The time has come!  Time for our long course athletes to take on the feat of Ironman Cairns this weekend.  Cairns hosts the Asia Pacific Championships, adding another level of prestige to this event and depth into this field.  We are so excited for all our athletes, who have been working consistently over the last couple of months to get themselves to the start line.  Each of our athletes has their own story, their own battles, their own successes, their own way of experiencing their Ironman journey and they've made their own way to this day.  If you get a chance, you should take some time to speak with our crew; they really do have some amazing stories to tell and can give you an incredible insight into their world.  HUGE good luck to them all and may the seas be kind, the wind at your back and the crowds there to lift you through the day.  Check out the link below to see all our athletes racing.   
Thinking about FNQ and warmer places, a trip to Thailand is just around the corner for many of our athletes.  Thanyapura truly is something amazing and every triathlete's dream.  This 10-day camp will not only be an incredible opportunity to take your training and racing to the next level, but also a life experience to treasure.  Read the testimonials and make sure you get your name on the list asap! 
For those of us planning out a slightly cooler training regime over Winter, we thought it was a good time to explore what's out there to help us have fun, build towards our goals and keep us motivated.  Read all about the duathlon series, upcoming runs and let us know what you're doing so we can get a tribe together.  After all, training is WAAAAAY more fun with friends!
Speaking about fun.....let's have some fun by moving our ride this weekend #NotBeachRd.  It's about time we start taking on some hills, so the long weekend is the perfect time for this.  We are going to meet in Mordialloc (there's heaps of all day parking - check deets below) and head down to Safety Beach, Red Hill and Arthur's Seat (depending on abilities).  We'll be leaving at 7:30am, but arrive a bit early so we can be clear on groups and directions.  Small piece of advice - bring plenty of nutrition (yes, you'll get hungry!), spares and enough clothing to keep warm (Winter jackets are on sale...hint, hint!).  I'm looking forward to this one!       
We'd also like to bring your attention to the segment below, regarding Triathlon Victoria and club affiliation.  There is much to discuss (too much for here), so keep reading to understand our position moving forward and how this impacts (or doesn't) you. 
And before we let you go....a short message from our Ed-bassador: 
"Hi folks!  It's winter time again, yaaaaaayyyy! The perfect time for hot cups of tea, mulled wine, some training in very special venues (mountains/ parks/ roads) and, of course, movies and popcorn!  We are putting together a series of recommendations of movies and videos to keep us all inspired and focused in our training and to have a very good relaxing (and warm) time on the couch." Be sure to check that one out, as well as their blog on training while sick - should you or shouldn't you?!?!
Enough already....I feel like we've been here for too long...so it's time for you to get a wriggle on and   R.E.A.D   O.N  !

How about those frosty mornings this weekend....Hello Winter! Well, you should have heard by now, 'there’s no such thing as bad weather – just bad clothing choices'. And we may have seen some...errrmmm...interesting choices over the weekend! When you’re riding on a cold, frosty, wet or windy day, you want to be as warm and as comfortable as you can. I had a look over the weekend at our Winter Cycling Jackets and saw that there's not many left. Don't leave it until it's too late if you need one of these as new stock will not be here to keep you warm this winter! And they are heavily discounted, so this'll be the best $60 you spend this winter!

Have you given any thought to what you might do over Winter?  Have you heard about Duathlons?  Do you want to compliment your triathlon season and keep race fit?  Well, Triathlon Victoria released their 2018 Duathlon dates during the week, so now you can start planning your assault!  Let the coaches know if this is something you'd like to be involved in or want more information about.
"Bring some colour into your winter training with the 2018 Victorian Duathlon Series!  Proudly supported by Pilates For Sports, the Victorian Duathlon Series will bring a bit of colour into your 2018 winter training. Early bird registrations opening soon!"

Having a run goal over winter is a good way to work on your fitness, technique and run-specific strength, as well as incorporating a training spike as you build to an event, practising your race prep and giving yourself some Winter motivation to keep you getting out the door.  So........we want to know who's in?  It's so much more fun training in a group, so let's start a roll call so we can get a little #squadgoals happening!
Melbourne is the sporting capital of the world, and as a result you can always find a running event to fit your needs. But with so many going on, it's easy to get confused.  I found the website below super helpful in finding all the running events around town.  Take a look!
Also, did you know that you can have a specific run program attached to your current program to help you meet your goals? 
So, if you're planning on hitting the trails or the pavement anytime soon, shoot me an email so we can get a gang together!

As last weekend we had the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) fun run at Albert Park, an event to raise money towards beating MS, my first recommendation to you is the movie '100 Meters'.  This awesome movie is based on the incredible true story of a Spanish man with multiple sclerosis who tried to finish an Iron-Man: 3,8 km swimming, 180 km cycling and 42 km running. And he was told that he could not make 100 metres. 

For those who don't know what MS is, Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and often debilitating disease which attacks the central nervous system (the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves). It is the most common neurological disease in young adults and often attacks people at the time of their lives when they are planning families and building a career. The average age of diagnosis is between 20 and 40 years of age, although symptoms may begin much earlier, and three out of four people living with multiple sclerosis are women.

Where can you watch it? NETFLIX

Looking to get yourself into the best gear around?  Look no further than GIANT South Yarra, who this week have some pretty slick deals for our Tri Alliance athletes.  First up is the 2017 LIV Avow Advanced Pro 0.
"PERFECT FIT, EASE OF ADJUSTMENT AND AERODYNAMICS CREATE AN UNSTOPPABLE TRIFECTA IN THE WORLD’S FIRST TRULY WOMEN’S-SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE TRIATHLON BIKE".