Contrasting triathletes both gained from video analysis

In late August I had the privilege of running a 1-2-1 video analysis (VA) session for top British triathlete, Joe Skipper, who, until a few months before, had the fastest UK long distance tri time (now held by Tim Don). The session went smoothly (though Joe did splash me quite a lot while we were filming! more on that later) and @noaveragejoe headed back to Norwich a happy chap. Two weeks later he won (i.e. came first:) at Almere, the European Long Course champs in the Netherlands, helped by a 51min swim. And a few weeks after that, finished 6th at Ironman Barcelona, with a 50min swim. His tweeted conclusion after these two outstanding results? "Can definitely recommend Seamus. Since seeing him I've had my two best ironman swims! definitely knows his stuff." Specifically, we worked on developing Joe's feel for the water, smoothing out his stroke and making it more fluent...and as a bi-product reduced that splash a bit! And like many Smooth swim-types Joe had a tendency to breathe a fraction late, so the Unco drill was deployed to improve his stroke timing.

Then just last weekend there was Kona, the World Ironman Champs. Did I have an elite or high-flying age-grouper out there in Hawaii? Nope, 'fraid not. But an amazing Suffolk woman called Pat Atwood was there, having qualified in the 65-69 age group. Pat had been a VA client back in December 2016. Well Pat struggled in the intense heat of Kona and had to drop out after 90 miles on the bike. But her view on her 1:35 swim was encouraging "The swim was good at least!".

It's just incredibly exciting to be involved with athletes, such as Joe and Pat, across the full range of ages, speeds and backgrounds, striving diligently to improve their performance in some of the world's most challenging and competitive events. As well as at Felixstowe Leisure Centre of course ;) 

Pat Atwood sea swimming at Felixstowe a few weeks before Kona and (top) with a cheerful Joe Skipper after his video analysis at FLC in August, 2 weeks before winning European Long Distance.