Newsletter Apr 2023

Chairman’s Update

Dear Tri2O’ers

Welcome to the Tri2O April newsletter and Spring is certainly in the air with the race season just around the corner. I have just entered my first Triathlon since “pre covid” in the hope that I can remember what to do!! 

It was great to see so many Tri2O members running the Reading Half Marathon last weekend, Ed (my son) and I spent a fun couple of hours at Forbury Gardens “High Fiving” members as they ran past….plus anyone else for that matter!

If you missed it on Facebook, congratulations to our Club’s Head Coach Georgia Jackson who was amongst the HUUB Triathlon England South Central Regional Award Winners announced at the end of February. Georgia won the “Participation Coach of the Year” award, well deserved recognition for Georgia’s commitment to her club and her sport.

Our new Kit Secretary Paul Archer has been busy “hustling” suppliers and putting together the latest Tri2O Kit order from Champion Systems, it won’t be long now until all of that lovely Orange and Black (plus some white) Tri2O Teamwear will be delivered ready for the season. PLUS a great Club exclusive Zone3 discount and promotion that Paul has organised, see his recent FB posts for details especially if you are looking for a new WetSuit or email for more info kit@tri2o.club – nice work Paul.

Following the unanimous decision to select Sport in Mind as the charity of choice for Tri2O, I wanted to provide feedback to all members from a recent introductory meeting I had with the Charities CEO and Founder Mr Neil Harris. (not to be mistaken with our Club Captain!)

Neil is a very enthusiastic and compassionate chap who set up Sport in Mind after helping a close friend manage and overcome his mental health issues. Neil designed a physical activity programme for him gradually engaging him into local sport and physical activity on a regular basis. 

Neil kindly provided the brief overview below: 

Sport in Mind is a Reading based nationally acclaimed mental health charity with a simple mission – to improve the lives of people experiencing mental health problems through sport and physical activity.

Sport in Mind delivers innovative physical activity projects for children and adults in partnership with the NHS to promote mental wellbeing, improve physical health, combat social isolation, build self-esteem and empower people to move their lives forward in a positive direction.

The charity’s services are co-designed by people with personal experience of mental health problems and healthcare professionals, have to date supported the recovery of over 17,500 experiencing mental illness across since the charity’s inception in 2010.

Sport in Mind’s services are delivered in a safe and supportive environment to reduce the barriers to physical activity for people experiencing mental health problems. Projects are delivered across community and inpatient care to ensure that anyone experiencing mental health problems, irrespective of how unwell they are, has accessible opportunities to get active.

I am in no doubt that we chose an excellent local charity to support. Our Club run Reading Triathlon will provide a prominent platform to help promote Sport in Mind. Donations given by participants of the race will be welcomed and our pledge to donate at least 10% of net proceeds from the event will allow Tri2O to make a meaningful donation to the Charity.

If any member wishes to raise funds for Sport in Mind please checkout how to easily set up a fundraising page here:- https://www.sportinmind.org/fundraise 

And of course if you have any ideas on how Tri2O could support them further, feel free to drop me an email chairman@tri2o.club

Thanks once again to Sunil for pulling together our newsletter along with all contributors, enjoy……!

Looking forward to sharing a wonderful 2023 Tri2O season with you.

Best wishes

Mike Nash
Chairman


Membership Update

Our annual membership renewal has been completed. The club has 146 members signing up. We would like to welcome the following new members who have joined since the last newsletter in February:

  • Benjamin Sutton
  • Charlotte Haines
  • Clare Kelly
  • Katie Brittles
  • Kevin Evely
  • Patrick Coffey

We hope you enjoy training and being part of the team.
Please don’t forget to sign up to your sessions on Stack Teamapp in advance and join the club Facebook group. You will have had a welcome email with the links – please let me know if you did not receive this.

Anthony Dench
Membership Secretary
 

Virtual Run Club – That’s the Wrap!

Tri2O Virtual Run Club (VRC): To mark the completion of VRC for the 2022/23 autumn winter season, here are a few highlights from the sessions!

  • Oct – Dec 22: 8 structured run sessions from ‘strides’ to ‘up and overs’ to ‘easy’ and ‘getting your long run right’. Great to see what some consistent running and challenging yourself a little more can achieve – great effort from Gyles Ifill who slipped and glided his way to complete an awesome muddy 10 miler at the infamous Gutbuster in December.
  • Jan – April 23: 8 structured sessions from progression, speed, tempo, fast finish to interval running. The group raised the bar with some faster paced running simulating race fatigue and focus on mental toughness. Take a bow Miha Razinger, by challenging himself during these sessions Miha nailed a PB at Reading Half in April.

All the VRC sessions are easily accessible, so if you are new to the club – welcome! missed out or just need some inspiration to spice up your next run, check out Tri2O Facebook page and search ‘VRC’. All VRC sessions are there ready for you to download.

As we approach the triathlon season, now is a great time to set yourself new run goals. To help you set out your training paces you are welcome to email me your 5k time or recent race to calculate your paces and/or answer your run questions! Email: run@tri2o.club or Edwina.mcdowall@hotmail.co.uk

That’s all for the autumn/winter run season, it would be great to expand participation further, so any ideas please do just let me know. Wishing you all fantastic runs over the spring and summer!

Something new for Spring … Tri2O Tuesday Prospect Park sessions and Track Friday (Night of the Track PBs) with Reading Roadrunners at Palmer Park which is open to non-RR and guests on 14th April and 26th May.

Happy Running!

Edwina McDowall
 

Tri2O Triathlon Club Information 

Since we had our renewals in Apr its a good time to send out a refresher with details and contacts about our club.   

We use TeamApp to sign up for all club sessions.  You can book on to as many sessions as you like.

To join our swimming sessions you must be able to swim a minimum of 200m front crawl in one go (speed does not matter!).  If you have any concerns about this, please contact one of the coaches to discuss.

It is also useful to have, and bring to each session, a pull bouy, paddles, training fins and a central snorkel to get best use from the technique drills. If you want any advice on the best ones, there are several posts on the Facebook group you can search. (One such example attached here – https://www.facebook.com/groups/tri2otriathlonclub/permalink/5807861079246716/

The swim card costs £67.50 for 10 swims – pay by bank account transfer – the club bank account details are on the card, using your first name and the swim card number as a reference.  Alternatively you can pay for each session as you go using the facility on TeamApp.  This will be £7 per session.

As well as our website and regular newsletter that you will receive, we have a closed Facebook group, Strava group and TeamApp.  If you would like to join all the links are listed below, please apply to join – we will accept you 🙂

Please save the club website and email address:
Web : http://tri2o.club/
eMail : info@tri2o.club

Please access the members only area: https://www.tri2o.club/members-area/  where you will find

  • Members’ Handbook (with links to discount offers)
  • Club Constitution
  • Committee Members Roles and Responsibilities
  • Members and Coaches Code of Conduct
  • Group Club Ride Code of Conduct
  • AGM presentation and Minutes

Members only area is restricted to Tri2O club members only, please do not share this link publicly.  
Members’ Handbook has link to discount offers available to club members under ‘Benefits for Club Members‘.

Here are links to our Social Media accounts, please request to join.  We would recommend you join the closed Facebook group as it’s the best way to keep up-to-date with club news.
fb group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/tri2otriathlonclub 
Strava : https://www.strava.com/clubs/Tri2Oclub  
TeamApp :  https://tri2o.teamapp.com/

Please follow us on Social Media at…
fb page : https://www.facebook.com/tri2Oclub/  (public page)
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/Tri2Oclub/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/Tri2Oclub  

Please use the hashtag #Tri2O #Tri2Oclub in your own posts if you are happy for us to share them and follow the club Instagram and Facebook pages. 

Tri2O Race Calendar can be accessed via  https://tinyurl.com/Tri2O-Events  Please update it with races you have entered so we can give you a shout out/ sync up with other Tri2O members at the event. 

Following is the name and email address of club committee members
Chairman – chairman@tri2o.club  – Mike Nash
Secretary – secretary@tri2o.club – Nora Holford              
Treasurer – treasurer@tri2o.club – Stuart Jay              
Head Coach – coaching@tri2o.club – Georgia Jackson
Communications Officer – info@tri2o.club – Sunil Fernandes
Social Secretary – social@tri2o.club – Clare Hawthorn
Club Captain – clubcaptain@tri2o.club – Neil Harris
Welfare (& Covid19) Officer – welfare@tri2o.club – Zoe Wiseman

Membership Secretary – membership@tri2o.club – Anthony Dench
Kit Officer – kit@tri2o.club – Paul Archer
Social Media – media@tri2o.club – Sian Vaughan

Swim Officer – swim@tri2o.club – Susan Martin
Bike Officer – bike@tri2o.club – Clare Harris
Run Officer – run@tri2o.club – Edwina McDowall

Reading Triathlon Committee – events@tri2o.club
Race Director – Pete Gough  
Reading Tri Team Coordinator – Georgia Jackson
Reading Tri Team Coordinator – Jamie Shillam


Dates for your diary

  • TBC (May) : Katie’s Pink Ride.
  • 17-Jun-2023 : Tri2O Famous Fish n’ Chips Ride to Hayling Island
  • Summer : Social BBQ – A relaxed social catch up with club members whilst enjoying a BBQ in the sun (hopefully)
  • 03-Sep-2023 : Reading Triathlon 2023

We would love to hear from you

The next newsletter will be in June 2023, please send your contribution to info@tri2o.club before 10th June 2023.

Categories: blog, newsletter