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LVTC Happenings!
A monthly report of events and resources for our passionate, growing local multisport community.
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Welcome to the February Issue of the LVTC Newsletter!
As we kick off a new season, our theme this month is Triathlon Fundamentals. It is the perfect time of year to reset, refocus, and remind ourselves why we do this sport in the first place.
Whether you are training for your first sprint or building toward a long course goal, fundamentals matter. They are the steady habits that carry us through the heat of summer, the early morning alarms, and the moments when motivation dips. Fundamentals are not flashy ... they are consistent. They are patient. They are sustainable.
You will see that theme woven throughout this issue. From coaching insights to new triathlete advice to expert perspectives on progressive overload, we are highlighting the building blocks that help each of us improve while staying healthy and connected as a community.
This is also the time to renew your membership and commit to the 2026 season. Our club events are designed to be welcoming, competitive, grassroots, and uniquely Vegas. They are opportunities not just to race, but to connect. To support. To celebrate progress at every level.
Thank you for being part of this community. Thank you for showing up for each other. And thank you for continuing to build something special here in Southern Nevada.
Let’s focus on the fundamentals ... and make this a season enjoyable!
#vegasgrit #strongertogether #fearless #lvtrifamily #enjoythejourney #thrive #thatsthevegasway
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2026 Membership
It is time to get your Las Vegas Triathlon Club membership!
Club memberships run from January 1st, 2026 to December 31st, 2026. 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, non-tri get-togethers, and help members connect with each other through social media channels.
We have the following membership categories:
- Single membership: $75
- Family membership: $95 (Up to 4 immediate family members. Family members must reside in the same residence or shared residence.)
- Student membership: $40 (Full time students only)
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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:
#vegasgrit – This theme is about showing up with purpose ... training smart, supporting each other, and pushing through challenges in a way that fits your journey. It’s not about being the toughest person in the room...it’s about persistence, adaptability, and community.
#strongertogether – This theme reflects the essence of our triathlon community: achieving more through unity, supporting one another, and celebrating the shared journey of multisport life.
#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.
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Sponsors
The Las Vegas Triathlon Club is a 501c(3) organization that is 100% operated by volunteers. Our annual operating budget is about $10,000-$12,000. Sponsorships are incredibly helpful for us to meet cover our operating costs and keep membership prices reasonable. You can read more about sponsorships HERE:
We have started to get sponsors for 2026 ... thank you!
- Core Mental Health Services
- Elevation Physical Therapy
- Respect The Distance Coaching
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Las Vegas Triathlon Club Events
Each year, the Las Vegas Triathlon Club hosts four multisport events. You must be a LVTC member to participate in the events.
The dates for our 2026 events are:
| | | Sunday, 4/12/26 | Sprint Triathlon | Swim 750m, Bike 20K,
Run 5K | | Sunday, 5/10/26 | Sprint Triathlon | Swim 750m, Bike 20K,
Run 5K | | Saturday, 6/6/26 | Aquabike | Swim 750m, Bike 20K
| | Saturday, 8/22/26 | Super Sprint Triathlon | Swim 300m, Bike 4 miles, Run 1.5 miles | | | |
You can check the results from previous events at our website.
We also have a variety of events throughout the year. You can check upcoming events at our Las Vegas Triathlon Club Calendar.
Continue to check our Facebook Group for other happenings in our endurance community.
Here are the results of our 2025 events:
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Socials/Training Events/Education
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Check out and subscribe to our calendar feature (a continuing work-in-progress):
Las Vegas Triathlon Club Calendar
These were the dates for our 2025 Club events:
- 4/12/26: Sunday - Sprint Triathlon
- 5/10/26: Sunday - Sprint Triathlon
- 6/6/26: Saturday - Aquabike
- 8/22/26: Saturday - Super Sprint Tri
Sprint Triathlon:
Swim 750m; Bike 20km; Run 5km.
Aquabike:
Swim 750m; Bike 20km.
Super Sprint Triathlon:
Swim ~300m, Bike 4 miles, Run 1.5 miles.
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!
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Coach's Corner:
Triathlon Fundamentals: It's More Than Swim, Bike, Run
When most people hear “triathlon fundamentals,” they immediately think swim, bike, run. Maybe nutrition gets added to the list. But if we’re being honest, those are just the visible pieces.
There’s a deeper foundation that carries the swim, bike, and run and without your performance stalls, injuries begin to creep in, and then frustration builds.
As we begin a new season, it’s natural to think about personal bests, podium spots, or simply crossing your first finish line. Those goals are exciting. They give you something to train toward. But we can’t chase outcomes without strengthening the foundation that supports them.
Swim, bike, and run are the expression of your fitness.
Strength training, mobility, rest, recovery, and mental endurance are what allows that fitness to exist.
Let’s start with strength.
Strength training isn’t optional. It’s not something you squeeze in if you have extra time. It’s what builds the muscular durability you need to hold form late in a race. It supports power on the bike, stability on the run, and efficiency in the water. Just as importantly, it protects you from injury. If your muscles are strong and balanced, your body handles training load better. That consistency is what leads to progress.
Mobility works hand in hand with strength. You can’t move well if your body is tight and restricted. Range of motion matters. When you move better, you perform better and you recover better.
Then there’s rest and recovery.
This is the one athletes often resist the most.
You push your body in training. You challenge it. You break it down in small, controlled ways so it can adapt. But adaptation doesn’t happen during the workout. It actually happens afterwards. When you sleep. When you rest. When you give your body space to rebuild. If you never allow recovery, you never fully absorb the work you’re doing. More is not always better. Better is better.
And finally, mental endurance.
I don’t think we talk about this enough.
Everyone feels strong when training is going well. But what happens when it’s windy on the bike? When the heat hits harder than expected? When your pace feels off? When something doesn’t go according to plan?
Your ability to stay calm, adjust, and keep moving forward is just as important as your physical fitness. A positive and resilient mindset keeps one rough moment from turning into a ruined session or worse a ruined race.
At the start of every season, I encourage you to think beyond just adding miles. Ask yourself if you’re building the full foundation.
Are you lifting?
Are you prioritizing mobility?
Are you respecting recovery?
Are you strengthening your mindset?
Swim, bike, and run will always be the visible pieces of triathlon.
But the real fundamentals, the ones that determine whether you improve, stay healthy, and finish strong are the pieces behind the scenes.
Build those well, and everything else becomes stronger.
~Hilary Mauch
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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.
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Prez Corner:
Triathlon Fundamentals
When we hear that phrase, we usually think swim, bike, run. And yes, those are the pillars of what we do. But fundamentals are also about how we approach the sport. How we show up. How we think about the long game.
For me, one guiding principle has always been this ... train as hard as you can today so you can train again tomorrow.
Consistency.
That might sound simple, but it changes everything.
It means pushing with purpose, not ego. It means finishing a workout knowing you could have done one more interval ... but choosing to leave a little in the tank so you can come back the next day ready to build again. Consistency beats hero workouts every time. Fitness compounds when we string together solid days, then solid weeks, then solid months. That is #vegasgrit.
As we focus on fundamentals this month, I encourage you to think beyond any single session. Enjoy the process of getting fitter. Enjoy the feeling of improved efficiency in the water. The steadier power on the bike. The smoother cadence on the run. Those small improvements are victories and they are signs that the training is taking root.
Triathlon is one of the few sports where you can literally feel yourself evolving. A hill that used to intimidate you becomes manageable. A pace that once felt impossible becomes your warmup. That growth is incredibly satisfying ... if you allow yourself to appreciate it.
And then there is race day.
Races are not just tests of fitness. They are celebrations of preparation. The early mornings. The hot rides. The long runs. The strength sessions. The mobility work. The conversations with training partners. When you step to the start line at one of our LVTC events, you are surrounded by people who understand exactly what it took for you to get there.
So take it in. The nerves. The energy. The smiles in transition. The high fives at the finish. Enjoy the experience. Whether you are chasing a podium or completing your first super sprint, you are part of something bigger than splits and finish times.
Finally, I want to emphasize something that has become even more meaningful to me over the years ... triathlon should bring value to your everyday life.
The discipline you build in training carries into your work. The resilience you develop in tough sessions helps you navigate challenges outside of sport. The friendships you form create support networks that extend far beyond race day. When we train smart, recover well, and stay consistent, we are not just becoming better athletes... we are becoming more capable humans.
As we head into the 2026 season, focus on the fundamentals. Train with intention. Recover with discipline. Show up for each other. And remember... the goal is not just to crush one workout or one race. The goal is to build something sustainable that keeps you healthy, motivated, and excited to come back tomorrow.
See you out there...
#vegasgrit #strongertogether #thatsthevegasway #fearless #enjoythejourney #lvtrifamily
~John Mercer
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The New Triathlete
Triathlon Mantras
New triathletes, the main goal of your first season should be to have fun without the burden of time or placement goals and pressure. Along the way, however, you will realize what you don't know and you will learn what questions you should be asking.
To help you have fun in your first season, here are a few very simple tidbits of knowledge -- Triathlon mantras -- to keep in the back of your mind. These will help you better enjoy your first few races:
- Treat the swim as a warm up for the bike and run. Regarding your stroke, "Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast."
- When you get to your bike in T1, take a deep breath and think "Deliberate Speed," meaning that moving methodically and deliberately is much faster than rushing and dropping or forgetting things.
- You will almost always climb a hill coming out of T1. Make sure you rack your bike in the gear in which you will climb the hill. And take it easy climbing that hill! "Those who try to crush the bike often get crushed by the run."
- Start your run slower than you think you should. Try for a pace that you know you can keep for the entire run. Remember: "Your slowest run is faster than your fastest walk."
- Smile when you cross the finish line knowing that you have earned the title "Triathlete."
~Bob Gamble
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Where in the World Has Our TRI Club Raced?
Check out the map below to see where our athletes have raced!
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Las Vegas Triathlon Club Member Spotlight
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The Evidence-Based Triathlete
Check out our previous episodes:
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Vegas Grit Member Spotlight -
Eric Scott
In this new feature in our newsletter, we highlight a member that exemplifies our club theme: Vegas Grit. This month, Eric Scott is our Vegas Grit Spotlight!
Progress in triathlon isn’t magic, it’s built from thousands of small moments. Choosing effort when comfort is easier. Holding form in the final miles. Making decisions that support your goals, even when no one is watching. And often, those choices are easier to make when you’re not alone. Over time, shared effort compounds, and that’s how we get stronger together.
When I first joined Las Vegas Triathlon Club, I honestly had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t know how to train, how to race, or how to navigate the sport at all. What I found instead was a community that met me where I was. The people and resources turned uncertainty into confidence and made learning triathlon feel exciting instead of intimidating.
Stronger Together means that individual effort goes further when it’s shared. Individual effort is amplified, challenges become manageable, and achievements are more meaningful when shared with others. Consistency becomes normal because others are counting on you and you’re counting on them.
For anyone new to the club, my advice is simple. Don’t overthink getting involved. You don’t need to be fast or experienced.
If there’s one place to lean in, it’s the club events, especially the LVTC race series.
They’re an incredible foundation for first timers, a great way to prepare for future racing, and to grow alongside others.
This year, my goal is to complete a full distance Ironman. 140.6 miles is an ambitious distance that still scares the heck out of me. But it’s comforting knowing I’m surrounded by people choosing to show up right alongside me.
We push our limits alone, but we reach our potential together.
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Vegas Experts: Tedd Girouard
We have some fantastic local triathlon expertise. In this regular feature, one of our local experts provides some advice for triathletes. Our expert this month is Tedd Girouard! Tedd is the Director of the UNLV Athletic Training Program, a Triathlon Coach and Triathlon Competitor ... and he is the co-host of the Evidence Based Triathlete.
Triathlon Fundamentals: The Power of Progressive Overload
When we think about triathlon fundamentals, we often focus on consistency, discipline, and race-day execution. All of those matter. But underneath every successful training plan is one principle that quietly drives performance forward:
Progressive overload.
At its core, progressive overload simply means this: to improve, we must gradually ask our bodies to do a little more than they are currently capable of doing.
Not dramatically more. Not recklessly more. Just a little more over time.
Why This Matters for Age Group Athletes
Whether you’re training for a local sprint at Lake Mead, or building toward an Ironman, your body adapts specifically to the stress you apply. If training stays the same week after week, fitness plateaus. If stress increases too quickly, breakdown happens.
Performance lives in the middle.
The goal is to consistently apply just enough stress to stimulate adaptation, while allowing enough recovery for that adaptation to occur.
The Variables We Can Progress
In triathlon, overload doesn’t just mean “more miles.” We have several levers we can adjust:
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Volume – total weekly swim, bike, or run distance
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Intensity – pace, power, heart rate zones
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Frequency – number of sessions per week or month
The mistake many athletes make is progressing multiple variables at once, longer rides, faster intervals, and more total sessions all in the same week. That’s not progressive overload. That’s a spike.
A smarter approach is to change one primary variable at a time.
For example:
- Add 10–15 minutes to your long ride or run while keeping intensity steady.
- Introduce controlled tempo work while keeping overall mileage stable.
- Extend threshold intervals gradually rather than jumping from 5-minute efforts to 20-minute efforts.
Small progressions, layered consistently, produce large results over months.
Fitness Is Built at the Edge of Tolerance
Adaptation happens when training challenges your current capacity, but does not overwhelm it.
In our Las Vegas climate, this becomes especially important. Heat itself is a stressor. A moderate session in July carries more physiological load than the same session in March. Progressive overload must account for environmental load, not just pace or power.
Performance-oriented training doesn’t mean always pushing harder. It means being strategic about when and how you push.
The Takeaway
If you want to improve this season, ask yourself:
- Am I progressing gradually?
- Am I changing one key variable at a time?
- Am I allowing recovery so adaptation can occur?
- Am I thinking long-term rather than week-to-week?
Triathlon rewards patience. Fitness compounds when training stress increases steadily and intelligently.
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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:
2025 Winners
2024 Winners
2023 Winners
2022 Winners
This scholarship continues thanks to a generous donation by an anonymous donor.
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