From the blue depths of the vast Olympic pool, to one of the country\u2019s largest strength and conditioning gyms, it\u2019s no wonder that this quiet market town is where decorated Paralympians Claire Cashmore<\/a><\/strong> and Dave Ellis<\/a><\/strong> have chosen to put down roots.<\/p>\n With the racing season well underway, we joined the couple to get an idea of what a full day of training as elite paratriathletes looks like.<\/p>\n We got to know the close-knit paratri squad and witnessed the immense volume of training (and food) the athletes put away on a daily basis.<\/p>\n Claire and Dave are both passionate ambassadors for para sport<\/a><\/strong> and are all about increasing exposure and awareness. Born without a left forearm, Claire became a paraswimmer at an early age and started collecting her eight Paralympic medals at just 16.<\/p>\n Since transitioning across to paratriathlon only five years ago, Claire\u2019s powered her way to the top of the sport in the PTS5 class. Rarely far from the top of the podium, Claire has achieved some of the highest accolades in the sport, including two world titles, European gold and Paralympic bronze.<\/p>\n Dave became classifiable as visually impaired in 2006 after starting to lose his vision aged 16. He now has less than 10% vision and races with guide Luke Pollard in the PTVI class.<\/p>\n Also from a swimming background, Dave\u2019s been racing paratri for over nine years, during which he\u2019s won European, world and national titles four times.<\/p>\n This season, he\u2019s got a new target in his sights, the Commonwealth Games<\/a><\/strong>. Claire and Dave have been together for over 15 years, having met back in 2006 at Dave\u2019s first international paraswimming event. Fast forward to today and they travel the world training and racing together. But enough of the chat, let\u2019s get training\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> Splashes from the elite Olympic-distance athletes at the far side of the pool merge with the chatter of the close-knit paratri squad. They do all of their weekly swims together, with six of the squad who aren\u2019t away at races in attendance for this morning\u2019s 90-minute swim.<\/p>\n Today it\u2019s a tough session, where we build up to some hard VO2 max<\/a><\/strong> efforts for the main block. I say \u2018we\u2019 because today Claire and Dave have agreed to let us tag along during a typical day\u2019s training sessions. I thank my lucky stars that the 25m divider\u2019s up today, and hope I can vaguely keep up for the 1km warm-up.<\/p>\n Under the billowing 15m banner of a serious-looking George Peasgood, I jump in the lane with Claire and the very same fiery-haired double Paralympic champion for 20mins of hell, which they\u2019d describe as limbering up.<\/p>\n After a couple of easy 300m swims, we ease into some builds and max efforts designed to create lactic and fatigue ahead of the main set. I\u2019m relieved afterwards to find that I wasn\u2019t the only one feeling it: \u201cThe session was 4.5km today, with 1,500m of VO2 max as well at 400m effort pace, so that\u2019s pretty tough,\u201d admits Dave. \u201cIt felt hard.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Claire and Dave laud power<\/a><\/strong> as the first metric they train to, especially on the bike. Then it\u2019s a question of taking a look at heart rate and perceived effort to gain a more rounded understanding of form.<\/p>\n \u201cComing from a swimming background where you have absolutely nothing, a lot of the time you\u2019ve got to be really in tune with how you\u2019re doing,\u201d explains Claire. \u201cSometimes it\u2019s good to step away because you can get a bit obsessive about looking at your watch all the time. It\u2019s important to be able to rely on all the different forms of metrics and be adaptable.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s not to say that the world champion doesn\u2019t appreciate the data. Claire\u2019s been using an Incus Nova<\/a><\/strong> tracking device since the runup to Tokyo. The Incus device provides feedback on rotation and efficiency, which is something Claire\u2019s been working on to help transition from pool to open water.<\/p>\n Out on the open water, Dave has to rely completely on Luke for directions. \u201cThere\u2019ll be a slap round the shoulder or head at the right time so I don\u2019t turn too early round a buoy,\u201d Dave jokes.<\/p>\n During the 750m swim leg of a paratri race, PTVI athletes have to swim tethered around the ankle to their guide. Translate this to training in the pool, though, and there\u2019s a few snags to consider.<\/p>\n As the boys slip on a mangled-looking elastic yellow shoelace that doubles up as their makeshift tether, Dave explains the complicated dance that goes on underwater: \u201cYou use the tether to feel where the other person is.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the turn, if you\u2019re only swimming one way, you\u2019ve then got to go back over so the tether doesn\u2019t get caught on your legs. I go underneath Luke after the tumble turn because he runs out of air quicker than me. It just takes a bit of practice really.\u201d<\/p>\n Straight from the pool to the colossal Powerbase Gym just round the corner, the group warms up with some foam rolling<\/a><\/strong> and mobility before dispersing.<\/p>\n The pair have an hour to follow individualised programmes focused on building bone density<\/a><\/strong> and keeping them healthy and strong. \u201cThe gym session is about robustness,\u201d Claire later explains. \u201cIt\u2019s more than prehab because we are lifting weights.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s very much focused on calves and just trying to be as robust through the lower body as possible to be able to prepare for the load that you\u2019re going to take, particularly in the run and the bike.\u201d<\/p>\n But they didn\u2019t always train this way. Dave explains that previously they\u2019d be in the gym every other day. \u201cFor example, when I was only swimming I\u2019d squat over 100kg, whereas now it\u2019s 60kg but focusing on technical aspects of the actual squat. It\u2019s just being robust \u2013 like pure strength and power.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> If you\u2019re local to the Loughborough area, you might be lucky enough to spot Dave\u2019s sleek, patriotic-looking tandem which the boys take for a spin almost daily.<\/p>\n After a quick bite to eat, the two rendez-vous at Dave and Claire\u2019s new house on the town\u2019s outskirts for an easy 90min ride. Other bike sessions in the week are at varying intensities.<\/p>\n \u201cOn Saturday we did 3 x 25mins at threshold. Last Thursday was 5 x 8mins at race effort and then we had to run off the bike with a 5 x 3min, which was quite tough,\u201d admits Dave.<\/p>\n7:30am: Let\u2019s dive in\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>1:00pm: Time to tandem<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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