March 2024

Find out what's happening at RTS!

The Real Triathlon Squad
March 12, 2024

IN THIS ISSUE

And the 2024 season has started! Dive in for a new year of the beautiful highs and lows of this sport. We wouldn’t love it so much if it didn’t test us so thoroughly with such a rich range of experiences!

While you’re at it: DON’T MISS OUT ON OUR ZOOT TEAM STORE! Our STORE CLOSES at 9pm EST on March 14. Rocking our kit is a wonderful way to support us! It will also help us spot you at races so that we can say hi and spread the RTS community! Buy Zoot RTS gear HERE!

*Shipping note: we understand that international shipping from the store may be an issue; we are working where we can to resolve this; in particular, please contact Tamara or Zoot directly about shipping to Canada.

In this month’s edition:

(Please note: internal links may not work on some platforms (including Gmail). Until we are able to resolve this, simply click “Read Online” in the top right corner of this email to view the online version of the newsletter in which the links should work. Thanks!)

Feature Story: Tamara DNFs in her first T100 Tour Race at Miami and leans into the bad day. Click HERE!
Our Network: RTS AG sightings and how to connect online. Click HERE!
Off-road: Meanwhile, Lisa has a bad ass “training day” racing a BWR gravel race. Click HERE!
RTSx: RTSx’s Domi is caught by the shocking Abu Dhabi race cancelation while chasing her Olympic dream. Click HERE!
Up-coming Races: Will we see you at 70.3 Oceanside or Ironman Texas this April? Will you be at St. Antony’s? Where can you catch up with and cheer on our RTS pros and RTSx members? Click HERE!
On the Pod: What’s new on the Real Triathlon Podcast and Real Triathlon Video Podcast? Click HERE!
Partners and Discounts: 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

photo credit: T100

Tamara has a bad day at T100 Miami - and leans into it

There was a lot going on at the T100 Miami with three different race organizers (World Triathlon, T100 and Clash) working together to put on a triathlon-filled weekend at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, including the inaugural T100 Tour event.

After one of her best swims yet had Tamara coming out of the water in a strong position with Emma Pallant-Browne and Daniela Ryf, she struggled on the bike, failing to rally and eventually stepping off the field about half way through the event.

The same night, she posted some raw and honest reaction photos, and here’s what she has to say about it:

Joy is such an important source of energy for me in this sport, and despite my very honest efforts, I truly could not find the joy after the swim. From what I want in a race experience, it was hard to have so few athletes and so few people (spectators/supporters etc.) around on a giant speedway in a giant stadium that felt SO empty, especially as the sun went down. There was such a mix of athlete experiences on that front. I knew going in that this would be a challenging environment for me, and…it was! I have never DNFd in a triathlon before - multiple crashes and all - and it is rare for me to try to tap into my grit and determination and not quite find it.

At the same time, to me, these bad days are just such a part of the reality of sport and part of the emotional depth of the whole activity that keeps me - and that keeps many of us - in it. I do not know an athlete who has truly tried to push themselves to be the best that they can be who has not felt their version of the emotions I tried to show by posting raw photos of my reaction. Those emotions are part of what comes by opening ourselves up to the beautiful challenge of trying to push ourselves to and past our limits. And I needed to express that.

There are parts of life where we cannot push ourselves to little breaking points in a safe way like we can in sport. And at the end of the day, I think that that is why we do sport. However high the stakes may seem, a breaking point in sport is not catastrophic. The longer I have been in it, and the more athletic and life experience that I have, the more I see these types of days as tough but deeply useful. They can just provide so much clarity and helpful information to bounce back stronger and fiercer if we let that in and keep at it.

Huge congratulations to India Lee on her spectacular, underdog win. Anyone who feels sad should look at photos and video of her finish in that race to see how beautiful it looks when one of those perfect days finally does come together, and we surprise even ourselves.

photo credit: T100

OUR NETWORK

Michael with RTS social media manager/race organizer extraordinaire (amongst her many hats) Beth.

Michael Weyant spotted in Miami rocking our 2023 RTS Kit! We LOVE to see it!!

He won his AG in the Clash Miami Sprint Event - Huge Congrats Michael!

Here’s what he had to say:

First time racing Clash Miami. Thoroughly enjoyed the course. Swim in a surprisingly clear lake, cycles on the track and nearby roads, then finally two laps around the race track for a hot run.

The highlight of the day was racing with Silver Olympic medalist, Ironman World Champion Michellie Jones. We pretty much swam and rode near each other, but she smoked me on the run. Happy to come away with 1st in the age group!

Staying Connected:

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

Keep an eye out on all social channels for details.

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

[email protected]

OFF-ROAD

Lisa and her partner, Steve, at the BWR Wanna Ride

Lisa keeps on expanding her cycling range by using a BWR gravel race as a fun “training day”

Lisa is proving to be the most adventurous rider of our eight pro squad members. She’s tackled Xterra, MTB and an uphill TT, and this March, she ventured into a little bit of gravel racing.

Here’s what she has to say about it:

Over the first weekend of March, I had the opportunity to ‘race’ in the Belgian Waffle Ride Arizona Wanna Ride (BWR). BWR put on three races that day - the Wanna (about 33 miles), the Waffler (68 miles), and the Waffle (a whopping 122 miles).

Having already been staying in Scottsdale, AZ for a mini warm-weather training camp, I was already in the area and won an Instagram giveaway for a free entry into a BWR.

So, I decided to sign up for the shortest race to just push hard and get in a good training effect! Although the Wanna course was 75% on the road, the 25% that was on actual dirt was filled with kitty-litter-textured sand, wash outs, miles of single track and cactus to avoid!

For that part, I was happy to be on my mountain bike vs a gravel bike (I actually don’t own a gravel bike at the moment, so MTB was the only real option) as I had a bit more traction and loved being able to use my dropper post on some of the steeper descents.

The race took me a bit over two hours to finish, and I ended up finishing as the first female and second overall behind fellow pro triathlete, Pedro Gomes. The vibes of the event were way more laid back than the typical road tri scene and a fund way to push fitness a bit with a lot of real gravel shedders! It was a fun way to kick off the year!

RTSx

RTSx’s Domi caught by shocking Abu Dhabi race cancelation while chasing her Olympic dream

Dominika Jamnicky is a Canadian chiropractor and triathlete based in Guelph, Ontario. An alternate on the Canadian Olympic Team in Tokyo, she is chasing a spot on the Paris team this Summer. Find out more about her (and our other RTSx athletes) HERE!

Domi had a tough weekend when Abu Dhabi WTCS was canceled last minute because of forecasted heavy storms and rainfall. The storms materialized - but not until the next day!! Here’s what she had to say:

Learning about the cancellation of Abu Dhabi WTCS the morning of the race was a scenario that was not expected. World Triathlon did everything they could to make the race happen but ultimately due to forecasted weather the event was cancelled by the authorities. It has been a roller coaster of weekend pivoting and replanning spring racing to ultimately try to qualify Canada a second birth in Paris. All I can do now is look forward and make the most of the opportunities ahead!

Domi is on to Hong Kong - wish her the very best of luck!

PRO TIP

This is the year that you should focus on your bike handling just as much as your bike power.

~ Nick

UPCOMING RACES

Big RTS pro presence at 70.3 Oceanside on April 6; Lesley and Garrick to tackle Ironman Texas on April 27

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

Full Distance your current focus? Lesley and Garrick plan to bring some RTS spirit to Ironman Texas on April 27.

Additionally: keep tabs on XTERRA APAC for RTSx member Sam Teller, Challenge Puerto Varas for Marc and St. Anthony’s Triathlon in Florida (same day as Ironman Texas) for Marc, Lisa and RTSx members Rachel Mensch, Vant Lammers and Steve Rosinski!

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!