 Austin Tri Club March Happy Hour This week marked a milestone in the young life of Austin Triathlon Club. Our club has surpassed the 100 member threshold!
In the 5 months since our first happy hour, Austin Triathlon Club has grown to a thriving community of triathletes dedicated to a common purpose – working together to provide a fun, welcoming, and supportive home for triathletes of all abilities. Our passion is to support each other, whether you're training for your first triathlon or your fiftieth, whether you’re young or old, whether you’re big or small, whether you’re LGBT or straight, whether you train with this team or that team. We’re Austin, and we’re all in this together. We launched Austin Triathlon Club because we love triathlon. We believe that triathletes have so much to offer each other and our communities. Whether you’re a mentor, a volunteer, a coach, a rookie, a retiree, a runner, a swimmer, or a biker, we can all pay it forward to those who share our love for health and fitness. If you’re already a member of Austin Triathlon Club, THANK YOU. Thank you for volunteering, mentoring, sharing advice, leading workouts, and being such a fun group of folks. Thank you for taking a chance on us and coming together to create something special! If you’re a supporting partner of Austin Triathlon Club, THANK YOU. Thank you for your support, especially in these early days of the club. We know that when we started this club, a lot of people didn’t really know what to expect. Thank you for believing in this club. Finally, Austin Triathlon Club is all-volunteer and member-run, meaning that everyone has the opportunity to leave their fingerprints on the club. If you’re a triathlete in Austin, we hope that you will consider getting involved. We want Austin Triathlon Club not only to be a fun and welcoming place for all Austin area triathletes, but we want this club to serve as one of the very best community triathlon clubs in the country. With your help, we can make it happen! Cheers to the next 5 months of Austin Triathlon Club. Now let's start race season! ---------------- Austin Triathlon Club promotes triathlon across the Austin area while fostering a sense of unity, fun and a healthy lifestyle. Our members include triathletes of all abilities, from beginners to experienced Ironman athletes. We are a welcoming and inclusive club, meaning that you can be a member of Austin Tri Club, and still be a part of another team or train with a personal coach. The Club is an all-volunteer, member-run community. For more information and to join, please check our our membership page. Three months ago tonight, Austin Triathlon Club held its kickoff happy hour at the Ginger Man. Since that night, we have been working hard to build a community triathlon club that we hope will serve Austin for years to come. Thank you for getting involved in this all-volunteer effort, and thank you for supporting this club. Whether you're a member, a sponsor, or a facebook fan, we're excited to be working with you to serve the Austin community!
We have so much to be proud of and so much to be excited about. Here are few of the highlights from our first three months:
Thank you to everyone who has pitched in so far. The Club is not possible without your support, enthusiasm, and willingness to give back to the Austin tri community. We hope to see you at the next club happy hour on Saturday, February 24th, at Flour and Vine! ------------------- Austin Triathlon Club is a 100% volunteer, member-run club launched in October 2017. Austin Tri Club aims to improve the physical fitness and mental well-being of all members of the Austin community through the promotion and encouragement of the sport of triathlon. Click here to read more about our mission and values. Dear Austin Triathlon Club Members,
First of all, thank you. Thank you for making the last few months of 2017 such a fun time. Thank you for taking a chance on Austin Triathlon Club and for your enthusiasm to help build this community triathlon club. In less than two months, we are 52 members strong. Club members are signed up for all kinds of triathlons in 2018, everything from Sprints to Olympics to Ironmans to Ultramans. Nearly a dozen of you are training for your first triathlon. Almost half of you are mentoring new triathletes or have signed up to be a mentor. Your kindness, friendliness, motivation, and community-minded attitude are making this club so much fun. It's been such a joy to see Austin Tri Club members meet each other, make new friends, and support each other. You have inspired me to be a better person and triathlete. Thank you! Behind the Scenes at Austin Tri Club in 2017 As a community nonprofit, Austin Tri Club values transparency and stewardship, so I’d like to take a few words to share some of the “behind-the-scenes” work here at Austin Tri Club. The Club officially launched in June 2017, when four local athletes—Josh Rabinowitz, Laura Gilmour, Meghann Jones, and I—finalized the incorporation paperwork to register Austin Triathlon Club as an official nonprofit organization with the State of Texas. Together, we committed to serving as the Club's founding officers and volunteering our time to build this nonprofit. Between June and October, we voted on and approved bylaws, a website, a logo, and a strategic plan laying out the vision for an all-volunteer, member-run community triathlon club. We also gained a fifth board member, our Director of Training, Larry Norris. After months of spending our evenings and weekends putting the pieces together, we launched Austin Triathlon Club to the public on October 8, 2017. Four weeks later, Austin Tri Club opened membership. The Club gained its first member, and then another, and then another. As of this morning, Austin Triathlon Club has 52 members. This means that in the 8 weeks since we launched membership, the Club has gained on average one new member every day. When you joined, each one of you paid $40 in membership dues. These dues have gone to the club’s administrative and overhead costs. To date, approximately 1/2 of each members’ dues have gone toward insurance, while the other half have covered costs such as domain name registration, website hosting, logo design, USAT membership, registration with the Secretary of State, PO Box rental, and basic club gear, like water bottles and swim caps. No financial compensation goes to any of the club officers (indeed per our bylaws, officers and directors are restricted from having any financial interest in the sport of triathlon). This is truly an all-volunteer effort. The Club is led by recreational athletes who share a common desire to support one another and our community. Now that 2017 has come to an end, what is on tap for 2018?
Finally, over the last 8 weeks, it has been inspiring to meet so many warm, friendly, and fun people. I can say without a doubt that Austin Triathlon Club has the coolest, nicest members anywhere. I’m so excited and thankful to have played a part in launching this club. I cannot wait to start 2018, so we can make it the best year ever. Daniel Austin Triathlon Club President  Several of the club founding members after the kickoff swim One month ago tonight, the Austin Triathlon Club was holding its kickoff happy hour. At the time, the club officers were a bit nervous. We weren't sure how many folks would show up. We knew that most people probably hadn't heard of us, and might not know what to expect. Since Austin Tri Club is entirely volunteer, word about the club was spread primarily by word of mouth and grassroots enthusiasm. Looking back a month later -- what a journey it's been! As of this morning, Austin Triathlon Club has 38 members, with more members joining every day. Our members range from beginners hoping to complete their first triathlon to coaches to professional triathletes. We are truly grateful for the support and the faith that these founding members have placed in Austin Tri Club to deliver on its promise of serving as a community triathlon club for Austin -- and for throwing themselves into Club activities right off the bat. We are so excited to know you! So, what has the Club been up to in its first month?
Thank you to everyone who has pitched in so far. The Club is not possible without your support, enthusiasm, and willingness to give back to the Austin tri community. We hope to see you at the next club happy hour on Monday, December 11th, at the Ginger Man! Let's make 2018 the best race season ever! ------------------- Austin Triathlon Club is a 100% volunteer, member-run club launched in October 2017. Austin Tri Club aims to improve the physical fitness and mental well-being of all members of the Austin community through the promotion and encouragement of the sport of triathlon. Click here to read more about our mission and values. What activity can help you greatly improve your health, eliminate stress, boost confidence, and burn fat, without having to buy a single supplement or step foot into a gym? That's right - running.
Running is perhaps one of the most approachable workouts for people looking to stay in shape, without having to learn a sport or new dance move - but that's just the tip of the iceberg. There are tons of reasons to start running.
But as with any activity or workout, there are certain safety measures that should be put into place to prevent injury down the road. The following safety tips should give you what you need to begin training (safely) for the running portion of a triathlon. Maintain Your Strength The best way to prevent injury is keeping up your strength. If you are just starting out, don’t push yourself too far or you might risk an injury. Start small, build your way up, and keep your muscles active and strong. Some exercises suggested by RunnersWorld.com are:
Working out your whole body to prepare for your runs is one of the best steps towards preventing unforeseen injuries. By following the suggested workouts, you're a lot less likely to encounter any permanent damage. If you're running for distance or speed, it might be a good idea to strengthen and improve the muscles in your legs.
Remember to Stretch One of the first things athletes, coaches and athletic professionals will tell you: "Stretch!" Always remembering to stretch in addition to strength training can help you maintain the flexibility needed to be an excellent triathlon runner. You should stretch for about ten minutes before each run, making sure not to rush yourself. For the most effective stretches, be sure to hold each of them for at least thirty seconds. The best way to incorporate this into your daily run is to permanently make it part of your routine. Make it a point to stretch before you even step foot out your front door.
Stay Hydrated Running or training for triathlons will have your body using much more water than you may be used to. For this reason, it’s especially important to not only replace the water you lose while running but the electrolytes, too. When we sweat, we're not just losing water - we're losing electrolytes, like chloride, sodium, magnesium, and potassium. Your body uses these electrolytes to regulate vital processes - like heart and brain function. While many sports drinks may contain electrolytes, be sure to watch out for the sugar content - it could be extremely high. Some other ways to infuse electrolytes and important minerals into your workout include: Making a Homemade, Sugarless Sports Drink
Eating Almonds Almonds are a great source of magnesium. In fact, just a single ounce of almonds has 78 milligrams of magnesium. Other great sources of this mineral are:
Keep Tomato Juice Handy Drinking tomato juice is a great way to get some potassium into your body - especially on-the-go. If you prefer the taste of orange juice, you can enjoy that instead. One glass of OJ provides 500mg of potassium. Here are some great hydration resources for runners:
Always Keep Personal Safety First There are a handful of important personal safety tips to keep in mind before you head out for your run. Brushing aside health and fitness, the main goal here is to stay safe. Plan Your Route When you go out for a run, make sure to plan ahead to avoid busy roads or dangerous areas, but don't think that an underpopulated road or neighborhood will be safer - in fact, it could be the opposite. Many runners love the beautiful scenery and peaceful locations, but safety experts say that in these areas you have less access to help - should you need it. Before you head out, also ensure that you tell someone your route so they can check in on you, if need be. It's also important to update them if you plan on changing it, so you have at least one person who will know where you are at all times. Bring Along Some Friends When running, there is always strength in numbers. Bringing more people offers greater visibility and helps ensure that someone is always alert. If you’re not sure who to ask to come along, consider:
Other resources include: Always Stay Alert While running itself can be safe if you take care of your body, there are outside factors which could blindside you, if you're not careful. Some of the most important clues to incoming safety risks can be found in your surroundings. Try to run during the day so you will be more visible to drivers on the road and so you can see incoming dangers well in advance, too. If you aren’t completely sure if something could be a danger to you, such as a suspicious car or person, trust your instincts and head back or contact someone immediately. Bringing something that can make noise to alert others to your situation, like a whistle, for example, can save your life. Leave Your Headphones at Home Some of the most crucial hints of impending danger are sounds. Always listen for approaching cars, animals and people. To make sure that you are the most in-tune with your surroundings, leave your headphones behind and make sure you pay full attention to what’s going on around you. Sure, listening to your favorite jams while going for a run may be a nice way to enjoy yourself, but headphones can also give a signal to dangerous individuals that you can't hear them - making you a potentially easy target. Make Sure You Have the Right Footwear Since your feet are one of the most important tools you will use while running, it's important to take good care of them. Just like you would never set off for the biking portion of a triathlon with a flat tire, you should never begin running if your footwear isn't up to the task. Shoes for triathlon running should fit snugly around your foot, but should not be tight enough to cause blisters. There should be a little room in front of your toes as well. An employee at a store that specializes in shoes for triathlon running or a podiatrist or orthopedist can help make sure your shoes are fitted well enough not to cause injuries.
Bring Identification Whether you think so or not, one of the most important components of running safety is your identification. When you set off running, always make sure you have a form of identification, like a driver’s license or state-issued ID. Additionally, it's always a good idea to have proof of your blood type, in case you need treatment at a hospital. Try to bring along an emergency contact list, if you can. Some phones have emergency contact features as well, which could make the job of a first responder a lot easier. Jen Port, Austin High School Jen wrote this blog post for Austin Triathlon Club as part of her health class project. SOURCE: Banks, Summer. Healthy and Safe Running: A Detailed Guide. Oct 25, 2017. https://www.dietspotlight.com/benefits-of-running/  The Austin Tri Club founders: Laura, Josh, Meghann, Daniel We are excited to launch the Austin Triathlon Club website today – and so glad that you found us!
Austin Triathlon Club was founded by a group of people who care about making triathlon – and sports and healthy lifestyles in general – accessible to everyone. Our goal is to create a safe and welcoming community for people who already participate in triathlon or who are wondering what it is all about. Right now our website has lots of information about the club mission, the leadership team, and resources for swimming, biking and running in the Austin area. In addition there is information about some of the activities that we are planning for the club, such as mentoring new triathletes and hosting an informal training camp at Big Bend during MLK weekend. Our goal is to launch memberships by early November. While we intend to keep the club as open and accessible as possible, having a formal membership program will enable us to participate in races and other activities as as a team, and to build partnerships that bring the immense triathlon resources that Austin offers to the club. Meanwhile, you can stay up-to-date on what is happening with the club by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or contacting us for more details. You can also join us for our launch happy hour. We are looking forward to tri-ing with you! - The Austin Triathlon Club Leadership Team |
Welcome to the Austin Triathlon Club blog! Through this blog, Austin Tri Club members can share their triathlon knowledge and experiences. If you are interested in blogging for Austin Tri Club, please contact us. Archives
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