Had a few entertaining 'wobbles' during tapers and with a few coming in thick and fast here are a few things to digest: Madness During a taper we can experience irritability, anxiety, restlessness or mood swings. Training volume has dipped so the normal endorphin levels and exercise feel are lessened and you have more time to look at your navel. Daft thoughts I should do more I am losing fitness I feel flat Hyper thinking about niggles In normal training we have little aches/tired spots but in the taper we have more time to think and 'notice' that ' catastrophic' twinge and indulge in excessive self monitoring.. noticing sensations is not the same as being injured. Race obsession Focusing too hard on times, PB's, paces , effort levels, weather forecasts and now feckin social media BS All of these are normal but a potential drain on mental energy. Here's the thing: Your job during taper is to arrive fuelled up, rested, healthy and calm so no amount of overthinking helps with that. The work is in the bank - of course if you haven't done the work that is a different tale. If you haven't done it you know - probably because your coach has already told you - weeks or months ago. If they haven't told you that - then you have done what you could. Would've , could've is of no use. You have what you have so relax and get yourself settled in for race day. Fitness is built in training. Top performance emerges in recovery. Confidence comes from consistency. Being wired means the race matters to you so you have to trust what you built. Let's be having ya!

3 interesting chats on ths topic so a wee piece on the key differences. Most amateur triathletes record slower times in OW than in the pool ( there are always a few exceptions to prove the rule). This time of year the main issue is rubber overload. Winter suits, rash vests, gloves, hats and booties are all needed when the water temp is sub 10 but basically the more rubber the slower you are. Hats and rash vests provide more buoyancy the wrong side of the hips driving the back end down. Add in boots and the water fill and reduction in ankle flex adds a nice draggy anchor. Strip those away and the wetsuit often produces a positive impact on body position for most. Gloves are interesting. If you have smaller hands and can get tight fitting gloves without them filling up with water then you are swiiming with paddles. If that gives you a hold on the water and lower more powerful pull that can actually be a benefit..which is why they arent allowed in most races. For most though gloves kill your feel for the water and get heavy when wet or full of water. Lets say its 100g per hand...at 60 strokee per minute thats a fatigue inducer right there. So as the temp comes up..shed the rubber. For me thats around 20 secs per 100m. In the pool some people are super slick at button pressing and in short intervals with plenty of recovery...thats 'fake fast' so as the rep distance goes up..the speed is more realistic. When in the pool we are at our fastest when coming off the wall and if you turn well and maximise the momentum that will always be quicker in a pool. If you turn like a supertanker the difference out and in will be less marked. If you think your pool speed is say 1:30 in sessions with reps and you do ow with 500 or 1k stretches and thats 1:40... try swimmimg a 1k in the pool and the times will be closer. Then we have stroke imbalances. If you have a pull to one side then having to correct means more frequent sighting and more disruption to the bodyline. If your sighting technique is poor..thats a double dunt!

I didn't post up last weekends events but last night we reviewed the yoof stuff poolside with @Ian Hamilton and @Fergus Currie . The British Super Series had a bit of a squad with our youngsters out in force. It is elite in nature so maybe not super interesting for us normal people but it shows the level possible when you are up for it. Israel and Rory ( now coached out of the national centre) we're up against the seniors and both gave good accounts of themselves with Israel taking P3. Rory is still building post REDs and we know he will find full form again in summer. Daniel, Finlay and Joe went in Youth B. Tier 1 race Daniel took P7 and in Tier 2 Joe and Finlay took a 1 2 for GTC! Closer to home @Catriona Tennant continues to impress with a nice AG win at the Thornhill 10k. Big swathe of ' sportive' rides so as these are not races there are no results as such but some great rides across the board. @Clark Pheely , young Veitchy and Alan Kennedy conquered the monstrous Fred Whitton. @Beppo Buchanan-Smith @John Taylor @Mark Brown all having a day out at the Etape..great training miles in the bag. Over in Bute Maeve back to tri action post Hyrox and @Craig Taylor first tri of season. How did you go craig? This weekend is all go again: Daniel is taking on the Islands Peak race. @Beppo Buchanan-Smith @Catriona Tennant at Southport tri @Nathalie Brohan at the Gralloch @Zoe Newsam and @Mark Brown at the Bealach sportive And a big squad at the Outlaw half. @Chris Bryson @Angela Paterson @Duncan Martin @Craig Hogg and Jill Robbie

This was one of the topics at our coaches meeting today and this is a neat summary. If you want to read the full analysis drop us a message..here or elsewhere.

I need to get a new bike helmet for doing my first ironman, so looking for any pointers. Couple of things to consider, firstly I sweat a lot so staying cool is quite important. Secondly I am not at pointy end and looking to gain every single second of advantage (So the ones that make you look like a dick - my wife's observation I should say, not on my shopping list). Whilst willing to pay a bit, not stupid money as already done that on a bike. Any thoughts, experiences and recommendations welcome. Thanks Tom