February 2024

Find out what's happening at RTS!

The Real Triathlon Squad
February 15, 2024

IN THIS ISSUE

Hello RTS! It’s a new year full of exciting new developments, including an updated format for our newsletter.

For 2024, all eight of our long course pros - Nicole, Lesley, Lisa, Tamara, Garrick, Jackson, Marc and Nick - are back. The eight of us were physically in the same place at the same time FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! in Cozumel to kick off the year with RTS’s inaugural PRO/AG training camp.

We are also excited to announce an additional roster of athletes with diverse backgrounds and goals through RTSx.

We are delighted to have many returning sponsors - including Blue70, Precision Fuel & Hydration, and ENVE - but also thrilled to bring on some new team members, notably Zoot and BiSaddle. Stay tuned for proper introductions to each in future newsletters in which we will reveal our new kit and provide some in-depth product reviews.

In this month’s edition:

The inside scoop on our January Cozumel camp - it was a beautiful experience (*except, note Tamara and Nicole, for a couple days of team bonding via intense food poisoning…). Don’t miss the link to Nick’s camp recap video! Click HERE!
Find out how to join (or refresh your memory about) our Facebook and Zwift communities! Click HERE!
What is RTSx???? Sounds intriguing. Click HERE!
Early Spring racing is almost here! Where can you catch up with or cheer on our RTS pros? Click HERE!
On the Pod - What does it mean to have a truly integrated, full-body approach to heath and performance? Garrick and Nick interview chiropractic and functional medicine physician Dr. Kristin Lauritzen about her important insights. Click HERE!
Don’t miss the sponsor links and discount codes at the very end of this email to save money on triathlon products used by our pros. Click HERE!

FEATURE STORY

Pros and AG Athletes united for our inaugural Cozumel Camp in January!

Inaugural Cozumel Camp a Success

Our first ever Pro/AG RTS Camp was a big success! In January, all eight of our pros and seven AG athletes traveled to the beautiful island of Cozumel, Mexico for a week of solid training and fun in the sun!

Although Nick and Jackson had a good sense of the island from so many races there, it was a bit of a leap of faith to use it as the base for a camp. We were overall very happy with the result!

As Sergio alludes to in his recap below, we were all particularly pleased with the cycling and feeling of safety cycling. The RTS pros have raced and trained all over North America and in many other places in the rest of the world. Cozumel, although parts of it in San Miguel have superficially hectic looking traffic, is one of the places we have felt safest riding. The cars in town were remarkably attentive towards triathlon cyclists, and much of the island has good quality, wide, dedicated bike paths. Cozumel felt like a welcoming environment for triathlon.

Despite mostly excellent conditions, a few athletes did run into issues with food poisoning close to the end of camp - which featured a particularly harrowing bonding experience for Nicole and Tamara, roommates and the most sick. What did we learn?

1) When you are sick at camp, it’s really important to have the support of teammates, and we were so grateful to those who did step in to help (Megan, our resident hospital pharmacist, we are looking at you! THANK YOU!);

2) It was important to be gentle on ourselves recovering back into training. Tamara pushed her stomach too hard on the first day and ended up right back in bed, sicker than ever. Although back training more comfortably after two days out, both Tamara and Nicole found that it took their bodies a full week to feel replenished and back to normal energy levels. It’s important to respect your body’s needs and recovery time.;

3) It does kind of put the “Real” in “Real Tri Squad” to hop out of your sick bed, throw your hair into a ponytail and try to rock a photoshoot - hah!

Don’t miss Nick’s video recap, capturing the island beauty of Cozumel, HERE!

Sergio Arenas joined us from Bogota, Columbia. He has a beautiful story about getting into triathlon to support his daughter (you can learn more at @nadanosdetendra.var). Here’s what he had to say:

For amateur triathletes, it was an incredible experience to share with the professionals, not only from the sport perspective but also on a familiar and social level.

It felt like a camp of friends who had known each other for years, where everyone cared for one another, where meals were long and enjoyable, and where laughing was the normal thing.

Cozumel was incredible: great weather, a safe environment, and a place where cyclists are respected. Additionally, the people were always very attentive and willing to help.

Will Denis joined our camp from London, Ontario (Canada). Here’s what he had to say:

I’m a middle of the pack age grouper and had never been to a camp before, so I really didn’t know what to expect. Everyone at RTS and the other AG athletes quickly made me feel like I belonged there, and it ended up being the best experience in my triathlon journey so far.

Most of these people were athletes I watch on TV on a regular basis and being able to train and hang out with them pretty much all day was amazing. I also got to meet some great fellow age groupers and built some lasting friendships along the way.

Cozumel itself was stunning, a triathlete’s dream. There are dedicated, large bike lanes around most of the island, including a stretch right along the ocean that made for some of the best riding I’ve ever experienced. The ocean is crystal clear and beautiful for swimming, and running along the pier is picturesque.

Thank you RTS!

OUR NETWORK

To help bring us all together we have created an RTS Strava Club and Zwift Club which you are all encouraged to join.

Zwift rides will TYPICALLY be on Sunday mornings at 11am EST, but are always subject to change.

Keep an eye out on all social channels for details.

Any questions on Zwift/Strava/FB/AG issues please contact Adam:

[email protected]

NEW TEAM MEMBERS

RTSx was co-manager Adam Meredith’s brainchild. He wanted to introduce an even bigger variety of high performing athletes to the RTS team environment. The RTSx 2024 roster includes off-road pros, WTCS Olympic hopefuls, rookies, veterans and some up and coming elite age group athletes.

This group will enrich our RTS community with their diverse experiences and focuses. In return, we hope to help them out on their triathlon journeys with some of the support that we receive from our fantastic partners.

Returning development squad members Rachel Mensch, Vant Lammers and Flaca are joined by Colleen Baker, Batya Beard, Alexander Frank, Michael Gannon, Dominika Jamnicky, Amanda Macuiba, Shyanne McGregor, Ali O’Donnell, Steven Rosinski and Sam Teller. Learn more about this stellar group HERE!

Stay tuned for more input from RTSx in future newsletters!

PRO TIP

In every part of triathlon, focus on building on your own experiences with your own toolkit rather than lamenting the lack of a different, idealized path. Sometimes we accidentally hold ourselves back by not valuing our own journey!

~ Tamara

UPCOMING RACES

Wish Tamara Good Luck at the First T100 Race in Miami on March 9

With her strong 2023 season, Tamara earned one of the 20 contracts given to female triathletes to compete in the PTO’s new T100 World Tour.

Tamara will race at least 6 of the 8 planned T100 races this year as well as some 70.3s (including defending her title at 70.3 Oceanside in April alongside a big RTS pro presence, see below).

Tamara’s first T100 race is on March 9 in Miami! For more information about the T100 and details about how to watch, click HERE!

Big RTS Presence Expected at 70.3 Oceanside at April 6

Are you racing 70.3 Oceanside on April 6? Let us know! Tamara, Nicole, Lisa, Jackson, Marc and Nick will all be there!

ON THE POD

If you aren’t already listening to the Real Triathlon Podcast hosted by Jackson, Nick and Garrick (with some guest appearances by other team members) - go check it out!

Where to start? Why not with this week’s insightful interview with Dr. Kristin Lauritzen! A chiropractic and functional medicine physician, Dr. Kristin shares her knowledge about what it means to have a truly integrated, full-body approach to health and performance.

Listen HERE!

Or watch the interview on our Youtube Channel HERE!