BTS Blog 16/7/09

TRAINING

This weekend is another trail run at Mt. Cootha so if you're looking at building endurance these runs are a great way to do it. Getting onto the trails with the group sure beats pounding the bitumen and as we head into the August we'll move into a different phase meaning less trail runs.

On Sunday morning is our first 20km bike time trial at Nundah crit track for some time. As the preparation begins for Gold Coast Half IM and Noosa it is important to have a starting point. The time trial starts at 6.15am sharp so arrive there in plenty of time to warm up. The track is booked from 7am so we need to be off the track by 6.55am. After the time trial there will be an easy 60 min spin to warm down.

NOOSA TRIATHLON CAMP

The $275 cost for our training camp from Fri Aug 21st to Sun 23rd is the price for non BTS members. The cost for BTS members is $260 and all payments can be made into the BTS bank account.

Send RSVP to suz@brisbanetrisquad.com.au

NEW UNIFORMS

We have samples from our new clothing supplier Champion System at training for people to see. Orders and payment are due by Friday July 24th and if you want a new tri suit for Gold Coast Half IM and Noosa you'll need to order now.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS VOLUNTEERS

The World Triathlon Championships on the Gold Coast are only 8 weeks away. This will be a massive festival of triathlon and to have such an event in our own back yard is fantastic. To put on such an event USM events require a large team of volunteers.

If you would like to be part of the volunteering team and see first hand the best triathletes in the world contact emily@usmevents.com.au

BTS Blog 13/7/09

NEW UNIFORMS

We will have some sample items from Champion Systems late this week for people to look at prior to ordering new clothing. For those interested in the black t-shirts we have plenty available even though there is no picture on the website

In regards to sizing there is a sizing chart on the uniforms section of the BTS website. Orders and payment are due by Friday July 24th.

NOOSA TRIATHLON CAMP

Our annual Noosa triathlon camp is on again from Friday August 21 - Sunday August 23. This is a chance to train on the course used for the Noosa triathlon, get in some quality training and have a great time.

This year we'll have prizes from some of our sponsors, the latest information and research on nutrition and recovery. The timing is also perfect for people looking at the Gold Coast Half Ironman.

We are staying at the beautiful Outrigger Resort, Noosaville which is right on the water surrounded by cafes, shops and restaurants. The camp cost of $275 includes accommodation, all training sessions, 2 x lunch, 1 x dinner and all drinks and snacks for the training sessions.

RSVP to suz@brisbanetrisquad.com.au is due by Friday July 31st and full payment is due by Friday August 14th.

TRAINING

Overall this week will be a recovery week with many of the sessions aerobic and drill focused. There is however a couple of time trials, the first being a handicap team time trial on Wednesday morning at UQ with the winning team each receiving a voucher from Car Spa cafe at Wooloongabba. Meet at UQ.

On Sunday morning is a 20km time trial at Nundah crit track with an easy ride after. Time trials are important as we head into the preparation for Gold Coast Half IM and Noosa. They allow you to monitor your performance and best simulate the conditions of a race.

BTS Blog 9/7/09

IRONMAN NEW ZEALAND

The BTS squad Ironman for 2010 will be Ironman New Zealand on March 6th. IMNZ is the World's longest running IM outside of Hawaii and one of the most beautiful in the World with race held at Taupo.

We are really looking forward to taking the BTS group over there to do the race and experience everything our Kiwi friends have to offer. Like most IM races around the World it is very popular and accommodation needs to be booked early. Therefore if you're planning on being part of the BTS group heading over we would recommend booking your accommodation now.

The following website may assist you with searching for accommodation:
www.laketaupoaccommodation.com

If you have any queries about IM don't hesitate to contact me.

NEW UNIFORM ORDERS

After some research and testing we have decided to change to Champion Systems Clothing for all BTS training and racing gear. Champion Systems are a great company on the rise and their clothing is first class.

World Champion and number one ranked triathlete in the World Javier Gomez uses Champion Systems along with a number of professional cycling teams through out Asia and Australia. They are also the preferred clothing supplier for the World Triathlon Championships on the Gold Coast.

Therefore we are now taking pre orders for more tri suits and cycling gear. These pre orders are required by Friday July 24th by going to http://www.brisbanetrisquad.com.au/Shop.php

MONTHLY FEES

Just a reminder that monthly fees for bank transfer and pay pal are now $120. Direct debit monthly fees remain at $110.

TRAINING

This weekend we are back at Mt. Cootha for another trail run on Saturday morning and long ride from Velo on Sunday morning. Group 1 and 2 are heading out to Raby Bay and group 3 is doing the Redcliffe loop.

BTS Blog 7/7/09

GOLD COAST MARATHON

Marathon legend Steve Monnehgetti said it well when he quoted, " to finish a marathon is a great achievement and you become part of an exclusive club." On Sunday we had 6 BTS members start and finish the marathon with three of those doing it for the first time.

New BTS member Andrew Callo completed his first marathon despite a heavy cold and cramping in a little over 3.30 and has now set his sights on completing his first OD triathlon at Noosa. Another first timer was Bec Thorn who was strong all day to finish in just over 4 hours which for her was a warm up to the 96km Kokoda event she is competing in on July 18th.

The other marathon virgin was Sarah Hulme who despite a painful hip injury ran the whole way to finish in just under 4.50. The highlight for Sarah was having her 4 children and husband waiting for her at the finish line. Backing up for her second marathon was Beth Richardson who did a 21 min pb to finish in 3.49 with her partner Mark running by her side through out.

Beth has had a great couple of months with a third in the Westpac Tour de Tri 24hr event showing a talent for the endurance events. The final BTS member to complete the marathon was Tim Franklin who despite a limited preparation still ran quicker than last year to finish in just over 4.15.

There were some memorable performances in the Half Marathon and 10km events also with many members recording some big pb's. Well done.

TRAINING

This is our last week of strength work at Long Pocket on the bike with next week a team time trial at UQ with 3 vouchers from sponsors Car Spa Cafe awarded to the winners. We'll be continuing to work on strength for a few more weeks and after next week's team time trial we'll be back at Mt. Cootha for 3 weeks.

RACING

It is not long until the racing season is upon us, so now is the time to get out for some training in preparation. Starting with the World Champs in 10 weeks which includes a people's race and World Corporate Teams challenge and then Gold Coast Half IM 3 weeks later.

In 17 weeks is Noosa so if you made the cut off for entries now is the time to start training. In there are the usual Gatorade races, Triathon Pink and the Noosa camp which we will release more details in the next week.

BTS Blog 2/7/09

NEW FINANCIAL YEAR - NEW SPONSORS

As we head into a new financial year BTS has managed to gain the support of another sponsor as well as continued support from our current sponsors. Now coming on board to support BTS is Medilight Permanent Hair Removal and Skin Rejuvination http://www.medilight.com.au/

Located at Reading Shopping Centre, shop 214, level 1 cnr of Newmarket and Enogerra Rds, Newmarket ph 1300 651 664, they are the specialists in permanent hair removal and skin rejuvination. The life of a triathlete is means alot of time outdoors where your skin is affected.

The team at Medlight can improve that through their Elos Skin Rejuvination which has been proven effective at reducing sun damage, broken capillaries, enlarged pores and also to give skin a rejuvenated and healthy glow. Additionally their Elos Permanent Hair Reduction treatments mean no more waxing or in grown hairs.

Medilight are offering BTS members a free $150 trial so all you need to do is present your new BTS member card after booking a session. For further treatments BTS members also receive 10% off the cost of any treatment.

VELO ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Our great supporters at Velo are now offering a free $119 bike service to a BTS athlete each month and the first athlete to receive this is Merinda Eckart. Merinda was one of the ladies who completed our first ever ladies only beginner course late last year.

Since that time she has worked very hard at improving her swim, bike and run. This weekend she is doing her first half marathon on the Gold Coast and recently she completed the 100km part of the Century Ride. Merinda has also been a great supporter of events such as Tour de Tri where despite competing in the team 24hr event she also volunteered for hours on end whilst her team mates were competing.

Congratulations to Merinda and every month we will award a new BTS member the same prize for their efforts at training and racing.

We'll also be giving away other prizes each month from our current supporters at Car Spa Cafe, the Aqua Shop and Active Stride.

VALLEY POOL PRICES

There has been a slight increase in pool entry prices at the Valley Pool. They are now as follows:
Casual Entry Adult $4.30
20 Visit Pass $75
50 Visit Pass $179

09-10 BTS Members $4 when their BTS member card is presented.

GOLD COAST MARATHON DRINKS

Good luck to everyone competing this weekend in the marathon, half marathon and 10km. We have quite a few athletes competing in one of the great community running events in the country. To help celebrate their achievements there will be a casual drinks and get together on Sunday afternoon from 2pm at Merthyr Bowls Club, New Farm and then onto the Powerhouse after dark.

BTS Blog 29/6/09

TRAINING THIS WEEK

The Monday night core strength now has a 5.30pm session in addition to the 6.30pm session for people to choose from. This should make things easier in terms of space and give people a chance to spread out in the room we use.

Other sessions are as per the calendar with our continued emphasis on building strength in the bike and run. Tomorrow morning we will be doing some fartlek work through Victoria Park and on Wednesday morning we're back at Long Pocket for some more strength efforts next to the Golf Course.

Remember this weekend is the Gold Coast Marathon so there will be no squad training session on Sunday morning. On Saturday morning is a swim at the Valley Pool from 7am.

GETTING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

I enjoy reading out about successful people in all walks of life. Whilst I favour reading about sporting success I also enjoy learning about people who have been successful in business, politics or any other endeavour. If there is one common theme amongst any of these people is that they have had to get out of their comfort zone on numerous occasions to achieve their success.
When getting out of their comfort zone they began to discover what they were truly capable of.

For me I hate public speaking and I can remember on some occasions where I have had to speak to large audiences that my heart rate is sky high and my voice breaks like a teenager going through puberty. Yet I find myself in a profession where I have to get up in front of people everyday and talk.

Sometimes though we don't need to look to the famous and well known to draw inspiration. There have been a few people within BTS that have got out of their comfort zone and reaped the rewards. This weekend Sarah Hulme is running her first marathon on the Gold Coast. Sarah will be the first to tell you that she has a love hate relationship with running and has struggled with it ever since she did our first ever beginner course in August 2007. Despite this she has persevered and trained very hard over the last 3-4 months to prepare for this marathon including running the river loop a couple of weeks ago, all 37km of it.

Whilst she is not running this weekend due to injury Nadine Macmillan does not suffer the same love hate relationship with running that Sarah does. A natural runner she has had to work hard at her swimming since getting into triathlons 12 months ago. Not a natural swimmer but blessed with a similar determination to Sarah, Nadine has worked very hard on her swimming whilst she has been injured. The result is that she has improved her 800m time trial by nearly 2 minutes and now swims her 100m repeats on 1.40 instead of 2.00 min and her 50m repeats on 45 to 50 seconds instead of 1min plus.

Someone else that is out of his comfort zone every time he runs is Grant Crease. Unfortunately Grant is blessed with dodgy knees and as a coach watching him run is an exercise in frustration. Yet despite this he has persisted, lost 11kg and instead of 2 knees requiring surgery it is now only one. In fact with his weight loss he looks like a new man, his knees are better for it and last week he did a 24 second pb over 3km.

When your challenged next time, what will you do? Maybe it's swimming up a lane at training or maybe it's going for a new job. Regardless of the challenge you won't know your limits until you get of your comfort zone.

BTS Blog 23/6/09

BRIDGE TO BRISBANE 2009

As part of my coaching commitments to the Bridge to Brisbane fun run for 2009 I will not be at some BTS sessions for the next 10 weeks. In my place will be coaches from the BTS team who will no doubt do a very good job in getting you ready for the up coming season.

BTS MEMBERSHIP 2009/2010

The new BTS member cards for 2009/2010 have arrived. For those who have paid their membership fees for that period we will be distributing them at training or sending them in the mail.

To receive discounts at BTS sponsors, be eligible for BTS monthly awards and reduced prices at camps, on uniforms and social events you need to be a member. Membership is only $30 for the year or $50 for a family and by becoming a member you also receive a $30 discount of Triathlon Queensland membership.

TRAINING

After an easier week last week we're back into some more strength work again this week. Tomorrow morning's bike session starts at the car park opposite the running track at the University of Queensland. We'll be heading down to Long Pocket from there so try and get there ready to go at 5.30am.

This weekend will be another Mt. Cootha trail run and on Sunday we're heading out to Dayboro and Albany Creek for some rolling hills on the bike. There will be 3 groups starting from Velo at 6am and after the ride will be a 30min run off the bike.