Training Update By Athlete Ambassador Austin Hall

Since starting training again at the start of November after recovering from a knee injury, I have been getting in the base miles in all 3 disciplines. Since the start of January I have teamed up with Race Hub and coach Piers Plowman who is also head coach of Loughborough Triathlon. Piers has worked hard to put together a full bike development programme for me up until the European Championships in July. I am continuing training with Loughborough triathlon club but head to race hub twice a week to make the most of the Wattbike studio and the lake come April.

My fitness has really progressed and 6 weeks on and at the end of the first block of training I have increased my bike FTP by 20 watts and hope to push towards an FTP of 300w by July. On the running side, things have started to take shape after smashing a new 5km PB on Sunday 11th March at the Bedford Duathlon. One of my goals for the season was to go sub 17 minutes over 5k and to do this in a duathlon in March is a massive achievement so early on in the season preparations.

On the racing side of things, I took 3rd place at the Birmingham Aquathlon in February for an early season hit out. In the Bedford Duathlon I finished 8th in my Age Group and thus gained qualification for the 4th Brit for the World Duathlon Sprint Championships held in Spain in 2019.

I now move into the next block of training including a 10-day training camp in Mallorca at the start of April. I very much look forward to putting in a lot of miles in the sun and further developing my aerobic fitness.

As ever thanks to Sundried for their support, providing me with quality kit to train in. My go-to item this winter has been the Grand Combin Training Top, which has proved to be brilliant at maintaining my body temperature on rides and runs. I am sure during the spring I will be using the Grande Casse Hoody to provide a little extra protection in the milder temperatures. 

Upcoming key dates/races:

• 1st-11th April Loughborough Training Camp in Mallorca
• 6th May BUCS Sprint Triathlon
• 20th May BUCS Standard Triathlon
• 17th June Sundried Sprint Triathlon
• 21st July European Standard Championships – Tartu, Estonia