ITC July Newsletter

Club updates, new Club Coach, new Club Champs date and what we're doing to prepare for next season...

Dear Members,

Welcome to the 2020-2021 season. Firstly, let me start by saying a huge thank you to you all for your patience, understanding and loyalty during this difficult time for not just ITC but all sporting clubs. COVID-19 has really highlighted that there are more important things in life than run splits and lap times although it has been great to get back out and do some training. This season, the committee are focused on giving back to you the members through group training and coaching sessions, programs for targeted races and increasing the social aspect of the club.

To an update on coaching, earlier this month Nathan Miller announced that he is stepping down as club coach. His dedication over the past 9 years has been second to none, and I would personally like to thank Nathan for his efforts. I would like to announce our new club coaches Ben Bell and Scott Ashcroft. Both are long term members of the club and both former age group World Champions.

Starting the 1^st of July we will be back to club training kicking off with a weekly Sunday run and coffee and our Monday run squad. As the water gets a bit warmer we will return to our popular open water swim sessions and I am looking into group riding sessions. I really encourage all members to attend the sessions where they can. It’s a great way to meet other people in the club. I know I have met a lot of friends and training partners through ITC.

The Sunday session is more about the coffee, so even if you can’t make the run or are injured feel free to still pop in for coffee. Let’s face it, that’s the best part anyway. This session is open for club members and friends of the club.

Mondays weekly run squad will be a run set which will cater for all levels of ability. So whether you run at the pace of Eliud Kipchoge, Cliff Young or somewhere in between, there will be a set for you. Once a month, run squad will focus on run technique. Ben Bell will be on hand analysing run technique and providing tips on making you run more efficient. July’s technique session will take place on the 13^th of July.

All details of the club sessions will be on our website, facebook and our newsletter.

I am also excited to announce that our club coaches will be putting together an 8 week training plan leading into targeted races. This is the first time the club has offered this, and this will provide guidance and structure to your training. There will be more detail released on this in the next newsletter after the inter club series events are announced, but at this stage the races will be Wollongong, Husky and Club Champs. Stay tuned !! I would also encourage those that want a more personalised training program to give them a call or email. All details are on the website

Lastly club races. Last season we tried something new and organised our club races on Saturdays. The feedback we got was that this didn’t work, so I wanted to confirm that this season Sunday club racing is back. Once we get our DA approval back from council we will release the dates. At this stage the first race will be the 11^th of October, if not before.

I would also like to thank the committee for all their work. We are a small committee and are always on the lookout for new committee members. So no matter how big or small, if you want to play a more active role in the club I would love to hear from you.

Cheers,

Jye Cajar
ITC President

New Club Coach: Ben Bell

In the pantheon of age-group triathletes, few (if any) are as well known in Australia than Ben Bell. The Illawarra Triathlon Club is proud to have Ben as our club coach for the 2020/21 triathlon season.

Ben has been a member of Illawarra Triathlon Club since 2010 and has always enjoyed the club aspect of the sport.

“Two of my best memories in the sport are contributing to the ITC twice being named Ironman Oceania Club Champions,” he said.

“I would like to play a roll in helping coach ITC club members to both individual success and club success in the coming season.”

Whilst mainly competing in 70.3 and Ironman distance events, Ben has raced all distances winning State and National titles from Sprint Distance to Ironman Distance and culminating in triathlon’s holy grail, the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. He has also landed multiple top 10 finishes in Ironman races throughout Australia, regularly finishing among the top ten overall (including professionals).

Ben is currently coaching the Illawarra Academy of Sport Triathlon program, which includes working with the best young triathletes in the region and a small stable of athletes under the TriBell banner.

“I am also very much looking forward to working with ITC athletes to help refine their technique and build towards a strong 2020/21 season striving for individual and club success.”

If athletes require specific individual programs or have any questions don’t hesitate to contact Ben on 0409667869 or email benjaminpbell@gmail.com

We look forward to having Ben club training kicking off shortly, with a strong, supportive team environment, where athletes of all levels can participate and enjoy themselves.

Don't forget to renew your Triathlon Australia and ITC Club membership. The portal is open now.

Renew Now

Changes to ITC Training and Races

Sunday Social Run and Coffee:
Starting in July we'll have a members social run at 8am on Sunday mornings start at North Gong Surf Club - all abilities welcome. This will be followed by a social coffee at 9am at Mudcat Cafe, North Beach, where will will be joined by our new coach Ben Bell.

Run Squad:

This will be moved to 5pm on a Monday, meeting at North Wollongong Surf Club. Our new club coach Ben will come once a month to conduct specialised run coaching with the emphasis on technique.

The dates for the next 3 months will be the 13th of July, 10th of August and 7th of September. The other 3 weeks there will be a run set provided by our club coaches. The sets will be aimed at our targeted external races throughout the season (e.g. getting ready for club champs, Husky, and Wollongong triathlons).

Harbour Swim:

These will commence again when we hit daylight savings time. Our new coach Ben will conduct these on a Saturday afternoon at 2pm or 3pm as a joint session with the Illawarra Academy of Sport.

Club Races:

Our race schedule will be released soon along with information about the format and timing. Our members will get to race on our TA sanctioned course with timing and splits available on our website. There will be the usual club distance as well as short course options for those who prefer to keep it short and snappy. A special wave will be created for the Illawarra Academy of Sport at club races. This will be at 7:45am and will be a draft legal race and we encourage our members to come along and watch these talented juniors.

NSW Club Champs (Forster, 19 Sept 2020)

If you're like us, you're already itching to put another race on the calendar to have something to train for (even if it doesn't eventuate). The NSW Club Championships could be that race.

The great thing about Club Champs is that you're racing for the club and every individual can earn valuable points for the club no matter how fast or slow you might be. After a disappointing end to the 2019/2020 season, this is a chance for the club to race together and (hopefully) start the next tri season the way we mean to go on.

Check out the details here and sign up here

ITC Polo Shirt Update

Due to unforeseen circumstances we will be postponing the order of free polo shirts for members until the start of next season. We're sorry for the inconvenience, but stay tuned for more information towards the start of next season.

Join our committee

The club needs members like you to keep running and we're always on the look out for volunteers to help with jobs big and small.

We're looking for members who'd be interested in organising more social events for the club and we're also keen for someone to rally our members to participate in the next interclub series and club championships.

ITC Club Point Score Update

The Final Point Score?

In March the ITC Club Point Score competition was just starting to ramp up with some early season race winners being toppled by some club regulars and peak race season competitors. The addition of participation points from the Husky Long Course weekend races and Splash Wollongong race made a difference for some members representing the club across a range of local events.

Unfortunately, with the rest of our club races cancelled for the season there's only one more event that will count towards the point score, which is the NSW Club Champs race in Forster in September. To make it interesting we'll double points for this final race (to match the NSW Club Series rules), so it's not too late to move up the ranks and earn some points for yourself and the club at Club Champs.

To see a full listing and stay up-to-date on the Point Score see our website.

Tell us what you think

Did the addition of a club leader board and new Point Score rules make things more interesting for this season? Are you keen to see the leader board in future seasons and participate in our club races and local events to earn points?

Send us your feedback, good and bad at itc-newsletter@itc.org.au

Looking for something to motivate you to get back into the racing spirit? Catch up on all the past World Triathlon Series and World Cup races from the last several years for free on TriathlonLive.

World Triathlon have offered Triathlon Australia members a 66% discount off monthly TriathlonLive subscription passes. To gain access to this discount, email info@triathlon.org.au with your name and TA membership number and TA will provide you the details!

If you're looking for something to watch as motivation during indoor trainer rides we'd highly recommend reliving some of the great Sprint and Olympic* distance races from the past season.

*Depending how long you like to sit on the trainer.

Find out more

The Triathlon NSW Interclub Series came to an abrupt halt last month as races for the rest of the season were cancelled in response to the global pandemic. Tri NSW decided to end the series early and announce the results based on the races completed so far in the season. The Illawarra Cannons came 4th (close behind Shellharbour Mariners) in the South Coast Series.

Congratulations to club members Sile Crowe and Kye Robinson for making the South Coast Series top 10 MVP ranking. Sile ranked 4th overall and Kye 6th overall. The South Coast Series summary can be found here.

A number of other members earned valuable points for the club across the shorter-than-usual season and the points breakdown for the club can be found here.

Farewell Nathan

After over a decade serving as club coach, Nathan Miller is stepping down from the role. If you've been to one of our weekly run sessions or weekly swim sessions during the summer season you'll know Nathan has been there rain or shine to lead our club training sessions.

Last month Triathlon NSW put a spotlight on club coaches for Coach Appreciation Week and highlighted some of the top club coaches in NSW. Our very own club coach Nathan Miller was nominated and profiled on the Tri NSW website.

Thanks to Nathan for his dedication to the club over the many years and we all look forward to a proper celebration at our awards night later in the year.

Sign up for the newsletter

Did somebody forward you the newsletter? Do you have a friend who might be interested in joining the club? You can sign up for the newsletter at this link.

Send us your feedback

Do you have ideas for the club? Any feedback or requests? We're keen to hear from all of our members about what you want to see more of and how you'd like to engage and socialise with the club. Let us know what you think by sending us a note at itc-newsletter@itc.org.au.

Race Calendar

What's coming up to look forward to?
Don’t forget, ITC members get discounted entry for all ITC Club races.

13 Sep - Ironman Australia (Port Macquarie, NSW)
19 Sep - NSW Club Champs (Forster, NSW)
17 Oct - TriTheGong (Wollongong, NSW)
31 Oct - TriHusky (Huskisson, NSW)
19 Dec - TriCallala (Callala, NSW)
30 Jan - Tri Bateman's Bay (Bateman's Bay, NSW)

***PROVISIONAL ITC RACE DATES (TBC)***
6 Sep - ITC Club Race (duathlon)

11 Oct - ITC Club Race

8 Nov - ITC Club Race

13 Dec - ITC Club Race

24 Jan - ITC Club Race

21 Feb - ITC Club Race

14 Mar - ITC Club Race

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Key:
Tri NSW Interclub Series race
ITC Pointscore participation point earning race

ITC race/event

Our sponsors: