WORD FROM THE COACHES
Considering we are inching towards the back end of the triathlon season in Victoria, the energy, enthusiasm and motivation amongst athletes seems to be at an all time high at the moment. With some key races under the belt and some big races ahead, it’s all systems go. We also have a large number of new athletes starting with us as they graduate from our Try-the-Tri Program and there is nothing like new athletes to reinvigorate those who have had a long hard training and racing season. So keep up the great work team and lets finish off the season strong.
This week we kicked of our new squad sessions in the Bayside area of Mentone and look forward to building these sessions over the coming weeks/months. So if you live/work in the area and didn’t get down this week, make sure you head along next week with sessions every day to cater of all levels/abilities.
The weekend saw the running of Race 3 of the Gatorade Series which doubled as the Australia Sprint Distance Championships. A cold, wet and windy morning in Melbourne greeted us. The bay was angry, with swells and waves making navigating to the turn around buoys difficult. Our newest (and bravest!) athletes from our latest 6 Week Beginner Tri Challenge were nervous pre race as for once, they hadn’t actually had the chance to practise training in these conditions. But to their credit, they took the challenge head on and did extremely well in difficult conditions – even for seasoned athletes!
Click here to continue reading our race report and race results.
FAREWELL BBQ AND DRINKS
‘Farewells and good lucks’ go to Katie Bennett and Jared Faulker. These two Kiwi’s – turned Aussies – are turning Kiwi again and returning to the land of green rolling hills and outdoor adventures.
They are currently busily packing up their lives in Melbourne to return back home for a career change as they study to become physio’s.
We wish them both the best in their return home – and especially to Katie who is completing her first IRONMAN next week in Taupo, New Zealand. This will be a special race for Katie as she races in her home country and in front of friends and family. So best of luck on a great race. These guys will be having a send off (BBQ & drinks) this Sunday at Albert Park. They’d love for you to come along so RSVP and full details here.
SAVE THE DATE – END OF SEASON PRESENTATION NIGHT!
NEW LOCATION NEEDED!
We are currently planning our End of Season Presentation Night to be held on Saturday 10 May. We are also looking for people who can provide us with suggestions/leads on location ideas this year. The following requirements are needed: Must be – CBD/Bayside location, sit down 2 or 3 course meal, no more than ~$80pp. Keeping in mind proximity to public transport and ‘after party’ venue locations. For more details and/or suggestions please email sarah@dev.tri-alliance.com.au. The successful suggestion will receive their ticket to the night FREE so get thinking and you could be enjoying the night on us! 🙂
IRONMAN MELBOURNE/NZ INFORMATION SESSION:
Race nutritional review & final build: Tonight – Wednesday 19 February. An up close and personal race nutrition and hydration review and planning with Ironman Head Coach Ollie Allan and Sports Dietitian Margaret Mielczarek. If you haven’t RSVP’d, make sure you do. CLICK HERE for more details and to RSVP.
ELWOOD LIFESAVING CLUB FUNDRAISER – THIS SATURDAY
Do you have a few hours up your sleeve and want to donate your time to a good cause? Our friends at the Elwood Lifesaving are seeking volunteers to help with their Highway Collection (tin rattle) on Saturday 22 February, with the morning anticipated to bring in much needed funds to the Club. Click here for more details and to register your interest.
WEEKEND RIDES
Great to see that we had nice controlled group riding on the weekend, where athletes worked well together, completed solo efforts when required, and kept an eye out for each other. We want to continue to re-enforce if you plan on joining our weekend group rides you MUST wear a piece of our Tri Alliance Cycling Kit. This is for the safety of our group. If you do not have Tri Alliance kit, you will be asked to ride at the back of the group. We are mainly concerned about Beach Road riding and other cyclist ‘jumping in’ to our group rides, so with all riders in team kit, this shows a form of unity and minimises the risk of other riders joining our groups. We have no issues with others sitting on the back of group rides, but the danger occurs when they start mixing with our athletes when they don’t know what the group is doing and/or we don’t know their ability. So if you haven’t got a kit yet, jump online here and order. AND heads up to keep your eye on a special discount happening THIS FRIDAY! 
CYCLING VICTORIA CODE OF CONDUCT
Cycling Victoria, in conjunction with Victoria Police and Vic Roads recently released a ‘Cycling Code of Conduct’. A code put together to assist cyclist enjoy a safe ride while on the road – including obeying road rules, being predictable and the rights of others who use the road. PLEASE ENSURE YOU READ THE FOLLOWING – as all cyclists are expected to know, understand and obey by the code of conduct.
MSAC /ALBERT PARK SESSIONS
Please note we are waiting on further details from MSAC around any closures in and around MSAC over the coming weeks due to the Grand Prix. Please stay tuned for any updates – particularly for the March Training Timetable.
BIKE STORAGE AT MSAC- PLEASE READ
Please read the following notice from the mangement team at MSAC regarding storing your bikes while using the MSAC facilities:
‘Recently staff at MSAC have had to ask several people to remove their bikes from the venue & this has been an ongoing issue. Patrons are not allowed to bring their bikes into the centre. We are not able to look after their bikes or take responsibility for any loss or damage that may happen to their bike. Patrons trying to bring their bikes into the Centre, will be informed to use the multiple bike racks located across the facility. Excuses such as “my bike is expensive” or “I forgot my lock” are not acceptable. We will not allow bikes in the centre and will be ensuring all staff members enforce this.’
BAYSIDE TRAINING – COMMENCING THIS WEEK!
Tri Alliance is excited to announce the commencement of training sessions in the Bayside area from THIS WEEK!
We are holding sessions out of Bayside Aquatics, Mentone including swim, bike and run sessions. This will provide athletes with even more flexibility and variety with their training and we will be introducing our new Swim Coach Anna Curuthers and Run Coach Rupert Vandongen to these sessions.
CLICK HERE for full details including session times and locations. Any questions please contact sarah@dev.tri-alliance.com.au.
GMHBA is pleased to offer Tri-Alliance athlete’s exclusive access to this month’s partner offer. Get a Quote or Join Now
*Plus, if you join by 28th February 2014, we’ll give you $150 Cash Back plus a waiver of most 2 & 6 month waiting periods when you take out a GMHBA Combined Product. To ensure you receive this special offer all you have to do is use promotional code Tri-Alliance.
Finally a health insurance product that rewards YOU for staying fit and healthy! GMHBA has some exciting news. We have developed a range of packages specifically for people into sports and fitness.
When it comes to exercise there is a fine line between pushing your body to its limits and overdoing it. So with fantastic benefits and enhanced claiming limits, you need to ensure you have the right cover for your fit and active lifestyle with one of our four Fit Packages.
Our Fit packages encourage, support and reward you for staying fit and healthy. We also put significant dollars back in the hands of local clubs and communities, to improve and protect the health and well-being of grassroots fitness and sport participation in Australia.
Contact us 1300 446 422 service@gmhba.com.au
INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY! 
Liv/giant and Cycling Victoria are teaming up for International Women’s Day 2014! This event will be held at ‘The Great Provider’ Thursday 6th March. Cycling Victoria will also be holding awards to acknowledge those whose contributions, from the grassroots up, have helped to encourage women to discover the joy of cycling.
Tri Alliance has been working closely with LIV Giant over the past couple of years and we believe they do fantastic work in developing women in cycling and a helping to create a friendly and inviting culture for women.
CLICK HERE to nominate LIV Giant as part of the Cycling Victoria Awars (nominations close this Friday 21 February)
CLICK HERE to RSVP to this event (RSVP’s close Monday 3 March)
ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE??
Mark ‘Sharky’ Smoothy founder of Smiling for Smiddy has a Challenge for YOU!
“I began an adventure, one that was infinitely bigger than even I could have imagined, my Oz 7 in 7 trip around Australia. Seven years in the making, this epic trip will conclude with two legs, covering over 2300kms in total.
You’ll cycle leg one travelling from Melbourne to Sydney via Canberra (3-9 Oct) or leg two
finishing it all off from Sydney to Brisbane (12-18 Oct), or maybe both! (There will be two lay days in Sydney included between the legs for recovery) – and I would love for you to join me!”
Stage 1, 1300kms
Departs Melbourne – 3 October 2014
Arrives Sydney – 9 October 2014
Stage 2, 1200kms
Departs Sydney – 12 October 2014
Arrives Brisbane – 18 October 2014
Read the full tour brochure here>> Registrations are now open, with places strictly limited (ONLY 30 PLACES). To register please follow this link>>
Let us know if you are keen, as we already have one athlete joining stage 1 – so who else is up for the Challenge???
TWILIGHT TRAIL FUN RUN
WITH A DIFFERENCE!
Twilight Trail Fun Run out at Birdsland (next to Lysterfield Park) on Sat 1 March 2014, raising money for Shake It Up. Handicapped event – so ANYONE can win and with an 80’s retro theme, this event is all about having FUN while raising money for a great cause. Click for more details.
FACEBOOK – more than a ‘social network’
Tri Alliance utilises Facebook on many levels (like millions of other businesses / clubs /groups) and one of the reasons, is it allows for direct communication to our athletes in an instant. Any changes to training, updates in sessions, new events etc are all delivered via the Facebook medium. We also use it to share pictures, stories and allow athletes to interact with each other.
So if you have yet to embrace Facebook, we encourage you to at least set up an ‘alias’ account and follow Tri Alliance so you don’t miss out on any important or noteworthy information directed to our athletes which may not communicated on email. And make sure you ‘like’ each of our pages to ensure you are getting the relevant information you need.
Happy facebooking…
- Tri Alliance Triathlon Training – for all global news, information, advice plus more
- Tri Alliance Victoria – specifically for our VIC Athletes
- Tri Alliance Queensland – specifically for our QLD Athletes
- Tri Alliance Running Group – join our FREE running group
- Tri Alliance New/Beginner Athletes -(group) this group is for anyone new to Tri Alliance/triathlon and can feel free to ask ANY question that our Coaches will happily answer.
UPCOMING RACES & EVENTS
Sunday 9 February Geelong Olympic & Half IM
Sunday 16 February Race 4 Gatorade Series, Elwood (Aus Sprint champs)
Saturday 1 March Olympic Distance Qualifier, Davenport
Sunday 2 March Fitness First Corporate Tri, Elwood, Sprint Distance Qualifier, Canberra
Sunday 9 March Olympic Distance Qualifier, Victor Harbour & Wollongong
Sunday 16 March Race 5 Gatorade Series, Portarlington
Sunday 23 March Ironman Melbourne
Sunday 30 March Race 6 Gatorade Series, StKilda
Sunday 30 March Mooloolaba Olympic Distance
Sunday 6 April Mini, Sprint & Olympic Distance, Mordialloc
TRAINING THIS WEEKEND
SHORT COURSE
- Saturday: 7.30am Elwood Beach. All swim, bike and run gear needed. All athletes will commence with a race specific run, followed by skills (yes you will all be mounting/dismounting!) And if you don’t know how, you will be joining our 8.30am group to start from the basics. You have 4 weeks until the next race to perfect. Followed by Open Water Swim Skills.
- 8.30am Elwood Beach. Beginner skills session, for those who are new to the squad or triathlon. Learn the tips and tricks for racing – including mounting/dismounting
- Sunday: 6.45am Short Course Ride, leaving Elwood Beach.* OR
Race 4 of the Team Up Series, Green Point Brighton. Click here for race details.
*Note due to the tri in Brighton their will be detours on Beach Road.
LONG COURSE
- Saturday: Long Ride + run off bike, leaving Elwood Beach 6.15am. Follow own program distances, or speak to a Coach.
- Sunday: 7.00am IM Melbourne Race Recon swim and run from Frankston. Ensure you are part of our IM Melb FB Group for full details.
TRIATHLON TRADING POST
ZIPP 404 WHEEL SET FOR SALE!
They are 2012 custom Zipp 404 Firecrests. They have ceramic bearings, the reflective ‘back to black’ stickers, grey smoke nipples and silver spokes. The wheels have only ever been used in 1 x IM, 2 x 1/2 IM’s and a 120km road race. Have only ever been ridden by 1 rider who weighs 50kg. The wheels are in perfect condition and may as well be brand new. Tyres are Continental GP4000’s, cassette is SRAM Force 12-25. Will include a brand new GP4000 as a spare, some carbon brake pads and a pair of wheel bags (nothing flash but great for storage). Price: $1700 and includes freight/postage. Contact Nic: 0438893115
BIKE WANTED!
Do you have an old bike laying around that you are ready to part ways with? We often have newbies looking for their first bike to get on, and one we are looking for at the moment is:
Giant – Avail 1 road bike (or similar), Medium (not too particular about the year). If you have something that might be of interest, please contact: Ronnie vma_85@hotmail.com
