IMPORTANT NOTES

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Sarah Jane Meyer📷

The Presidential Platform

Hey team!

Looks like we had a great start of the year with the club conquering the most recent January events such as Australia Day Triathlon and the North Coast Aquathlon! Well done team!

With a few events coming, it looks like February will be another wonderful month for the club, particularly for those who enjoy swimming with the Busso Jetty Swim happening this weekend and the long-awaited swim to Rotto not too long after that. We know the squad has been training hard for it with the Super Saturdays becoming more Super week after week so we are looking forward to seeing all our fellow swimmer friends getting across to Rottnest with great results.

The committee is very happy to announce Oggi Zurzolo has decided to jump on board as our Student Representative, with James Allen staying in the committee as a general member. You all have seen Oggi around at training, club events and races with his positive energy so we are pleased to have him join as a committee member, have a scroll down if you want to read a bit more about Oggi in our 'All about me' section.

Thank you to all who participated in the survey we put through facebook, we have decided to go ahead and book Camp Grace in Busselton as the venue for hosting our Club Camp on the weekend of 20-22 March, keep an eye out on Facebook for further details. We are sure is going to be a weekend full of good training but also good fun and comradery so make sure to mark it on your calendar!

Lastly, the days have been quite hot and humid, please make sure to stay well hydrated and to continue to be sunsmart when training!

I'll see you in the water!

Gaby Villa
President UWA Triathlon Club

What does the science say?

Considering going keto?... You may want to think it twice

Australian research has found that athletes on the keto diet showed impaired markers of bone health, possibly due to inflammation caused by low intake of carbohydrates. Read the full story

If you have any recent discoveries you would like to share with the club just send them through!

All about... Oggi Zurzolo!

1. Tell us about yourself?
   My real name is Agostino (Italian heritage) but I always go by Oggi, unless I’m in trouble. I am in my final semester of my Sport Science and Exercise and Health degree, and I'm still unsure on what to do post University. I have a lot of casual jobs all within the sport and fitness industry, as I am a gym instructor, a kids triathlon and running coach with Triathlon WA and Let’s Run Perth, and am a skilled program leader for UWA Sport teaching students kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and mountain biking. When I am not training, studying or working, I love watching a good movie, catching-up with friends for coffee or playing boardgames.
   
   2. Why did you start triathlon and when did you join the club?

I had never heard of the sport until I was 16 when I met a doctor who was a triathlete. I immediately fell in love with triathlons, the challenge of it all, the awesome community and lovely race locations. Unfortunately at the time I was suffering from severe health problems so I lived the sport vicariously through reading all triathlon magazines and books, watching races and talking to triathletes. It was not until I was 26 when I finally put my health problems behind and was able to start training. I officially joined the club last year and completed my first triathlon, an Olympic distance at Hillary’s this January.

3. What do you enjoy most about the sport?

Initially what drew me into the sport and what still keeps me motivated, is the sheer challenge of mastering three sports. I’m not a confident person but when I am training and racing I feel confident and in the zone, no matter what place I am in the race. However getting into the sport, I never knew of the amount of doors that would open up, such as all the lovely people and friends I have met through the UWA Triathlon Club as well as completing my Sport Science prac and learning from Grant Landers are both things I never imagined, and are definitely another reason why I love this sport so much and stay motivated.

4. Favourite leg and why?

I actually enjoy all 3 legs but running would have to be my favourite, I love the feeling of putting one foot in front of the other and the challenge of it all.

5. Best triathlon tip?

Enjoy the journey. I invest a lot of time into training and am always setting goals. However I make a constant effort to always be in the moment even for a brief second during every session or race to appreciate what I am currently achieving and what is contributing to make it an awesome experience, such as who I might be training with, the weather, temperature of the water, pace or simply escaping life stressors.

6. What's your next challenge?

To not drown, crash or trip at Mooloolaba on March 15th and complete my first half-ironman in May. To continue to always set goals in all disciplines and see what I can achieve, as there is always room for improvement.

Upcoming races and events

• 16 February 2020 - Bunbury Classic - Olympic Distance
• 21 February 2020 - O-Day
• 14 March 2020 - Karri Valley Triathlon
• 20 - 22 March 2020 - Club Camp
• 2 May 2020 - 70.3 Busselton Festival of Triathlon

Latest race reports

Australia Day Triathlon Wrap Up - Adrian Hobson

We kicked off our Aussie Day with an early start for the 29th Australia Day Sprint Triathlon at Point Walter. UWATC had a solid contingent out on course on a flawless day, we were glad for the early start as it started to heat up on the run.

In the classic spirit of All Bar None races, everything was behind schedule and the start waves were shuffled around at the waters edge. And I'm not sure the transition actually closed... Nevertheless the true intention was there to ensure everyone was able to have a safe and enjoyable race.

The swim course was particularly challenging swimming into the sunrise from the start gun, fortunately someone had not removed their boat on a mooring and this proved an excellent sighter for swimmers before negotiating the turn buoys and shallows, swimming the remainder of the course with relatively good sight apart from the jellyfish. And then there was the run up to T1... I'm sure everyone has fond memories of this little run, my heart was certainly jumping out of my chest along at zig zag path.

The 3 lap bike course in this race is unique, combining a technical decent, speed bumps (think lost water bottles/ spares) and some short sharp inclines with the lovely fast flats sections out along the river before returning to rise and repeat.

The out and back run course saw us exit T2 and cruise downhill for about 1km along the footpath, thereafter is was nice and flat but started to warm up along the exposed sections. At 4km the final push starts with a decent uphill drag (that never seemed to end) to the finish line, it's definitely not a fast finish but oh so rewarding to reach the finish line.

My blooper of the day was setting up the wrong side shoe onto my pedals and securing them with elastics and all. I'm not sure how it happened , but it did. So I was quite surprised when I went off to mount my bike to see my slightly awkward looking banana shoes staring right back at me.
Note to self: check left shoe goes on left pedal and right shoe goes on right pedal.

All in all, it was a great morning to be doing a triathlon under the blue Australian skies. Well done to all UWATC competitors!
 

New Tony Smith - Great Southern Ultra Challenge Gaby Villa - 70.3 Los Cabos 2019 Alison Smith - ITU Lausanne 2019 Older Justin Ghosh - 70.3 Philippines ahul Jegatheva - Aquathlon Nationals Sarah Meyer - IMNZ Lottie Thompson - National Youth Champs Alberto Puccini - Bunbury OD Phil Madden - Busselton Jetty Swim Rahul Jegatheva - Metasprint Aquathlon Alexandra Meek - IMWA Alex Williams - IMWA Nathaniel Wells - IMWA

📷Tony Smith

Have your own race report to share? See the website for some instructions on how to send it through.

Dreams come true but there is a secret...

Have a read at this fantastic story about one of the paratriathletes at IMWA and her journey towards a qualifier for World Championships at Taupo 70.3

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Training payment details

Running/cycling: Visit the UWATC website to get all the info and sign up.

Swimming: Visit UWA Uniswim for more information and register/sign up here.

To discuss personal programs, speak to Charles Biddle or Grant Landers.

HELPFUL PLACES TO FIND INFORMATION

** See official UWATC Facebook page for most up to date information

** See swimming Facebook page for swimming specific info

** See the UWATC website for training and payment information and season calendar

** See Facegroup group 'Who wants to go (for a swim/ride/run)' for uncoached/informal group sessions

** See UWATC Strava group to check what training everyone is up to

** Any queries/feedback, message via the official Facebook page or email committee@uwatriathlonclub.com.au