I wanted to throw a couple comments out there for your evaluation and response in reply and continuation to the post about St. Anthonys being dangerous:
1. Team in Training has brought a lot of new athletes into the sport: That's good.
2. Team in Training has a cadre' of individuals who are referred to as "coaches" who assist participants in achieving their goal. These people are not all qualified "coaches". That is bad.
3. May I suggest that one thing missing from the Team in Training concept is a "testing phase" that educates and tests new athletes on remedial swimming, biking and riding skills so as to not pose a hazard to other athletes in a race. The TNT athletes would go through the testing phase, learn transitions, riding a straight line, anti-drafting etiquette, how to go through an aid station properly, etc. before they do their first race. This would enhance their enjoyment of the race and the quality of their expereince.
4. Remember, we were all new at this once, and we were all that person who was "in the way". In my first triathlon back in the early '80s I was second from last. In junior high school I was in a special education gym class.
5. Overall, TNT has been an enormous boon to the sport and endurance sports in general. Are there drawbacks? Certainly. But it is head and shoulders above any "system" we had before to bring people into the sport. It just needs some minor improvement.
Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com
1. Team in Training has brought a lot of new athletes into the sport: That's good.
2. Team in Training has a cadre' of individuals who are referred to as "coaches" who assist participants in achieving their goal. These people are not all qualified "coaches". That is bad.
3. May I suggest that one thing missing from the Team in Training concept is a "testing phase" that educates and tests new athletes on remedial swimming, biking and riding skills so as to not pose a hazard to other athletes in a race. The TNT athletes would go through the testing phase, learn transitions, riding a straight line, anti-drafting etiquette, how to go through an aid station properly, etc. before they do their first race. This would enhance their enjoyment of the race and the quality of their expereince.
4. Remember, we were all new at this once, and we were all that person who was "in the way". In my first triathlon back in the early '80s I was second from last. In junior high school I was in a special education gym class.
5. Overall, TNT has been an enormous boon to the sport and endurance sports in general. Are there drawbacks? Certainly. But it is head and shoulders above any "system" we had before to bring people into the sport. It just needs some minor improvement.
Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com