For
a complete list of Rocky Mountain Region Triathlons click
here.
OFF
SEASON TRAINING
Does
the “off-season” mean you get to take the fall and winter
off to ski, snowboard, and otherwise relax from triathlon training?
It depends: do you participate in your sport in order to get in shape
OR do you get in shape for your sport? Hopefully, triathlon is more
than just a summer hobby. Besides, now is the time to put away your
poker face (i.e., your competitive attitude) and train easy, meet people,
and get in great shape! To help meet your social and athletic goals,
consider joining a local athletic club or recreation center. Look for
clubs that have a clean indoor pool, plenty of spin classes, and LOTS
of treadmills. Good luck hunting!
USAT—ROCKY
MTN REGION SENDS U23 TRIATHLETE TO JUNIOR NATIONALS
SHEA WILFONG HAD THIS TO SAY:
The 2006
ITU Junior Nationals in Bridgeport, Connecticut was a great experience.
I can’t say it was my best race ever, but the knowledge and experience
I gained from the trip was immeasurable. I learned that I need to deal
with variables such as: changing time zones, altitude, humidity, pre-race
preparation, and the stress of competing at this level.
My trip started out in Denver,
Colorado with an alarm to get up for our flight at 2:30 a.m. But that
was O.K., as I really was unable to sleep anyway. We left the Denver
airport at 6:00 a.m. with a layover in Atlanta, Georgia. Our friends
picked us up in Hartford, Connecticut around 4:00 p.m. on Thursday before
the race. I had planned on doing an open water swim and a light run
that evening when the clouds opened and the lighting show began. They
even closed down the pool at the local YMCA. It was too late by the
time the storm quit to get a workout for that day.
Friday, pre-race day, I arrived
at the packet pick-up and bike check-in around 3:00 p.m. Greeted by
my coach, Sean Wendt, he took me out for a practice ride on the bike
course and then I took out for a light run on the course. When that
concluded, I gave a try at my first ever ocean swim. I gave it a few
tries to get the feel for the current, water temperature, and the sight
points. The tide was down, so the ocean bottom was much different the
next morning.
I woke Saturday morning at
3:00 a.m. (1:00 a.m. Colorado time) and had an hour plus drive to the
race sight at 5:00 a.m. It was dark and the ocean was quiet. There is
not a lot of conversation at that time of the day, but you could feel
the excitement of the race ahead. It was cool to see the sunrise over
the East Coast.
I warmed up with my team
member, Jerry Medford. The tide was coming in and the water temperature
seemed cold. That would not matter once the race began. Coach Sean strategized
with us, and we waited for our signal to line up. I was the fourth athlete
called to the line and I chose my spot. Everyone filled in around us
and the officials counted down to the race start.
I had never started an open
water swim on the beach. The race to the water was intense and difficult
as the tide had changed the ground beneath us. I was in the pack but
slowly lost ground by the first buoy. Swimmers had spread out by that
point, and I could tell there were more guys ahead of me than I had
hoped. I tried to hold on the rest of the swim and not loose too much
ground. When I transitioned onto my bike, there were quite a few bikes
already gone from the staging area. I entered the bike course alone.
I was able to pass some riders, but realized the pack was increasing
their distance on me. It was mentally difficult to see the leaders that
far ahead at the turn-around. It seemed like a huge distance to try
to make up. I continued to ride as hard as I could. I felt sluggish
throughout the whole race, and did not make up as much time on the run
as I had hoped to. I passed some runners, and finished 16th in the race,
15th in the Nation.
It has begun to prepare me
for next year’s season, as I learned how important it will be
to swim fast enough to enter the bike with a pack. I look forward to
the competition and to experiences that will enable me to grow into
the triathlete I hope to be.
Without the support and coaching
from my dad and Coach Sean Wendt, and the love of my mom, dad, and sister,
I would not be who I am today. Without the support I have received from
my fellow competitors throughout the past four years, I would not have
gained the ground that I have. Thank you, USA Triathlon Rocky Mountain
Region, for the great opportunity you gave me.
You’re welcome Shea.
Thank-you for representing the Rocky Mountain Region with such courage
and spirit. Keep training and keep us posted. Great job at Nationals!
ABOUT
USAT & THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
USA
Triathlon is the national governing body for the multi-sport disciplines
of triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United
States. USA Triathlon is a member federation of the U. S. Olympic Committee
and the International Triathlon Union. USA Triathlon coordinates and
sanctions grass-roots and elite multi-sport events across the country
and works to create interest and participation in those programs. USA
Triathlon’s 50,000-strong membership is comprised of athletes
of all ages, coaches, officials, parents and fans striving together
to strengthen multi-sport. On the elite level, USA Triathlon is responsible
for the selection and training of teams to represent the United States
in international competition, including the world championships, Pan
Am Games and Olympic Games. It conducts national camps and clinics and
provides coaching education programs. On the developmental level, USA
Triathlon fosters grass-roots expansion of the sport, which is facilitated
by the sanctioning of age-group events and triathlon clubs. National
and regional championships are held for triathletes from junior to senior
age divisions. USA Triathlon’s mission is to provide leadership
and structure for the growth and development of excellence in multi-sports.
The organization’s vision is to be the “gold standard”
for triathlon worldwide. USA Triathlon will inspire fitness as a healthy
lifestyle, create a culture for excellence in leadership and competition
and be a world leader in the sport.
USA
Triathlon, and its regions, are governed by a Board of Directors, which
has general charge of the business affairs and activities of the organization
and defines the policies to be followed in carrying out the purposes
of the organization as set down in the bylaws. All members of the Board
must be current annual USA Triathlon members. For more information visit
the website at: www.usatriathlon.org.