ARE YOU LOST IN WATOPIA? Why Consider a Virtual Cycling Program I’m not going to lie, riding outside is always more fun and exciting than riding on an indoor trainer, but living in a cold climate, we have two choices when the snow arrives. Don’t cycle all winter and choose to focus on a winter activity, like cross-country skiing, and show up in the spring fit but not cycling fit; or Move to the indoor trainer and keep your cycling fitness while enjoying the other winter sports so you show up in spring with your cycling legs and lungs ready to ramp up for the summer season. So you’ve decided on option #2. We fully support you on that decision, but then the next question is what should you focus on while riding your bike on the trainer? You can just sign up for an app like Zwift, Sufferfest, Trainerroad, or Rouvy, and just ride the routes without a plan, or you can purchase one of their plans but we feel without a coach to guide you on what to train and when to train you could be doing more harm than good. By not having a coached program you could: Overtrain Undertrain Not train the correct energy systems Lose motivation We have designed it so that our athletes get a periodized and accountable program focusing on training the right energy systems and training zones at the right time of the year. We avoid boredom in our program by using the Zwift cycling app in combination with Training Peaks fully customized programs developed by accredited Training Peaks coach Julia Aimers, Apple Music, and the Discord app. The cycling app provides a virtual visual world where we can ride with our teammates to our specifically programmed Apple playlists. If you decide to do the class live, the Discord app allows us to communicate during the ride while receiving coaching. We use the Training Peaks App to upload the workouts for the week so our athletes can train according to the current level of fitness (FTP), collect data on their rides, monitor their fitness improvement, and look ahead and plan accordingly. Not sure this program is for you? Here is what some of our athletes had to say: “This program provides the intensity of workout I was looking for as well as the structure, accountability, and a nice bit of social interaction. I have found myself setting some goals again for my fitness and having fun tracking them on Zwift, Training Peaks and Strava. Thank you, Julia and all of Team Triumph for once again pushing me to work harder and to have so much fun doing it." Ann L “I've improved my FTP by 13 watts since the last test at the end of November. So today I proved that was simply a lie I told myself that it would be impossible for me to hit those watts. Thank you so much Coach Julia Cooper-Aimers for your structured bike program. By doing the work I’m getting stronger!" Lara W Register today at https://app.amilia.com/store/en/team-triumph-ottawa/shop/memberships? Julia Aimers is the Founder and Head Coach of Team Triumph Triathlon Club and Online Store. She is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist, High Performance Specialist, Accredited Training Peaks Coach and Certified Triathlon & Cycling Coach.
I love the accountability and the structure of the Virtual 70.3 Half Ironman training program. I don't think I would have gotten this far without the program. The accountability is huge for me!
Deborah Jackman
My coach Kevin Willis is amazing. His swim practices have been a real game-changer for me. A great communicator regardless of your swim level. The whole club is supportive of everything you do. You don't need to be an Ironman to benefit from their programs. 5 stars all around!!! - Denise Pittuck
I just wanted to thank you and your team (Gabi! Brenda! Maggie! Dawn!) for making last weekend's event so amazing. I had tried to do a try-a-tri on my own last summer, and the experience was night and day.
Even though I didn't make every virtual session, I felt so prepared... I knew where to go for information, and I knew I had a team of people (coaches and our beginner tri group!) who were all there to support me.
It was interesting to watch Eric train on his own (without access to the TrainingPeaks workouts and without the weekly meetings to ask questions and learn more about proper form and race-day stuff). When we left on Sunday, he looked at me and was like "we're DEFINITELY doing the training with Julia if we decide to go for the olympic distance, right?".
So glad to have found this club and looking forward to many more triathlons in the near future!!! Tai Teleso
Julia is incredible, I once had a coach who told me to get good at biking and running as he couldn't do anything with my swim technique. Then I was introduced to Julia who is so patient and has an amazing ability to translate it all into a way I could understand. I knocked a minute per 100m off my open water swim times after only a handful of sessions with her. The team is also really welcoming, inclusive and most of all FUN!
Triumph is a warm and fun place for every level of triathlete. Whether you’re just getting started and learning all about triathlon or have been at it for decades, like some of us, you will find camaraderie and expertise in this group with Julia Aimers’ support and caring. She keeps up-to-date in so many areas of training, especially for women and including women’s issues whether it be nutrition or menopause. I highly recommend Team Triumph for swimming, biking, running or putting it all together in one package. There is no other place or group, I would rather be training with. So many of my close friends were met in this group.
A huge thank you to my Triathlon coach, Julia Cooper-Aimers. She took the time last week to drop off (from a distance because of COVID19 restrictions) some tri shorts I ordered along with a well-appreciated note to remind me that there will be ups and downs and that things will get better. She has gone above and beyond to support all of her athletes and our Team Triumph club, by providing almost daily strength, yoga, and spinning videos that have been uploaded to Youtube for anyone who needs a little motivation during these challenging times as well as many words of encouragement. I am grateful for her support and encouragement. ❤️
Anita Lacelle Taylor
Training with Team Triumph for 7 months (so far) made me faster and stronger while building nourishing connections with like-minded fitness nuts and shattering the expectations I had of myself. TT is a crew of inspiring people pursuing epic individual goals and encouraging each other along the way. Julia and her team have expert knowledge and provide a thoughtful evidence-based group program that works. I am privileged and thankful to have Team Triumph in my neighborhood and can't wait to get back to the pool!
Alex Bourne
I want to thank you for always putting our well-being at the forefront of your business model. You suspended face-to-face programs in a timely manner, leading the way in a fitness business world that took much too long to respond and put their members’ health and the community at risk. You « triumphed « in quickly acting to flatten the curve.
Your caring nature resulted in a series of innovative and fun virtual sessions and opened them to the community. I am missing the live interaction now that I am working for a few months but I appreciate that I can access the videos according to my schedule. Yin/yang session tonight, just what I needed.
Not to mention the check-ins, the home deliveries, the charitable events. Priceless.
Simone Rose-Oliver
