ORW Extravaganza. Our Team Rocked it out there!!!

I came to Team Triumph a year ago looking to meet and train with people who shared my values and outlook on life but more importantly to train with a team that would support me and encourage me to do my level best. Team Triumph more than delivers on all fronts. From my initial conversation with Head Coach, Julia Aimers-Cooper, who encouraged me to come out and try a couple of spin and swim classes without commitment, I knew I had found a good home for me. I loved the spin class. The music perfectly matches the cadence we need to spin at and in a slightly darkened room you can loose yourself in the music and then look up in shock when the 60 minute class or 1.5 hr. class has passed.

I was extremely nervous about attending my first swim practice as I knew I could only swim 25 meters and then needed a rest break. In fact I almost did not go. I worried I would be laughed out of the pool. I was not. Flash forward 9 months, and I completed a 3 kilometre continuous swim in Meech Lake. I attribute this success directly to both swim coaches Julia Aimers-Cooper, and Maggie King. They encouraged me when I needed encouragement and gave me solid understandable constructive stroke feedback on a weekly basis. Today, I feel like I can conquer the world when I leave swim practice.

In April of this year, I took the plunge and joined the team in Utah for a 10 day training camp. Probably the most exhilarating and exhausting holiday I have ever taken. To be able to have access to your coaches while riding, running and swimming for 10 days is absolutely priceless. I learned so much while having so many laughs, smiles, and high 5’s. One of the big challenges for me at this camp was a 7k climb up beautiful Snow Canyon. Simply put, I did not want partake in this ride as I am not a good climber. Coaches Julia and Martin rode alongside of me the whole way up, helping me to pick the right gears and cadence. Their encouragement got me to the top and I guess what, I was still smiling. What more could I ask for?

I am now attending the Teams weekly run club. I am definitely struggling in this area and that can be intimidating. This is another area that Team Triumph excels in. At no time, whether it be swimming, biking or running have I ever been made to feel inadequate or that I didn’t belong because I was not as an accomplished athlete as some. Instead, these stronger more accomplished athletes, often reach out to you and give up you littles tips they have learned along the way and to remind you that they too had to learn a lot once upon a time.

So to sum up why I joined Team Triumph and continue to train with them a year later, it is the great coaches, and classes, but mostly it is the feeling of family. This is a team where the members work hard on their individual goals while at the same time there is always an inclusive fun atmosphere to all caliber of athletes from those just getting started and those pursuing Ironman and beyond dreams.

I am excited to see where 2019 brings me.