The idea of popping a few painkillers before an Ironman is becoming commonplace. One study showed that as many as 60% of triathletes were taking medication such as Ibuprofen before or during races, and Ironman recently announced Aleve – “the pain relief brand trusted by millions” – as a new sponsor for its 2019 world championship in Hawaii on 12 October. Advertisement The partnership would imply there’s little risk to using artificial assistance to help see you through what is, after all, billed as the hardest one-day event on the planet. If it reduces discomfort and is promoted by the biggest brand in the sport, what could possibly be amiss?…

Top tri coach Andy Bullock shares his top tips for off-season training, and says now’s the time to maximise recovery. Advertisement 220: Can you share your top advice for the off-season? Andy: Maximise recovery. Very little in nature flourishes all year round and this is certainly true for athletes.   Take your time to relax and let your body unwind from a hard season of racing. Make sure that when you get back to training you do so gradually, incorporating easy sessions and a good recovery routine.  Click Here: liverpool mens jersey What are your favourite swimming drills? My favourite drills fit into two areas. The first is to improve body…

In recognition of their achievements over the last decade or so Alistair and Jonny Brownlee have been honoured with an award by Leeds Beckett University. Since 1982, the university has each year recognised individuals who have excelled in their chosen field or made a significant contribution to public life with an honorary award. Advertisement Peter Mackreth, Dean of the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett, said: “Alistair and Jonny are world class athletes who have taken the triathlon to new levels. “They have a long-established relationship with Leeds Beckett University, working with our coaches and researchers, who themselves are leaders in their fields on an international stage. “We are delighted…

On 29 November triathlon retailers all over the country will be slashing their prices and offering deals on all tri-related kit, and we will be collecting the best of the best here.   Advertisement Sign up to 220’s twice weekly email newsletter.     A US shopping phenomenon that made its way across the pond a few years ago, Black Friday is traditionally the first Friday after Thanksgiving and signals the start of the festive season.  2019 BLACK FRIDAY DEALS SO FAR Get 20% off Precision Hydration‘s entire range of electrolyte supplements – used by elite triathletes including Sarah Crowley, Emma Pallant, Michelle Dillon, Claire Cashmore, Sarah Lewis, Sam Pictor and Emma Jeffcoat –…

 Rio 2016 Olympic medallists Alistair Brownlee, Jonathan Brownlee and Vicky Holland remain on the podium programme and are joined by world medallists Jess Learmonth and Georgia Taylor-Brown. Advertisement The Paratriathlon World Class Programme remains unchanged at the podium level but World Champion Hannah Moore (PTS4) and Michael Taylor (PTS4) have been included at podium potential level after demonstrating their competitiveness with their respective Paralympic classifications.  Athletes selected on to the programmes are also able to access to world-class sports science and medicine services, and support from British Triathlon’s leading performance team. British Triathlon Performance Director, Mike Cavendish, said: “It’s great to announce such strong athletes on to the triathlon and…

For a period Alistair was on Tim Don’s Ironman world record pace, but with discretion being the better part of valour, he cooled his jets and concentrated on getting safely across the line and grabbing his Kona qualification. Alistair set a new time of 7:45:20, lowering the old mark by more than six minutes. Advertisement “I woke up the day after Kona and I wanted to do another Ironman, so I had two goals coming here. The first was to get around an IRONMAN without capitulating and I was pretty close, so I am happy with that. The second was to qualify for Kona and I have done that, so I…

After his triumphant third victory at Ironman Hawaii in October, triathlon legend Jan Frodeno has announced he will return to Challenge Roth on 5 July 2020. Advertisement Jan Frodeno last raced Roth in 2016, when he not only convincingly won the race, but also set a new Iron-distance world record time of 7:35:39 which remains unbeaten.  “There’s no race like Roth anywhere else in the world, Frodeno says. “The great backdrop with hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic fans, the over 35-year history of this legendary race, all of this completely thrills me. But above all, I assume that there will once again be a very strong field at DATEV Challenge…

Sergio Parisse had a point. The forward’s final bow in an Italian rugby jersey had been cancelled due to Typhoon Hagibis in Japan, with the contingency simply being that the World Cup group game with New Zealand on October 12th 2019 was called off and the points shared. Advertisement Italy needed victory to progress and so tumbled out of the competition, with the retiring Parisse questioning whether a better solution would have been found had those mighty All Blacks needed to win. While World Rugby defends its position, it was an unsatisfactory conclusion. Weather in Japan is unpredictable, that’s a known variable, and the hosting bid was won in 2009.…

Double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee MBE has been nominated as a candidate for the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Athletes’ Commission. He stands for one of four places to represent athletes on one of the IOC’s most important forums. Advertisement This announcement follows Brownlee’s revelation that this year he will focus on the ITU circuit with his eye on the Tokyo Olympics and going for a third gold medal. The Athlete’s Commission works as a link between the athletes and the IOC and helps make sure the athletes’ viewpoint remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement decisions.  Alistair said: “It is an enormous honour to be nominated to be a candidate for the IOC’s Athletes’ Commission.…

The year of 2019 proved another phenomenal 12 months for the sport of triathlon, with outstanding performances across all distances. Advertisement October’s Ironman World Championships in Kona were full of excitement with Jan Frodeno winning his third full Ironman world title in a record-breaking time, Anne Haug taking her first Hawaii win after a phenomenal run and GB’s Ruth Purbrook scoring age-group honours. There was also a Kona debut from a certain Ali Brownlee. What will 2020 hold for him? Over in the Ironman 70.3 Worlds in Nice, France, 23-year-old Gustav Iden from Norway put on a run masterclass to take victory over his male rivals, including second placed Ali Brownlee,…