What TCC’s TRIFit Actually Is (And What It Isn’t)
TRIFit is one of those things people think they understand before they’ve ever done it.
Some assume it’s just circuit training with a triathlon label. Others think it’s CrossFit. Some worry it’s too hard, too intense, or not “for people like them”. And a few avoid it altogether because they’ve had bad experiences with gyms in the past.
None of that really reflects what TRIFit is trying to do.
So it’s worth being clear about what it actually is; and just as importantly, what it isn’t.
TRIFit exists to support your swim, bike, and run
TRIFit isn’t a standalone fitness class. It isn’t there to replace endurance training or compete with it.
Its job is much simpler than that. TRIFit exists to support the work you’re already doing in the pool, on the bike, and on the run. Everything in the session is chosen because it helps you tolerate training better, move more efficiently, or stay more robust over time.
If an exercise doesn’t serve that purpose, it doesn’t belong in the session.
That’s why TRIFit doesn’t chase exhaustion for its own sake. The goal isn’t to leave you lying on the floor. The goal is to leave you better prepared for the rest of your training week.
It isn’t CrossFit, and it isn’t bodybuilding
This is usually the biggest misunderstanding.
TRIFit isn’t about lifting heavy for the sake of it, and it isn’t about chasing high-rep fatigue. There’s no interest in arbitrary benchmarks, leaderboards, or seeing how much work you can survive in an hour.
Strength work is used deliberately. Loads, reps, and exercises are selected to develop force, control, and tolerance without unnecessary fatigue. Conditioning elements are included when they make sense, not because they look impressive.
If you’ve avoided strength training because you don’t enjoy gym culture, TRIFit is deliberately designed to feel different to that.
Coaching matters more than the exercises
You can find exercises anywhere. What most people are missing isn’t information, it’s guidance.
In TRIFit sessions, coaching is the main feature. Technique is coached. Loads are adjusted. Movements are scaled. Athletes aren’t expected to guess what’s appropriate for them on the day.
That matters because strength training done poorly is one of the fastest ways to feel beaten up, especially alongside endurance training. Strength training done well should feel purposeful and controlled, even when it’s challenging.
The aim is not to see who can push the hardest. It’s to make sure the work you do actually transfers back into your sport.
It’s group-based, but not one-size-fits-all
Like our swim sessions, TRIFit runs in a group environment. That doesn’t mean everyone does the same thing in the same way.
Group sessions allow for structure, consistency, and coaching presence. Within that, exercises can be adapted, loads adjusted, and progressions individualised. The group provides a shared framework, not a rigid script.
This is especially useful for adults who don’t want to plan gym sessions themselves, but also don’t want to be lost in a room full of machines with no direction.
TRIFit is about consistency, not hero sessions
One of the quiet benefits of TRIFit is that it removes decision-making.
You don’t need to work out what strength training you “should” be doing. You don’t need to second-guess whether you’re doing enough or too much. You turn up, train, and leave knowing the session fits into the wider picture.
Over time, that consistency matters far more than any single session. Strength, coordination, and tolerance build gradually. There’s no rush, and no expectation that progress should be dramatic week to week.
That approach suits real life, not idealised training schedules.
Who TRIFit is (and isn’t) for
TRIFit works best for:
Triathletes who want to feel stronger without compromising endurance training
Athletes who want structure and coaching in the gym
People who value progression over intensity
It’s probably not for:
Those looking for purely aesthetic gym training
People who want maximal fatigue every session
Athletes who enjoy unstructured, self-directed gym work
Neither is right nor wrong. They’re just different goals.
The bigger picture
TRIFit isn’t about adding more training to an already busy week. It’s about making the training you’re already doing more sustainable.
When strength and conditioning are applied properly, swimming feels more stable, cycling feels more economical, and running feels more controlled. Training interruptions become less frequent. Fatigue becomes more predictable.
That’s the role TRIFit is designed to play.
If you’ve been unsure whether strength training fits into your triathlon training, TRIFit is there to remove that uncertainty. It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing the right things, in the right way, at the right time.