, Inov-8 claims the Trailfly provides
Zinal is a lightweight speed machine at only 195g (UK size 5). 25% better energy return from foot strike to toe-off thanks to
The lightest and most nimble on test, the Zinal also feels their industry-first Graphene-enhanced G-FLY foam in the
breathable when on thanks to the thin and aeriated recycled midsole. With this being difficult to quantify, we tested the
mesh upper and a wafer-thin, gusseted tongue, which keeps Trailflys on mud, rocks and even in some swimrun events, and
out debris. As expected, the Zinal has a medium-to-minimal were surprised at how grippy, light and quick draining they felt
amount of padding, but our feet still felt supported during despite being the heaviest on test at 282g (UK size 5). The
10km runs and the dual-density Profly midsole adequately curved ‘boomerang’ rocker with 6mm drop helped to propel us
absorbed impact while providing enough toe-off propulsion. forwards without feeling too extreme over long distances. We
Like the Merrells, the Zinal comes complete with 4mm Vibram wish the tongue was slightly longer and less rigid, but other
Megagrip lugs, which had than that the Trailflys were
88 VERDICT TOP CHOICE no problem in tackling 92 VERDICT GREAT TRAIL a hit and should also fit
% FOR SHORT AND SPEEDY slippy terrain along the % TECH, IF YOU’RE WILLING those with wider feet
muddy Cotswold trails. thanks to a roomy
TRAIL RACING hoka.com TO SPLASH THE CASH toe-box. inov-8.com
BROOKS MERRELL
CASCADIA 16 AGILITY PEAK 4
£120 Another well-cushioned and comfortable pair of £120 For those in need of arch support, look no further. The
kicks from Brooks, the Cascadia 16 sits at the higher end Agility Peak 4 is fitted with a comfortable sock liner, making
of the weight range of those on test here, at 264g, but it easy to slide your foot in and go. This updated model has a
certainly didn’t feel clumpy. The TrailTrack rubber lugs thicker midsole made of FloatPro foam, which is designed
offered great traction on all terrains and the sole’s built-in to be lightweight and durable. Of all the shoes on test, these
‘ballistic rock shield’ aims to protect against hard rocky feel the most supportive, with padded collar and EVA insole.
trails. The roomiest kicks on test, we’d recommend these All this comfort does come at a price, however, and they
to our wide-footed friends, and we also liked the protective don’t feel quite as nimble as some others, weighing 275g
layer over the toes to avoid any painful stubbing. The Cascadia per shoe (UK size 5). To end on a positive, though, the
16s are the only shoes on test to have Velcro gaiter heel tabs, protective toe cap does a great job at protecting the feet on
too, which could come rugged trails and like
84 VERDICT GREAT ALL in handy on those 88 VERDICT TOP PICK FOR the Hokas, the 4mm
% ROUNDER AND ONE OF THE extra gnarly tracks % A SUPPORTIVE AND Vibram lugs provide
this off-season. great traction in motion.
CHEAPEST OPTIONS HERE brooksrunning.com RELIABLE TRAIL SHOE merrell.com
50 / / January 2022
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220 Triathlon UK 01.2022
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