LOTS OF INFO!

Well, it's been some time since the last update...

First, congrats to everyone who raced the Playtri Festival, ya'll did awesome!!

We have some exciting news!! SMU Tri Club got approved as a chartered organization which means we have access to school $$.

I'm going to try and pull for some money for the summer to get any club members staying in the metroplex to attend races with some cost covered, and we can perhaps get a school van to drive there. If you are staying in Dallas for the summer let me know!!! There are some great local races, and all over Texas.

Also, we will be re-organizing the officers for the club as many are no longer at SMU so please email me if you'd be interested in such a position.

This Saturday, May 10, there will be a 2hr open water swim clinic with zillions of race-start simulations at Joe Pool Lake. It will be followed by a 1hr bike ride at the same location. If you need a ride, someone to follow, or directions, please email me.

Safe training and hope everyone does awesome in their final exams :)
-Tatiana Vertiz, President

UNIFORMS!!!

I sincerely appologize for the delay in delivering the uniforms. The production department had some timing issues and I received note of that mid this week. They were supposed to arrive by the 7th, yesterday I got an email that they were shipped out on next day air. So, that puts them here today. However, I will be out of my house and working at the Playtri race site from 11am-8pm and Anne Weil leaves her office at 2pm.....the best thing I can do is take the box to the race tomorrow- if you will be there, please come find me in transition as early as possible if you still want to wear them for the race.
Thanks for ordering and I wish there was something I could have done, but as I stressed early in the semester, we were pushing the time limits on delivery anyway.

NEWS

1) The SMU Tri Club Uniforms will be in by April 9th. At that time, they will be available for pick up at Anne Weil's office. We have a list of those who have paid so if you have not done so please get your money to Anne a.s.a.p. Make sure and wear them at the Playtri Festival races- I know many club members are doing the Sprint.

2) This Saturday 9am at Joe Pool Lake there will be a 2hr open water swim clinic hosted by Playtri. For more information please email tvertiz@smu.edu Following the swim, we'll have a 1hr training pace run. You do not have to do both, you can do either/or.

2008 SEASON!!!!

Well, the season is kicking off. For info on upcoming races all over the country visit: www.trifind.net and select a state.

The Playtri Festival is in two weeks- April 12&13- in Las Colinas, Irving TX. There's everything from 750m/1mile swim, 5k/10k runs, duathlon, sprint, and Olympic, to a Half Ironman. Sign up now on www.active.com or go to www.playtri.com and click on Races.

Remember, for info on group workouts, coaching, and how to join the SMU Club, please email Tatiana Vertiz at tvertiz@smu.edu or Anne Weil at weil@smu.edu

Back from Spring Break

Track Thrusday March 20 6pm SMU
Group Run/Bike TP Hill White Rock Lake Saturday March 22 (times will be posted later)

5km race through Uptown Dallas Saturday March 22 (info: www.uptownrun.org)

Two Triathlons Next Two Weekends

The Athens Triathlon is coming up this Sat. March 8- 300m pool swim, 13.8mi bike, 5km run
sign up and learn more here: http://www.ironheadrp.com/athens/index.html

St. Patrick's Day Triathlon Sat. March 15- 300m pool swim, 12mi bike, 5km run
sign up and learn more here: www.stpatrickstriathlon.com

These are both great races for first-timers!

This week workouts

Track, as always, Thursday at 6pm SMU.
Saturday, March 1st- 1hr ride meet at TP Hill White Rock Lake 1:00pm

Check It Out!

Listen to the latest interviews on Competitor Radio (www.competitorradio.com) Bob Babbit and Paul Huddle chat with Dan Brown (elite runner with some mind-boggling PRs for the 10k and 5k distances) about the upcoming Beijing Olympics and a bit on his running background and training. Also hear from broadcast legend Jim Lampley as he comments on the incredible crawl by Julie Moss in 1982 Ironman Hawaii and what that did to the televising of sports. Finally, learn about Ultraman and Navy Seal David Goggins- a 200+ lbs guy who's making a mark in the endurance world.

Or, search through the archive and find dozens of other great interviews!

How to Sign up for Playtri Club (for group workouts, coaching, and clinics)

Go to www.playtri.com/club.php
Click on the active.com link that will send you to the online registration.
Under coupon codes use "SMU6mos" for a 6 month membership of $150 OR use "SMU1yr" for a 12 month membership for $300.

February 16th Group Workouts

Saturday: 9am TP hill at White Rock Lake- 1hr training pace bike followed by a 1hr "transition" or "brick" run as 15min warm up 30min tempo 15min cool down.

TRACK

Every Thursday 6pm now at SMU!....not Hillcrest.

This Weekend's Group Workouts

If you have already registered for the Playtri Club, or are planning on doing so, come to the club run on Saturday 9AM at TP Hill at White Rock Lake, club ride Sunday 10AM (same location), and club swim 12PM at SMU Dedman Center pool.
You will have a chance to meet the coaches and other athletes, see what you think, and sign up then. So go ahead and bring a check to the workouts in case you decide to sign up...this is the best way to determine if you like the group and everything appeals to your interests.

See ya'll Saturday!
Tati

We're Set

Thanks to those who attended the meeting. I know some could not make it and have already emailed me for further info. If you haven't gotten in touch with me please do so to indicate your desire to be part of the club.

What we covered:

1. I need confirmation emails to create the updated roster.

2. Committment is what you want it to be (depending on your own schedule, your goals, resources, etc)

3. To be part of the club- get USAT membership ($30/year) & Playtri CLUB membership ($150 for 6mths, $300 for 1 year)....www.playtri.com/club.php I WILL HAVE A SPECIAL CODE FOR SMU TRI CLUB TO ENTER FOR PLAYTRI CLUB SPECIAL DISCOUNT

4. Workouts starting second week of February- Thurs. track 6pm Hillcrest HS, various open water swim, run drills, and bike workouts on Sat's and Sun's (all on www.playtri.com/club.php)

5. Set your goals and feel free to email me or anyone on the Playtri website for guidance. We want the club to participate in at least one event at the Playtri Festival April 12/13 in Las Colinas (distances range from a 5k run or 750m swim to a Half Ironman...what do you want to do and know you can commit to?)

6. ****If you want a uniform email me before the second week of Feb!!!!

Ready to Get Started?

If you plan on coming to the meeting- Wed. Jan 23rd at 5pm at the Dedman Center- and are pretty set on your intentions to dive into triathlon, then go ahead and log onto http://www.usatriathlon.org/ and get a USAT membership for one year (or longer, whatever you prefer). SMU Tri Club members must have USAT membership for insurance purposes- this applies for our rules as well as those of our affiliate coaching program, Playtri.

Also, please e-mail me with your name and SMU classification (undergrad yr, grad, alumni, faculty) if you will be attending the meeting or want to join the club/seek more info but cannot attend the meeting.

We will be covering registration, organization details/officers, coaching, training, races, and nutrition in broad terms at the meeting.

If ya'll have any suggestions for the website, links you would like posted (including to your own blogs as pertinent to triathlon) please let me know.

On another note, I will be leaving for the Playtri Hawaii Camp with my coach and other triathletes from Jan25- Feb2 and will be posting about training as well as other fun activities with pics on my blog for those interested: http://www.tatianavertiz.blogspot.com/

Welcome!

Being a relatively new club with little to no funding, and the fact that I'm website-creating-inept, SMU Triathlon Club will utilize blogger as its main web source until we come accross a member or outsider willing to help us create an awesome "real" page.

Anyhow, welcome to SMU Triathlon! I'm excited to start off 2008 with news that collegiate level triathlon is really starting to kick off, specifically in the Southern Region. We are part of the Southern Conference (www.scctriathlon.org) and are thus elligible to participate in its sanctioned events and earn national rankings/awards.

Triathlon is currently not a familiar term at SMU and as your President I want to change that...FAST! Last year we had a slow start, but still gathered upwards of 20 members and manage to order really cool uniforms from Canari Manufacturing. Those are still available for order but will need to be requested before mid February!! I planned to kick start the Club on a whole new level last semester but in leiu of my training for Ironman Hawaii I had no time on my plate.

Now that it's a new semester here's what I hope to achieve with SMU Traithlon:
1. Increase awareness of the Club- spread the word! Inform undergrad, grads, alumni, and faculty

2. Increase membership to a minimum of 35 people by the end of the semester....and that means actively involved members!

3. Help all members with a curiosity of the sport and willingness to learn and work get across the finish line of their first triathlon!


Long term I see SMU Triathletes participating at the yearly Collegiate Nationals event (you don't have to qualify or be super fast, etc...only be a recognized Club as we are!!!). Also, I am confident that with my own knowledge and expertise and that of my coach, Ahmed Zaher, whose program Playtri is also our affiliated SMU Triathlon Coaching Program, we can become one of the top teams in the Nation and gain great campus recognition and praise.

The core mission behind SMU Triathlon Club is to be involved in and promote a healthy/active lifestyle via fun, friends, and competition.

If you want to learn more about the club, are interested in becoming a member, or have any other questions, please feel free to email me at tvertiz@smu.edu