What is durability in triathlon — and why does it decide race outcomes?

In this episode of the Total Tri Coaching Podcast, we unpack one of the most important — and misunderstood — performance concepts in endurance sport: durability.

We explore why some athletes are extremely fit but fail to perform when fatigue accumulates, how durability differs from VO₂ max and threshold fitness, and why long-course racing rewards athletes who can preserve performance late into an event.

We also break down how to train durability across the swim, bike and run, including the role of strength training in improving posture, mechanics, force production and resilience under fatigue.

If you’ve ever wondered why strong training numbers don’t always translate into race-day results, this episode explains why.

Fitness gets you to the start line. Durability determines whether you can still use that fitness when the race really begins.