5 Jan '15: ATCNews

 

 New Year’s Miles – Bar Coded Tags – Train for Two Oceans and ITU

 

We wish all our members and subscribers a 2015 filled with good miles and smiles!  We have already been SWIMming up a storm at Clifton on New Year’s Day and the first pool Gala is later this month.  The first BIKE event is the Olympic Cycles Journey for Sight, kicking off the PPA Summer Funride season next weekend.  RUNning already started on Sunday with ATC’ers setting some brilliant times at the Bay to Bay and Red Hill is next week.  Half Ironman is less than 3 weeks away!  The Swim, Bike, Run Calendar is jam-packed with no rest until the Masters  Nationals, Argus, Two Oceans and ITU World Triathlon series is done!

 

To set you up with licenses and gear needed for a bumper first quarter, we will have two Wednesday office evenings this month:  The 14^th and the 21^st of January at the Oceana Boat Club.  If these dates don’t suit you please try and make it to one of the Tuesday Evening Track sessions or Friday morning Canal Swims.

 

On Tuesday 13 January Embark will kick off the Two Oceans Half Marathon and ITU World Triathlon beginners training programs.  The ITU beginners program has its orientation this Saturday morning at 8am at the Discovery Concept store in Sea point. The Two Oceans Marathon orientation is on the 13^th of January.

 

If you are looking at a big improvement in your current form, join the Embark Intermediate training program for ITU, starting on the 2^nd of February.  That same week will see the start of 8 weeks of focused Ironman training.

 

If you would like to give these events a try, or improve on a previous attempt, please visit www.embark.co.za, email STeve@embark.co.za or come along this Saturday (10 Jan) or next Tuesday (13 Jan) to find out what it is all about.

 

Over the “quieter” festive season we implemented a new barcode tag sign-in system for the canal swim.  The new tags are small and can be attached to your car keys.  The tags will also be used at our time trial and for quick identification when you purchase from the ATC mobile office.  All paid-up members are welcome to collect a tag at one of our training sessions or the office evenings.  The system is being funded from the contributions we request from members doing the canal swim so there is no charge for the first tag issued to members.  Lost or damaged tags will be replaced at a charge of R20.

 

For improved security and ease of administration, we no longer collect the R5 cash contributions at the swim.  All members doing the swim are requested to go on-line and purchase a seasonal contribution from Tri SPaza.  These contributions are used to fund the SUP board purchased last year and the above mentioned bar-code tag system.  The product is listed under ATC Swim Gear: 

 

At the end of last year we said good bye to some special ATC members and friends, when they relocated to accept new challenges and career opportunities.  Riaan Schoeman, who coached the Long Street Squad last year and achieved amazing results with the swimmers who trained with him.  Riaan is moving to Johannesburg to start a career in the finance world.  He will still have a say in the squad’s training though.  Adriaan and Candice Van Wijk relocated to Luxemburg to follow career opportunities there.  Better known as Attie and Candy, they were regulars at all ATC activities and were ATC’s supporters of the year in 2014.  We wish these members all the best in their new ventures.

 

At the Reconciliation Day Swim, which was postponed to the 24^th of December, Paul Ingpen was second in the Barker’s Rock (2 Mile) Wetsuit race.  In the 1 Mile race Karen Graaff won the ladies Swimsuit category and Paula Armstrong won the ladies wetsuit category.  Jadon Wessels (14) came 3^rd in the Swimsuit category.

 

Phil Emslie won overall (swimsuit), Dean Hopf (2^nd overall) won the men’s Wetsuit category and Robyn Williams won the ladies Wetsuit category with Candice Morrison in 3^rd. Karen Graaff was 2^nd in the ladies Swimsuit category.

 

SWIM:  The Canal Swim will be on Friday morning at 06:00.  Please arrive a bit earlier if you do not have your barcoded tag yet.

 

The in-door swim squad at Long Street Virgin Active stared again this week and will start at 06:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  The 07:00 squad will start next week.

 

BIKE:  On Tuesday and Thursday mornings we will do a road bike ride from the Point Virgin Active at 05:30.  On Saturday morning we will do a 4 to 5 hour ride, starting from the Point Virgin Active at 06:00.

 

RUN:  There will be NO TUESDAY MORNING TRACK this week but there will be an afternoon track session at 18:00 on the field below the Bungalow.  This will be the case for the next two weeks.  From Tuesday 20 January we will start with morning and afternoon sessions again.

 

 

The Cape Summer Trail Series kicks off next Wednesday in the Tygerberg Nature Reserve.

 

A new event on the calendar, the Bridgetown Summer Triathlon, will take place on the 7^th of February.  The event will be hosted along the banks of the Berg River at the Bridgetown Camp Site, about 18 Kms north-east of Moorreesberg.  It is about 1.5 Hours from Cape Town.  There are camp sites and chalets available.  It will entail a river swim, mountain bike and trail run.  After the main race in the morning there will be a new concept race in the afternoon:  A super sprint team relay.  Each of the three team members will complete a super sprint triathlon (300 m Swim, 8 Km Bike and 2 Km Run).  Please visit for details:  www.bridgetri.co.za

 

Focus on the Finish Line is offering an improved bike transport service to East London this year.  Bikes will be transported as is, race ready with your saddle bags, empty bottles, etc.  No need to pack the bike in a box.  There is also a premium service, where your bike can be collected from your home or office.  In addition to the bike, FoFL can also transport other bulky items in an equipment box.

For more information and a list of other services, including transport by coach for athletes and supporters, airport transfers, supporter’s tour and Race Day Hospitality, please email japie@focusonthefinishline.com

 

Enjoy the Week!

ATC