Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 52, November 2013

Dare to Tri f SA’s ne o O ps! grou t tri gges bi With 90 triathletes signed up to the Modern Athlete Dare To Tri Academy and in full training, this is now one of South Africa’s biggest triathlon training groups, and while the athletes are just in the beginning phase of chasing down their Ironman 70.3 dreams, the team is really fired up! Coach’s Corner ACADEMY EXPERIENCE We regularaly ask our Dare To Tri Academy members to give us an update on their progress. Here’s what we heard back this month. SWIM SPEAK A word from Dare to Tri Coach Derick Marcisz W e closed off Dare to Tri registrations for 70.3 at the end of October and we now have 90 triathletes signed up for this programme. We specialise in taking novice triathletes to their first ever triathlon finish, with the ultimate goal of 70.3 in Buffalo City, and this November, the group will be racing at either the 5150 Germiston or the Global 11 event at Sun City. After a brief recovery period, training for 70.3 will step up a notch as the triathletes strive to be a finisher at one of the most prestige events in SA. Images: Chris Hitchcock & Courtesy Elizma Jordaan, Kobus van Vuuren & Corrie de Hilster SWIM: We have all learnt to ‘sight’ and can easily do 1.5km swimming in the Edenvale quarry! Swimming during the week is done indoors, focusing on technique. BIKE: We are now riding 85km in training. We also do hills, plus time trialling, as well as practising bike riding skills. RUN: Everybody on the programme can run a 10km, with many comfortably doing 15km to 20km. The programme calls for some hill running as well as faster running! Brick runs after a bike ride have proven challenging, even to the seasoned Comrades runners! Our philosophy is to have fun but to prepare properly! We realise that many aspiring triathletes would love to train for and finish a major triathlon like 70.3, but still be able to continue with everyday life! Not all triathlon coaches and programmes offer this, whereas we understand having a high-pressure job, a family and social life. It’s all about balance and we achieve this by doing the least amount of training needed to finish an event like 5150 or 70.3. 32 ISSUE 52 NOVEMBER 2013 / www.modernathlete.co.za Tips from Georgie Thomas, Head Coach, Total Immersion Swimming SA • • • Open water swim practice should not be time trials. The aim is to build confidence, whereas getting into a contest with other swimmers can be counter-productive: Your stroke will probably deteriorate and you will practise poor habits. Use your own swim sessions to practise open water skills, like sighting, drafting, buoying and turning, plus negotiating other swimmers. Therefore, practise swimming close together, where you are actually touching. Vary your speed: Find a pace that is just a bit uncomfortable, but that you can sustain. Move through different paces and play around with how it feels. Elizma Jordaan: “I took a leap of faith and entered Bela Bela and Dare to Tri. I started riding with the team on my mountain bike every Sunday at either Rietvlei or the “Cradle” everyone always talks about. I had a fabulous Bela Bela and entered Germiston and started doing the open water swim with the group on Saturdays at Edenvale to get over my open water fear – I’m proud to say that I am officially over it! Because of Dare to Tri I will soon be an Iron(wo)man, prepared, strong and injuryfree! Thank you Derick!” Kobus Van Vuuren: “About 18 months ago, my friend Kobus Vorster asked me to do a sprint with him. I trained for it, but sadly had to pull out at the last minute. Now, I’ve done a few half marathons and some 100km cycle races, and was certain I’ll be able to complete that part of a triathlon, but swimming was not my strength! So this year he asked me to enter Bela Bela, and I wasn’t very keen on the 1.5km swim. Then I remembered the Dare to Tri programme and Total Immersion Swimming. I obtained the self-help videos, and after a few self-taught lessons, I realised that swimming 1.5km wouldn’t be a problem. My goal was to complete the 5150 triathlon in sub-4 hours, but thanks to a 30-minute swim, I completed it in sub-3:30!” Corrie de Hilster: “When it came to swimming, I thought I might as well give up, because I realised that I was actually only just keeping head above water. Then I joined Total Immersion for a two-day course and started learning to swim. After 10 weeks of training and coaching with Derick, and at age 52, I completed my first ever triathlon at 5150 Bela Bela. All the experiences and assistance to train well are available, as well as professional assistance from relevant people and institutes. It’s fun and the fellow athletes have a good spirit.”

Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 52, November 2013 | Page 32