Field notes from the training
Race guides, training tips
and honest coaching insights
Written by Nenad Starc — ESCI certified triathlon coach, Ironman finisher, and someone who started from zero in 2022. Everything here comes from experience, not theory.
Race report
Ironman 70.3 Duisburg 2023 — My First Half Ironman
My first triathlon was in June 2023. My first half Ironman was two months later. Here's the honest race report from Duisburg — the swim nerves, the bike mistakes, and what kilometre 15 of the run taught me about race nutrition.
25 Jun 2026
Training guide
How to Train for Hot Weather Triathlon When You Live in the Netherlands
I trained for heat in Mallorca and got a storm instead. Here's how to prepare your body for a race-day climate you'll never feel during a Dutch training block — no camp, no altitude lab, just a sauna and some discomfort on purpose.
19 Jun 2026
Training guide
Why Most Amateur Triathletes Train Too Hard on Easy Days
Going too hard on easy days is the most common mistake I see — and the hardest one to fix. Here's what the grey zone is, why you're probably stuck in it, and how polarised training changes everything.
18 Jun 2026
Training guide
How to Return to Training After Injury — Without Making It Worse
The hardest part isn't the injury. It's knowing when — and how — to come back. Here's what I've learned about returning to triathlon and endurance training safely, without losing months to a setback that becomes a second one.
11 Jun 2026
Training guide
How to Train for Ironman 70.3 Westfriesland — A Complete Training Guide
I've stood on that start line twice. This is everything I know about training specifically for Westfriesland — the cold harbour swim, the wind-exposed bike, and how to still have legs on the run.
4 Jun 2025
Training & coaching
Which FTP Test Should You Actually Do?
Ramp test, 20-minute test, 8-minute test — they're not interchangeable. Here's an honest breakdown of every major FTP protocol and which one fits where you actually are right now.
28 May 2026
Beginner guide
Od nič do Ironmana v treh letih — kaj sem se resnično naučil
Aprila 2022 sem prvič sedel na kolo. Brez izkušenj. Brez ozadja v vzdržljivostnih športih. Tri leta pozneje: Ironman Copenhagen, 11:58:25. To je resnična zgodba — ne povzetek uspehov.
25 May 2026
Beginner guide
Why Expats in the Netherlands End Up Training for Ironman (And Why It Makes Complete Sense)
Something about living in the Netherlands quietly pulls people toward endurance sports. And sometimes, all the way to Ironman. Here's why it happens.
21 May 2026
Training & coaching
What a Triathlon Training Camp in Mallorca Actually Does to You
I wasn't the coach this week — I was the athlete. A week at a pro training camp in Mallorca, every kilometre felt in my legs by Thursday.
5 May 2026
Beginner guide
From Zero to Ironman in Three Years — What I Actually Learned
No cycling, swimming, or running background. Three years later: Ironman Copenhagen, 11:58. Here's what I actually learned.
3 May 2026
Race guide
Triathlon Race Calendar Netherlands 2026 — The Complete Guide
Every triathlon event in the Netherlands in 2026 — from sprint to full Ironman — with coaching notes on each one.
25 Apr 2026
Training & coaching
TrainingPeaks for Beginners — How Coached Athletes Use It
New to TrainingPeaks? Here's exactly what to look at, what to ignore, and how to get the most from it as a coached athlete.
18 Apr 2026
Beginner guide
From Couch to Sprint Triathlon in 12 Weeks — Is It Actually Possible?
Yes — but with conditions. Here's what it actually takes, what you need in place, and what can go wrong.
11 Apr 2026
Beginner guide
How Much Does Triathlon Coaching Cost? And Is It Actually Worth It?
An honest answer — what coaching costs, what you get, and how to decide if it's the right move for you right now.
4 Apr 2026
Race guide
Ironman 70.3 Westfriesland — Course Guide, Race Tips & What to Expect
I've raced Westfriesland twice. The swim, the wind on the bike, where races are won and lost on the run.
23 Mar 2026
Beginner guide
Triathlon Coaching in the Netherlands — in English
Looking for an English-speaking triathlon coach in the Netherlands? Here's what to look for and why the language gap matters.
20 Mar 2026
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Beginner guide
Why Triathlon Might Be the New Year's Resolution That Actually Sticks
Most resolutions fade by February. Here's why triathlon is different — and what to know before you commit.
26 Dec 2025
Training & coaching
Supercharging Your Swim Training: Swim Tools
Pull buoy, fins, snorkel, kickboard and smart goggles — which tools actually help and which are just expensive clutter.
7 Dec 2025
Training & coaching
Why Hire a Triathlon Coach? What Coaching Gives You That You Can't Get Alone
Every beginner deserves support from day one. Here's what coaching actually changes — and what it doesn't.
30 Nov 2025
Training & coaching
How a Triathlon Coach Personalises Training for Every Athlete
Beginners, time-crunched athletes, and competitive performers all need different things. Here's how the approach changes.
23 Nov 2025
Training & coaching
How to Build a Triathlon Annual Training Plan (ATP) — With a Real Example
A walk-through of my own ATP — race classifications, training phases, and how the full year fits together.
17 Nov 2025
Training & coaching
Surviving Winter Like a Triathlete: How I Built My Indoor Training Setup
Smart trainer, treadmill, projector, fans. How I set up a pain cave that makes winter training something to look forward to.
9 Nov 2025
Training & coaching
Planning Early for Your Triathlon Racing Season Is the Key to Success
The A-B-C race system and why the planning phase is where most athletes lose their season before it starts.
25 Oct 2025
Race report
Running Through History: My Amsterdam Marathon 2025 Experience
The 50th TCS Amsterdam Marathon — two months after Ironman Copenhagen. Race report, course highlights, and what I learned.
21 Oct 2025
Race report
Ironman Copenhagen 2025 — Race Report
3.8km swim, 180km bike, full marathon. Finish time 11:58:25. From a coach who started from zero in 2022 — the full story of race day.
31 Aug 2025
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