As we leap into another financial year (can you hear the accountant’s party poppers going off???) we again face the dilemma of whether or not to sign up as a member of Triathlon Australia (TA).

As someone who has been a member for a good 15+ years, paying the membership fee each June/July has been a ritual as much about supporting our awesome sport as it has been for obtaining whatever membership benefits have been on offer.

Over the past decade, the introduction of a single day licence has gradually reduced the need for an annual membership in many athletes’ cases. Note I haven’t said it eliminates the need for membership as the insurance cover included in membership covers you 24/7 while racing and training.

Seeing as the TA site currently displays no mention of membership for the 2011-12 period (note that it begins in approximately 2 hours time as I write this), it is natural to question whether you should be signing up simply out of a desire to “support the sport”.

So a couple of points to consider  until we know what membership for 2011-12 will include and cost:

• Where will you be racing? Domestically or overseas at championship races? Do you want to be eligible to win state/national/world titles?
• If you have private health insurance, does it cover you while training AND racing?

I’d love to see TA do a brilliant job of representing and nurturing our sport as they have done so in the past, but I refuse to blindly pay once again if the benefits are questionable. Having said that, nothing would please me more right now than to hand over my dollars and know that TA plan to use them to introduce more people to our sport and provide prompt, professional service.

Bring it on TA, show us what you’ve got to offer.

For all of us living down under in Australia, tonight is the winter solstice. Tomorrow sees a little more daylight and we inch ever so slowly back to the joys of summer. Remember those? Rides in the sun, open water swims and putting on the sunscreen before a run. That’s the life we love.

Here’s a little video that might give you a little boost to come out of winter stronger, tougher and faster. Race day is on it’s way…

Picture this. You’re out riding one day and a little way up the road you see another cyclist, pedaling considerably slower than yourself and wearing kit that looks like it’s well beyond it’s best before date. As you approach, without a second thought you edge out to the right and zoom on by, perhaps with a little “g’day” or a wave of your hand. At that point, your thoughts turn to the road ahead. That guy behind you doesn’t even get a second thought.

On the odd occasion, that guy you just passed will have achieved more than you ever have on your two wheeled steed. Someday, should you cruise past and strike up a conversation, you may find that that old guy has raced in the past. And not just raced, but experienced races tougher than those that exist today. His ride today isn’t because he’s training for something, it’s because he just loves riding his bike.

Continue Reading “That Old Guy You Just Passed” »

For those of you combining triathlon and being a new parent, the latest issue of eMag Ryding2Health features an article specifically aimed at new fathers, combining advice from both Jon Elliott and myself.

Check out the article if you’re a new dad – it contains some useful tips regarding improving how you juggle both your triathlon and parenting.

The mag contains plenty of other entertaining and useful content as well – and it’s absolutely free!

Here is a video clip for you to watch this weekend. It’s your right to be want you want to be and do what you want to do. Step out of the everyday and into the world you create for yourself and those around you. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.