We organise a programme of regular weekly training sessions in all three triathlon disciplines.

Sessions are all open to all Club members. In most cases there is no minimum requirement though please note the following:
 - We cannot yet accommodate complete non-swimmers. Please enquire about adult lessons at local pools.
 - For group rides, cyclists are expected to be capable of riding non-stop for an hour
   (Do come and speak to us even if an hour seems like too much. We can give you advice to help you get started);

There are training sessions available most days of the week. Where time and place are not specified, these sessions are normally arranged/communicated by email.

Feel free to take part in as many of the training sessions as appropriate for your time and your goals - you don't have to do all of them :-) We will welcome you even if you can only make one!

Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Open Water Swim
0745-0900
Redricks Lane Lake
(May-Sept)
        Pool swim
2100-2200
Grange Paddocks
Coached session
 
Steady Road Ride
to/from lake
(summer)
Long MTB (winter)
Longer ride
Informal
Road or MTB
Check emails
      Road Intervals
(summer)
Grange Paddocks
Turbo Training
(winter)@Clubhouse
19:00 for 19:30
Finished in time for swim
 
Coached run
Various locations
1030-1130
Long run
Informal
Clubhouse
  Coached run session
(eg intervals)
1915-2000
@Rugby Club
most weeks
Main run night
1930-2100
Clubhouse
Food & drink afterwards
   

Swimming

We have pool time once a week and provide structured sessions in two lanes based on ability. We cater for most standards though we cannot accommodate complete non-swimmers. Our sessions are prepared and delivered by our coach Peter Winfield. Occasional 400m time trials are organised to allow triathletes to benchmark their progress.

Public lane swimming is available at other times at Grange Paddocks pool, Bishops Stortford - click here for details.

Open water swimming sessions take place at Redricks Lane Lake.
   Location map - www.streetmap.co.uk
   Satellite photo - Google map as lake does not show on Ordnance Survey map above.
   Photos and discussion group - Facebook

 Day, Time & Venue  Type of Session  Cost  Coaching
Tuesday, 1800-1900
Redricks Lane swim lake
Open Water Swim *
Informal group - arrange by email or Facebook
£4.00 club members
£5.00 non-members
 
Wednesday, 0645-0800
Redricks Lane swim lake
Open Water Swim *
Informal group - arrange by email or Facebook
£4.00 club members
£5.00 non-members
 
Thursday, 2100-2200
Grange Paddocks
Pool swim - fully coached session; all levels £3.50 Yes
Saturday, 0745-0900
Redricks Lane Lake
Open Water Swim * (main OW session)
Various levels & distances
Tea/coffee/breakfast rolls available after from cafe.
£4.00 club members
£5.00 non-members
On request

* Open water swimming is from May 1st. 0745 sign in for a 0800 start. There is no open water swimming between October and April. Swimmers must become a member of the British Triathlon Association for insurance purposes. This is a requirement of access to Redricks Lane, not just swimming with the Club.

Cycling

We have cyclists of various speeds within the Club - from those training for Ironman riding 100miles, to those who prefer to ensure there is a tea-shop enroute. If you have a bike and can ride ten miles or so, we can find you someone to ride with.

Longer rides may divide into smaller groups based on ability and cycling speed once we are out of town. Many of our rides typically remain within 5-10 miles radius of Bishops Stortford so turning for home early is always an option for the less experienced.

Our Thursday evening cycle ride is an effort session, but do not be put off.   We will either be on turbo trainers at the club house, or out on the roads for some intervals. At the club house, the turbos allow us to stick together while working at different levels and to practise our bike/run transitions with 'brick sessions'. For road intervals, we ride out of town in similar paced groups to some quieter country roads.

Cyclists are expected to be reasonably self-sufficient (i.e. bike in working order and equipped to repair a puncture) though we never leave anyone alone, unless they request it!

 Day, Time & Venue  Type of Session  Cost  Coaching
Saturday to/from Redricks Lane Lake
(May-Sept only)
Some people elect to ride to/from the lake. (Warning - last section of road is not tarmac and requires care on a road bike) n/a None
Wednesday @ Clubhouse
1815-1930
Brick Session - on request
Bike ride to precede run session
n/a None
Thursday, 1830-2000 (Summer)
Grange Paddocks
(May-Sept only)
Interval session
Various pace groups; Example session long warmup + intervals depnding on ability (eg 7mins x 3 or 3mins x5)
n/a Session advice available
Thursday, 1900-2030 (Winter)
Clubhouse
Turbo Training
Various different sessions
Arrive and setup from 19:00. Start at 19:30. Turbo finished in time to go to swim session afterwards.
n/a Yes

Notes on Turbo Training

These are held at our Clubhouse at Redricks Lane - indoors in winter; outdoors in the summer. The Club now has two turbo trainers that can be booked for a few weeks trial.

You'll need: your bike, cycling shoes, cycling shorts and suitable clothing for getting sweaty; a drink bottle; a towel for sweat management; and your turbo trainer. If you have a block to raise the front wheel and a Heart Rate Monitor bring those too (these are not essential - don't worry if you don't have them). There are power outlets for those who need them (ie advanced, electronic turbo trainers).

Showers are available if you wish to wash before going home.

The sessions will be structured and progressive; focussing initially on technique and economy, and then on cardiovascular development. They are suitable for (and attended by) cyclists of all abilities.

For information on turbo trainers click here for details.

Running

Running with a group is often easier, more enjoyable and more productive than training on your own (though sometimes you've just got to get out there solo and get the miles done).

Our Tuesday and Saturday coached run sessions place focus on developing running technique and running speed. These sessions will help lift your running to a new level far more than doing the same run at the same speed every time. Come along and give them a try - applicable for all runners, as sessions are adapted according to ability.

 Day, Time & Venue  Details  Cost  Coaching
Saturday, 1030 - 1130
Various locations
Coached session
eg intervals or hills
n/a Yes
Sunday, from the Clubhouse.
Some Club organised runs - check diary for details. Otherwise, individually arranged.
Long run
Cross country to Hatfield Forest. Low intensity. Runners should run at a pace to easily hold a conversation.
n/a None
Tuesday, 1930 - 2030 Bishops Stortford Rugby Club Coached session
Usually intervals - duration/distane/speed adjusted to suit runner's goals
n/a Yes
Wednesday, 1930 - 2100
from the Clubhouse
Club Group run
April to September cross-country to Hatfield Forest.
October to March roads around Stortford.
This is the main Running Club session. Food and bar available afterwards. Stay on at the Clubhouse to socialise and refuel.
n/a Advice available