How Proper Nutrition Transformed These Three Triathletes’ Performance

Training Hard but Still Underperforming?

If you’re putting in the work with your training - ticking off sessions, following a plan, even working with a coach - but still feel like something’s missing, you’re not alone.

Nutrition is often the missing link for age group triathletes. Most train like professionals but fuel like amateurs. And not because they’re lazy or uninterested - they’ve just never been taught how to fuel properly for three sports.

In this blog, you'll hear from three Triathlon Nutrition Academy athletes who transformed their performance, body composition and mindset with the same evidence-based strategy - no extremes, no fads, just real results from real triathletes.

Meet the Athletes

Jo - The Newbie Racer

• New to triathlon with a gym background

• Struggled with fasted training and confusion about fuelling

• Racing nearly every weekend with zero nutrition plan

• Wanted to automate her race nutrition to take out the guesswork

Kelly - The Masters Athlete

• 66 years old, engineering brain, spreadsheet king

• Loved metrics but had zero confidence in fuelling

• Was buying all the gear (and gels) without understanding what he actually needed

• Wanted a simple framework to support consistent performance

Erin - The Experienced Racer

• 14 years in the sport, 100+ races, but no idea how to fuel properly

• Spent years yo-yo dieting and bouncing between race goals and weight loss

• Knew she needed to unlock the next level of performance

What Changed? Everything.

All three athletes joined the Triathlon Nutrition Academy to get clarity and confidence with nutrition. Here’s what shifted:

1. They Finally Understood What to Eat - and When

No more guessing, no more Googling, and definitely no more fasted long rides. Each athlete learned:

• How to fuel for the three sports in triathlon, not just race day

• The importance of recovery nutrition (most were doing it completely wrong)

• How to adjust intake based on training load, intensity and life

“I had a nutrition plan dialled in so well that I didn’t even think about it for World Champs - it just happened automatically.” - Jo

2. They Gained Confidence and Consistency

Instead of second-guessing every gel, snack or meal, they had a plan that matched their needs. The result?

• Stronger sessions

• Better recovery

• Less fatigue (no more couch naps after long rides)

• Reduced mental load

“It’s now my fuelling personal best, not just my performance PB.” – Kelly

3. They Saw Serious Performance Gains

When you combine smart training with strategic fuelling, the results follow:

• Erin shaved 2 hours off her Ironman time and lost 48 pounds - and kept it off

• Kelly dropped his 70.3 time by 90 minutes and qualified for World Champs at age 66

• Jo smashed the Dopey Challenge (4 races in 4 days) while juggling theme parks and family time - and did it all with a smile

What Do They All Have in Common?

Different ages, goals, training backgrounds and life stages - but all three shared:

• A desire to do things properly

• A willingness to learn

• The same Triathlon Nutrition Academy framework that made it possible

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being strategic.

“You don’t need an app to tell you what to eat when you understand why you’re eating it.” - Taryn Richardson, APD, Sports Dietitian

Ready to Make Nutrition Your Secret Weapon?

If you saw yourself in any of their stories - the guessing, the fatigue, the hit-and-miss race performances - now’s the time to do something about it.

The Triathlon Nutrition Academy is the only program designed specifically for age group triathletes who want clarity, confidence and results.

Inside, you’ll learn how to:

• Fuel for training and recovery

• Create a race nutrition plan that works

• Adjust intake around your life and training load

• Avoid burnout, injury and underperformance 

✅ Ready to join the TNA Program?

If you are interested in learning more about the Triathlon Nutrition Academy Program and what it can do for you, head HERE to learn more.

✅ Want to check if your nutrition's up to scratch?

Grab the Triathlon Nutrition Checklist - our free 50-step guide to mastering the fourth leg.