Does Strength Training for Triathletes really make a difference? I believe it does and so does Pauline. Pauline just finished her first Half Iron Swim 2km - Bike 90km Triathlon to celebrate her 60th Birthday!! With hard work in the gym, in the lake and on the bike, not only did she meet her expectations but she exceeded them!
Follow her story here:
PAULINE'S HALF IRON SWIM - CYCLE JOURNEY What a fun race! I enjoyed every minute of the swimming and cycling. And it inspired renewed admiration for all of my friends in Team Triumph who jump off the bike after 90 km and run a half marathon! I don’t have much to say about the actual race. Except to again thank those who spent hours cheering me on from the sidelines (Don, Cristina, MJ, and Janet) and from the course (Renee). You energized me all the way to the finish line. Rather, I’d like to reflect back on the path I took to get to this race. After 10+ years of triathlon training, I decided in the fall of 2016 to cut back so I could spend more time on other commitments and hobbies. But by April 2017, I got a nasty wake up call. My fitness levels had dropped to the point that cycling, swimming and hiking weren’t as much fun anymore. Back to the drawing board to readjust that balance once again. Team Triumph training camp in Utah proved a turning point for me. On a hike in the Snow Canyon desert, Julia suggested I might find what I was looking for in a more focused approach to training with goals, accountability and structure. Back in Ottawa, we hatched a plan. First, I set my sights on the Canadian half-iron distance swim-cycle event scheduled for early September, the weekend I turned 60 — great way to kick off the celebration! Julia also encouraged me to do the National Capital Olympic distance swim-cycle in July at the same location, which was a brilliant way to get me feeling comfortable about racing again in general and about competing at the Mooney’s Bay site. Next, she developed a training program and laid it out in the Training Peaks application so we could both track my progress. But here’s the kicker… I also started strength and conditioning sessions with Julia in May. Those sessions have undoubtedly resulted in stronger and faster cycling and swimming within a relatively short period of time. My physical activities have become way more fun again! I am back in my happy place. Huge thanks to Julia for helping me regain — and surpass! — my fitness levels, and to all my training buddies, especially Renee and Cristina, for so much advice, support, and laughter. Team Triumph is the best!
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
