Hi guys, hope you’ve all had a great August.
Living in London, it really is a month I look forward to every year. The reason being, a lot of people leave London to go on holiday, so everything just feels quieter and much calmer. The roads are also far less busy, which is great for cycling but I certainly wont miss the ‘part-time’ summer swimmers. I was amazed, even over the past week, how much busier the roads have already become with everyone coming back. But I do enjoy it while it lasts, because London in the summer feels like a completely different place to live, and I tend to enjoy my training immensely during this period. The incredible weather has helped too, and there’s nothing quite like not having to worry about the forecast when planning your training.
It really has been an incredible month for the team, with people taking on all sorts of amazing races, events, and challenges, from short sprint triathlons through to massive 20km+ swims. It’s been a proper mixed bag. Some truly incredible achievements from everyone, and it’s so rewarding to watch these athletes put in the hard work and sacrifice behind these events. I find it genuinely inspiring as a coach to see so many people out there challenging themselves in new ways and having so much fun doing it.
But for all of you who did race, take a moment to spare a thought for those who didn’t get the chance this year, for whatever reason. I was talking to an athlete the other day who said that when he reads the newsletter, everyone seems to be out there racing, and it gives him a bit of FOMO, because he wants to be out there doing it too.
I’m sure I could probably write an entire newsletter about the people who, for whatever reason, couldn’t race, myself included after my accident. Behind the great stories below, there’s probably an equal number of people who’ve had some kind of disappointment this year and had to pull out of races. That’s the nature of what we do, unfortunately: the newsletter tends to highlight the successes. But for those that couldn’t, trust me when I say your time will come.
Disappointingly, spare a thought for the athletes who had two very big races cancelled this year at very short notice, which I’m sure was nothing short of infuriating for those who’d put in the training. Ironman France and Versailles 70.3 were both cancelled, which I found absolutely extraordinary. Never have I felt more for athletes I knew personally than those due to race in Nice, where the event was pulled just two days before race day, by which point most competitors were already out there. The call came from the Alpes-Maritimes Prefecture, citing an extended heatwave across the region and the strain it was already placing on local hospitals and emergency services, with around 4,500 athletes affected.
What made this year’s edition even more precarious is that it was already hanging by a thread before the heat ever came into it. Nice’s new mayor had pulled the city’s financial backing for the event earlier in the year, yet the organisers pressed on regardless and kept it on the calendar. So you had a race that was already fighting for its future, then got cancelled at the eleventh hour by conditions entirely outside anyone’s control. It’s hard to imagine a tougher year for the event to have to weather.
The reason this hit home so hard for me is that Ironman France is genuinely one of my favourite Ironman’s I’ve ever done. It’s one of the most spectacular races on the circuit, in a beautiful part of the world on the Côte d’Azur. The bike course is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever ridden, and one of the hardest, because race conditions there are hilly & hot every year.
As a coach, you know the commitment, sacrifice, and financial investment that goes into training for an Ironman. To have it cancelled just two days out, for me, is inconceivable and, frankly, unforgivable, particularly when forecast race day temperatures only reached just over 31°C. They’ve run that event in previous years when it hit 40°C, and I myself did it when it was 35°C. When you put a race in the south of France in June or July, you have to assume conditions are going to sit in the mid-30s, and athletes prepare for exactly that.
Given everything the race has now been through, both the funding pulled from under it and the last-minute cancellation, I do genuinely worry about what the future holds for one of my favourite events on the Ironman calendar. My honest view is that if this keeps happening, races in this part of France need to look seriously at the time of year they’re held. They need to be pushed to earlier or later in the year to sidestep the worst of it, and you spare a lot of athletes who’ve invested serious money in these events from that kind of last-minute heartbreak. I’d hate to see a race this special disappear because nobody was willing to make that call.
On a different note, a real shoutout to whoever was in charge on the ground at Ironman Tallinn this year, where conditions were genuinely horrendous on race day. Many thought it was close to being called off, but the race director turned up on the morning and simply said, “the race must go on.”
Race Results
Ironman Tallinn (Estonia)
- Ryan Griffin
- Swim: 1:36:20
- Bike: 7:11:36
- Run: 5:54:13
- Overall time: 15:14:54
- Age Category: 35-39
When Ryan first came to see me, it would be an understatement to say he had a mountain to climb. He struggled with swimming, had never touched a bike, and had done next to no running. So naturally, what did he do? He signed up for an Ironman, just seven months out.
On top of that, Ryan runs a business employing over 300 people, and he’s the main point of contact for all of it, his phone literally never stops ringing! He also has four young children. Training time wasn’t just limited, it was about as scarce as it gets. He also lost 2 full months of that to a serious injury. But the thing about Ryan is he simply doesn’t give up. Every barrier he came up against, he found a way through, eventually.
Swimming was the big one, especially open water, where he had some genuinely frightening moments and real panic out there. But he trusted the process, put in the work, and built that confidence session by session. His goal on race day was simple: get through the swim, and the rest would be easy. And on the day, he delivered the best swim of his life.
He needed it too, because conditions in Tallinn were brutal. Cold, wet, windy, one of the toughest days of the racing calendar this year, with athletes pulling out left and right due to hypothermia. For Ryan to cross that finish line, on limited training and with no triathlon experience behind him, was nothing short of incredible.
His family and kids were there to watch him cross that line, and what a moment for them to share. Huge congratulations, Ryan. That’s one you’ll be talking about for a long time to come.
Odyssey Middle Distance Triathlon
- Bex Betteridge
- Swim: 32:46
- Bike: 2:53:38
- Run: 1:56:23
- Overall time: 5:26:17
- Age Category: 1st in 40-44 category / 5th female overall out of 59
A first age group win for Bex! Whoop whoop indeed, this one is thoroughly deserved. Three Half Ironmans this year, in her first year of racing, and each one taught her something that she was able to learn and develop from. That’s exactly how it’s supposed to work, and on race day, all of it showed.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: patience is one of the hardest skills in this sport to master. She took the lessons from races one and two, trusted them, and went out and executed to perfection when it mattered most.
This was the result of hard work & honest reflection. Congratulations Bex, this was a performance to be proud of.
Vichy 70.3
- Ben Jansen
- Swim: 33:31
- Bike: 3:02:04
- Run: 1:53:47
- Overall time: 5:41:21
- Age Category: 18-24
- Lucie Jansen
- Swim: 44:11
- Bike: 3:15:08
- Run: 1:55:11
- Overall time: 6:08:03
- Age Category: 50-54 / 5th place in cat
- Chris Jansen
- Swim: 46:28
- Bike: 3:00:46
- Run: 2:41:46
- Overall time: 6:43:30
- Age Category: 55-59
- Annie Jansen
- Swim: 43:24
- Bike: 3:48:44
- Run: 7:22:58
- Overall time:
- Age Category: 18-24
Team Jansen were out in force again, and this one was pretty special: Ben and Annie’s first attempt at the Half Ironman distance, with Mum and Dad still right there racing alongside them.
I’ve been to many races with this family over the years, back when Annie and Ben were the little ones on the sidelines cheering their parents home. Watching them grow from young supporters into athletes tackling this distance themselves is exactly the kind of moment that makes coaching this sport so rewarding. Mum and Dad lit that spark and their kids followed.
Such brilliant performances from Annie (18!) and Ben (21), and Mum and Dad still leading by example after all these years. Huge congratulations to the whole family.
Dorney Lake Olympic Triathlon
- Ben Jarvis
- Swim: 29:53
- Bike: 1:00:54
- Run: 43:58
- Overall time: 2:18:23
- Age Category: 20-24 / 4th position
Another huge shout out, this time to our new young gun from Team Jarvis, who put in an outstanding Olympic-distance triathlon to finish fourth in his age category with a blistering bike and run, and a swim that continues to improve with every session.
Hats off to him too, given he’s the son of Ironman legend Al Jarvis and nephew of sprint-distance legend Tony Jarvis. Clearly, triathlon runs deep in the Jarvis clan, and it’s brilliant to see the next generation carrying that torch forward.
What makes it even more impressive is that this came off the back of a huge disappointment, having been out at Versailles 70.3 when it was cancelled. To bounce back from that and deliver a performance like this speaks volumes about his character as much as his fitness.
Plenty more to come from this young gun. Watch this space.
SWYD Sprint Triathlon, Wales (World Champs Qualifier)
- Tony Jarvis
- Swim: 10:47
- Bike: 34:42
- Run: 21:55
- Overall time: 1:10:31
- Age Category: 50-54 / 3rd in Cat
And from one Jarvis to another, ‘Uncle Tony’ was in action at Barry Island in Wales, where he put in an incredible performance to hit the podium in the 50-54 category at this World Championship qualifier.
What made this performance even more special is that, due to a hugely busy work year, this was the only race Tony was able to do all season. So, there was a lot riding on it: he really wanted that World Championship qualifying slot for Team GB next year in Hamburg, and with just one shot to take it, he went out and grabbed it with both hands, delivering a superb performance in tough Welsh weather.
One Jarvis chasing down a World Championship slot, another already blistering to fourth in his age group. Not a bad month for the family name.
Thorpe Park Sprint Triathlon
- Polly Rogers
- Swim: 16:21
- Bike: 43:58
- Run: 27:38
- Overall time: 1:34:49
- Age Category: 2nd in the vets category / 5th female overall out of 59
Big congratulations to Polly, our Irish athlete, on a solid return to racing at the Thorpe Park Sprint Triathlon. After several years away from the sport, she got back on that start line and delivered a performance that showed tremendous promise, even if the swim conditions weren’t perfect for her! Coming back after time out isn’t easy, and Polly proved she’s still got plenty in the tank, missing the age group win by just 18 seconds. I’ve no doubt there’s plenty more to come, and I’m excited to see how she develops from here. Well done, Polly.
UTMB (60km- Ultramarathon World champs)
- Kendra Marsh
- Overall time: 10:20:00
- Age group position: 8th in the 50-54 category
Huge congrats to Kendra for showing she’s just as tough out of the water as in! She took on the OCC race at the UTMB World Championships in Chamonix a couple of days ago, 60km through the Alps with around 3,500m of relentless climbing across France and Switzerland before the famous finish back in Chamonix. A superb performance to come 8th in her category at her first attempt.
The Downhill Swim at Oulanka National Park in Kuusamo, Finnish Lapland
Massive congratulations to Jo Turner and Sarah Gill, who completed the Downhill Swim in Kuusamo, Finland, a stunning 24km open water swim through the Oulanka River in Oulanka National Park, and they did themselves incredibly proud with a superb performance.
This isn’t your average open water swim. Pairs take on the full 24km together, with the route including short on-foot transitions between sections of river, all set against the backdrop of one of Finland’s most beautiful national parks. It’s earned a reputation as one of the best open water events in the world, and it’s easy to see why: pristine water, wild scenery, and a genuinely unique format that tests endurance, teamwork, and navigation in equal measure.
Jo and Sarah swam it in a brilliant 4 hours and 45 minutes, finishing 10th pair overall, 2nd female pair, and 1st international pair in the first wave. In a field packed with strong pairings, that’s a fantastic result and a real credit to the training and partnership they’ve built together.
Think the smiles say it all!
Beaumaris Castle to Caernarfon Castle through the Menai Straits, Wales (20km sea swim)
Another Supergirl double act in action last weekend, this time in North Wales. Anna John and Helen Kemmitt swam the full 20km from Beaumaris Castle to Caernarfon Castle through the Menai Straits, one of the more notorious stretches of tidal water in the UK, known for its strong currents and unpredictable conditions. And it was a proper rough day out there. Despite that, the two of them got it done in a brilliant 3 hours 15 minutes.
An incredible achievement from both, real credit to the training and the mental toughness it takes to get through open water like that on a tough day. Huge congratulations to Anna and Helen.
3km crossing of Lake Lucerne
Fantastic swimming from Robert & Louise Hutchinson, who took on an open water challenge out in Switzerland: a 3km crossing of Lake Lucerne, from Untermatten near Bürgenstock across to Weggis.
Conditions were tough, with the heat ruling out wetsuits, so it was floaty shorts only for both (good thinking packing those!). They also found the lake water noticeably “thinner” than the sea, which always catches people out the first time. The field was seriously competitive too. Robert finished 30th out of 72 in 1:02:59, and Louise finished 25th out of 66 in 1:06:17, both solid swims.
Clearly a good day out in beautiful surroundings. Sounds like the celebrations were well earned too, with a night ‘on the wine’ in Alsace to follow!
Athlete focus for the month of September
September always throws up an interesting dynamic in the training calendar. Some of you are deep into building towards peak races for the back end of the year, dialling in the final blocks before it counts. Others are winding down, either taking a well-earned rest or starting to think about easing back into structure ahead of next season. With racing now spread right throughout the calendar year, this kind of split has become the norm rather than the exception.
For those of you focusing on late season races, this is your biggest training block of the year, and race specificity becomes absolutely crucial. Testing your kit, working out exactly how you’re going to carry nutrition on the day, dialling in pacing, all of it matters hugely at this stage. It’s equally important to recognise when to back off and take proper recovery within that training, because the load at this point in the year is generally about as high as it gets and pushing through fatigue rather than managing it will cost you more than it gains you.
For those coming to the end of a season, September is your chance to properly rest, both physically and mentally. Take the time off you need. But don’t let “off-season” become “no plan at all.” A bit of unstructured movement, some cross-training, maybe getting back in the pool without a watch on, keeps the door open without burning you out before next year even starts.
And this is where I want to flag something important for absolutely everyone, regardless of which camp you’re in: if you’re planning to race next year, now is the time to start entering. A lot of the races you’ll want, particularly the Ironman-branded events, fill up fast, and some are already close to capacity and some are already full. Don’t get caught out in December wondering why your first-choice race is sold out.
It’s also worth remembering you don’t have to be wedded to the Ironman brand. The UK has some brilliant middle-distance and full distance races. There is also the excellent Challenge-series and T100 has opened up a genuinely different kind of racing experience. Many of these UK based races are often cheaper, far less crowded on course, and a great way to mix things up if you’ve been doing the same handful of branded events year after year. It’s also a great to support smaller UK-based races if you feel like a different kind of challenge.
Questions from the squad
Athlete asks: “Legs didn’t feel completely fresh today from the start but I still enjoyed it. Don’t recall there being quite so many upward slopes last week either haha. I noticed my hamstrings working as one point rather than my quads – is that ‘cos I hinge my ankles on some hills? Indeed should I hinge my ankles?“
Coach says: I wouldn’t consciously try to hinge your ankles when you’re cycling. Just let the ankle move naturally throughout the pedal stroke. On climbs it’s completely normal for the ankle position to change slightly, and because you’re pushing a bit harder, you’ll often notice a little more involvement from the glutes and hamstrings as well.
I also wouldn’t read too much into what you felt on this ride. Remember, you’d already done the turbo sessions and the run on Tuesday, so there could easily have been some residual fatigue in your legs. Recovery between harder sessions naturally takes a little longer, so your hamstrings may simply have been a bit more fatigued than usual and therefore more noticeable.
I certainly wouldn’t change your pedalling technique because of one ride. Just keep thinking about a smooth, relaxed pedal stroke and let everything happen naturally.
If you start noticing that your hamstrings are consistently doing far more work than your quads over the next few weeks, then we’ll have a closer look. Sometimes bike position can contribute to that, particularly if the saddle is a touch too high or a little too far back. But based on what you’ve told me, I don’t think that’s where I’d be looking first.
My feeling is that it’s much more likely to be the combination of the recent turbo sessions, Tuesday’s run and then riding the hills. Let’s see how it feels once the legs are a bit fresher before we draw any conclusions.
Fuel for the mind
Sometimes the best training happens away from the bike, the run, or the pool — in the stories that stretch what we think is possible and remind us why we do this in the first place. Here are a few things that really struck a chord with me this month:
🎥 📺⚽️A Beautiful Obsession – Pep Guardiola
If you fancy something to watch this month, Amazon Prime’s new 4 – part docuseries A Beautiful Obsession is well worth your time. It’s a four-part look inside Pep Guardiola’s final two seasons at Manchester City, with genuinely unprecedented access to the dressing room and boardroom as one of the most dominant eras in football comes to an end. Whatever your team, there’s plenty in there about leadership, pressure, and what it takes to keep performing at the very top, lessons that translate well beyond football.
🎥 📺⚽️ MOURINHO – José Mourinho
Also well worth a watch this month is MOURINHO on Netflix. It’s a three-part series charting José Mourinho’s rise as one of football’s most iconic and outspoken managers, featuring interviews with the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, John Terry, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard. It’s less about the trophies and more about the man behind the “Special One” persona, his leadership style, his relationships, and what’s made him such a divisive figure in the game. A great watch alongside the Guardiola series if you want the full picture from both sides of some of those legendary rivalries.
📖📚 The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger (CEO of Disney)
One of my inspirations and motivational picks for the month. Iger started out as the lowest guy on the studio floor at ABC back in the 70s and worked his way all the way up to running Disney for 15 years, turning it into the biggest media company in the world along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, genuinely couldn’t put it down. It’s a fascinating insight into how he built Disney into what it is today, but just as much it’s his own journey, where he started from and where he got to. Well worth a read if you’re after something that’ll get you thinking differently about leadership and how far persistence can take you.
🎙️🎧: Rich Roll Podcast with Johannes Klæbo — The Most Decorated Winter Olympian Ever
Johannes Klæbo is a Norwegian cross-country skier and, at just 29, already the most decorated Winter Olympian in history. He’s won 11 Olympic golds and 13 medals overall, and at the 2026 Games he swept all six of his events, a feat nobody had managed before, breaking a record that had stood for 46 years. Only Michael Phelps has more Olympic golds than him.
What really got me was hearing how he’s reshaped his sport along the way. He’s brought in weekly YouTube videos, taken on a pro cycling contract, and even developed a technique that’s changed how skiers race uphill, which apparently came out of a training mishap rather than a masterplan. It’s genuinely fascinating listening to how he thinks about training, mindset, and pushing a sport forward. Well worth an hour and a half of your time.