Australian Triathlete – July-August 2017

90 | AustrAliAn triAthlete

text by alIcIa edge

photogrAphy by SHutteRStocK.coM

The macrocycle refers to your training

program over the entire season, and how

your training changes depending on the

time of year to ensure maximum

performance for your key races.

Pre-Season/Base Phase

In triathlon, you will usually have a base

phase initially. This is where you enter (or

re-enter) the training scene with the goal

of building endurance and fitness.

Sessions are usually low to moderate

intensity and are not yet focused on

achieving those top end speeds. This is

D

epending on the type, timing,

frequency and intensity of

your training sessions, your

body responds and adapts

differently. Training periodisation is all

about long-term variations in your training

to improve performance. Did you know

that your nutrition could also be used

for adaptation? Research is making it

increasingly clear that the adaptations

from exercise can be both dampened or

amplified with food choices and timing.

Nutrition periodisation is all about

changing and adapting your intake in

response to the different periods of

training and racing. Some of these

concepts are new, while others you may

have heard about or have even tried

already. Each of these concepts needs to

be timed within your training/racing

program appropriately and may not ideal

to do year-round. Sports Dietitians are

experts in these concepts, so if you

would love some individualised advice

on how to incorporate nutrition

periodisation into your training, it is one

incredible investment (ok, so I am a

little biased).

The Macrocycle:

Adapting your intake

year round

eAT LIKe

YoU TrAIN:

Periodising nutrition

for Enhanced Performance

365

days