Sunshine in Sandringham

Race #4 of the 2XU Series wrapped up yesterday, and honestly… it doesn’t get much better than that. Blue skies, sunshine, light winds, no rain.  And the kind of conditions that remind you why we do this sport. Even better, our tent was still standing on Sunday morning (#IYKYK). Last year’s Sandringham “tent incident” still lives rent-free in our heads, so this felt like a small but meaningful win before racing even began.

The atmosphere across the weekend was unreal. We had a huge number of athletes racing, supporting, popping down to soak up the vibes, or just hanging out between events. That’s what makes these weekends special.  It’s never just about the race, it’s about the community around it.

Podium & Results Shout-Outs (Tri-Alliance) 🏆

• 1st: Brona, Zee

• 2nd: Anna (TTT)

• 3rd: Angus, Johnny, Lucy (TTT), Andrea, Neda

• 4th: Bernice

• 5th: Ian, Cindy

Sandringham always delivers an honest race. The swim usually asks questions, the run back to transition reminds you you’re alive, the bike has a little more texture than Elwood, and the trail sections on the run keep you working right to the line. No shortcuts, no freebies.  Just solid racing, start to finish.

💛 It Takes a Village (and Then Some)

These weekends don’t run themselves, and once again, the Tri-Alliance crew showed up in force. Whether you helped for 10 minutes or stayed until the bitter end, your time matters and it’s genuinely appreciated.

A special extra shout-out to those who stuck around for pack down when the winds rolled in and the rain clouds started circling. Watching the trailer get packed in record time while wrestling tent poles in rising wind was a team effort in every sense of the word.

Huge thanks to Les, Narelle, Tanya, Andy, Andrea, John.  Strength, teamwork, and zero complaints. Absolute legends.

😴 Recovery Week (For Some) / Build Continues (For Others)

For those who raced yesterday...Welcome to Recovery Week. You’ve earned the sleep-ins on Tuesday and Thursday morning, and your job now is simple: absorb the work you’ve done, let your body freshen up, and resist the urge to “just add a bit more.”

For our long-course crew, it’s a different story. Your build rolls on, and your races are creeping closer. These weeks matter. It’s about training smart (not smashing yourself, not coasting) but hitting that sweet spot of just enough. Trust the program, trust the process, and keep showing up.

🎉 Super Mario: 10 Years of Tri-Alliance

This week we also celebrate a big milestone.  10 years of Mario with Tri-Alliance. If you’ve been around the squad for more than five minutes, you’ll know Mario isn’t just an athlete; he’s part of the furniture (in the best possible way).

Over the years, Mario has raced everything from sprint through to Ironman, supported countless athletes, volunteered, cheered, and embodied what it means to be part of this community. Consistent, committed, quietly tough...and always good for a laugh.

Happy 10-year TA anniversary, Super Mario 🍄💪

🚧 F1 Bump-In: Early, Busy & Non-Negotiable

The Formula 1 GP bump-in has started earlier than usual, and conditions around Albert Park are already changing rapidly. Road closures, reduced lighting, tighter spaces, increased activity.  It’s all happening.

Coach Gaz summed it up perfectly last week, and it’s worth reinforcing:

Safety briefings matter. Arriving early matters. Calling hazards matters.
In cycling, mistakes are costly.  And complacency has no place.

This doesn’t just affect riding at APL, it also impacts access to MSAC for swim sessions and Tuesday night wind trainer. Allow extra time, stay alert, and don’t skip the briefing. Ever.

🏊 MSAC Feb–March Reality Check

We’ve received confirmation from MSAC that external bookings will not be available from 23 Feb to 16 March due to the extended Grand Prix race period. This is highly unusual, and yes... disappointing.

The silver lining? It’s summer. And summer means open water.

Our plan:

• Move swim squads to Elwood Beach

• Continue offering up to 3 coached sessions per week, where numbers support it

• Use the time to build open-water confidence, race skills and adaptability

We also want to be fair and transparent. Athletes who prefer not to swim during this period will have the option to temporarily switch to a “without swim” membership, so no one is paying for something we can’t provide. It’s reasonable, professional, and the right thing to do.

More detail coming, but we wanted to give you time to plan.

🏊 MSAC Update – This Friday (Indoor Pool Access)

A quick but important heads-up for this Friday 13th at MSAC.

MSAC will be hosting Day 1 of the Mattioli Victorian Open Championships, which means pool access will be slightly different to normal. Our swim session is still going ahead, but it will be indoors, with two 25m lanes allocated to us (Lanes 08 & 09).

Please do not head to the outdoor pool, and don’t panic if the venue feels busier than usual, you won’t be turned away if you’re heading to the right place. Just make your way to the indoor pool, jump into lanes 08 or 09, and get the work done.

As always, thanks for being flexible and rolling with the occasional curveball that comes with shared facilities.

🌊 Something Different: Swimrun Melbourne

If you’re itching for something a little left-of-centre, Swimrun Australia is returning to Port Phillip Bay on Saturday 14 March.

This event blends open-water swimming and coastal running along Melbourne’s iconic bayside.  Think Ricketts Point at sunrise, Half Moon Bay, Sandringham trails, and a buzzing Brighton finish.

Options include:

• Enduro 15.0 – Beaumaris to Brighton

• Discovery 4.0 – Hampton to Brighton

Solo or team, low fuss, high adventure. If you love open water and mixed terrain, this could be right up your alley.  More info here

⏳ The Clock Is Ticking

Here’s your friendly-but-firm reality check:

• Race #5 – Elwood (Sun 22 Feb)
  ⏱️ 1 week, 6 days

• IRONMAN 70.3 Colombo (Sun 22 Feb)
  ⏱️ 1 week, 6 days

• Japan Marathon (Sun 1 Mar)
  ⏱️ 2 weeks, 6 days

• IRONMAN New Zealand (Sat 7 Mar)
  ⏱️ 3 weeks, 5 days

• Gold Coast T100 Festival (21–22 Mar)
  ⏱️ 5 weeks, 5–6 days

• Race #6 – St Kilda / IM 70.3 Geelong (Sun 22 Mar)
  ⏱️ 5 weeks, 6 days

Plenty of opportunity left.  But not a lot of spare time. Choose your sessions wisely.

🔁 Wrap-Up

What a weekend. What a race. And what a reminder of why consistency, preparation and community matter so much.

Recover if you need to. Build if it’s time. Stay alert as the city changes around us. And keep leaning into the process.  Because the next chapter of the season is already unfolding.

💙💛 Team TA