Product Review: Ameo Powerbreather

I don't do very many product reviews, so you know something's really good when I do recommend it! Today I'm reviewing the Ameo Powerbreather, a swim snorkel, but not like any swim snorkel you've seen before! 

A traditional snorkel is a very useful piece of swim equipment as it allows for a better head & body position which allows you to really concentrate on your stroke (without having to worry about turning your head to breath). The ability to really focus on what you’re doing during the catch and pull phase of the swim stroke is fundamental in learning to swim with an efficient swim stroke. 

So what makes the Ameo Powerbreather different and better than a traditional swim snorkel? The first thing you'll notice is that you have 2 tubes that go either side of your head, rather than the more traditional singular tube that sits in front of your face, this allows for greater visibility when swimming, which can be rather handy when in a busy pool or in open water (yes, you can use it in open water too!).

x2 - Running doubles!

This year our coaches are going to be imparting more of their knowledge on you in the form of blog posts, so here we have a great running post from coach Henry, who's talking about running double run sessions to improve your run fitness. I really like this blog post, I hope you do too! 

It’s easy to assume that the practice of running doubles (2 runs in the same day) should be reserved for elite athletes, or the serious club runner with an abundance of time on their hands, but in reality it’s something that could play a role in everyone’s running programme.

Firstly, let’s talk volume. No matter what length event you’re training for, from 5k to an ultra, getting the miles in matters. The physical and physiological benefits are indisputable – you only have to look at the top ten finishing times in a half marathon in the 80s (running mileage boom years) compared to now – where the average entrant typically runs far less per week (and is far slower). That’s not to say that
we should all revert to the 80s, but learn lessons and apply what we learn to make our training more effective, our bodies stronger and our running performances better.

So, apart from boosting your mileage stats at the end of the week and looking impressive on Strava, are there any other benefits to running doubles.

The best WhittleFit blog posts of 2016

So, it's the start of a new year, 2016 has simply flown by! WhittleFit had a big year in 2016, so I decided to trawl through last years blog posts and see which ones really resonated with me. Theses are my favourites, I hope you like them too! 

1. Fitness Expert Interview: Emma Cresswell
2. Why Are We Drawn To Ultra Long Endurance Challenges?
3. Challenge Roth Race Report - Craig Patterson
4. Long Course Weekend Race Report - Beth Morgan
5. Two in Two!
6. New Years Trisolutions

You may notice some of my favourites from 2016 are race reports, that's because I love reading an athletes feedback from race day - sometimes you never know what's going on in someones head until they put pen to paper! Watch this space for more exciting blog posts including more WhittleFit Athlete Spotlight series articles and some great blog posts from our WhittleFit coaches!   

WhittleFit Athlete Spotlight: Martyn Lewis

• What got you started in endurance/ multisport? 
  • Started running late in life (8 years ago). Did charity bike ride North to South Wales on a borrowed bike over 3 days in 2011, loved it, bought a road bike, was talked into doing Cardiff Tri in 2015 closely followed by the Cotswolds 113.  

• How long have you been with WhittleFit?
  • Just over a year, I signed up for Ironman Wales and thought I needed a structured plan rather than volume training. 

• Tell us about your home and work life?
  • I live in Pantmawr Cardiff, with my wife Karen, we married in 2006, have 3 children Adam, Sophie & James 26,23,20. I own & run an MOT & service centre (Celtic MOT Ltd) in Cardiff, with my brother, have been in the trade almost since birth, family business started the month I was born, have picture of me in custom made overalls age 3 covered head to toe in grease, things haven't changed much. 

• What was your first race?
  • Run - Bupa 10k around the bay, completed in 1:58 hard work 30'c heat, huge sense of achievement.
  • Tri - Cardiff Tri 2015

• How many races have you done?
  • Triathlons - 3: Cardiff Tri, Cotswold 113 & Ironman Wales.
  • Cardiff half marathons -  4: although one of those I collapsed 100m sort of the finish line! 

• What advice would you give someone starting out in triathlon?
  • Ask your wife 1st!!!! The training towards the end of Long distance triathlons is immense, it rules and takes over your life! 
  • Get a coach, volume training will get you to the finish if you can stay injury free, but with correct structure you'll get there in a much better state. 

• What is your biggest accomplishment so far?
  • That feeling on the finish line of Ironman Wales is like nothing I've experienced in my life, there were times leading up to the race that I thought I'd wouldn't even get to the start line but I kept to the plan, it was worth every second of the pain and agony of training.
  • Finishing 8th in your age group, sitting there at roll down with a very outside chance of a place in the World Champs at Kona is surreal for your 1st long distance triathlon. Age is not a barrier, believe in yourself, stay focussed and still to your plan and anything is achievable. 

 Thank you Martyn for your comments and congratulations on a great result at Ironman Wales 2016, it was well deserved! You followed the coaching provided by Lawrence Cronk to the letter and it paid dividends - very well done!