Back in the Blue

We’ve been waiting a long time to write this sentence: MSAC is back! The pool is open, the lanes are booked, and come next Monday, we’ll be back where we belong. For some, it’s the long-awaited return to routine; for others, it might feel like a rude awakening if the goggles have been gathering dust. Either way, it’s time to shake off the cobwebs and get back in the water.

🏊 Squad Swimming Returns!

Sessions are back to their regular slots staring Monday 1st September:

• Monday 6:15–7:30pm

• Wednesday 5:45–7:00am

• Friday 5:45–7:00am

Athletes are invited to attend if they hold a current swim membership and if the session appears on their program.

We’re kicking into September’s Strength/Endurance/Speed phase, and the timing couldn’t be better. Short Course athletes will find more threshold-focused sets, Long Course will be hitting endurance with threshold, and beginners will see a mix of base fitness, technique, and triathlon-specific skills. Swimming plays a huge part in this, and if you’ve been following your program, you’ll slot back in with no dramas.

👉 If you haven’t… that’s ok. Just be smart. Start with fewer sessions, rebuild your swim fitness, and focus on technique. Remember, squad time is squad time – if you need extra drill work or remedial technique practice, you may need to supplement with your own pool time so you don’t disrupt the flow of the lane.

Bottom line: consistency is everything. Don’t let neglecting your swim now make race day harder than it has to be.

📆 Recovery Week Is Here

This week is all about recovery.  The third step in our 3-week cycle (build, build, recover). These weeks are where the real magic happens: they allow your body to absorb the training stress of the past fortnight and prepare you to go again, stronger.

That means:
✅ No Tuesday morning run
✅ No Thursday morning Hot Laps

Instead, use this time to sleep in, reset and stay consistent with the other sessions on your program.

This Thursday night we’re at The Tan for an urban recovery run – low key, social and perfect for loosening up. Saturday’s ride should still include hills, but with the focus on spinning the legs and keeping strength endurance in play without going full gas.

And here’s the exciting part: next Monday marks the start of Build Week 1 and the official return to squad swimming at MSAC. So, use this recovery week wisely.  You’ll want to be fresh and ready to dive in when the doors open.

🗣️ Words from Coach Gaz

Sometimes Gaz says it best, and his recent post in the FB group deserves a wider audience. So here it is, unedited, in all its Gaz-glory:

Winter is going… you could say it’s the “dawning “ of a new season!
So with that in mind, the expected hordes of riders at APL laps this morning (and wt on Tuesday for that matter), didn’t arrive!
It was dry and cool and fairly windless and the people that did turn up….. learnt something! What more can I say!
Not sure what everyone’s waiting for, but you see when you eventually decide that you’d better get out there…. You’ll find you’re way behind the mark and wonder why you can’t keep up, let alone cope with the session!
So there should be a collective cry of “Rats”, another opportunity gone!
When you can say “I go to every session, I turn up on time, I listen to my coach (especially Gaz), you just might find you improve and all of a sudden the grass that looked so green on the T2 side of the fence, has started to wilt and lose its appeal!
There are the rumblings or should I say sloshings of water in THE POOL, which is exciting for those that (like me) like swimming!
Can’t wait, each night at sunlightfall* it gets that little bit closer!
Speaking of wt.. you’ll notice things are ramping up, so if you’re deciding to make your return and think it’s going to be easy …. You’re wrong but feel free to complain to the coach cause he’s quite receptive to this!
*this of course being the term for that time just after the sun has set but it’s still light! … obviously!

Take it as your friendly (and slightly sarcastic) nudge – don’t wait, don’t delay. Opportunities missed don’t come back.

✅ Wrap Up

The return to MSAC, the fresh start of September’s training phase, and the rhythm of our build/recovery cycle all line up perfectly this week. Use it. Jump back in, show up to sessions, and make the most of the structure that’s here to guide you.

And if you’ve let things slide or your membership has lapsed, reach out early so we can help you re-engage smoothly. The water’s warm (well, warm-ish – this is Melbourne), the lanes are waiting, and the season is coming fast.

💛 Team TA