New Year. Same Squad. New Opportunities.

🎉 Hello 2026

Happy New Year, Tri-Alliance family!
We hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year break.  Time spent with friends and family, a few laughs, a few naps, maybe a little indulgence, and (hopefully) some proper rest and recovery. The festive period is always a balancing act: switching off enough to recharge, without completely losing the rhythm that keeps us feeling good.

Now that the calendar has officially rolled over, it’s a great moment to reset. New intentions, new goals, and maybe even a slightly different approach to the year ahead. Whether you’re chasing podiums, finishing your first triathlon, or simply committing to showing up more consistently, this is your fresh page. And it’s time to start writing on it.

🏊 Coached Sessions Are Back

Today (Monday 5 January) marks the official return of coached sessions for 2026, and we’re straight back into it tonight with our squad swim at MSAC. Ollie will be on deck, so if you’ve been meaning to ease back in, tonight’s a perfect place to start.

It’s a full timetable this week, programs are live, and everything is ready to roll. If motivation is a little shaky after the break, getting yourself to a coached session is often the quickest way to find it again.  Plus it’s a good chance to reconnect with the coaches and the squad.

🌊 Try the Tri: Remember Your First Time?

Our next group of Try the Tri athletes kicked off over the weekend, with a big crew preparing for Race #4 in Sandringham. If you’re around and feel like lending a hand, sharing a bit of advice, or even just offering a friendly smile...it goes a long way.

Remember when you were new? When goggles fogged, transitions felt chaotic, and everything seemed just a bit overwhelming? That’s exactly where they’re at now. A welcoming squad culture doesn’t happen by accident.  It’s built by moments like these.

🏁 Race Week Is Back (Again!)

It didn’t take long.  Race #3 of the 2XU Triathlon Series is here, hitting St Kilda this Sunday. The program is stacked, with Kids, Fun, Sprint, Olympic and Aquabike races on offer, and this race will also host the AusTriathlon Para National Selection Race.  A huge honour and a big weekend for the sport.

What’s happening TA-style:

• Saturday:

  • Pre-race session from 7:00am at Catani Gardens

  • Followed by Try the Tri at 9:30am

  • TA tent going up in between (extra hands always appreciated)

• Sunday:

  • Kids race briefing at 9:50am in the compound

  • Helpers welcome (and very much needed!)

If you’re racing, volunteering, or just coming down to soak up the vibe, this is what squad racing is all about.

⏳ Race Countdown: No More Guessing

Seeing the dates written down has a funny way of sharpening focus. As of today, here’s your very real countdown:

• Race #3 – St Kilda (Sun 11 Jan): 0 weeks, 6 days

• Race #4 – Sandringham (Sun 8 Feb): 4 weeks, 6 days

• Race #5 – Elwood (Sun 22 Feb): 6 weeks, 6 days

• Ironman and 70.3 New Zealand (Sat 7 Mar): 8 weeks, 5 days

• Gold Coast T100 Festival (Sat–Sun 21–22 Mar): 10 weeks, 6 days

• Race #6 – St Kilda (Sun 22 Mar): 10 weeks, 6 days

• IM 70.3 Geelong (Sun 22 Mar): 10 weeks, 6 days

Plenty of time...if you use it well. Not much time at all...if you don’t.

✨ Wrapping It Up

The holidays are done, the sessions are back, and race season is well and truly rolling. You don’t need to be perfect coming out of the break, you just need to start. Show up, build momentum, and let consistency do the heavy lifting.

Here’s to a big 2026, shared goals, early mornings and plenty of squad moments along the way.

Let’s get after it. 

💛 Team TA