training and information

Training camps

While there's nothing quite as effective as working through a year-round training schedule with a coach, the reality is that most triathletes have no regular access to any form of structured coaching. This is where the training camp fits in to the picture.

Apart from the obvious benefits of being able to get away from everybody and spend days or even weeks in a warmer climate with like-minded people, just like a holiday, they do allow you to get individual coaching from the best the sport has to offer.

The following list is not exhaustive but does include all the major camps that we know about. We will update the list as and when new information gets to us, so if you're in the business of providing training, please let us know!

UK-based

The following are all training camps organised by UK-based companies or individuals.

Robin Brew Sports

We have been on several of the one-day courses and a couple of the weekend courses down at Kelly College. We don't think that any triathlete -- no matter how good or bad a swimmer they are -- could fail to benefit from going on one of these. The ultimate would be that week in Lanzarote...

Information from Robin Brew Sports, The Brewery, 109 Broad Park Road, Bere Alston, Yelverton, Devon PL20 7DP, check out their website for details, email him at or ring 01822-840067.

Total Immersion UK

Total Immersion Swimming Ltd have recently completed their first teacher training course with several triathletes amongst the group who now join the list of intern coaches who will be on deck instructing at the upcoming workshops. One name that may be known to many is ex-Ironman champion Alan Ingarfield. For information contact Total Immersion Swimming Ltd on 0800 3899913, or visit their website.

Team Volcano International

Team Volcano International, the global Triathlon team, have an active programme of Triathlon, Duathlon and Multisport coaching courses working in collaboration with a number of top coaching experts and International athletes, including Julian Goater.

Visit their website for more information or email .

Richard Hobson's TriLiving

Details of his annual training camps in Lanzarote from Richard at 25 St Nicholas Close, Winsley, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 2NH. Use thw ebsite link above, ring 01225-723683 or email .

Transition Sport

For more details contact Transition Sport on 0115-914 1337. No email or web details provided...

Richard Laidlow

Runs Sancture Sportifs based in the Pyrénées Orientales, about 30km inland from the Mediterranean.

Steve Trew's Personal Best

Steve Trew runs occasional camps in the UK at Stoke Mandeville and a regular annual camp in Malta. For details contact Steve on (020) 8886 5175 or by email at

Water Works

David Parker and Ben Pollard have set up Water Works which will offer one-day packages for all levels. For details contact them on 01453-810058.

UK Triathlon Training Camp

Organised by Leisure Pursuits in association with Speedo and 220 Magazine.

Julian Goater's Running Skills

Julian also works in conjunction with Team Volcano. For further details contact Julian Goater by telephone on 01344-421982.

Leisure Pursuits

More details from Leisure Pursuits, Victoria House, Victoria Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 7EQ or by telephone on 01256-471016.

Bucks Fizz

For prices, availability and further information contact: Garth Millar at Bucks Fizz Travel, 28 Oldbury Road, Rowley Regis, West Midlands B65 0JN or ring 0121-559 4221 / 3010 / 8816. He can be emailed at

Active People

Activepeople organise triathlon training camps, events and training holidays abroad creating itineraries for any ability. They work with top British triathletes and train with professional clubs and teams in Italy. A new venture is WaveSwim, a series of 1 and 2-day clinics and weekend training camps led by Brian Brinkley, an ex-GB Olympian and ASA national coach. Details at their website or ring 0115 969 2225.

Blue Water Training Camps

Blue Water Training Camps are run by ex-Olympic swimmers based in the UK and specialise in training camps for swimming and cycling to the island of Mallorca, Barcelona, Granada, Torremolinos, Montpellier, Marseilles and Narbonne. Contact James Parrack or on 01753 643607.

Swimaway

Eddie Baud, a former UK Age Group Sprint and Olympic distance champion, is providing front crawl courses. These run throughout the year and are spread over six consecutive Saturday afternoons. The Gloucester-based courses are suitable for adult swimmers and young people aged 10 plus both competitive and non competitive and include video stroke analysis. Eddie claims that he has combined the best techniques from the US and UK to provide a superior approach to stroke improvement. For further details contact Eddie on 01452 520849 or .

Just Sweat No Tears

Brian Welsh, a BTA Level 3 coach, is running "Total Immersion Style" swimming lessons for triathletes. These are held at Abingdon and cost £40 per session which includes a lecture, two 1-hour sessions of technique swimming drills split with video analysis of your stroke and a personalised drill plan. Contact Brian at "Just Sweat No Tears", 21 Langer Close, Branston, Staffordshire or ring 01283 740679 or 0794 7709055 or email .

Overseas

Several overseas training camps are widely promoted and the following are a sample of these.

Club La Santa

Club La Santa hosts so many of the training camps that it's worth contacting directly to see what's on. Their email address is

Athleticamps

Dr Massimo Testa MD and Dr Eric Heiden MD of the UC Davis Sports Medicine Clinic perform physiological testing on clients to form a benchmark as to what level that person is at. Using this benchmark, coaches like Olympian Harvey Nitz develop training programs to help clients attain their goals. They welcome all levels of both cyclists and triathletes from all over the country to their camps in Northern California.

Hotel Acorn Borneo/Sumba, Cala Millor- Majorca

Situated on the east coast of Mallorca, this 4 star hotel complex consists of two hotels. It is directly on the beach and surrounded by quiet roads making it ideal for sea and road training. Also within easy reach is a running and cycling track and 25 metre pool. Acorn Hotels have also recently launched a new program called Acorn Active available in all of their properties across the Balearics, which includes hire and maintenance of professional bikes and secure storage and has a team of professional staff leading excursions for all fitness levels and a variation of routes across the island, also on offer will be trekking, hiking, and a range of other activities.

Acorn are working with Human Race and Sports Tours International to organize training camps and entry into events on the Islands during 2005. They also welcome families and children and can cater for them with a varied entertainment and leisure program. Please email [email protected] to register your interest.

Online

There are many online coaching resources but not many that really seem to be staffed by people who care about you as an individual. We've tried the following:

Do it yourself

There are several hotels and complexes that have all the facilities a holidaying triathlete could want; pool, good local roads, etc. From time to time we get to hear about these venues and the following list is one that you might consider following up on. Please note: we don't know what these places are really like, only what their brochures tell us!

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