Swimming

Pool Swimming

At The Residences we are lucky enough to have four pools on site, all offering unique training opportunities. There are two outdoor pools; the first a 25m pool providing easy access all day long so you can easily fit your swimming sessions around whatever else you have planned; the second is an irregular shaped pool with and island situated towards the far end. This pool is ideal for recreating mock open water races and the pinch points really make you focus on swimming in compact groups. Both pools are cool enough to wear a wetsuit giving you the ability to practice your open water swimming but in the safety of a pool. 

At the 5 star Tivoli Hotel, just across the road, you will have full access to the spa area which holds several Jacuzzis, a steam room, a sauna, hydrotherapy showers, and other “bubbly contraptions” to help you unwind after a hard days training. We also have access to a 12m indoor pool which allows you the time and the place to practice your swimming drills in the evening.

The other pool is situated a lesuirely ten minute cycle away, as part of a sports complex, in the beautiful Vilamoura town. This pool is an ideal training pool with six 25m lanes, and two 50m lanes to give you a bit more variety to your swim sessions. Two 50m lanes will be resevered most mornings to give you the flexability to train as you want. Most of your training will take part in this 50m Pool. 

Open Water

The beach is only 15 minutes away from the hotel, so if you are tired of blasting up and down a lane you can head down the beach to do some sea swimming and work on your open water technique. Here, you can challenge yourself by swimming amongst the waves to recreate rough conditions, or go past the waves and enjoy the temperate water which hovers around the 15 degree mark all year round. Whatever you decide to do, the huge variety and close location means even the most water resistant swimmers won’t be able to say no to a  dip or two! 

Cycling

The cycling around Vilamoura is stunning. With the Residences only 30 minutes away from the breath taking Monchique mountains, and hundreds of miles of picturesque country lanes, you’ll never want to step foot off your bike! The broad range of steady quiet back roads, savage mountain climbs, to hair-raising technical descents makes for a varied and enjoyable cycling experience that won’t be forgotten easily. 

Around the hotel, there are many quiet roads, within a short range, so you can work on technique, cornering, or pack riding: ideal for beginners as well as for experienced riders. For those who want to go for longer or harder, the mountains include some excellent climbs and the opportunity to go through some very beautiful parts of the country.  Our favourite ride is the 100 miler which includes a 900m climb over 18km! As soon as you break from the coastline, you  can experience the subtle side of the historic Algarve’s Moorish past in the small towns like Silves or Alte. 

We have constructed routes to match any skill level, as well as give you the best possible experience of the beautiful Algarve countryside. We have rides ranging from easy, flat and fast, to steep, hilly and challenging. Even if you decide to go and get lost for a while, you wont be disappointed with whatever roads you stumble across. Cycling in the Algarve is a pleasant experience: the roads are fast and smooth and the temperature is usually perfect for cycling in short sleeves, even in January.

Although we don’t offer mountain biking within Tri Training Harder camps, we can put you in touch with people who can lead you on some fantastic off road routes right into the mountains.

Running 

A combination of the quiet roads and stunning countryside means you are never short of places to explore by foot. There is great mix of cross country and road running around the local area that is easily accessible from The Residences, and for those of you looking for something a little different the beach is only a twenty five minute run away. Perfect for those long sunset runs along the shore, or for an early morning session as the sun comes up!

Our track sessions are run at the local sport centre in Vilamoura town (the same location as the 50m pool). This is only a 10 minute cycle away, or short run if you are feeling keen, and is an ideal place for incorporating some speed work and drillsinto a training schedule. We always lead a short 2.5km brick after every long ride to remind your legs of the feeling running off the bike. During these, you are running alongside some of the most famous and beautiful golf courses in the Algarve. 

If that doesn’t whet your appetite there are numerous other runs to choose from which explore the stunning surroundings of Vilamoura. Nearby routes include a cliff top run over looking the coastline, a cross country course built for the 2000 IAAF World Championships, a run through the nature reserve next door, and the run into town (with several ‘work out’ stations which you are more than welcome to take advantage of!).  Running around Vilamoura is hugely varied- you can put in almost any kind of running session you want to and do it on safe roads or in the picturesque countryside.