Last week it was the Long Course athletes, and this week our Ambassador's catch up with recent award winners Sophie and Phil.  Sophie was awarded the Best Newcomer Award for her outstanding first season with TA and Phil was a popular winner of the Team Player of the Year award.  It's interesting to learn about people's backgrounds, where they've come from, where they are heading and generally what's in their make up.  Do yourself a favour and have a read about these two go-getters!

? Are you looking to improve your triathlon performance over Winter? ?

Strength training should be an integral part of any comprehensive endurance sports plan and we've developed proven programs, to have you in the best shape possible to kick your goals.  We'll be running Triathlon Specific strength and conditioning session across the month of July, and will gauge interest going forward.  Get in quick...These sessions are limited to 20 people, so bookings are essential.  We will be opening bookings each Sunday night at 6pm.

Swimming in a pool is a great way to work on your technique and fitness, however it can be frustrating if swimmers don’t observe ‘swimming etiquette’. To ensure every swimmer has a great swim, do your best to observe and follow the pool rules when squad swimming.

There's now escaping the wonderful world of BANDS, and we're seeing more and more athletes completing their exercises after each swim set.  Resistance bands are simply a tool that help you replicate any functional movement, while applying a strength enhancing, muscle building resistance. As a result resistance band training will make movements and muscles stronger while simultaneously improving movement coordination.
But...now you need to know where to get your hands on them.  The regular supplier we have been using seems to be out of stock.  You can check them out here: EBAY Supplier or alternatively we've found another supplier offering a deal for 2 sets (highly recommended as 1 set is only 1 length and you need double to do both arms at the same time).  It doesn't matter where you get your bands from - just make sure they have different tensions (colours) and preferably come with handles.  Shop around!

Recently Rachel tried her hand at a scrumptious new breakfast idea, with great success.  We hear it was very EASY and very TASTY!  And why not get a full serve of veggies in to you first thing in the morning!  Hit the following link to see how easy it was to make Carrot Cake Overnight Oats!

We're calling on all our experienced athletes out there, to give us your best advice on helping with sleep.  Do you find it difficult to fall asleep after a nighttime training session?  Have you found a way to bring you back down to earth after the endorphin high?  Do you have any tips and tricks to share with our newer athletes?  We'd love to hear from you.  I'll be sending out a post this week (so keep your eyes out!) to help collect ideas.  Or if you think you've got more to add, send me an email.  Come on...give us your best.  We've got athletes out there that are counting on you, to help them stop counting sheep!

Are you looking for something a little different?  Some way to keep up your enthusiasm for swimming?  Or a way to practice racing in the open water?  This might be for you!
  The Great Victorian Swim Series is a not for profit “club” promoting fitness, fun, camaraderie & competition among swimmers and supporters of the Victorian open water swim community.  
The Great Victorian Swim Series is brought to you by Cousins Tours and Travel and Light on Landscape, with the support of Swimming Victoria and Masters Swimming Victoria.  Most importantly, the series runs alongside  ocean swim events that are all conducted by hard working and critical Surf Life Saving Clubs and the funds raised from the swims go to keeping our beaches safe.

Hi champions, I hope you’re having a fantastic start to your week! Today’s recommendation is a podcast with Mark Allen. Personally, this is my favourite podcast EVER!

Between 1982 and 1988, Mark Allen launched six attempts to claim the title of Ironman World Champion. Each year he was squarely defeated by his arch rival, the legendary Dave Scott.

In 1989, the two titans of triathlon once again descended upon the white hot lava fields of Hawaii to reprise their annual duel in a spectacular showdown that would make history as the greatest race Ironman had ever seen. Dubbed The Iron War, Allen & Scott raced neck and neck at blistering speeds for 8 hours and would cross the finish line less than one minute apart — decimating the previous world record and redefining the limits of human endurance in the process.

When the dust settled, Mark Allen finally emerged victorious. And over the next several years the man they call The Grip would become arguably the most successful triathlete in the sport’s history with six Hawaii Ironman World Championship titles, 10 Nice International Triathlon titles and countless other victories across distances, terrains and fields of every variety.

So how did Mark Allen go from perennial also-ran to an athlete ESPN dubbed “The Greatest Endurance Athlete of All Time”? 

The answer might surprise you. Because it has nothing to do with fitness, nutrition or gear.  Instead, it has everything to do with spirituality.  UNMISSABLE!!!