IMPORTANT NOTES

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The Presidential Platform

Welcome spring!

It's definitely great to see the days getting longer and warmer (just wish they could be a less windy) so we can keep training hard towards the upcoming season which feels just around the corner. 

In the meantime, we've had some fantastic results overseas. Last month, one of our top triathletes, Justin Ghosh, debuted as a pro in the 70.3 Philippines. A very challenging race but with definitely quite a positive outcome. Please have a read through Justin's race report below to find out more about the details. Congratulations Justin in such a wonderful achievement! We wish you all the very best in this new chapter in your career! 

Well done to Alison, Alex, Jacqui, Daniel and Cassia for competing in the World Champs in Lausanne this weekend! We heard it was definitely a rough course so well done taking on the challenge and killing it! Thank you for representing us over there, we are looking forward to reading those race reports and hearing it first hand once you are back. Also, all the best to Russell heading off to Nice this week for the 70.3 World Championships!  

One of the objectives we set for this year as a club was becoming and more inclusive and family friendly environment, that's why this year we have made a reduction to the juniors membership fees. If you are a junior (or parent) you probably have received an email this week letting you know about this change. 

As you know, the club relies on fundraising activities to continue keeping our costs low for you. Our next fundraising event is on Saturday 21st September at Bunnings Subiaco, please let us know if you are available for a couple of hours to turn some sausages, enjoy good company and raise some money for the club! 

Lastly, we thought you'd be nutrition experts by now after more than 12 months hearing from my nutrition tips so we are spinning things a little bit and brining you a different section 'What does the science say?' for you to enjoy hearing about interesting findings around all things triathlon (including nutrition so don't worry, I'll still be around). Let us know if you like it! 

Gaby Villa 
President UWA Triathlon Club

What does the science say?  

Should I run heel-toe or toe-heel?

Most of us don’t think about what our feet do when we run, beyond putting one in front of the other. But a growing body of researchers are investigating the mechanics of running, and whether there’s a ‘right’ way to do it. This article discovered by Phil may have some answers for you. 

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

All about... Nick Thompson!

1.    Tell us about yourself? 

I was born overseas in Japan and spent my first 11 years in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. I liked playing lots of different team sports and always was keen on swimming and running. Moving to Australia, I got right into my footy and cricket for a few years before realising I really enjoyed the rewarding nature of triathlon. I wasn’t too flash at first and only started really improving when I gave into Mum and Dads suggestions about going the UWA Triathlon Club in 2016. Early on, Grant definitely encouraged me to try and achieve goals outside of my initially small comfort zone and after a few months I managed to sneak a spot in the state team. This pretty much forced me to train hard and I’ve never looked back, until a few broken bones at the start of 2019. Spending a lot of time around UWA students and staff when I was in Year 11 and 12 ultimately resulted in me subliminally enrolling in a Sport Science-Exercise and Health Double Major at UWA, which i am now over half way through.

2.    Why did you start triathlon and when did you join the club? 

I did a lot of swimming when I was younger and the aerobic endurance almost translated directly to running during primary school. At the same time, Dad was racing really well in Long Course and got me into small aquathlons. Fast forward a few years and my passion had reignited, but I wasn’t seeing a lot of improvement training solo. Mum and Dad convinced me to join in 2016 and it was a bit of a shock to the system for the first few months, but I gradually became more self determined and motivated under the guidance of Grant.

3.    What do you enjoy most about the sport? 

I really enjoy spending time in and out of training with like minded people. When training with friends, it makes everything more enjoyable and memorable. Having training partners as friends also makes friendships more tight knit and flexible, as everyone understands the goals and aspirations of everyone else

4.    Favourite leg and why?

Despite there being times when the run leg can be pretty brutal, when you find your rhythm and sweet spot during a race, it feels like youre flying with ease, which is why the run is probably my favourite part of a race. When it comes to training, I really like spending time out on the bike and experience the beauty of Perth.

 
5.    Best triathlon tip?
Definitely trying to find some consistency in training. Putting together a few consistent days, then weeks, then months really allows you to find some form and build up volume, intensity and speed.

2019/20 Season Calendar - Now available! 

Triathlon WA has announced its official racing calendar for the 2019/20 season. You can have a look at all races available following this link. When setting out your personal racing calendar, make sure to mark down the five races the UWA Triathlon Club has chosen as the club races for this season:

• 9 November 2019 - Exceed Super Sprint 
• 24 November 2019 - Mandurah State Interclub Championship (mandatory to be considered for the Club awards) 
• 7 February 2020 - North Coast Aquathlon 
• 16 February 2020 - Bunbury City Classic 
• 14 March 2020 - Karri Valley Triathlon 

Latest race reports

Justin Ghosh - 70.3 Phillipines 11 August 2019 

5 years ago, I ventured overseas traveling for the first time on my own to complete my first ever Ironman 70.3 Event in Cebu Philippines.  Earlier this month, I was lucky enough to return there to experience yet another first for myself; this time my debut professional start at an Ironman event.  I’ve put together this brief synopsis to recap some of the highlights from this event, as well as my journey to the start line.

It was a surreal experience to stand on the beach next to athletes like Terenzo Bozzone, Tim Reed, Luke McKenzie, & many other Ironman event winners, as well as join them for press conferences, welcome dinners, and assisting at the fun run and kids race in the days leading up to the event.  These were guys I remember reading about in triathlon magazines and watching on TV when I first started triathlon almost 10 years ago as a junior!  It was also a privilege to be looked after over the weekend by the Sunrise Events team, who do an awesome job at going above and beyond for not just the pro athletes, but every single person participating in the race.  

I came into this race somewhat underprepared given that I only returned to the sport earlier this year after several years of battling illness and injuries.  However, I really enjoy competing as often as I can, plus given my lack of experience this race presented a great opportunity to test out equipment, nutrition and tactics leading into bigger races later this year.  My swim especially has been a constant work in progress and given the quality of the field I exited the water second to last with a 3-minute deficit to the front pack of athletes.  

I rode majority of the bike leg by myself, managing to hold the gap steady for the first half on the course, until the heat and inadequate nutrition really got the better of me.  At the 75km mark I really started to suffer from cramps to the point of almost being unable to pedal but managed to survive back to T2 albeit it loosing a large chunk of time.  I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I wanted to pull out of the race, even during the swim, or question what I was doing or if I even belong at this level, however I felt obliged to the supports, the organizers, and myself to see it through to the end as I hobbled my way onto the run course.

As I passed through the first few kms of the run, I started to feel more comfortable and settled into a nice rhythm.  The heat and humidity made for some of the toughest conditions I’ve experienced in a race, and I walked through every aid station making a conscious effort to take on as much fluid, ice and sponges as I could.  Onto the second lap of the run course, I started to catch a few of the guys up ahead like Eric Watson, Luke McKenzie and others who where having a really tough day at the office.  Inside the last 2kms, I dug deep and put in a big surge to catch and pass Blake Kappler who I could just see up the road, and continued my way around the corner and into the finishing chute.

Through the mayhem of crossing the line and hoisting up the finishing banner, albeit while near collapsing in a state of exhaustion, I overheard the commentary team congratulating me on finishing 6th place on debut.  I couldn’t believe this as I had absolutely no idea what position I was in throughout the race, but a double check of the finishing times above the arch alleviated any doubts.  I did get extremely lucky with a lot of athletes struggling or pulling out of the race due to the conditions.  However, this was one of the great lessons I learnt over the weekend that it pays to keep pushing and never give up when racing at this level as you never know what is happening in front of you.  

For anyone considering this race or looking to add to their prospective events list, I cannot recommend coming over here enough.  I have never experienced any triathlon with this amount of crowd support, with locals lining almost the entire way of the run leg.  The course itself is memorable, starting with a picturesque swim over the reefs at the Shangri-La resort, followed by a brutally honest bike and run in tough but rewarding conditions.   

Getting to stand on the podium next to some of the best athletes on the planet and claim my oversize novelty cheque is a moment I’ll certainly cherish forever.  It was a humbling experience to make it here, as it wasn’t that long ago that I was just a beginner competing in my very first school triathlon, and since then experienced the sport through multiple facets as a junior, age group athlete, and now professional.  What hasn’t been lost through this time is my appreciation for the sacrifices all of us make to achieve our goals, whatever they may be.  I’ve also been very lucky to have some wonderful support that has really assisted me in recent times.  Firstly, Churchill Cycles who have not only provided me with flexible part-time employment while I train and study, but have helped me out a lot with my equipment.  Secondly, my coach Michelle Tickner for her coaching and advice in the lead up to this event, and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve with some consistent training in the lead up to Ironman WA.  I also owe a lot to my previous coaches Paul Mackay and Grant Landers, who taught me a lot through my early years of the sport.  Finally, I’ve been lucky to be a part of UWA Triathlon club for several years now.  Even though I’m no longer a ‘regular’ at training these days, the reason I got involved in the sport almost 10 years ago was thanks to the welcoming and friendly members, and the great training sessions the club puts on through the week. 

SWIM: 00:28:38
BIKE: 02:19:46
RUN: 01:22:22
FINISH: 04:15:38
 

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

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