IMPORTANT NOTES

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Focused Ninja Photography📷

The Presidential Platform

Hello team! 

Well done to all those who raced at Busselton last month. It was great to see so much enthusiasm and so many people motivated (and registered) for the next one... Well done team! Have a look below to read Hamish's race report on his first ever triathlon - a 70.3! #crazy 

The season continues and the weather keeps getting warmer, make sure to stay well hydrated and be SunSmart at each of the training sessions. The next race on our calendar was the Joondalup Coastal Quest in December which now has been moved to March. Don't let that stop you from training! Our next club race is now Club Champs and, as most of you already know, it's certainly one you don't want to miss! There is always a great atmosphere, good racing and the opportunity to recover that trophy that for so many years stayed with us. 

The holidays are fast approaching, make sure you mark your calendar with our upcoming Christmas Party on Sunday 6th December. We will have an afternoon full of food, good vibes and camradery by the river at Matilda Bay. Let us know if you are coming by clicking 'Attending' on this link. 

Finalists for the UWA Sport Awards have been announced and the club will be represented in three categories. Grant is nominated as Coach of the Year, he was key in the club moving quickly to an online training format during COVID-19 and in encouraging social interaction across the club members. Phil has been nominated as recipient of Club Letter, we all know Phil goes above and beyond in supporting the club in so many ways and we are very grateful for it. The Club is also finalist as club of the year for second year in a row! Award ceremony will be on Wednesday 18 November, we will keep you updated with the outcomes. 

Did you know that Peter Burton has been part of our club for the last 22 years? Keep reading to find this and many more interesting facts about Pete's triathlon journey! 

I'll see you at training! 

Gaby Villa 
President UWA Triathlon Club

What does the science say?  

How to finish your stroke with power? 

Grant shared this interesting article on his Facebook page a few days ago, here it is in case you missed it. 

"The secret to developing a reliably powerful stroke finish is to think about it in every single workout." Read full article 

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

Hot off the press! Congratulations to Rhianna and Tommaso 

Congratulations to Rhianna Hepburn and Tommaso Puccini on conquering the first place at the senior schools race today. Also congratulations to Rebecca Puccini for doing her first school race today. Well done team! 

Results available here 

Let's support Movember! 

Both Grant and Oggi have decided to take part in Movember this year. Movember is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men's health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men's suicide.

You can access Oggi's support page here and Grant's support page here 

All about... Peter Burton!

1.   Tell us about yourself? 
I studied a BSc and PhD at UWA and worked for many years in the School of Anatomy and Human Biology. I am currently Director of Science at Concept Fertility Centre.  My biggest support person in life and triathlon is my wife Deb.  We have Louisa and Elliott who are in their late twenties and recently a grandson Myles. 

2.    How did you start in triathlon and when did you join the club? 
After retiring from playing Aussie rules at 29 I started doing running events but a back injury, PhD and children put a stop to that endeavour.  I became a little overweight and very unfit.  A friend asked me to watch the World Championship Triathlon in Perth which was my first exposure to triathlon.  I watched in awe as an 87 year old man representing the UK crossed the finish line of the 1500/40/10 triathlon.  I was more than half his age and not doing any exercise at all. The next week at Uni I discussed this with Michael Abdo (who some of the older club members will remember) and we committed to doing a triathlon.  We registered for the UWA team in the corporate teams triathlon at Bathers Beach in Fremantle which was a 300/10/3 event where each team member completed the triathlon. The race gear was board shorts, very loose fitting UWA team shirt and a steel frame bike.  And so the obsession started – lycra, new bikes, wetsuits, garmins, overuse injuries, physiotherapy, etc. What was to be one triathlon to get fit has ended up being a lifetime of fun. I joined the UWA tri club in 1998. I’m possibly the oldest member, although Nick Shrewsbury may get that honour. 

3.    What do you enjoy most about the sport? 
Triathlon is a sport that anyone of any age and ability can do. I enjoy the challenge of completing three different sports in one event. I also enjoy doing the training required to get to the start and finish lines. But the most enjoyable aspect of triathlon is the outstanding support that you get from club members, friends and family. 

4.    Favourite leg and why?
It’s easier to say my least favourite which is the bike leg.  I love open water swimming and what’s not to love about the run leg in a triathlon. At the back of the pack the run is the most social leg of the triathlon and of course the run where you get to cross the finish line.  Without doubt running down the finish chute of an ironman or half ironman is one of the best feelings you can get in triathlon. 

5.   Best triathlon tip
Sorry this answer is boring and has been said many times before. My best triathlon tip is that the best results come after a sustained period of consistent training. As simple as that!

6. What’s your next goal?
To keep going as long as I possibly can.

7. Best triathlon memory 
There have been so many over the years. My best triathlon memories would be finishing my first triathlon and the ironman and half ironman finishes.  Also very special to me was being awarded UWATC most improved a very long time ago. 

2020/21 Club Races

Calendar for the 20/21 triathlon racing season has been released and we couldn't be more excited. These are the races we have chosen for this season: 

Women in triathlon breakfast 

TWA is celebrating all fantastic women in triathlon. From participants to volunteers, supporters, administrators, coaches and officials, you all play an important part of our sport here in WA. 

The Women in Triathlon breakfast is an opportunity  to meet other women within our sport, relax, and hear from some inspiring members of Triathlon WA. 

Full details on the event

Buy your tickets

Latest race reports

Introducing Triathlons – Hamish Delorenzo – Busselton 70.3 17/10/2020

Prior to triathlon my only sporting interest was weightlifting, this became a bit stagnant after nearly 5 years of doing it on and off. I had no athletic goals in sight and no challenge that took my interest. After running my first half-marathon in Fremantle November 2019 I became hooked on the endurance side of sports (1 hour 43 minutes was endurance to me!). Unfortunately, I came down with shin splints after this event which kept me off running until the start of March 2020. Boxing day gave me my first ever tri-suit, at this point I was now invested into the sport and I was preparing to take on the Busselton 70.3 in May 2020. Coronavirus was not an easy time for me by any means. Riding my bike on 30km rides up the Northern suburb’s coastline was an essential therapy session for me. In the end the global pandemic is what allowed me to focus and ramp up my training, I was still able to socialise with my friends throughout my training. Upon the cancellation of the May 70.3 I decided to embark on a separate endurance challenge to run 7km every 4 hours for 48 hours (84km). 

Impressions of the club?
It took me a long time to gain interest in joining a triathlon club. I enjoyed training solo, I had always felt that this was not a team sport and you should be able to perform on your own without the support of others. My mindset has since then changed. Everyone in triathlon is out there on their own in competition facing their own demons, yet the community aspect underlying this sport is incredible and you will find support no matter where you look. I decided to join the UWA tri club for a few running sessions to see what all the hype was about when training with others. I had one good friend in Oggi however it only took 1 session for me to be welcomed in by other club members, of which I am extremely grateful.

The ‘A’ race – Busselton 70.3 October 17th, 2020
With the cancellation of events left right and centre this year I did not have many options to complete my first triathlon before Busselton came along. I was not too concerned about a 70.3 being my first event, I figured the technical aspects of transition were proportionally less significant and therefore I could be more relaxed in this 4th discipline. 

Pre-race
Always expected a poor sleep the night before this event, by keeping on top of my sleep in the lead up week I knew my performance would not be affected. Sure enough I got about 4 hours of quality sleep in there. Breakfast of porridge 3 hours before start time and a coffee at T minus 2 hours. Felt very relaxed all morning, not stressing about what everyone else is doing and had a nice pre-race swim with Edwin.

Swim - survive
This is by far my worst discipline in the sport. I have also never swum more than 500m in open water before race day…. Failing to stay on the best line, bit of breastroke here and there, slight panic at the furthest point off shore, never been this far out in open water and I’m pretty sure I have a small phobia of swimming in the open ocean (definitely keeping my eye on the lifeguards here). Aussie exit swim gives me the support I needed from the UWATC members, full body cramps occurring – should have practiced more open water swims…. Second half of the swim I was a lot calmer, changed my stroke to unilateral and just begun to enjoy the atmosphere. Being able to see bits of shipwreck on the sea floor was incredible.

Transition 1 – 

Cramping all over upon exiting the water. Was not running to the transition zone here. My wetsuit zipper was stuck under my necklace, so I had to snap that off. Forearm cramps here prevented me from putting the bike repair kit in my pocket – screw it we are going without (let us hope there is no puncture today)

Bike - Slog

Full leg extension on the first turn leads to a bad cramp – avoid doing this for the rest of the ride! I had taken note of the course direction and wind b
efore hand – knowing it would be head-tail – head – tail for the out and back bike leg. Riding felt incredibly easy compared to the swim, but I knew I needed to reign it in, maintain a consistent effort and not blow up. This is your first event, at least make it to the finish line. Alarm on my watch every 10 minutes – consuming caffeine and sodium Cliff Blocs + water – cramps have stopped but still scared of them. Half-way through the bike and I have started laughing to myself like Heath Ledger as the joker, not sure what is going on here. Ran out of water on the bike with about 20-30 minutes to go so I came in to grab a bidon from an aid station – managed to knock 4 out of the volunteers hands before successfully grabbing one (definitely needed to slow down more). Quick sips, a discard and off to finish the bike leg with no nutrition or water remaining.

Transition 2 - 

T2 went smooth, racked the bike before removing helmet, shoes on easy, hat on - quick bit of confusion because of another person with the same shoes in a nearby transition.

Run – Send 

Came off the bike way too fast, fortunately I have always run quite well off the bike in brick training sessions. Immediately I know the legs are going to be the problem here, barely struggling cardiovascularly. The run leg was always going to be my strongest, settle into a steady pace and for the rest of the half-marathon I did not change anything. On the precipice of cramping the entire time, if I stopped or tried to accelerate, I’d be walking for a bit. My feet are numb – I size down my race shoes and I’m not sure whether my feet are swollen from the rest of the race or the elastic laces (which I didn’t try in training) are too tight. Either way the numbness prevents foot pain at least. Became quite emotional over the run course, I have always had a fear of failure and throughout this leg I am constantly reminding myself “You are not going to fail this one”. Support from the UWATC and other race spectators was what got me through this struggle. Smiles for the camera at the finish line, as soon as I am out of the frame I break down to the point where volunteers are asking if I am okay. I find whenever I am mentally and physically drained all barriers come down and you have nothing left to protect yourself. A fear of failure conquered a sub 5-hour goal attained – Proud of myself is an understatement.

Post-race thoughts
“First with the head then with the heart” (Bryce Courtenay) – Overall I feel I raced smart, handled my nutrition and paced myself well. Fantastic day down in Busselton and then I have no words for the support we all received so thank you UWATC and to coach Steve Gleeson for my bike/run performance.  Until May 1st, 2021 when we do it all again.

New Alberto Puccini - Bunbury Olympic Distance Older Tony Smith - Great Southern Ultra Challenge Gaby Villa - 70.3 Los Cabos 2019 Alison Smith - ITU Lausanne 2019 Justin Ghosh - 70.3 Philippines Rahul Jegatheva - Aquathlon Nationals All race reports

📷Tony Smith

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

UWA Sport Masterclass: Mental Health and Exercise 

We all know about the physical benefits of exercise and physical activity, but how often do you think about the benefits that it brings to our mental health?

Read everything about it here 

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