THE ULTIMATE MULTISPORTER

YOU LOVE SWIM, BIKE AND RUN BUT YOU’VE CONFESSED TO HAVING A SPORTING AFFAIR. WILL IT IRREVOCABLY HARM YOUR TRIATHLON PERFORMANCE OR SHOULD YOU CONTINUE GUILT-FREE TOWARD A NEW PB…? WE DISSECT THE PROS AND CONS OF SEVEN SPORTS THAT ALSO FILL THE TRIATHLETE’S CALENDAR

- JAMES WITTS

World-class triathletes train upwards of 25hrs a week. They eat, train, sleep, repeat. From March to October, throw in racing, too. Their hobby is their job. You, the age-grouper, are not a professional. You balance triathlon, family, work and the occasional gin or craft ale. For many of you, you also manage the pros and cons of competing in another sport, whether that’s five a-side football, a lunchtime game of squash or a weekly long hike. You enjoy your ‘other’ sport, naturally, but does it help or hinder your multisport performance?

It’s a question we’ll answer over the following pages, focusing on seven popular pastimes. We’ve recruited seven of the UK’s finest coaches who’ll examine the physiological and psychological demands of each and give it a yay or nay. But one thing they all agreed on was the motivational boost variety will give your tri performance. There’s also evidence that young triathletes, in particular, will benefit from playing many sports to forge a more rounded, robust mind and body. With that, let’s check out our supplementary sporting seven…

CLIMBING & BOULDERING

Both climbing and bouldering

engage nearly the whole body’s musculature, says Matthew Tithecott of Kent-based Tri Mr T Coaching, meaning they complement triathlon nicely. “Like multisport, they activate a wide range of muscles, from your heart to your biceps and quads,” he says. “All the pushing, pulling and lifting involved in climbing mirrors aspects of resistance exercise so it’s great for strength work.”