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
• Registration opens May 1st

• 7/7/24: 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

What's My Yelp Review?

Looks like this month’s theme is about your first race and how to evaluate that race. 

I personally think your first race should be for enjoyment only. No pressure, no expectations other than to finish. That old saying, “Finish the race with a smile on your face.” Where do you go from there? This can be a rabbit’s hole if you let it. There might be 50 things you could have done better, but tackle only 1 or 2 major ones or 3 minor ones. Your best option might be to hire a coach. Someone who is objective and can really look at your performance, as a whole, and point out things that you could work on that would give you the greatest returns. For example, if you could put work on your swim and save a second per hundred, but your transition was 20 minutes, pick the low hanging fruit and figure out what is going on with that transition, because that’s free speed.

The first step is being honest. I’ve heard many coaches tell me their clients lied about their race times. Really? Who benefits from that? I often wondered if athletes lie to themselves as well. You can’t get better if you don’t fully acknowledge and accept your performance. 

The second step is to look at the whole picture. Don’t get caught up in the minute details. Were you consistent? Did you set appropriate goals? Were you able to control all you could control? Did you bite off more than you could chew? As a newbie, we’ve all done it. We had no idea the scope of this sport and tasks at home didn’t get done, we gained weight because we stress ate, our spouse got frustrated and unsupportive because they didn’t understand what we were getting into. Data from your workouts is good, but combining the whole picture, including your emotions, is better.

What did you learn from this race that can make you a better athlete at the next race? That can go a long way in defining your success next time!



~Shawna Glasser

The New Triathlete

Where Do We Go From Here?

Congratulations!

You’ve done your first triathlon, and you’re officially a triathlete! But...wow...

You knew your first triathlon would be a learning experience, but now you have even more questions than you had before the race! For example, before your first triathlon, you could comfortably swim a continuous 1000 yards in the pool. So why were you out of breath after 200 yards in open water? Why did you stumble coming out of the water, and what can you do to prevent it next time? Why did your legs burn after a mile into the bike, and why couldn’t you recover? Why did you need to walk during the run when last week you ran a solid five miler without stopping? You missed your goal time by 10 minutes – so what can you do to improve on that? These are all valid and probably burning questions. Write these questions down and resolve to find the answers. The club is loaded with triathletes and coaches who all had the same questions at some point, and who are able and very willing to share their knowledge with you.

Here are some more questions to ask in case you haven’t thought of them:

• What was the weakest link in my race, and what training can I do to fill that gap?
• How was my comfort on the bike, and does anything need to change?
• What was different about swimming in open water, and how can I deal with it?
• Did I drink too little or too much on the bike?
• Did I run out of gas anywhere?
• Did I lose time in transition, and what can I do better next time? 

I hope your first race left you with an abundance of questions. Keep this in mind: One thing all veteran triathletes have in common is an eagerness to share what they have learned. Ask questions. And don’t be afraid to ask different triathletes and coaches the same questions until you get answers that make sense to you. We’re all different, and we all see things from different perspectives. Happy learning!



~Bob Gamble

The Pro Perspective

The First Race is Behind Me - What's Next?

My season opener at 70.3 Oceanside was quite the start. It was a stacked start list featuring Lionel Sanders, Sam Long, and 2x Ironman World Champion Patrick Lange.

With a strong swim and bike and hanging on for life during the half marathon, I achieved my stretch goal of a Top 10, securing 8th place in the first race of the Ironman Pro Series. I exceeded my expectations with my best race ever, and set a strong tone for a big year. It's everything I could have dreamed of. But now that the dust has settled, I’ve been thinking about the game plan moving forward.

I love the saying “don’t fix what ain’t broken.” Oftentimes we experience success, and then think that we need to change our approach - training even harder, adding more volume, and pressing on. But triathlon is a journey, not just a single race, and progress happens over long periods of sustained commitment.

At Oceanside I locked in a ticket to the Pro 70.3 World Championship in New Zealand which is still 235 days away. It’s important to keep the long term goal in mind and set your sights on long term development rather than one race at a time. I have a rule that I like to give myself 24 hours to either celebrate or be upset after a race, but then it’s back to the basics. Not letting the highs be too high, or the lows too low, is important to maintain a balanced and sustained approach.

Success isn't defined by one race. It's about consistency, resilience, and continuous improvement. Whether your first race results in a podium finish or a tough day out there, it's all part of the experience. Take the highs and lows in stride, learn from them, and use them to fuel your progress.

Here's to the rest of the season. Keep training smart, stay committed, and enjoy every step of the journey. The best is yet to come this year!



~Justin Riele

Prez Corner:

Don't Move the Goal Posts

By this time of the year, you may have had your first race … maybe it was the first race of 2024, or maybe it was your first race ever!

So much time goes into planning for that first race. Making and following a training plan, getting the right gear, figuring out a nutrition plan, setting goals … it takes lots of preparation to get to that start line.

Many of us don’t prepare ourselves for what happens when you cross that finish line.

Did you celebrate? Did you give yourself a big ‘pat on the back’ for what you accomplished? I hope so!

A mistake a lot of us make, however, is that we often ‘move the goal posts’. Instead of relishing in the accomplishment of finishing a race or achieving some goal, we often go through thoughts like ‘… if only [insert thought here] … I could have been faster …’

At my last race, I had a flat tire that cost me 7 mins on the bike. It’s easy to think ‘I should have had a 7 min faster bike split which would have moved me up X spots.’ But … it doesn’t work that way. Maybe that 7 mins was a rest I needed to have a great rest of a race? I will never know if I would have been faster (or slower) without that flat.

Instead of finishing and thinking of all the things we could have done different ‘… if only …’, we have to celebrate what we accomplished … don’t move the goal posts and automatically adjust your pre-race goals after you finish. By moving the goal posts, you are in essence telling yourself that your accomplishment was not worthwhile. That, ultimately, can be defeating because you will always be chasing a new goal.  

Instead, find the accomplishments you did achieve and celebrate those. Even if you weren’t able to finish a race, look back on what you did accomplish and celebrate that. Getting to that start line often takes a lot of courage and that alone should be celebrated.

Yes … we all want to continue to improve. But when you cross that finish line, make sure you give yourself credit for the race you raced … for achieving goals that you set. When you learn to celebrate your accomplishments, you’ll be able to set your sights on new goals and you’ll enjoy the process of accomplishing them.

~John Mercer

Coach's Corner:

Evaluating Your First Race of 2024: The Importance of a Race Résumé

Greetings, fellow triathletes! Whether you just completed your very first race or you're a seasoned pro, it's essential to reflect on your performance and set the stage for future successes. As you bask in the glow of your accomplishment, let's talk about an invaluable tool: the race résumé.

What is a Race Résumé?

Think of it as your racing diary—a succinct record of your race experiences, capturing both triumphs and challenges. It's not as detailed as a race report but serves as a quick snapshot of your racing history.

Why Should You Have One?

Having a race résumé provides clarity and direction for your future endeavors. It allows you to celebrate your achievements, identify strengths, and pinpoint areas for improvement. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned athlete, this tool is invaluable for continuous growth.

How to Create Your Race Résumé

• List Your Accomplishments: Reflect on your recent race and jot down what went well. Did you achieve a personal best? Nail your transitions? Celebrate those victories!

• Identify Strengths: What aspects of your performance stood out? Perhaps your swimming technique was on point, or you excelled on the run leg. Acknowledge these strengths—they're the foundation for future success.

• Areas for Improvement: Be honest about the areas where you fell short. Did you struggle with pacing? Encounter nutrition challenges? Recognizing these areas allows you to strategize and grow.

• Keep It Accessible: Store your race résumé in a convenient location for quick reference. Whether it's a digital document or a physical notebook, easy access ensures you can revisit and update it regularly.

Who Can Benefit?

Whether you're a beginner navigating your first triathlon or a seasoned pro fine-tuning your performance, a race résumé is a valuable asset. It's a tool for all athletes, regardless of experience level, to track progress and set new goals.

In conclusion, as you embark on your journey through the 2024 race season, take the time to craft your race résumé. Celebrate your successes, acknowledge areas for growth, and pave the way for future triumphs. Remember, the road to greatness is paved with reflection and perseverance.

Happy racing!



~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.

LVTC Member Spotlight

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

• Alejandro Pinon

The Evidence-Based Triathlete

• Ironman 70.3 St George

• Post race evaluation

Where in the World Has Our TRI Club Raced?

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