Hey Stealth athletes, ​Most triathletes train for "The Swim." The smart ones train for "The Race." ​There is a massive difference between holding a pace in a heated 25m pool and navigating the Atlantic swell in Cascais, the "washing machine" start in Bolton, or a non-wetsuit heatwave in Frankfurt. ​I want to make sure everyone in this squad is technically "Race-Proofed." ​I’ve been deep-diving into the 2026 course profiles, and I’m putting together a series of Stealth Race Reviews—breaking down the exact technique, sighting strategy, and "drag-reduction" hacks you need for specific courses. ​👇 DROP YOUR 2026 RACE (S) BELOW! @Jax Quant @Paul McCullock @Amanda Pritchard @Sharon Ewer @Pamela Bramble @Manaf Marouane @Maximilian von Heesen @Scott White @Terry Curtis @Kerry Rogers I know most of yours, but you might inspire another founding member of the Stealth Triathlon Squad, or if you're raising money for a great cause with an event, you never know what can happen! You can make friends here too with other members ​Which 70.3 or Full Ironman / Open Water Swim Challenge is your "A-Race" this year? ​Whether it's an Ironman, Challenge, or a local classic, comment with your Race Name + Date. ​ What happens next: I’ll pick the most popular races and drop a 3-Point Technical Checklist ​We’ll cover: ​The Sighting Trap: How to navigate that specific sun/current. ​The Catch Mechanic: Adapting your pull for the [Lake/Sea/River] conditions. ​The Secret "Free Speed": Where the drafting and turn-buoy wins are. ​Let me know where you're heading in the comments! 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♂️🏃‍♂️

Most of us were taught that a long, graceful stroke is the "gold standard" of swimming. We've spent years obsessing over lowering our stroke count and chasing that perfect SWOLF score. Here’s the truth: In a 70.3 open-water swim, "pretty" often equals "slow." When you focus on a long glide in a pool, you have a wall to push off and no waves to stop you. But the moment you hit open water with chop, current, and 500 other athletes: 1. The Stall: Every time you "pause" to glide, the water resistance hits you like a brick wall. You lose all your momentum. 2. The Restart: You then have to use massive amounts of energy just to get moving again. 3. The Sink: Long glides often lead to "dead spots" in your stroke where your hips and legs start to drop. The Stealth Fix: Stop trying to swim like an Olympic pool specialist. We want a resilient, punchy rhythm. A slightly higher stroke rate that acts like a 4x4 engine—cutting through the chop rather than being stopped by it. You want to have a robotic stroke that utilises front quadrant swimming and 3/4 catch up as the basis 3/4 Catch-Up – Rhythm Without Stalling Full catch-up can create dead spots. No timing & creates chaos. 3/4 catch-up builds smooth overlap without pausing. ✔ Better rhythm ✔ Cleaner timing ✔ Fewer rushed strokes Next Thursday (March 12th), I’m showing you the exact Stroke Rate targets you should be hitting to avoid the "Over-Glide" trap. 👇 Comment below: What’s your current "Strokes Per Length" in a 25m pool? (Be honest!)

📊 Your Garmin/Coros says you’re "Productive"... but are you actually getting faster? Most triathletes / open water swimmers finish a swim set and look at a screen full of SWOLF, Heart Rate, and "Training Effect" scores. But if I asked you right now: "What was your stroke rate on your 3rd interval, and did your pace drop when your tempo changed?"... could you answer? Most can't. Because the watch is a distraction, not a coach. This Wednesday, we are killing the "noise." The Poll: What is the #1 metric you look at after a swim? SWOLF Score (The vanity metric) 📈 Pace per 100m (The honest truth) ⏱️ Heart Rate (Usually a guess in the water) ❤️ I just look at the total distance and hope for the best 🏊‍♂️ Vote below. I’ll be using these results to show you what to IGNORE on next Thursday, 12th March's Live Briefing.

Losing time before you start: the transition trap Our race isn’t just in the water, bike, or run. It’s in the moments between. Many triathletes focus relentlessly on swim, bike, or run fitness. But the seconds lost fumbling in T1 or T2 can erase all the gains from a perfect training plan. Transitions are a skill, not a speed test A fast bike split is useless if you struggle to rack your bike or clip in quickly. Smooth transitions come from planning, repetition, and awareness — knowing exactly where your kit is, what order you’ll tackle your shoes, and how you’ll move through the space calmly. Calm beats chaos Panicked movements, dropped gear, or last-second decisions can cost 30–60 seconds — sometimes more. Practising transitions under pressure trains your mind and body to stay composed, just like your swim or run sessions. Squad sessions give you an edge Practising with others in small groups exposes you to different setups, routines, and mistakes. You learn tricks to shave seconds off without risking fatigue, helping you execute transitions like a pro when the race clock is ticking. Execution is worth more than raw power A fitter athlete who loses focus in T1 can find themselves chasing someone who’s slightly slower but transitions efficiently. The difference is subtle, but over a race, those seconds add up — sometimes deciding podium positions or personal bests. Think of transitions as your hidden performance multiplier. The faster and smoother you are, the more of your training converts into results. Fitness is necessary, but control, awareness, and execution are what make it count. How much time do you think you lose in transitions — and are you actively practising to reduce it? Your challenge for the next week...if you've got this far is...how fast can you do a T2 transition?

Always good to hear what everyone’s training for — keeps the motivation high! @Jax Quant what events are you focusing on this year? Any ‘A-races’ or goals you’re building toward?