I feel grateful that every athlete I coach becomes a friend. Even more special is the friendships that are created among our Trimarni athletes and team members. We have seen close friendships develop from an initial meeting at a Trimarni training camp, on our private team Facebook page or at a team race. It makes me incredibly happy to know that triathlon is more than a sport. It's been a driving force to long-lasting relationships of like-minded individuals.
In September 2023, Justine reached out to me, Natalie, Danielle and Stephanie via a group text that she would be visiting her parents in New Mexico in January 2024. Justine has been living in Spain with her husband and two young kids for the past 5+ years as her husband Eric is in the military. They are about to move to England so this was a great time for us to all get together. Southwest was having a sale on plane tickets so we all booked our flights for our first reunion since 2018. Since then, Justine has had two kids, Natalie has had to kids and we have all experienced a lot in life, sport and career.
Justine and Natalie arranged everything and we met up in Austin, Texas (a few hours from where Natalie lives). Natalie picked us up from the airport, Justine booked the Airbnb.
Here are a few throwback pics....
Danielle attending our first training camp in Clermont, Fl in 2014. We've been coaching Dee for 10 years!
Natalie, Justine and me in Klagenfurt for Ironman Austria.
Celebrating Stephanie's finish at 2018 IMWI.
When a group of triathletes get together, there's going to be some working out so this was more of a train-cation than a relaxing vacation. Triathlon brought us together and it's keeping us together.
Justine put together an itinerary from January 5th-7th and asked me to come up with workouts.
Friday
- Shake out run – 30-45 minute easy conversational run.
- OWS - ~10-30 minutes
Saturday
- 3000+ yard pool swim:
WU:
500 choice
PS: (1000)
4 x 75 as (25 kick or scull, 50 swim)
50 backstroke
4 x 75 (50 drill, 25 swim)
50 backstroke
4 x 75 (EZ/Mod/Hard by 25)
MS: (1500-1800)
3x
12 x 25 (3 fast, 1 EZ) on :40
200-300 smooth/steady (choice toys)
CD:
Choice
- Track workout – 6+ miles
2 mile warm-up w/ walks/stops/stretches
MS: (3 miles)
3x
200 strong but controlled (straight)
200 EZ recovery (turn)
200 strong but controlled (straight)
200 EZ recovery (turn)
200 strong but controlled (straight)
200 EZ recovery (turn)
200 strong but controlled (straight)
200 EZ recovery (turn)
2 min rest
Repeat 2 more times
CD:
Choice
- OWS - ~10-30 minutes
Sunday
- 90-minute run
WU: 20 minutes (10 min out/10 min back)
PS: 10 minutes out and back as (30 sec ON/1.5 min OFF – ON is strong but
controlled)
MS:
Option 1 (48 minutes): 8 x (5 min tempo into 1 min EZ reset)
Option 2 (49 minutes): 7x (3 min EZ, 2 min steady, 1 min strong, 1 min EZ reset)
CD:
Choice
- 4000+ yard swim
WU: (1000)
5 x 200 choice (or 1000 mix it up)
PS: (1000)
8 x 50 (Odd: 10 strokes fast, then EZ. Even: 25 backstroke, 25 swim)
200 kick w/ fins
8 x 25 (Odd: Fast. Even: EZ)
200 kick w/ fins
MS: (1600)
Option 1: 16 x 100 (optional buoy) w/ 15 sec rest (as 3 steady/1 EZ)
Option 2: 400 (optional buoy) w/ 20 sec rest (as 100 strong/300 steady)
CD: (400)
8 x 50 choice
We had to make a few modifications to our schedule but more on that later.
After arriving to our Airbnb (which was a few miles from downtown), Stephanie and I took Natalies car and got a few groceries (mostly breakfast foods) at HEB. After Justine and Danielle arrived, we spent some time getting caught up and went to Barton Springs Pool.
I've heard about this "pool" before and I was really excited to swim in it. It was a little chilly (69 degrees) so I opted to wear my wetsuit. It was a strange experience to feel like I was in open water but it felt like I was in a pool. We swam several out and back (~200 yard) segments for ~20 minutes.
After we changed, we went back to the Airbnb to get ready for dinner. We drove near Congress Street and walked up and down the street, checking out all the nice shops. There were so many students, people, restaurants - the energy was high.
On Saturday, we "slept in" until ~7am, ate our breakfast and around 9am, we drove to the Austin High School Track. It's been several years since I ran on the track but it was a great opportunity for us to all run "together" but still do our own workout. The weather was perfect for our run and outside the track, there were so many people out running, biking and walking. I ended up with 6.38 miles 50 minutes and had a really good workout. It was so much fun running with my friends and cheering each other on throughout the set.
Early in the afternoon, we went for a swim at Deep Eddy's. This is the oldest swimming pool in Texas. Although there were lane lines, it had a look of being "open water." I was hoping the water would be warmer than Barton Springs so I wouldn't have to wear my wetsuit but the pool was in the low 70s (not heated). I braved the cold water and swam without the wetsuit but we modified the swim since we didn't want to get too cold. I loved that the pool was 33.5 yards as it felt like it was 25 yards but with the extra 8 yards, every lap we were getting "bonus" yardage. We finished with 3000 yards in 45 minutes and I couldn't wait to get out. Although I was managing the cold temperature, I completely froze when I got out. I was shivering and shaking and it took a good 20 minutes for me to warmup. Lesson learned - wear the wetsuit.
After the swim we went to the Austin Tri Cyclist store - founded in 1995! I got Karel a shirt.
The afternoon was spent doing arts and crafts. Natalie bought us yarn to make chunky blankets. We watched a YouTube video on how to do it (not this video, but this is a good example) and then Justine, Natalie and I got to work making our blankets for the next few hours.
We then went to Hopdoddy Burger Bar for a meal and it was so good. I got the El Bandito (black bean and corn patty) and turned it into a salad (greens on the bottom topped with the burger and toppings. We all shared french fries with our burgers.
On Sunday morning we drove downtown to run on the Lady Bird Run trail. There were so many people out running, walking and playing with their dogs. It felt like a race with so many people out on the paths. I absolutely loved this run path. It was a nice mix of bridge overlooking the water and downtown and hardpacked trail. It made for a great run. We warmed up and then did our main set. The weather was perfect for running. I got in 10.1 miles in 1:23 with a really solid main set.
After the run we went to Lifetime Fitness for a swim. Natalie surprised us with what was going to be a warm outdoor pool and hot tub based on the website pictures but sadly, the pool was not warm (it was outside) and there wasn't a hot tub. We made the most of it and Stephanie and I got in another 45 minute swim and 3250 yards.
We warmed up in the shower and changed in the locker room and went to Congress Street again to have lunch at Home Slice Pizza. We were all super hungry and shared the free bread rolls to start, then the gorganzola salad and then two pizzas (margherita and the spinach vegetable pizza). It was all so good. I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant.
We shared one last evening together and then we all made our way back to our homes on Monday morning.
As I reflect back on this memorable, fun, workout, food and laugh-filled weekend, there was no body shaming or diet talk. It was a weekend of support, enthusiasm, celebration and joy. I feel this is important to share because you should always have a tribe of people around you who support you and lift you up. I admire these ladies so much.
Justine has traveled the world and with her as your friend, you will have your biggest cheerleader.
Natalie has a law degree and is the Vice President-Chief Compliance & Privacy Officer at UT Southwestern Medical Center and despite her busy schedule she makes time for others, her family and exercise on a daily basis.
Stephanie is an incredible open water swimmer and her love for the water is contagious.
Danielle is an engineer in a male dominated industry and she loves off-road racing.
The support for one another to succeed is incredible and I am so lucky to have such awesome female friends.