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One Day Perfect… The Next Absolutely NotOne day perfect, the next absolutely not — and that's exactly the rhythm endurance sport asks of us. |
Well team… Melbourne did what Melbourne does best this weekend. Saturday?
Absolutely glorious. Sunny skies. Crisp air. Hardly any wind. Honestly, it was close to a perfect autumn riding day along Beach Rd. The kind of day where you roll home thinking:
“Yep… this is why we do this sport.” And if you got out there and made the most of it, well done. You absolutely won on Saturday. But if you looked outside, thought “I’ll do it tomorrow instead”… well… Sunday had other ideas! The rain arrived. Then stayed. Then kept staying. And honestly, there’s probably a good little life/training lesson in there somewhere. 👉 Take opportunities when they’re there. Because perfect conditions don’t always wait around for you. At the same time though, triathlon is also a sport that teaches the opposite lesson:
👉 training doesn’t stop because the weather isn’t perfect. Races don’t stop because it’s cold.
Or wet.
Or windy.
Or uncomfortable. If anything, some of the best race stories usually come from the toughest conditions. That means athletes need to learn how to: adapt stay mentally flexible make smart decisions and prepare properly.
Not just physically… but mentally too. And one of the biggest differences between experienced athletes and inexperienced athletes often comes down to preparation. The right clothing.
The right nutrition.
The right attitude.
The ability to stay calm when conditions aren’t ideal. Because once you’re standing on a start line, there are no refunds for bad weather.
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🚴 Visibility Matters: Wear the Kit, Be SeenAnd speaking of riding in less-than-perfect conditions… This is a really good time to remind everyone about the importance of wearing proper cycling apparel...especially when riding in groups during winter. When visibility drops: bright colours matter reflective details matter layers matter and dressing appropriately becomes a genuine safety issue, not just a comfort issue.
One of the biggest advantages of the Tri-Alliance cycling kit is exactly that:
👉 visibility. Our blue and yellow kit stands out on Beach Rd.
Drivers notice it.
Other riders notice it.
And when you’re rolling in a group, that visibility becomes even more important. It’s not just about looking part of the team (although we do look pretty sharp!). It’s about safety, comfort, warmth and being properly equipped for the conditions. This article is definitely worth a read as we head deeper into winter:
👉 Wear Winter Cycling Gear Properly
It covers: And honestly… if you’re going to spend several hours riding through a Melbourne winter, good kit is one of the best investments you can make.
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One thing that popped up a few times this week is that I’m not sure everyone fully realises just how useful our online timetable actually is. 👉 https://vic.tri-alliance.com/timetable/ The little session summaries we put in the newsletter each week are exactly that: summaries. But the online timetable gives you the FULL picture. If you click into any session, you’ll find: This is especially useful at this time of year when things can change due to weather, pool allocations, daylight, venue access or seasonal scheduling. So if you’re ever unsure, check the timetable first. There’s a huge amount of info sitting there to help make life easier for everyone.
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🏃 Thursday Night Run Session - Permanent Time ChangeAnd speaking of timetable updates… We’ve officially moved the Thursday night run session forward slightly moving into winter. Here’s the post from the FB group last week for anyone who missed it: Based on feedback from a lot of members wanting to get started (and finished!) a little earlier on Thursday nights, we’ll now be kicking the session off at 6:00pm instead of 6:15pm. This should make it a bit easier for everyone to get there straight from work, get the session done, and get home a little earlier during Winter. 🕕 New Start Time: 6:00pm
📍 Meeting Point: Pillars of Wisdom
🏃 Warm-up jog will leave right on 6:00pm Ollie will be there just before 6pm, so please make sure you arrive with enough time to get settled and ready to roll. The online timetable has now been updated to reflect the change. Looking forward to seeing everyone there tomorrow night as we continue building through the Technique & Base Phase. This is now a permanent change moving forward. And honestly, it makes a lot of sense this time of year: Winter training is all about consistency, so little tweaks like this can make a big difference long term.
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🎯 Realistic Goal Setting (Without Losing Your Mind)A couple of weeks ago we spoke about goal setting in a broader sense - outcome goals, process goals, staying realistic, all of that good stuff. But this week we’ve gone a little deeper. 👉 Realistic Triathlon Goal Setting for the 2026/27 Season
And honestly… Ollie and I had a bit of fun putting this one together! This article isn’t just: “dream big and work hard.” It’s about: building goals that actually fit your life understanding your available training time planning around work/family/life and setting goals that motivate instead of overwhelm.
Because the reality is:
* not everyone is training for Kona.
* not everyone has 20hrs/week available.
* and not every season of life looks the same. There’s also a short podcast attached for those who’d rather listen while driving, riding indoors, walking the dog, pretending to work or doing literally anything except reading another article. The best part?
There’s an actual goal-setting worksheet included. You can: complete it for personal reflection bring it to a coaching consult or send it directly to Ollie to help shape your season.
The athletes who usually improve the most are rarely the ones “winging it.” They’re the ones who set a direction, understand their priorities and consistently work toward them. Worth the time. Trust us.
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🎟️ The 10 Session Pass Is BACKAnd while we’re talking flexibility… ...the TA 10 Session Pass is officially back. This option has returned because we know life doesn’t always fit neatly into a standard weekly membership. Some athletes travel regularly, work shift schedules, have family commitments, can realistically only make one session per week or simply need flexibility around busy periods. That doesn’t mean we want them disconnected from the squad. So this option is designed to keep people involved, supported and training with the community when weekly memberships don’t quite suit. The details:✅ $250 for 10 sessions
✅ Can be used at ANY squad sessions
✅ Requires an active Annual Membership
✅ Valid for 8 weeks from activation We did need to introduce the expiry period from a business point of view, but overall the goal remains the same: flexibility while staying connected. You’ll find it under the Memberships tab on the website.
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🇦🇺 The Road to Green & Gold Starts EarlyJust when you thought the off-season might be calling… AusTriathlon has already opened the door to the next big goal. July 2026 will feature the first National Selection Races for athletes chasing selection for the 2027 Australian Age Group Teams, with opportunities across both triathlon and multisport disciplines. For triathletes dreaming of racing for Australia on the world stage, the destination in 2027 is:
🇩🇪 Hamburg, Germany — host of the 2027 World Triathlon Championship Finals. For multisport athletes (duathlon, cross triathlon and related events), the destination is:
🇨🇦 Edmonton, Canada — host of the 2027 World Multisport Championships. One of the key early selection races for Hamburg will be the Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival on Sunday 26 July 2026, which has been named as a National Selection Race for the Australian Age Group Team. And honestly… Airlie Beach in winter isn’t a bad place to test yourself. For athletes already building toward the 2026 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain, it also presents a perfect mid-year race opportunity and a chance to experience the selection environment early. There are also early duathlon selection opportunities in July for athletes targeting Edmonton, including races in Queensland and Victoria. What this means for TA athletes is simple: the next green and gold campaign starts earlier than you think. If racing for Australia is even remotely on your radar, now is the time to start planning your pathway, mapping out your calendar, and understanding the selection process. These races aren’t just winter hit-outs anymore — for some athletes, they could be the first major step toward a World Championship start line in 2027. Hamburg is regarded as one of the most iconic triathlon venues in the world, with racing held through the heart of the city in front of massive crowds and an incredible atmosphere. Edmonton meanwhile will host the world’s best multisport athletes across the duathlon and off-road disciplines. Big goals start with early decisions.
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📣 Don’t Forget to Tell Us What You’re Up To!One last little call out… If you’re racing, participating, completing, surviving, or attempting any events, please let me know! I’m not always across everything everyone is doing, and I genuinely hate missing opportunities to celebrate our athletes. Whether it’s a race, a fun run, a cycling event, an open water swim, a marathon, a PB or just something you’re proud of… send me an email: 📧 [email protected] We’d absolutely love to give you a shoutout in the newsletter and celebrate your achievement with the wider TA crew.
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💛 Wrap UpStay warm, stay safe, and keep showing up — even when the weather doesn't. |
And just like that… Technique & Base rolls on. The mornings are darker.
The weather is cooler.
The excuses become easier. But this is the phase where consistency matters most. Not every session will feel glamorous.
Not every ride will be sunny.
And not every morning alarm will feel inspiring. But the athletes who embrace this time of year (who keep showing up, keep building patiently, and keep doing the little things well) are usually the ones smiling come race season. So layer up.
Bring the right attitude.
Trust the process.
And keep moving forward. See you out there,
💙💛
Team TA |
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