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Spiral Development, mechanics to flow

Level 1 – Aerobic fitness and strength

Progress cardiovascular health, basic muscular strength to support the repeatable and sustainable exercise. Many stop here assuming the next levels “just happen” with training volume.

Level 2 – Balance and timing

As Aerobic health and strength improve, use this to improve technique through balance and timing. Swim, timing of the catch. Run, the timing of the pull and fall. Bike, timed unweighting and power application.

Level 3 – Poise

With timing in place, we now look to combine towards whole-body movement, all limbs and abdomen are coordinated and leverage the serape effect to provide synchronised power and reduce negative forces. Relax all that is not providing forward motion.

Level 4 – Flow

Achieve total psychological absorption in the swim, ride, or run. Mechanics are unconscious. You are at one with the environment, at one with the bike, the pavement, the water. Totally in the now, past and future are out of mind.

Repeat from Step 1…

Paul Skelton

Life-long endurance athlete with 20 years IRONMAN experience and 12 years of coaching. TrainingPeaks Level 2, IRONMAN Uni, WOWSA Level 3, Triathlon Australia, and Primal Health accredited Coach. Active adventure-focused athlete of 14 IRONMANs, Kona Qualifier, Ultraman, Comrades and Ultra swim finisher.