We had athletes out across three completely different events this past weekend, and while the disciplines and distances were very different, every result came down to smart execution on the day.
Karina: Swimming from Asia to Europe First up, Karina took on the Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim. It is not something you get to say every day. What impressed me most was her tactical discipline. The currents on that course will quickly punish you if you get your line wrong, but Karina positioned herself cleanly in the water, sighted well, and rode the fast stream rather than fighting it. She finished well up in the top half of the ladies’ field against some very capable, elite-level swimmers.
Rich: Putting Things Right at Ironman 70.3 Leipzig Over in Germany, Rich was lining up for 70.3 Leipzig, looking to bounce back from a tough full-distance race at the start of June. Over the last couple of months, we have put a lot of focus into his bike position, flexibility, and core strength. That work paid off on Sunday: he was far more comfortable, held good speed, and set himself up to run strongly off the bike to cross the line in 7:07:42.
Next up on our list is his open-water sighting. Tidy up those lines in the water and he will easily take 20 minutes off his time without needing any extra fitness.
Ruth & Mandie: Tackling the Dereham 10-Miler A bit closer to home, Ruth and Mandie were on the start line in Dereham. The 10-mile course is a deceptive one—fast and downhill on the way out, but with a demanding climb on the return leg where you can easily unravel if you go out too hard.
Mandie was taking on her first 10-mile event in years and executed her pacing plan brilliantly, holding back early to finish in just over two hours—her second-fastest time ever. Ruth used the race as a sharpener at the shorter end of her preferred distances, pacing the second half evenly to cross the line in 1:18, her second-fastest 10-miler of the year.
What We Actually Focus On
When an athlete comes to me looking to step up their performance, their first instinct is almost always to ask for more training volume.
My role isn’t just to write sessions and pile on weekly fatigue. My job is to look at the entire picture and identify the specific limiters that are actually costing you time, energy, and confidence on race day:
- Fixing positional and physical limiters: Working on Rich’s mobility, core stability, and bike posture so he can hold an efficient position comfortably and still have the legs to run.
- Dialling in open-water skills: Reviewing swim execution so athletes like Karina know how to read water, sight accurately, and work with race conditions rather than fighting them.
- Structuring clear race plans: Giving athletes like Mandie and Ruth realistic, structured pacing strategies tailored to the course profile, taking the guesswork and emotion out of race day.
Fitness gives you the capacity to race, but addressing your individual limiters is what actually delivers results. That is where we spend our time—building purposeful, structured training that fixes the real issues without burning you out.
Want this philosophy in your training? Get in touch to see how we can help you.
