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No.1 Running, Recovery and Triathlon coaching. Planb Coaching

Welcome to the new blog from PlanBcoaching UK. Our blog will have lots of information relating to the sport of running, recovery and triathlon coaching. We will be bringing you hints and tips, videos highlighting different techniques in the gym as well as discount codes and shopping ideas.

We have been in the long distance sport arena for over 30 years now. Based in Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire, we offer 2 different coaching packages for running and triathlon coaching.

1. A run only coaching package. Price is £40 per month
2. A full triathlon coaching package. Price is £70 per month
3. A Recovery Coaching Package. Price is £40 per month

Both packages will include a selection of strength and conditioning videos that you can choose from.

Our packages are delivered via Training peaks or Google Docs, whatever works best for you.

In the meantime, here is some cool information on triathlon.

Table Below shows the distances involved in the most common types of triathlon races held today.

History of Ironman

The single day endurance event currently recognised as IRONMAN was conceived by Judy and John Collins, a couple who relocated from California to Hawaii in 1975. The Collins family had taken part in the Mission Bay Triathlon in San Diego on September 25, 1974, an event that is now regarded as the inception of modern triathlon in the United States. In 1977, the Collins’ engagement in organising a sprint run swim competition in Honolulu inspired the idea of hosting a triathlon event the following year. Their objective was clear and was to establish a competition tailored for endurance athletes—those who preferred events like the Waikiki Rough water Swim and the Honolulu Marathon over shorter sprint races. However, the question of where to incorporate the cycling segment arose. The solution emerged early in 1977 when John proposed utilising a route from a local cycling club. The couple made a pact, stating, “If you do it, I’ll do it,” to which John famously added, “…whoever finishes first we’ll call him the Iron Man.” During the Waikiki Swim Club banquet in October 1977, Judy and John unveiled their plan for the Around the Island Triathlon, scheduled for the following year. When John outlined the three components of the triathlon, the swimmers responded with laughter. The couple envisioned a large number of participants enjoying the challenge of swimming, cycling, and running continuously for a total of 140.6 miles. They aspired for their triathlon to become an annual tradition in Hawaii. On February 18, 1978, Judy and John Collins witnessed the realisation of their dream with the inaugural Hawaiian Iron Man Triathlon. At that time, they could not have anticipated the extraordinary phenomenon their race would evolve into and the numerous lives it would influence. In 1980, founders John and Judy Collins granted ABC’s “Wide World of Sports” the rights to film the event, thereby elevating the global profile of IRONMAN. Just two years later, college student Julie Moss collapsed mere yards from the finish line of the IRONMAN World Championship. Although she was overtaken for the title, she persevered, crawling to the finish line and inadvertently creating one of the most memorable moments in IRONMAN history.

Who are the triathlon race organisers? Here is your Guide to Ironman, Challenge Family, T100, World Triathlon, Super Tri, Outlaw.

Other sports we know and love have various leagues, tournaments and championships. Think of the Premier League, Champions League and Europa League in football. Triathlon also has various major race organisers and elite championship series.

Ironman – (History of Ironman above)
The company Ironman organises hundreds of triathlon events around the world. Both elite and amateur athletes can compete in Ironman events, including the 70.3 half distance, full Ironman distance and several shorter distance races. In 2024, Ironman introduced a new Pro Series set of races. Professionals compete in certain races throughout the year, earning points and aiming to get to the top of the leaderboard. Huge prize money awaits the winner of the leaderboard as a bonus.
The Ironman World Championship is also held every year. Previously, it was held in one day on Kona Island in Hawaii. But in 2022, Ironman split the World Championship, holding the men’s and women’s races on different days in order to broadcast both races equally. And in 2023, in a move that generated much debate, it held two completely separate racing events. The men’s race took place in Nice, France, and the women’s race in Kona, Hawaii. Future plans call for the venue to change each year. In 2024, the women will competed in Nice and the men raced in Kona.

Triathlon World Championship Series
World Triathlon is the international governing body for all multi sports including triathlon, duathlon, winter triathlon, etc. For the elite, the World Triathlon Championship Series is the most important race series which has a huge significance in Olympic qualification. Also outside of Olympic years, the series features the best sprinters and Olympic distance runners competing in a series of races for the world title. Athletes compete under national associations such as USA Triathlon and British Triathlon.

Challenge Family
The Challenge Family has a portfolio of internationally recognised middle distance (110.3 miles) and long-distance (140.6 miles) triathlon events. They are known for their support of amateur triathletes and provide a welcoming “family experience” at every race. The Challenge Family attracts many of the world’s best professional triathletes, especially mid distance specialists. As well as the big names in the sport, it’s also worth watching the Challenge Family races to see the next generation of superstars, as the organisers are great at supporting up and coming professionals. The elites also compete for a bonus prize pool at the end of the year.

T100 / Pro Triathlete Organizations
The Professional Triathlete Organisation (PTO) was created to support athletes who compete in middle and long distance races, i.e. athletes who do not compete in shorter races and therefore are not part of an elite program supported by a national federation. The PTO then created the T100 World Tour, a series of 100km races (2km swim, 80km cycle, 18km run) in which the top 20 athletes compete throughout the year for the title of Overall World Champion. It’s a very exciting format, as it brings together both long distance and short distance specialists. Amateurs can now compete in separate “age group” events, often on the same course as the elites.

Supertri (Previously known as Super League Triathlon) is known for its fast-paced and ultra short distance races. Supertri events typically feature professional athletes competing on the Triathlon World Championship stage, as well as the next generation of future Olympic hopefuls. The format is dynamic, often mixing up the order of triathlon disciplines and requiring athletes to compete in multiple triathlons back-to-back. Supertri is committed to making racing accessible to spectators, and also offers eRacing events where athletes compete in a hybrid real-virtual format in an arena/stadium environment.

Outlaw Triathlon UK
The Outlaw Triathlon Series comprises of a collection of distinguished middle and long-distance triathlons all organised and held within the UK. They are frequently organised alongside children’s races called Future Outlaws and various running or swimming activities during the Saturday of an Outlaw Weekend. 2024 saw 2 new events. A new sprint distance triathlon was held in Nottingham and the Aquabike events were also launched. A very well organised set of triathlons, hosted right here in the UK.

Running, Recovery and Triathlon Coaching

That’s it for our very first blog post but keep your eyes out for our next post which is a FREE 8 week triathlon coaching plan to complete your first sprint triathlon.