ATC Blog

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Please note there is no limit for the number of participants for the spin session, but we will only take 12 for the swim session so don't delay!

The sessions are on Wednesday nights and run from Wed Nov 15 to Wed Dec 20th, 2017. We start with a 60 minute interval session on the bike that will improve your strength, power and aerobic fitness. We move into the pool for a triathlon specific coached session where you will work on technique, fitness and strength for front crawl.

Spin only session
7:15-8:15pm in the Bluegrass Room at Genesis Place
Please bring your bike, trainer, trainer block, trainer skewer on your bike, towel and water bottle.

$60 for the 6 week session for ATC members or Team TriLife athletes
$70 for the 6 week session for non members

Swim only session
$54 for the 6 week session for ATC members and Team TriLife athletes
$64 for non members

Spin and Swim – Sign up for both!
$102 for the 6 week session for ATC members and Team TriLife athletes
$114 for the 6 week session for non members

Sign up here !!!!!!!!

Hey there! Our Annual ATC Open Water Swim and Camping Weekend is booked for June 2-4 at Aspen Beach (Gull Lake) and we want YOU to join us. This is a casual, fun weekend to socialize and meet some new members, get some open water/wetsuit practice in before races (Wasa Lake Triathlon is the following weekend!....) and warm up your camping gear for the summer!

We are hoping to make this year bigger and better and are looking into some other possible Club activities for the weekend, but will inform you once we are able to confirm details. Bring your bike and runners too and we will try to get a group ride and run in before the weekend is over.

Come for the whole weekend or just for the day!  We will be camping, along with some of the other members, so feel free to book a site and join us!  We are booked in at the Lakeview Campground at Aspen Beach - Site A-102.  There were  still lots of spots left when I booked, so get your spot! Reserve your site at https://reserve.albertaparks.ca/

Mark your calendars for a fun weekend and stay tuned for details!.....

Jill Munday

Vice President

Airdrie Triathlon Club

Yup, you read that correctly! Even more training opportunities for you. A sweet Sunday morning swim clinic for you AND a Tuesday night swim clinic series with 7 triathlon focused swim sessions, coached by Sharon and / or Kiera...ahhhh yeah. No excuse to NOT get involved with us and take advantage of these fantastic sessions and great value for your $$. Polish up your form and stroke in advance of race season! Don't delay and sign up below. NOW. See you on the pool deck!

ATC Tuesday Night Swim Series Registration

ATC March Swim Clinic Registration

It's time for the second annual ATC Tri Camp!  Coach Sharon and Sarah are
back and Coach Kiera will be helping out too!  

Two indoor spin sessions and outdoor brick runs, one outdoor run session,
two swims, yoga and two informative sessions to help you with your triathlon
goals! Loads of active coaching, great training sessions, and don't forget
fun and camaraderie!

Cost? A measly $180 for Airdrie Triathlon Club members and Team TriLife coached athletes,
$210 for non members. Sign up for your ATC membership NOW and take advantage of the savings :)

To register please follow the link below:

ATC TRI CAMP

Here is the 411 on what you can expect at the Camp:

April 7, Friday:

6:30pm- 8:30pm - 90 min spin class / 10-15 min brick run (Dance Studio /
Outdoors )

April 8, Saturday:

8:30 am-10am - 90 min run clinic and speed work (outdoors)

11am- 12:30pm - Purpose and Goals for 2017 Race Season with Coach Sarah
(Echo Room)

1pm -2:30pm - 90 min swim session

3:30 - 4:30 pm - yoga session (Mind Body Room)

5:30pm - group dinner - location TBA

April 9, Sunday:

8:00am - 9:30am - 90 min spin / brick session (Dance Studio / Outdoors)

10:30-12:00 - Sports Psych Session with John Clubb (Dance Studio)

1-2pm - 60- minute swim session 

** PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO REFUNDS AND MAXIMUM PARTICIPANTS IS 15...SIGN UP NOW AND DON'T MISS OUT ! **

We look forward to seeing you in April for yet another awesome tri camp!

Hey ATC'ers! Who says winter training has to be boring? Are you tired of looking at your basement walls while you ride on your trainer,or bundling up for a cold, lonely, windy run? Join us instead for a fun day in the mountains! We are inviting all ATC members out to Kananaskis for a day of skiing, snowshoeing, tubing.....whatever you are up for! This in an informal, social get together to catch up with members, squeeze in some cross training in the mountains and follow it up with a bonfire at our campsite at Mount Kidd!

Here are the details:

WHEN: Saturday January 21, 2017

WHERE: Kananaskis - pick your activity and have fun! We have some members (and kids too) skiing at Nakiska (they will be there for opening runs at 9am), and I will be cross country skiing at Elkwood, just past Peter Lougheed Provincial Park (meet in the parking lot at 10am). There are snowshoeing trails and a snow tubing run at Nakiska. Plenty of winter fun to be had! We will meet up all together again at 4pm at Mount Kidd, campsite A13. Fire will be roaring - bring something to roast for dinner and stay awhile (bring a chair and your warm campfire duds). If you are really feeling adventurous, Mount Kidd has many sites available for winter camping - reserve a spot and do it all again the next day with us!

This is an informal event - no sign up necessary. However, if you are planning on joining, please post up on our Facebook page to exchange contact info and have an idea of who to wait for before we set off! Feel free to do your own thing and meet up at the campground afterwards for dinner. The more the merrier!

Questions? Email Jill - ejillm@yahoo.ca

Hope to see you there!

Dates: January 15 & February 26, 2017

Time: Both sessions begin 9:30 am SHARP!

Time to get back in the pool and brush up on those swim skills! We are pleased to be hosting another two, yes two, swim clinics for you at Genesis Place in Airdrie! You’ll be in good hands with ATC Coaches "Speedy" Sharon Styles and Kiera Gosse, handling a maximum of 5 swimmers each and providing hands on training for each individual. Both beginner and more experienced swimmers are encouraged to attend. These clinics always sell out quickly so once again, no slacking…sign up now! Cost to you? $15 for ATC and Team TriLife members and $20 for nonmembers...pretty hard to beat that folks. Please note that there will be no refunds for these sessions once registered.

If you've been in one of these clinics before or know someone who has, you’ll know how effective they are for improving your stroke and swim skills. If you are a less experienced swimmer, Kiera will be coaching your pool session and for those with a bit more background in the water, Sharon has you covered. Not sure where your skill level falls? No worries, reach out to either and they will be happy to assist.

Looking forward to seeing you on the pool deck beginning January 15 !

SIGN UP HERE FOR OUR SWIM CLINICS!

The training continues! As promised, we are pleased to open registration for a 7 week set of ATC coached spin & swim sessions in Airdrie (Genesis Place) beginning January 10, 2017. Coaches Sharon & Kiera will put you through the paces with triathlon focused spins and swim sessions...yup, they will be awesome. Registration is capped at 12 participants so sign up NOW, and while you're at it, don't forget to sign up for your ATC membership, take advantage of the ATC discount for these sessions, and get your name in the raffle for a 10 pack of Genesis Place passes. Stay tuned for further updates on two more swim clinics in January and February as well...cheers and make sure you click on the link below to register ASAP.

ATC Spin & Swim Brick Series

Greetings to all ATC’ers! We are very excited to be moving ahead with formalized, dare we say official (?)  registration for the Airdrie Triathlon Club. While it’s taken some time to put together, we are proud to be taking steps to offer increased value to YOU and add some additional structure to the Club which will set us up for long term success and sustainability.

We’ve lined up some great discounts and incentives for you and for the LOW and value packed annual fee, it will be very hard to pass this up. We’ll also be taking advantage of the new online portal for posting of ATC clinics, camps etc. and coordinating registration for them through the site. So without further ado, please check out all the information you need to know by clicking on the link below. It will take you to the registration site and provide all the details on Club membership benefits and offers a smooth and efficient registration user experience.

Airdrie Triathlon Club Registration

You can also find similar information on the “Membership” tab of our website. We look forward to getting a large number of existing and new members registered and also have added a nice incentive / giveaway for you to get that registration completed ASAP. ATC members will also be asked to sign up for an Alberta Triathlon Association (ATA) membership at the same time to ensure you get the benefits from that membership as well and provide coverage for you during group events and more. Already an ATA member? No worries, the online registration portal will pick up on that and you will sail smoothly through sign up with your existing credentials.

Questions? Please check out the MEMBERSHIP link on the website for a few short FAQ’s and / or drop us a line at airdrietc@gmail.com. We look forward to your ongoing support for the Club and a fantastic 2017 just around the corner. Thanks and have a fantastic Holiday season!

PS. Registration details will also be shared shortly so you can sign up for the Spin & Swim sessions in January at Genesis Place!

…and the training sessions continue as promised! Check out the details on upcoming spin / swim sessions for ATC’ers in 2017. Sharon and Kiera have you covered with this awesome series of brick workouts for you. This is an awesome opportunity to get in shape for 2017 race season - work on your swim stroke, bust your butt with coached and focused spin sessions, and learn from the best! Stay tuned for updates on ATC memberships ASAP. Looking forward to seeing you in future!

Tuesday night bike / swim bricks at Genesis Place! Spin on your own bike and trainer from 7pm-8pm with a triathlon focused workout and hit the pool from 8:15pm-9:15pm for a triathlon focused swim workout.

Led by your ATC coaches Sharon Styles and Kiera Gosse - we will begin taking registrations for this 7 week session (January 10th to Feb 28th with no workout on Tuesday Feb 21st. ) starting January 2nd. Fees for ATC and current TTL coached athletes is $140 for the 7 week session. Non ATC and TTL cost is $165. All participants must have an ATA (Alberta Triathlon Association) membership to attend. A minimum of 6 participants is required to go ahead with the sessions. If you have any questions please email sharon@teamtrilife.com or kieragosse@gmail.com for further info!

PS. Don’t forget about our next brick session this Sunday (December 4), swim clinic on December 11 and another brick workout on December 18! Woot woot!

And here we go! We appreciate your patience while we worked to line up a game plan for fall / winter training. So...let's get down to it. We've had lots of inquiries as to what the plan(s) is, what you can expect, when, where, with who...you get the idea. To start with, we are pleased to launch a series of "brick" workouts for you beginning this Sunday ( November 27) and continuing December 4, and December 18. You wanted to spin, run and have a great workout..you got it. What can you expect? How about a 60 minute coached spin (bring your own bike and trainer), followed by an optional 30 minute run, followed by some core training? The cost to you? A measly $15 per session or $40 for all three weeks and ALL proceeds go to the Tour for Kids, A.K.A Kids Cancer Care Foundation. Start time is 9am sharp and your awesome instructors will be Kiera Running-Gosse and Shannon Nail. This is a perfect opportunity to get together with other ATC'ers, and get (back?) in shape, making the most of your training sessions. Please reach out to Kiera and/ or Shannon to secure your spots and get the other details you need...no slacking, make it happen! Looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday to begin this series of workouts.

Next up we have a set of three (yes 3) swim clinics for you. Dates for the 2017 clinics will be shared shortly, but to begin with we have one lined up at Genesis Place, December 11 from 9:30am - 10:30am. You will be in good hands with ATC Coaches "Speedy" Sharon Styles and Kiera Running-Gosse, handling a maximum of 4-5 swimmers each and providing hands on training for each individual. Both beginner and more experienced swimmers are encouraged to attend. These clinics always sell out quickly so once again, no slacking..sign up now! Cost to you? $15...pretty hard to beat that folks. If you've been in one of these clinics before or know someone who has, you will know how effective they are for improving your stroke and swim skills. If you are a less experienced swimmer, please contact Kiera to register and for those with a bit more background in the water, contact Sharon to secure your spot. Not sure where your skill level falls? No worries, reach out to either and they will be happy to assist.

What else is in the works? Well, we are finalizing more group workouts and clinics (transition? tri camp? bike/swim brick nights?) for the new year, finalizing ATC membership processes and value added benefits for YOU, prepping for another clothing order, and looking forward to more participation from our membership base. Don't be shy...come on out and join us for the fun. On a similar note, if you are looking for a weekly run, check out the Awesome Airdrie Run Club page on Facebook...there are lots of running groups but it's hard to beat this one, considering each run is followed by a beer or glass of wine at Sorso over on 8th :)

Alright, that's a lot of info but good info. We hope you will get engaged, take advantage of these fantastic opportunities and join us for great workouts, camaraderie, fun and learning. We'll be back in touch with further updates on ATC activities once details are confirmed. Cheers and see you soon!

Greetings! We trust everyone had a fantastic summer despite the rainy weather. Congrats to all ATC'ers for their fantastic race seasons...newbies, veterans, everyone did amazing :) Here we are and it's October already. Time to refresh and regroup, looking forward to some solid training days ahead and building that base for next year! With that in mind, your ATC Board is meeting on October 5 to hammer out Club activities for the months ahead. Tentative plans are at minimum some group spin and swim sessions and hopefully get some runs lined up as well. If you are interested in joining our Board and /or would like more information on how you could assist and join us on October 5, please drop us a line at airdrietc@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you and will be back in touch with our members in the near future. All the best and happy training. Cheers!

The theme of this year's Annual Triathlon Conference is the Everyday Triathlete. We recognize the dedication that triathletes are known for, and want to focus on the importance of leading an active and healthy lifestyle.

Athletes, Coaches, Clubs, Race Directors, and Officials all play an integral role in the sport! We want to take the time to show our appreciation for all of the amazing individuals who come together to form the community that we know as: Alberta Triathlon.

We can't wait to see new and familiar faces at the Annual Triathlon Conference & Awards Dinner on September 24, 2016!

Triathlete Meet & Greet

On Friday, September 23rd from 6:00-9:00pm, we will be hosting a reception for triathletes to share their stories with one another! We are pleased to announce that we have some inspiring triathletes on the agenda, who will be sharing their stories with you.

Fanny was the very first triathlete to submit her photos to our Everyday Triathlete Photo Contest, in June. She shared her story with us, and now she will be sharing stories with you! Read about Fanny, here.

Mari is an age group triathlete who aspires to thrive as a triathlete! She has a web-series called, "A Season in the Life" and will be sharing stories about her journey as an everyday triathlete. Learn more about Mari, here.

The reception will be taking place at the Edmonton Marriott River Cree Resort. Register here to share stories and mingle.

Something for Everyone

The Annual Triathlon Conference, at the Edmonton Marriott River Cree Resort, will be full of learning opportunities for everyone! There are streams within the conference that will cater to each of the following audiences. To see the schedule of events, click on each of the categories below:

• Lifestyle
• Junior Team & Development Squad
• Coaches & Clubs
• Race Directors & Officials

Meet some of the speakers and determine which sessions you want to attend, here.

Don't Miss Out!

Be sure to book your reservation with the Edmonton Marriott at River Cree Resort before August 23, to secure a room for the Annual Triathlon Conference weekend!

If you would like to reserve a room for Friday, September 23 and/or Saturday, September 24 at our discounted group rate, you may book here.

Attention: Junior Team & Devo Squad

If you are an athlete on the Junior Team or Development Squad, you and one parent will berequired to attend the Annual Triathlon Conference on Saturday, September 24th.

There is a Junior Team & Development Squad specific schedule for Saturday, where there will be exclusive program details, uniform measurements, and paperwork that must be completed.

Register here.

Awards Dinner

Awards for the Provincial Points Series and KOS Points Series will be given out on the night of the Awards Dinner at the Edmonton Marriott River Cree Resort on Saturday, September 24th.

In addition, the following awards will be presented:

Athlete Categories

• Male & Female Age Group 40 & Under Athlete of the Year
• Male & Female Age Group 41 & Over Athlete of the Year
• Male & Female Junior Elite Athlete of the Year (16-19)
• Male & Female U23 Athlete of the Year
• Male & Female Elite Athlete of the Year
• Male & Female Paratriathlete of the Year
• Heart Award (Perseverance)

Builder Categories

• Race Director of the Year
• Coach of the Year
• Technical Delegate of the Year
• Volunteer of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement

If you know someone who deserves an award in any of the categories listed above, NOMINATE THEM HERE.

Register to attend the Awards Dinner here.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be taking place from 5:15-6:30pm on Saturday, September 24th. At the AGM, elect and meet the 2017 Board of Directors, get updates, and join the discussion. 

If you are interested in joining the ATA Board of Directors, we welcome you to apply here. Open positions on the Board include:

• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Director-at-Large

Once again, the ATC is hosting an open water swim practice and camping weekend! When? June 3-June 5. Where? Aspen Beach at Gull Lake, AB. The open water swim practice will be in effect late Saturday morning, so if you aren’t camping you have lots of time to drive up Saturday morning. We will have a rescue boat for those that are new to open water swimming and may need a break mid way, or a ride back. This is great practice if you aren’t used to open water swimming and a great refresher after pool swimming all winter long. All abilities welcome!

Having a wetsuit is required. Last year was very cold, but we made out just fine in our suits. It’s always a fun weekend and every year we get more and more people camping with us. It is also a great location to head out for a ride, so bring your bike if you want to do a Sunday ride. There are some great long hills on quiet paved roads. Jill Munday will post times and location for the swim, but if you want to camp, we recommend booking a site asap. So far, the entire loop is available, so lets fill it up with road bikes and wetsuits!

Here are the details:
Aspen Beach – Lakeview campground (at Gull Lake) – we have site A-71 booked (same spot as last year). They are powered sites.:) Reserve at https://reserve.albertaparks.ca/…/reservat…/findCampsite.htm

If you have any questions, please drop us a line. Hoping to see lots of new and old faces there this year!!!

Cheers!

Greetings to all ATC’ers! A quick update for you regarding a few housekeeping items of note. One of our top priorities is to build a strong club supported by engaged members, “value add” benefits in terms of being a member, and the ongoing development of athletes of all ages and ability levels. Since (re) launching the ATC last year, we feel we have taken good steps in these areas but there is still plenty of room for improvement. 

One area in particular would be the formalization of a specific and defined membership structure. Getting people off the couch, participating and having FUN is job #1 and that has been a prime focus with group workouts, clinics, socials, and our upcoming tri camp This will continue to be a massive priority and have therefore decided to hold off (for 2016) on the introduction of any membership fees or structured club registration for the ATC. For next year, we will be looking to create a membership program highlighted by enhanced discounts at select retailers, discounts on club activities and training programs, and more structure to help move the club forward and make it even stronger. Camaraderie, mutual support and providing a positive club and training environment for all will continue to be “par for the course” with the ATC!

Communication: Instagram, twitter, Facebook, website, email…so many options and while each has their own merits, staying in touch with ALL members can prove challenging as is a consistent method for sharing club updates. With that in mind, we will continue to use social media for club engagement but specific details on events and activity will be driven from and housed on our website. Information links will continue to be shared out via Facebook, twitter etc. but will all be tied back to http://www.airdrietriclub.com . 

On a final note, what do YOU want to see from the ATC? We are always eager to hear from you and ensure that the club is progressing and meeting your needs as best as possible. Don’t be shy…we look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you to all ATC’ers for their ongoing support…2016 is shaping up to be an awesome year with clinics, camps, ATC gear on order, lots of training and racing and yes, we need another pub night or social event! All the best…cheers!

Yup, you read that correctly. You asked for it and now you’ve got it! Coach Sharon and fellow Coach Sarah Van Tine are pleased to announce a fantastic triathlon training camp being held in Airdrie at Genesis Place on April 15, 16 and 17th! Ahhhhhhh yeah!

Here is the 411 for you:
Eight awesome sessions for you to learn and jump start your training for the season! A maximum of 12 participants for lots of individual coaching attention (suggest signing up ASAP before all the spots are taken!). The cost is an extremely reasonable $180 and payment can be made to Sharon Styles via interact etransfer (if you require another option please contact Sharon…to say this is a wicked deal would be an understatement). 

sharon@teamtrilife.com

All your entries into Genesis Place are included and snacks and workout beverages are also being provided. All spin sessions will be indoors on your own bike and trainer. Brick runs will be outdoors. Track session will be indoors or out depending on the weather.

Itinerary:

Friday:

6:30pm- 8:30pm – 90 min spin class / 10-15 min brick run

Saturday:

8:30 am-10am – 90 min swim session

11am- 12pm – nutrition seminar with Jessica Girard

1pm -2:30pm – run clinic and speed work session on the track

3:30 – 4:30 pm – yoga session

6pm team dinner restaurant TBD

Sunday:

8:00am – 9:30am – 60 min spin / 10-15 minute brick session

10:30-11:30 – 60 min triathlon Q and A session

12:30-1:30 pm – 60- minute swim session

Hot dang…this will be a wicked weekend of education, workouts and fun. Run, don’t walk to your computer / smart phone or whatever and get in touch with Sharon to book your spot..NOW! We look forward to seeing you in April.

Back by very popular demand, it’s time for another ATC swim clinic hosted by Coach Sharon! When and where? Sunday Feb 28th at Genesis Place in Airdrie.

This time around Sharon will be switching up the format slightly, taking 4 swimmers at 9:30 am and 4 swimmers at 10:30am split by ability. The 9:30am time slot will be for for the less experienced swimmers and the 10:30 time slot for more experienced swimmers.

If you would like a spot please contact Sharon ASAP. Cost for the clinic is $15 and includes your entry to the pool for the clinic time only.  If you haven’t done a clinic or spin class with Sharon in the last 6 months she will need a new waiver from you. Payment can be made via an interact etransfer, cash or chq. There is a 24 hour cancellation policy so if you cancel within 24 hours payment would still be required.

Get in touch with Sharon NOW @ sharon@teamtrilife.com to put your name down and secure a spot for the clinic. She is one of the best in the business so stop slacking and sign up! It will definitely be worth your while…enjoy and see you at the pool!

Good day ATC’ers! We trust everyone has had a terrific race season and 2015 in general…yes, race season never truly ends but with the bulk of the races behind us and training days outside becoming limited based on weather and daylight, it’s time to start thinking about the upcoming year, focusing on some winter training and regrouping for the months ahead. 

With that in mind, we are looking for your input…how did we, the ATC do this year? With 2015 being a year to get the Club up and running and encourage as many as possible to get off the couch and get active / join in the fun, we want to hear from you. What would you like to see from the Club in 2016? More swim, bike, run clinics and group training sessions? More formality and Club structure? More social events, training camps, variety of group activities? The ATC Board is getting together in the near future to reflect back on the year and plan for the one ahead. This is YOUR club….Facebook says we have 150+ members but we need to see and hear from more of you to take the ATC to the next level and provide even more value and benefits to you. No need to be “lurking” in the background, come on out and participate and engage! Send us an email, respond to this post on our website, post on Facebook, send us a tweet….whatever you do, make sure your voice is heard and help us evolve the Club towards greater successes in the months and years ahead. We are looking forward to hearing from you and wish everyone the very best as we work on more activities to keep the momentum going…happy training (and thank goodness the Genesis Place pool is open again) ! Cheers!

Greetings! It’s time for Part 2 of our “Meet the ATC” series and today, we are shining the spotlight on Amber Lynn Kinney. A regular “poster” on the ATC FB page and from the looks of her training, a die hard tri junkie who loves to get out there and has nothing but energy and enthusiasm for the sport. Let’s hear it straight from Amber Lynn…and here we go!

Hey Amber Lynn..thanks for taking the time to speak with us, tell us about yourself!

No worries. I would like to say thanks for giving me the opportunity to share my story with the ATC. I’m originally from Vancouver and moved here in 2001 to do my nursing program. It was a huge step, leaving my friends and family and not knowing anyone. I have a great family. Parents still around, an there brothers…yikes! After many years of screwed up boyfriends, finally last year in October, I met my Prince Charming It didn’t take very long to know that I got hit on the head and knew he was it. 3 months following our meeting we married in January and it’s been awesome. No kids yet!

How about your athletic background and how you got sucked in to the sport of tri?

I would say I have always been interested in some sort of exercise. On/ off due to finances etc. as living as a student doesn’t always provide the opportunity for extra activities. Once I finished school, things were more consistent though.  In 2009 when I saw my brother compete in the Penticton Ironman and I was blown away. So I asked a few friends if they wanted to try a triathlon. So my very first was in Vulcan 2010. And from then on I did various sprints and grew into Olympic distance and have done several half marathons. In total I have competed in 16 competitions .

Any memorable races / experiences you can think of?

I attempted Ironman Whistler twice. The first time I almost finished the swim and was short 200 meters from the cut off. So I went back the second year and I was completely calm until the cannon went off and now I have 2600 or so athletes all around me and the energy was so intense. I didn’t even make 1 km and had a full on panic attack. The fear of not finishing again was overwhelming. I tried and tried to push past it but mentally couldn’t . So… they pulled me in the boat and I had a bit of a cry. All I could think of was…”again”! 2 years in a row! All the time , money and training invested to even say I can show up for the start line. I had even biked the Whistler course before the race. It was a massive challenge. Some of the hardest mountains to climb… I was slow but I did it! So after that I decided to sign up for Banff to try and build my confidence. I felt better much and completed it. This year at the Calgary 70.3 , I faced the same fears in the water but I didn’t let it take over. I made it out of the water..yeah! And I managed to bike 80 km but didn’t make the cut off. Oh well. It was further than I had made in previous years so that was all good with me!

Good on ya for persevering! What kind of bike are you riding lately and do you have a favorite discipline?

Before Whistler I invested in a much better bike, it’s a Giant and I love it! As far as a fave discipline goes, I can’t pick just one as I enjoy all three.

Any comments on the sport in general, training, how you got hooked up with the ATC etc.?

I’m grateful for Jill and Sean Munday for approaching me in Banff to join. The group is so supportive. It’s a great opportunity to get to do things with people that love doing the same.  Most my friends and husband thinks I’m nuts for doing all this training and races I do. Lol!  Triathlon training and competitions drive me to keep going and pushing ahead. No matter how small the gain or progress, we can always do better than the day before. And everyday is a new day even if we don’t succeed right away . I do find it difficult to get all the training in though. As a nurse, I have to work shift rotation. Days/ nights and weekends so that can be a challenge.

Cool…any final thoughts / words of wisdom before we sign off?

Words of wisdom?  Well, I never give up on anything. So no how many times it takes me to get something done , I will keep going. I am a well driven and motivated woman.
That’s really all I can say in a short interview version lol! I’m a down to earth , easy going girl who loves the sport and looks forward to more successes down the road. 

Thanks for your time Amber Lynn. Congrats on your success and we will see you at the races!

Greetings ATC’ers. We trust everyone is having an AWESOME season, enjoying the weather and sneaking in some great workouts and races. In order for us to get to know each other a bit better, we are pleased to launch Part #1 of our “Meet the ATC” series. Although we are starting off with an ATC Board member, for future we would also like to share some profiles of our other members, and learn a bit more about what makes YOU tick, your triathlon journey and other interesting tidbits of info! 

So…let’s get things rolling with speedy Sharon Styles Hamm shall we? Sharon is a prominent member of the multisport community and we are proud to have her with the ATC as a Coach. We hope you enjoy the interview below…take it away Sharon!

Tell us about yourself ! Background, where you grew up, have you always been into athletics?

I grew up in Weyburn Sask and tried a ton of sports as a kid. Swimming, skating, ringette, gymnastics….. I found running in 9th grade when I joined track and turned my focus there. I ran track and cross country through high school and also dabbled a bit in cross country skiing and swim club in grade 12. I ran track and cross country with U of S from 94-96. After kids I focused on 10km road races.

How did you get into triathlon and what was your first (race) experience ..tell us about it.

I got into triathlon due to overuse injuries from running. I was frustrated so decided one day to do a tri….2 weeks before the race day! I borrowed a steel frame road bike with toe baskets and old school shifters. The race was the Arbour Lake tri and it was cold and raining! Many people decided not to race that day and others had medical issues due to the cold but it was my first one and I didn’t want to miss it. I swam quite wide on the swim and remember grinding up the hills in a hard gear because I was too nervous to take my hands off the bars to shift. I had a blast, wasn’t very fast and could barely walk after from running on numb feet. What struck me the most about this day was the people. I sent my wet husband and kids home and stayed for the post race meal and awards not knowing a soul. I sat down with a group of people and they immediately starting chatting with me. I was hooked that day…by the challenge, by the atmosphere and the friendly, welcoming people.

Tell us about Team TriLife…when was it started, what are the key focuses, what kind of athletes do you coach, anything else exciting / interesting we need to know about it?

Team TriLife is a team started by Angie Anderson in 2007. I found Angie in 2009 looking for a coach. Shortly thereafter I had a career change and started coaching with Angie and TTL in 2011. The key focus of TTL is to help runners and triathletes to find a balance between their life (family, work, fun) and training…. Hence Team TriLIFE. I coach all kinds of athletes. “Newbies” to seasoned vets, from the tri a tri distance up to the ironman. In running 5kms up to marathons and ultra marathons.

You have quite a race resume, please tell us about it! “Worst” race, best race experience, favorite race(s) and why !

Worst race…. I did the inaugural Banff tri and not only was the lake colder than normal, the air temp was cold and it was raining. They had to shorten the swim for safety and even then hands and feet were completely numb coming out of the water. It was so cold you needed a jacket on the bike but I couldn’t do mine up. I had to break the rules and ask for outside assistance for someone to do my coat up. To add insult to injury I broke the cable for my front derailleur so was stuck in my small ring for half the bike. When I arrived at T2 I was so cold, my hands and feet were numb and if it wasn’t for my husband cheering me through T2 I don’t think I would have left. On the run my quads cramped up making for a hard finish to the 10km. Not a fun day! Best race has to be worlds last year. Everything clicked and came together. The excitement of racing for your country and having so many people cheering you on was surreal! It was pretty sweet coming down the blue carpet thinking I had won a bronze medal. It was even sweeter when I was told I had won my category!! I think I cried a dozen times that day talking to people!

Favorite race is a tie between Wasa and GWN. I love both these races! The atmosphere and volunteers are top notch!

How do you see the sport of triathlon today..growing, stagnant, what do you think the future holds for the sport and what are you looking forward to in terms of being a member of the tri and multisport community?

Triathlon has definitely grown, even in the 8 years since I started doing them. They seem to be reaching out to a broader range of people and that’s awesome. I always say anyone can do a tri and it’s true. With so many beginner friendly races and try a tri distances, more and more people can come over to the dark side. I think there will be more grass roots and community based tri’s popping up with maybe less emphasis on the big money making tri’s. I am looking forward as a coach to seeing more people fall in love with sport and reach new goals of doing their first ever to doing their first at a new distance. As an athlete I look forward to doing tri’s for a very long time. At world’s in Edmonton last year the oldest age groups went last. So that meant some of the last finishers were coming through a fairly empty grandstand area. A few keen supporters were on hand to scream and yell and cheer these oldest triathletes across the line. This was one of my highlights of the worlds experience last year. We screamed and waved flags and cheered every one of them of across the line. It was inspiring! I want to be that athlete crossing the line of a triathlon at 80. That’s the ultimate goal!

Your best tri tips & tricks? Race prep insight?

Be positive, see yourself having a good race, use positive self talk during the race. Visualize what each segment will look and feel like. Also take the time to mentally plan for hiccups along the way so you can deal with them without falling apart. Have a plan for what you will do if you flat, have stomach problems, water in your goggles, require a bathroom break, etc. If you plan ahead then if something less than idea happens in your race you are ready for it. Have fun and remember to smile and thank the volunteers. My best races are the ones where I engage with those around me. Wishing luck to those beside me on the start line, cheering those I pass on the bike, and encouraging others on the run course ( I love out and back courses for that reason).

Favorite junk food, race food, drink, movies, tv shows, other hobbies ?

I love French fries. I will often have them after a race as a treat. My breakfast for any race is a banana, oatmeal and canned salmon….yes canned salmon. I have done this for years and it works for me J . For race day nutrition I use Infinit custom nutrition on the bike and gels and whatever is being offered for drinks on the run.

Do triathletes have hobbies? I guess I do have some free time! In the spring /summer I love to grow a big veggie garden and spend time camping or at the lake with my family. In the winter our family likes to snowboard.

Please answer: ________ is the most complete triathlete in the sport (current or retired)…why?

I am huge Heather Wurtele fan. I’ve been following her since I read the article about her and Trevor selling everything and living in an RV to become full time pros. It’s been great to see her slowly move through the ranks. She’s had a very successful start to this season and I can’t wait to see what she can do at Kona this year! She is signed up to race the pro chase at the Chinook Tri Aug 1st in Sylvan so of course I signed up so I can meet her!

Your role with the ATC, thoughts on the club, how it can evolve, how members can get involved and help out?

I am a coach with ATC and my role is to provide coached sessions for the group! I’ve been coaching many Airdrie triathletes in the pool for a few years now and they (YOU) are a great, inclusive and fun group of people! I am thrilled that everything has come together this year to be an official club with the ATA! The best part about a tri club is having other athletes to train with and supporting each other at races. The best way to get involved with the club is to come out to the group training or initiate it yourself. If you are heading out for a 6am run on a Tuesday, put it out there and see if you can find others to join you. At races if you see the ATC kit cheer! Even if you don’t know their names! Over the years I’ve loved getting random “go Team TriLife” cheers from people who don’t know me. When you are out on course and someone sees your kit and yells go Airdrie it’s just as good as them yelling your name!

The most overlooked or underestimated part of race prep / training is_________?

Recovery and fueling. Taking the time to make sure you eat good food pre-workout and post workout is really important. You can perform better in training and will get more out of your training if you have fueled properly beforehand. Having a healthy post workout snack helps your body with recovery. Going home and eating cookies doesn’t count. Taking rest days when you need them, and keeping your easy days easy is just as important as the hard and long days. Sleep is also big for recovery. For busy triathletes this is a tough one to make a priority. But maybe an extra half hour just means shutting the TV / phone / ipad /computer off and hitting the pillow a bit earlier. 

Thanks for the insight Sharon and all the best for another successful race season!