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LVTC Happenings!

A monthly report of events and resources for our passionate, growing local multisport community.

No Pain = Consistent Gains


Our second Las Vegas Triathlon Club event was June 1st – and we had one of our largest groups!


We also have started using Top Gun Timing for our results – you can check out the full results at this link: June 1st Results.


Congratulations to our top Female athletes:

1.     Franziska Fitz

2.     Melissa Hawks

3.     Colleen Takahashi

 

Congratulations to our top Male athletes:

1.     Epoy (Deo) Timbol

2.     Eric Scott

3.     Randall Lomax

 

Our next event is Sunday, July 14, 2024 and will be an Aquabike: Swim – Bike! This is a great way to push the bike effort a bit higher knowing you do not have a run. Please note the change in date. If you were registered for the July 7 event, your registration will carry over to July 14. Remember, all our events are free with current LVTC Membership ($65/year for individuals).

The theme for this issue of the newsletter is: No Pain leads to Consistent Gains. Our club promotes being involved in triathlon as a part of a healthy lifestyle. Yes, it is great to crush a race and get on the overall or age group podium or set a personal record! What we are drawing attention to in this issue is having the perspective of being involved with the sport over a long period of time. Fitness gains take time … there are no short cuts. You’ll enjoy reading the different perspectives from Shawna, Bob, Hilary, and John on this theme.

Club Hashtags


Use these hashtags in your social media posts to help share the Las Vegas Triathlon Club themes and highlight our endurance community culture:


#fearless – This represents the beauty of taking on challenges of multisport and enjoying the rewards!


#thatsthevegasway – We made this theme as a way to point out the things that members do (e.g., loaning bikes, helping others, ...) that promote our club culture.


#enjoythejourney – This theme was selected to emphasize the importance of enjoying training and the overall process of preparing for an event/race.


#lvtrifamily – This theme was to emphasize the importance of our endurance community and to recognize that, even though triathlon is an individual sport, we never do this alone!


#thrive – This was our 2023 theme that was selected to emphasize that triathlon should bring value to all aspects of our lives.

2024 Membership


Club memberships run from March 1st, 2024 to February 28th, 2025. All club events are free with membership!


Our multi-sports events are typically between 50 and 75 athletes. We are not ‘… just another triathlon.’ Instead, we have a great ‘grassroots’ feel to our events during which members can get to know members.


All levels of athletes are welcome at our events. We have athletes completing their first event and have even had professional triathletes in our events!


But we offer more than just our four multi-sport events. We have clinics, podcasts, get togethers, and help members connect with each other through social media channels.


We have the following membership categories:


  • Single membership: $65


  • Family membership: $85 (Up to 4 immediate family members. Family members must reside in the same residence or shared residence.)



  • Student membership: $40 (Full time students only.)

Las Vegas Triathlon Club Events


Our events are open to all levels of athletes – we have people who are doing their first ever triathlon and we have national/internationally competitive athletes participating. And our events are all free with your Las Vegas Triathlon Club membership!

You can check out and subscribe to our new calendar feature (a work in progress!):


Las Vegas Triathlon Club Calendar


For our Club events, we offer three Sprint Distance triathlons and one Aquathon.

Las Vegas Triathlon Club 2024 Event Dates (members only):

4/14/24

Sunday

RESULTS

6/1/24

Saturday

RESULTS

7/14/24

Sunday

Aquabike

8/10/24

Saturday

Triathlon

The Las Vegas Triathlon Club Legacy Scholarship


On 12/10/20, five Las Vegas athletes were killed when an impaired driver ran into a group of cyclists. The athletes were Tom Trauger, Erin Ray, Aksoy Ahmet, Michael Murray, and Gerrard Nieva. These five athletes are endearingly referred to as TEAMG (Tom, Erin, Aksoy, Michael, and Gerrard).


Following their deaths, there has been an upswell of community support for the families and survivors directly affected. There has also been a renewed call for action to create a safer environment for our athletes to train here in the Greater Las Vegas Valley.


The purpose of the Las Vegas Triathlon Club Legacy Scholarship is to honor the legacy of TEAMG as well as any local triathletes who have been killed or injured as result of distracted driving. The Legacy Scholarship is designed to encourage involvement in triathlon by new athletes, youth athletes, and/or continuing athletes in special need.


More information about the scholarship can be found at this page.


The list of our Scholarship Awardees can be found at these pages:

2024 Winners

2023 Winners

2022 Winners


This scholarship continues thanks to a generous donation by an anonymous donor. 

Socials/Training Events/Education

Check out and subscribe to our new calendar feature (we are still working on this!):


Las Vegas Triathlon Club Calendar


Here are the tentative dates for our 2024 Club events (we are submitting permit requests for these dates):


  • 4/14/24: Sunday - Triathlon
  • RESULTS


  • 6/1/24: Saturday - Triathlon
  • RESULTS


  • 7/14/24: Sunday - Aquabike
  • Registration opens June 1st


  • 8/10/24: Saturday - Triathlon
  • Registration opens July 1st


Pencil these dates into your calendar! More information will be posted as we get closer to the date.


Club events are for members only! Membership is annual and runs this season from March 2024 through February 2025.


Continue to check our Facebook Group for any additional get-togethers that may be happening, and for locals who are training in town or down at Lake Mead. Post your workouts!


Thanks everyone!

Past President


"No Pain No Gain" is No Longer Necessary


In the past, we thought things had to hurt to get the best results. I think science is catching up and that isn’t true anymore. Besides that, we do triathlon for fun. Who wants a sport we are doing to be painful? Challenging and hard yes, but not painful. 

 

Years ago I learned a valuable lesson. The arch of my foot started hurting first thing in the morning. The weeks and months that followed it, proved to be worse. It got worse and worse to it hurting all day, every day. I tried everything. I decided rest had to be the answer. I sat on the sidelines and sadly watched life pass me by. Finally, after months of rest, I was better! I started my regular routine again and my foot was angrier than ever. I went to a foot specialist, didn’t help. I went to a physical therapist and 6 weeks later, I was back to full activity with no pain! Woo-hoo. I’d spent 2 years of my life in pain. I didn’t need to. If I only had known then what I know now, you shouldn’t be in pain to do the things you love to do. Keep asking for answers and get the help you need. 

 

Triathlon is more about grit, determination, out-strategizing, and out-efficienc-ing (I’m making that word up, but being more efficient than your competition) your competition rather than who suffers the most. The new saying is “No pain…. Is fine with me.”



~Shawna Glasser

The New Triathlete


No Pain, No Gain: The Real Result


I’m soon going to undergo a medical procedure to fix a condition called Atrial Fibrillation. A-Fib is a condition that significantly reduces your heart’s ability to pump blood, is dangerous and can be life-threatening. The reason I need this procedure is because, for a long time, I adhered to the philosophy of “no pain, no gain.” I over-reached in my training. My hard workouts were too long, and my long workouts were too hard. My heart became enlarged and created random pathways for electrical impulses that controlled my heart’s rhythm, which causes it to “quiver” under stress instead of pumping blood.


I tried to force myself into fitness instead of consistently and gradually coaxing myself into fitness. I pushed through pain and discomfort, and I continued training even when I was tired and should have taken a day off, sometimes against the advice of my coaches. Why? Because I set unrealistic goals of short-term improvement instead of creating plans for gradual long-term gains through steady, consistent training. This not only damaged my heart, but it also caused injury and limited my development as a triathlete.


This “no pain, no gain” mindset, coupled with wanting rapid, short-term gains – applies to your joints, bones and connective tissues as well as your muscles and cardiovascular engine. Increase your training volume or speed too quickly and you’ll increase your chance of injury and surgery. When I resumed training in my 60s after a long hiatus, I was impatient, which resulted in shoulder and knee problems, a strained hamstring, plantar fasciitis, and three surgeries in the first two years.


I know what it’s like to want to improve quickly. But I implore you, especially you new triathletes, to take a long-term approach to your training. If you consistently coax yourself into fitness, you’ll build a bigger base and be able to peak much higher than if you focus on short-term gains and try to force yourself into it. As for me, I’m adopting the philosophy that our club advocates of training consistently and training at an intensity today so I can still train tomorrow. I’m shifting my focus to long-term gains. Don’t sacrifice your health for the sake of fitness. Let’s replace “No pain, no gain” with “Less pain, more gain.”


~Bob Gamble

LVTC Member Spotlight


Get to know our club members as our President sits down with the following members to talk about tris and life.


The Evidence-Based Triathlete


Where in the World Has Our TRI Club Raced?


Check out the map below to see where our athletes have raced!

Prez Corner:


No Pain Leads to Long-Term Gain: A Triathlete's Perspective


The mantra "no pain, no gain" has long been a staple in the world of athletics, suggesting that only through suffering can one achieve success. However, for triathletes, this mindset can be counterproductive and even harmful. Instead, "no pain leads to long-term gain" is a more sustainable and effective approach to training and performance.


In triathlon, which demands excellence in swimming, cycling, and running, consistent training is key. Although there is good research that supports the benefits of high intensity, short duration sessions, pushing through pain may yield short-term results but often leads to injuries, burnout, and diminished performance. Chronic injuries like stress fractures, tendinitis, and muscle strains are common consequences of ignoring the body's signals of distress. These injuries can sideline athletes for weeks, if not months, disrupting training cycles and delaying progress.


Conversely, a focus on pain-free training emphasizes listening to your body and respecting its limits. Incorporating rest, recovery, and proper technique allows for gradual improvement and adaptation. You incorporate high intensity sessions – but you need to be careful. If those sessions lead to you missing subsequent training sessions, they are not working.


Instead, it is critical that triathletes maintain a steady and progressive training regimen that enhances endurance, strength, and overall performance over time. This approach also fosters a healthier relationship with the sport, reducing the risk of psychological burnout and promoting longevity in one's athletic career. Enjoy the journey.



Ultimately, "no pain leads to long-term gain" acknowledges that sustainable success in triathlon comes from smart, consistent, and injury-free training. Embracing this philosophy ensures that athletes can continue to perform at their best, season after season.


~John Mercer

Coach's Corner:


Train Right, Perform Better: Why Pain Isn't the Answer


Listen up Triathletes! It’s time we talk about an old mantra that needs an update: "No pain, no gain." While it might sound tough and motivating, it often leads to burnout and injury. Let’s flip the script to something more sustainable: "No pain leads to long-term gains." Here’s why this change is crucial for your physical health.


Understanding RED-S and LEA


Ever heard of RED-S or LEA? If not, it’s time to get familiar. Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and Low Energy Availability (LEA) happen when we push our bodies too hard without enough fuel. Think of your body like a car; without gas, it’s not going anywhere. Symptoms include fatigue, frequent injuries, and poor performance. Over time, these can lead to serious health issues like bone density loss and hormonal imbalances.


Balance is Key


Proper nutrition and recovery aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re essentials. Your body needs fuel to perform and recover. Skipping meals or ignoring rest days might seem like a shortcut to success, but it’s actually a fast track to burnout. Listen to your body, give it what it needs, and you’ll see better results in the long run. Here are a few tips:


  • Eat enough: Make sure you’re consuming enough calories to support your training. Your body is a high-performance machine, and it needs quality fuel to run efficiently. Incorporate a mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in your diet.


  • Recover well: Don’t skip rest days. Your muscles need time to repair and grow stronger. Incorporate activities like stretching, yoga, and light movement on rest days to aid recovery.


  • Hydrate: Keep your body hydrated to maintain peak performance. Water is crucial for all bodily functions, and dehydration can seriously hamper your training.


Long-Term Health Benefits


By focusing on balanced nutrition and proper recovery, you’re not just enhancing your performance but also investing in your long-term health. Avoiding RED-S and LEA ensures your body stays strong and resilient, reducing the risk of chronic injuries and health issues. This approach helps you maintain a sustainable and enjoyable training regimen, keeping you in the sport you love for years to come.


Conclusion


By now, you should see why "No pain leads to long-term gains" is more than just a catchy phrase—it’s a philosophy for sustainable success. Prioritize your physical health with balanced nutrition and proper recovery. This holistic approach will not only boost your performance but also ensure you stay in the sport you love for the long haul.


So, next time you’re tempted to push through the pain, remember: Smart training today leads to stronger performances tomorrow. Let’s train smart, fuel right, and keep our eyes on the long-term gains.



~Hilary Mauch

Have you met these Coaches?


Triathlon race season is here. Do you have a coach? Are you looking for one? Well, the Las Vegas Triathlon Club is going to try to help make some connections.


Earlier this year, we sent out a google form to try to capture our local coaching expertise. We had a number of coaches (all are members of Las Vegas Triathlon Club) respond and we have featured them on this webpage:


Las Vegas Triathlon Club Coaches


We are going to continue to highlight coaches on our web page – if you would like to be part of that, please fill out this form.

Yoshi

Las Vegas Triathlon Club http://www.lvtriclub.com


Editor: Quyen Luu

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