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

Some Like It Hot

I am absolutely smiling right now. I had an old coach who used to say, “Training in the heat is free speed” or “Training on hills is speed training in disguise.” The environment we live in can be harsh, but if used to strengthen our performance it can be a huge advantage. When you train in the heat of summer, you are more resilient and stronger as it subsides. When you do hill repeats on the mountain I call the “Ego Stealer” you will find your pace quicker on flat ground. 

The unique thing about the place we live is you can train for any race condition. If you need climbing on the bike, go do the loop at Red Rock. If you need flat, go out to Jean. If you need altitude training go to Mount Charleston. Okay, we don’t have ocean swim conditions, but we are a quick drive to California beaches. We have miles and miles of really diverse mountain ranges. Valley of Fire offers vastly different adventures than Lake Mead does. You could train for years here and never get bored of the scenery, because it is so different.

One of the biggest gains training in the conditions that Las Vegas provides is mental toughness. There is nothing more humbling than begging for water on a hot Las Vegas summer day, during a long bike ride or having to call your husband to bring water on a run, because you under estimated your needs and ran out. (FYI- Lake Mead Guard Stations will happily give you some.) After doing things like that, I better understood my needs, I had much more respect for the environment and much more respect for the distance. Mental toughness is a huge aspect of the training. If you earn mental toughness to do hard things, then you get the confidence that you can handle race conditions. Mental toughness plus confidence makes you unstoppable.  

Happy training! Go get that free speed!



~Shawna Glasser

The New Triathlete

Lucky to Be in Las Vegas!

At the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, the Las Vegas Triathlon Club came in fourth -- out of 152 clubs!  One of the main reasons for this is because we are blessed with a wide variety of conditions in which to train.  It doesn’t matter where our club goes to race and what conditions are present, we have trained in it, and we are prepared for it. Can you imagine training in Florida or Iowa, where the biggest hill you’ll see is a highway overpass, and seeing Snow Canyon for the first time? Hills? We’ve got Red Rock Canyon, Lakeshore and Northshore roads. Wind? It’s windier here than Chicago. Heat? No comment needed… Yes -- if you train in Las Vegas, you can race anywhere.  

This reminds me of training for emergencies when I was on a submarine. We had fire drills, flooding drills, reactor accident drills, and battle drills practically every day. And these drills weren’t announced as a “drill.” When an emergency was announced, e.g., “Flooding in the Torpedo Room,” you never knew if it was real. You, and everyone on the boat would immediately take the appropriate action. And this happened day in and day out, until our actions in emergencies were automatic. One time there was a freak oil fire in my machinery space. A fire on a submarine is the second worst accident you can have, as the oxygen can be consumed in seconds. (The worst accident was what we jokingly called “water in the people tank…) During this fire, I, and every person on board reacted exactly as we had trained many times before, and no one was hurt. No one panicked -- it was treated as a routine operation which was executed like clockwork.  

What does this have to do with Triathlon? We are fortunate to have adverse conditions that others don’t have. As a new Triathlete, look at these conditions as opportunities, not problems. Ride when it’s windy. Take on the hills. Swim when the lake is choppy. But DO plan in advance how you are going to deal with these conditions. Think them through first, and ask for advice on how to deal with them. But learn from them, practice in these conditions, and make sure that you can handle them. Then, when you do encounter these conditions on race day, relax and smile to yourself, knowing that you can handle it, while you look at others on the starting line and see the fear in their eyes. 

~Bob Gamble

The Pro Perspective

Summer Training in Vegas

“Where are you based out of?” A question I have been getting a lot lately at races and interviews. Most American pros answers: Tucson or Boulder. People are always surprised when I say Vegas! And I defend it with all my might, highlighting all of the incredible benefits of the scenic rides, amazing pools, training communities and direct flights to almost every major race. but I do always caveat my answer…  “June through August can be brutal.”

Having solid and reliable training partners is perhaps the most important thing you can do to optimize your training in the summer. Because hard things are always made easier with company! 

Swim: My approach to the swim doesn’t change in the summer, although I am getting very excited for the Long Course 50m workouts at the Multigen coming up on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is only set up from May to July so the distance will be a welcome new training stimulus for long reps.

Bike: I mostly ride indoors during the week year-round anyways, but I did recently buy a portable AC window unit to really cool down my trainer room without blowing my house’s AC out every afternoon. I encourage you to really make your “pain cave” a desirable place to be! Whether it’s a nice industrial fan, a good TV, or nice art. Make that space a place you enjoy spending time - not a chore. On weekends, I try to set the “every other weekend” rule - get outside at least every other weekend for the long ride. I do travel quite a lot on the weekends throughout July and August to LA, the Bay Area, Lake Tahoe to escape the heat, but when in Vegas, one weekend I’ll do a long indoor trainer ride 4-5 hours to get more sleep, but then the next weekend I’ll be sure to get out to Mt. Charleston and set a 4:30am alarm to beat the heat to be finished by 10am. 

Find yourself a riding buddy that will set the 4:30am Saturday alarm with you or hang out on the trainer for 4 hours and talk :)

The run is tricky. I tried run training through the heat my first year here, doing easy runs in 102-104 degrees and easy outdoor rides up to 107, but found it to be too harsh on my ability to effectively recover and actually adapt to the stimulus. Some heat stimulus is very beneficial, but only within moderation. I think this is around 85-92 degrees. And nailing some harder run sessions without any heat on a treadmill is just as important.  I now limit almost all of my outdoor rides and runs to around 95 degrees, and if it’s hotter than that, I will almost always hit my gym’s treadmill. It’s not worth risking poor sleep or a bad day of training the next day.



~Justin Riele

Prez Corner:

Summer is Coming...

Triple digit temps are already here … and it is important to be smart about training and racing in summer heat.

First and foremost, managing core temperature is critical. Our bodies operate well in a narrow range of core temperature. When training in the heat, the mindset should be: Keep the core temp low! 

How do you do that? Sweat. The purpose of sweating is to keep core temperature within a normal range. To sweat, you need plenty of fluid in the body. So, you have to be drinking … and drinking … and drinking when the temps are over 100º F and the humidity is low. 

Since it is so dry here in Las Vegas, the sweat evaporates so quickly that you may not realize how much you are sweating. It is easy to get into a danger zone where you do not have enough fluid to allow the sweat mechanism to work properly. And then your core temp rises. This is bad. Drink enough so you can sweat!

Monitoring your sweat rate on a regular basis is a good idea since this is a moving target (routinely measure your weight before and after exercise). It will change with your fitness, changes in temperature/humidity, and intensity of exercise. But … you can get a sense of how much fluid you are losing during training and/or racing. That can help you set a good target of fluids to consume so that you have plenty of fluid in you to allow the sweat mechanism to work. Notice I am not mentioning ‘dehydration’ … instead, you should be focused on managing core temperature. 

Other things you can do to manage core temperature besides consuming fluids:



• Cover your skin. Arm coolers and a hat are a huge help.
• Sunscreen. Always. Don’t train without this.
• Keep clothing wet. 
• Get a run-vest to carry fluid (and partially freeze the bladder the night before).
• Wear a camel back on the bike … always make sure you have enough water with you.
• Know where you can refill water bottles and bladders.
• During a race, carry ice in your hands, put ice in your hat, down your kit, … anywhere!
• Train in the early morning.

Training in the heat is not easy – you need to be smart and careful. But training can still be enjoyable … up until about 110º F lol. Then I’m indoors for sure 😊

~John Mercer

Coach's Corner:

If You Train in Vegas, You Can Race Anywhere

Training in Las Vegas equips athletes with a unique advantage, preparing them for any race, anywhere in the world. As the temperatures rise, here’s how to optimize your training in this dynamic environment. 

Mastering Open Water Swims at Lake Mead and Lake Mojave 

Las Vegas isn’t just synonymous with bright lights and entertainment; it offers unparalleled training grounds. Lake Mead and Lake Mojave are prime locations for refining open water swim techniques. These lakes provide diverse conditions that replicate race day unpredictability, allowing athletes to develop versatility and confidence in open water scenarios. 

Tackling Challenging Bike Rides 

Our roads are a cyclist’s playground and proving ground. From rolling hills and long climbs to deceptive false flats, every ride in Las Vegas is an endurance test. The ever-present heat and wind demand precise nutrition and hydration strategies, ensuring athletes are prepared for any race conditions. Training here fine-tunes your ability to manage energy and stay hydrated, crucial for peak performance. 

Conquering the Trails 

Running in Las Vegas is an exercise in resilience. The city’s extensive network of trails offers a variety of surfaces and elevations, ideal for preparing for the toughest courses. Morning runs often mean sharing the trail with wildlife, while evening runs present their own set of challenges. This diverse terrain builds not just physical strength but mental toughness, essential for race day success. 

Essential Training Tips for the Vegas Heat

1. Hydration Strategy: Begin hydrating well before your workout and maintain consistent fluid intake. Incorporate electrolytes to replace what you lose in sweat. 
2. Nutritional Planning: The intense heat increases calorie expenditure. Develop a nutrition plan that sustains your energy levels and practice consuming fuel during your workouts. 
3. Sun Protection: Utilize high-SPF sunblock and protective gear like hats and UV-blocking sunglasses. The desert sun is relentless, and protecting your skin is crucial. 
4. Appropriate Gear: Wear lightweight, moisture-wicking fabrics. Accessories like a neck buff can protect against sunburn and dust. 
5. Element Awareness: Stay informed about weather conditions. The wind can drastically alter your training session, so plan your routes and timing to optimize performance and safety. 

Through my extensive racing experience, I have consistently found that Las Vegas offers the perfect training grounds for any event. The key to leveraging this environment is to respect its challenges and adjust your training strategies accordingly. Training in Las Vegas doesn’t just prepare you for local races; it makes you more resilient, adaptable, and ready to excel on any course around the globe. Embrace the elements, prepare meticulously, and remember: if you can conquer Vegas, you can conquer any race. 



~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.

• Levi Thomas
• Ron Gallagher, PT

The Evidence-Based Triathlete

• International Racing

Where in the World Has Our TRI Club Raced?

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