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It's Time...
To Race Like an Egyptian! |  | |
April 17, 2011
7:00 AM
McKinney, TX
Register Today! |
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Doing The Texas Ironman?
Then you better be doing... |  | |
April 6-9,2011
Lower price extended!!
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 Playtri Friends and Supporters,
It's March, and we all know what that means - spring is just around the corner and the 2011 triathlon season is officially here! Time to dust off your race wheels, rinse off your wetsuit, and get ready for your best season yet. In this month's issue you'll get helpful information on our excellent coaching programs, as well as upcoming events and tips on our favorite gear.
It's time to play hard, play fast, and PLAYTRI! See you at the races!
Coach Ahmed Zaher
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Ahmed's Favorite Things | |
By Coach Ahmed Zaher
I have three things to say about the ElliptiGO.....Love it! Love it! Love it!
For me, it's a training tool, a toy and a rehab device. If you haven't seen it, the ElliptiGO is a fitness device that emulates running...Read More |
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Playtri Coaching Programs | |
By Coach Morgan Johnson
In the relatively short time that I have been a triathlon coach, I've had the privilege to work with an extremely wide variety of athletes - beginners to elites, youth athletes to Grand Masters...Read More |
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Tri Cowtown Sprint Triathlon | |
By Coach Jeanne Jones
The Tri Cowtown Sprint Triathlon is right around the corner!! Come on over to Cowtown and check out the Best Little Triathlon West of the Trinity River! Tri Cowtown Sprint, formerly known as Tri Benbrook, is enjoying its second year under the management of Playtri Racing. Last year's race was a... Read More |
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Healthy Eating with Coach Lisa | |
By Coach Lisa Powell
Egg white vegetable quiche cups - try this great breakfast recipe to increase your daily vegetable consumption. Spinach has a high nutritional value. Some of the important micronutrients include anti-oxident vitamins... Read More |
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Collegiate Corner | |
By Coach Morgan Johnson
I hope everyone's semester is going well, and that everyone is looking forward to a fun and active spring break. I know my collegiate team is in need of some time off, and I'm sure everybody else is as well! This month, I want to touch on a difficult subject for most college students, and one that plays a big part... Read More |
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| | Ahmed's Favorite Things | |
By Coach Ahmed Zaher
ElliptiGO
I have three things to say about the ElliptiGO.....Love it! Love it! Love it!
For me, it's a training tool, a toy and a rehab device.
If you haven't seen it, the ElliptiGO is a fitness device that emulates running outdoors without the associated impact.
After trying the ElliptiGO for the last few months, I have to say it's one of the best discoveries I've had for useful equipment - it can be a serious training tool as well as a great rehabilitation tool, while almost being a toy, it's so much fun to ride!
 The ElliptiGO re-creates running outdoors without the impact, using all the muscles of running without the pounding, so you can
1- Lose weight
2- Run further, longer
3- Use it for rehab when you have nagging injuries
4- Most of all, have fun with it
A great advantage of the ElliptiGO from an elliptical in the gym is the increased use of your core. Another feature I found is that changing the length of the stride can be done with simple two screws that can help teach athletes fast quick strides and stresses different muscles. It's really designed to deliver an experience that is much closer to running than to cycling.
The ElliptiGO has shifters and brakes and handles just like a mountain bike in terms of speed and handling. It's very easy to use and very stable, it can go up hill and move fast on downhills and on the flats, making it easy to do speed workouts, hills or long rides.
The ElliptiGO is for everyone, everyone can get some use out of it, and since it comes in one size, it's a family purchase. Having said that, I am planning on getting my wife Staci her own so that we can play with it at the same time! After all, Playtri is what we do. :-)
The ElliptiGO is available at our favorite cycling store, Richardson Bike Mart, with locations in Richardson, Dallas, and Frisco - for more information on the ElliptiGO, visit their website at www.elliptigo.com.
Coach Ahmed is a USAT Level II Certified Coach and former Olympian. He is the founder of Playtri, and one of the most sought after triathlon coaches in the country. He continues to be highly ranked internationally as a triathlete.
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Playtri Coaching Programs |
 By Coach Morgan Johnson
In the relatively short time that I have been a triathlon coach, I've had the privilege to work with an extremely wide variety of athletes - beginners to elites, youth athletes to Grand Masters. Some I worked with over a period of time, others just briefly, at a clinic or a camp. Getting to work with so many different athletes has taught me many invaluable lessons, but the most important lesson I've learned? No two athletes are alike. And I don't just mean this in the sense that they have different physical abilities or different goals - though that's definitely part of it - but also in the sense that every athlete comes from a different background, or set of experiences, that shapes them mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Many of us, when we first enter into the world of endurance sports, see training as being fairly formulaic - add 2 and 2 and you'll get 4. This is why pre-written training plans for the event of an athlete's choice are so popular with beginners - and, to be fair, they tend to meet with a lot of success, if only because they can get an athlete training consistently with some semblance of periodization. But at some point, athletes almost inevitably plateau - and learn that unfortunately, in triathlon, you can add 2 and 2 and be just as likely to end up with 87. Because, at the end of the day, people aren't numbers, and there is no formula that is right for everyone - or that is even right for more than one person.
I came to triathlon as a moderately successful mid-distance runner, and I was still in the phase where I thought that I was invincible - that if I just did what the training plan from the website said, I was guaranteed to meet with success. Then I strained my IT band. And damaged my plantar fascia. And... you fill in the blank. The point is, I realized that maybe there was a little bit more to racing and training than I had originally thought. That's when I hired a coach.
Now, I was lucky. The coach I hired was passionate, experienced, up-to-date on his research... and he is still my coach to this day. I hired him based on a recommendation from a friend and did absolutely no research whatsoever on him or the organization he coached for. At the time, I didn't understand the importance of doing my homework when hiring a coach, and now that I know, I thank my lucky stars that I ended up with a good one. Many athletes are far less fortunate. So now the real question - what makes a good coach? If you're at the point where you have either plateaued, or even begun to slide backwards, then you want to find a coach who is going to do an efficient (and excellent) job of helping you get back on track to reach your goals. There are, in my opinion, five basic factors to look for when determining the quality of a coach - if your coach doesn't provide you with the following, then you might want to seriously evaluate whether or not they are doing the aforementioned job for you: -
Good communication - do they have an upfront commitment to respond to your questions? Do they fulfill that commitment? -
Knowledge of the sport backed by continual research and study - are they up-to-date on their research? Are they willing to switch tactics when new research disproves a current coaching method? -
Willingness to adjust your plan to your schedule and unforeseen circumstances - are they writing the plan around you and for you? Beware of coaches who use the same plan with all of their athletes just because it worked for them in the past. -
Willingness (and ability) to answer specific questions about your plan and workouts - can they tell you why they have you doing what you are doing? -
A true desire to see you reach your goals - do you feel like your coach is really invested in your success? If not, do you feel like they are still doing their best possible job for you?
Long before I was a Playtri coach, I was a Playtri athlete - and the reason I chose to coach for Playtri was because every Playtri coach I knew met and exceeded these five standards. We offer coaching options for every budget - and whether it's the entry level "Playtri" plan or the more complex "Platinum Plus" plan, your coach will at a minimum deliver the above requirements. More expensive plans generally mean more communication, more personalization, more applied science and research - the only thing that will always be the same? Your coach's desire to see you reach your goals. That's what Playtri is passionate about, and it is what all of our coaching plans are centered around. So whether you are a committed and competitive athlete needing the precision, science, and flexibility of the Platinum Plus plan, or a recreational age grouper in need of the Playtri plan, you can be sure that your coach will always do everything in his or her power to make sure that you reach your goals - and to make sure that you have the right plan to meet your goals. Our plans incorporate everything from heart rate and power training to camps and clinics, and everything in between - nutrition, recovery, one-on-one's, bike fits, mental toughness, you name it we've got it. Let us help you pick a coaching plan that will get you where you want to go - with a coach who wants to get you there. Because no two athletes are alike, and no two plans should be, either. Have questions, or want to learn more about Playtri's many coaching options? Visit our Coaching Page, or email Coach Morgan at morgan@playtri.com. Morgan is a USAT Level I Certified Coach, and the Lead Developmental Coach and Assistant Camps Director for Playtri. She also coaches the University of North Texas Triathlon Team.
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| | Tri Cowtown Sprint Triathlon |
 By Coach Jeanne Jones
Come check out the Best Little Triathlon West of the Trinity River! Tri Cowtown Sprint is enjoying its second year under the management of Playtri Racing. Last year's race was a big success, and we're hoping that this year proves to be even better.
The race starts and finishes at the Benbrook Community Center/YMCA off Winscott Road in Benbrook. The 300-yd pool swim is followed by a 13.8 mile bike course through scenic Holiday Park at Benbrook Lake. You can enjoy more views of the lake on the 5k run course. Awards will be given to overall winners, overall masters and grand masters, weight classes, and of course age groupers.
All participants will receive a Tri Cowtown Beach Towel and other fun swag - and place winners will be receiving fun new awards!
Questions about this race, or triathlon in Fort Worth? Shoot Coach Jeanne an email at jeanne@playtri.com!
Coach Jeanne is a USAT Level II Certified Coach and the Camps Director for Playtri. She lives and coaches in Fort Worth.
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| | Healthy Eating with Coach Lisa |
By Coach Lisa Powell
Try this great breakfast recipe to increase your daily vegetable consumption. Spinach has a high nutritional value. Some of the important micronutrients include anti-oxident vitamins A, C and E as well as magnesium, folate, iron, and vitamin K. This is a great recipe to prepare ahead of time and freeze for the grab and go breakfast. Pop it in the microwave and pair it with whole-wheat toast for a complete breakfast in minutes.
Makes 6 servings - 1 serving = 1 muffin cup
1 serving= 68 cals, 8g protein, 3g carbs, 2g fat, 185mg sodium
Need Something Healthy To Go?
Since so many of us are traveling for business, vacation, and of course races, we often find ourselves waiting at the airport, which can be a difficult place to find something healthy to eat. My first recommendation is to be prepared - pack your own food and take it with you. A turkey sandwich with vegetables and mustard on whole wheat bread with an apple would be a great travel meal - don't forget to take along your snack of nuts and dried fruit and an energy bar for those delayed or canceled flights. For those of you who like to take advantage of the available airport restaurants, Wolfgang Puck Gourmet Express is at many large airports, and offers plenty of healthy (and delicious!) options. Also, many deli style eateries offer great options like fresh fruit, turkey sandwiches, and Odwalla Superprotein shakes (a personal favorite). The Odwalla shakes are a great source of protein and fruits, and contain a bit of coconut for added healthy natural fat - don't forget to omit the mayonnaise on any sandwiches to avoid unhealthy fats. Another airport favorite, most Starbucks have fruit and yogurt parfaits, or try a bagel with peanut butter and 100% juice if fresh fruit is unavailable.
Good luck and happy eating!
If you have questions, or want to set up a nutrition consultation, please email Coach Lisa at lisa@playtri.com, or visit our Nutrition Coaching page.
Coach Lisa is a USAT Level I Certified Coach and physical therapist. She is currently pursuing her Masters degree in sports nutrition, and offers nutritional consultation and coaching through Playtri.
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| | Collegiate Corner |
 By Coach Morgan Johnson
Collegiate Athletes,
I hope everyone's semester is going well, and that everyone is looking forward to a fun and active spring break. I know my collegiate team is in need of some time off, and I'm sure everybody else is as well!
This month, I want to touch on a difficult subject for most college students, and one that plays a big part in the lives of collegiate triathletes - money. Which, for the record, does not come in the form pictured above.
As a former collegiate triathlete and current collegiate coach, I know that all of you, at some time or another, have agonized over a triathlon-related spending decision - new race wheels, an expensive race registration fee, coaching, etc. - and eventually had to come to the decision that you just didn't have the money. You probably know that you're not alone in your frustration, because it's likely you had a teammate (or ten) to commiserate with.
Triathletes in general tend to have some of the highest incomes of any other group of athletes - and for good reason, because it is likely that triathlon is one of the most expensive sports out there, particularly for amateurs, or age groupers. Most collegiate athletes are fortunate enough to participate in NCAA sports, which means that their university provides much of the gear, travel funds, and registration and racing fees needed for them to excel at their sport. However, as triathletes, that's a category that you can't fall into yet - hopefully this will change in the future, but for now, you're on your own.
So what can you do?
You have three viable options for covering your triathlon expenses without putting yourself into debt (something that none of us wants):
- Sponsorships
- Family funding
- Self funding
The first two aren't options for all of you, though many of your teams offer sponsorships, and receive a small budget from your school for expenses. It's not a lot, but find out all that you can about what your team has to offer in order to defray as many expenses as possible. You can also apply for individual sponsorships - I suggest starting with smaller, local shops and companies as they are often more interested in lesser-known athletes than, say, Nike would be. Make sure you can tell them why they should want to sponsor you - what specific benefits they will receive as a business if they choose to help fund your training and/or racing.
If you are fortunate enough to have family that is willing and able to help out, make sure that you use their funding wisely - the more thought you put into the purchases you make with their funding, the more likely they'll be to want to continue funding you. Also, don't take any help for granted - please and thank you go a long way in ensuring continued funds from this source.
So what if sponsorships and family funding are limited or non-existent? Your last option is funding your training and racing yourself - which is what the vast majority of collegiate athletes have to do. This means that the big questions is, how do you make the most of the money that you are spending on triathlon? In other words, how do you determine what to buy and what not to buy, while still having what you need to achieve your personal athletic goals? This is something that most collegiate athletes struggle with without even realizing it, because their spending lacks organization. It isn't until the end of the season that they look back and realize that certain funds could have been better spent, with a little foresight. So, with the 2011 season upon us, let's talk about how to plan out your tri season financially so that you get the most bang for your buck.
First, figure out what your goals are for the season. They can be anything from winning your age group at a particular race, staying injury-free while continuing to race and train, qualifying for a national or world championship, setting a particular PR, etc. Try to pick one to three major goals for the year, and write them down.
Second, look at how much you're making and how much you're having to spend, and set a realistic monthly budget for triathlon - this will include race fees and travel, gear, coaching, anything related to the sport. Again, make sure that this is a realistic budget - set aside money for eating out, movies, and whatever else it is you enjoy as well.
Third, figure out a race schedule that doesn't use more than half of your triathlon budget each month - and that might mean that you only race every other month, or do mostly local races.
Last, keep your list of goals, and every time you get ready to make a purchase, check your goals, and try to decide whether or not that purchase is helping you reach one of your goals. If it isn't, or if there is something that might help more, then skip that purchase for now. And don't be afraid to ask for help from a coach or more experienced athlete when you're making a spending decision - most will be happy to help, and flattered that you asked for their advice in the first place. Learn from their experience!
I wish you all luck as the 2011 triathlon season gets under way, and I hope that you take the steps you need to reach your goals this year, whatever they may be.
Coach Morgan is a USAT Level I Certified Coach, and the Lead Developmental Coach and Assistant Camps Director for Playtri. She also coaches the University of North Texas Triathlon Team.
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Best wishes for a great season in 2011!
Sincerely,
The Playtri Team
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