Under My Wing Triathlon Summit
16 college student athletes from around the country are taking up the remaining half-dozen tables in the room and are busy shoveling down breakfast after a rigorous morning swim session, swapping stories from the previous evening’s kickoff to Red Bull’s Under My Wing triathlon summit. Naeth stands in front of the students and explains her inspiration to host the camp. This summit intends to provide the student athletes with learning opportunities to gain world class insight from leading experts in wide range of categories like swim technique, physiological and metabolic testing, bike fit, diet and nutrition and everything in between. On the same expansive floor down the hall, Matthew Schafer, a mechanical engineering student at University of Michigan, stands under DARI and stretches his arms overhead and bends down in a squat at the request of Jess Elliott. Sufficiently knackered with the promise of another full day ahead, students bypass the temptations of downtown Pearl Street and head back to the hotel where some plopped down in the lobby to play Euchre while the majority retreated back to their rooms in anticipation of another big day. Snow ends the workout with a set of race simulation starts where each swimmer sculls in place a few feet off the wall before churning out a series of fast 50’s and topped off with two mass start 25’s with all 16 students starting at once occupying every available inch of the width of the pool. Later in the afternoon, the FIST certified fitter and owner of Boston-based Fast:Splits triathlon store, spends time with each student working towards practical bike fit solutions. Following the end of the afternoon sessions while students are packing up bikes to get ready for the next day’s return home, Naeth announces a surprise visitor is waiting for them in the conditioning room for one final class. Coburn, a Red Bull sponsored athlete herself and a recent Colorado grad, spends the next 45 minutes leading the students through her personal strength and conditioning routine, an intense series of functional movements, holds and stretches using only bodyweight. While not every student has the goal of a podium placement or even a high finish, they all suggested USAT’s Collegiate Club Nationals on April 27 & 28 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is their primary focus this season and that triathlon is a sport they envisioned keeping as a significant part of their lifestyle through their college career and beyond.
zebedee101
The race may of been a month ago now, but I guess this has given me a chance to reflect on what went well and what not so well in my first middle distance triathlon and the achievement of completing one, also a good alternative excuse for being incredibly busy at work and hone the past few weeks that I’ve not had time to sit down and write a blog. Plus allows time for a decent bowel of porridge with banana, fruit and nuts and the all important cup of coffee to kick things up a gear. After organising my T1 and T2 bags and racking the bike up in T1, which I got wrong and had to dash back to move my bike to the correct position a bit later on! First lesson; rack bike in the correct place!!! After donning the wetsuit and feeling the part, as well as a bit of a ninja, it was time to get in the water. After a 5 min warm up swimming, another wise move compared to others who got in and just waited, it was time for the claxon!!!!! Sticking to my race plan for the swim of nice n steady pace and racing more within myself here realising there is still the cycle and run to go, I got into a nice rhythm and by the time I reached the first buoy I had already passed a few people, the 2nd even more and the 3rd even more! Should of probly tried to find a slightly faster swimmer and draft him but don’t wanna be chaning plans midrace! Approaching the swim exit, my swim nemesis kicked in Feet cramp! After misjudging the how deep the water still was and the exit man helping swimmers out I think the over stretching was a hello sign for cramp in both feet Not fun! After a slightly messy doggy paddle and something resembling swimming after I was out in a time of 38:16. My support crew picked a brilliant place to spur me on at a roundabout which I passed 3 times so got plenty of encouragement, especially on the final trip where I had just taken a gel and was waiting for it to take affect, so the excitment from seeing them got me going until it kicked in. You get to run through the shopping centre during trading hours! The first lap out was ok, took a bit of time getting rid of those jelly legs, and I regretted drinking as much isotonic so close to the end of the cycle, and kept with the game plan of skipping food stops so my stomach doesn’t go mental with food and sugar and only grabbing water and some isotonic to have a few sips while on the go. Time to dig deep and forget the aching limbs and think of that satisfaction past that finish line.
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