1. What is together
we tri?
2. How long have you been training
people?
3. How did the company start?
4. Who are the coaches?
5. How do you train us from a base
level?
6.Where do you meet for training?
7. How many days do you meet for group
training?
8. How many days a week do I need to
train?
9. What are your programs?
10. What is a brick workout?
11. Do I have to know how to swim?
12. What if I don?t have a bike?
13. Is it expensive to do a triathlon?
14. Do I have to be doing a regular
exercise program to start your program?
15. Who enrolls in your programs?
1. What is together
we tri?
Together We Tri is a triathlon training company
based in Chicago targeting all levels of athletes
in the pursuit of doing a triathlon. Whether it?s
there first or 100th. We offer something for everyone
with our programs. We have just been voted the number
one triathlon-training program in Chicago by Chicago
Athlete magazine readers. Something we are very
proud of. We have helped many athletes through our
coaching staff and continue to be passionate in
helping all of you with your goals. Whether it?s
crossing the finish line for the first time or winning
your age group, we have a program that suits your
needs.
2. How long have you been
training people?
TWT began training athletes in 2001 and have trained over 1000 individuals. We will continue to grow at a
pace that we can deliver a quality program so everyone
gets personal attention and isn't lost in the shuffle
like other meg programs. Participants in our groups
always become great friends, and by keeping our
programs limited to 30 people per group you get
the individual coaching you need.
3. How did the company
start?
In San Francisco, I got the triathlon bug and wanted
to extend this experience to all of my friends.
I am in the medical field and a personal trainer
so a bunch of doctor friends and triathletes that
I knew came up with a program that can be modified
safely to fit anyone?s level and get them across
the finish line. I came up with lectures and points
that needed to be covered for a new triathlete to
feel comfortable come race day as well as tips and
workouts to help seasoned athletes improve their
skills and times and we added all of it to the 12
week program for a complete training experience.
4. Who are the coaches?
Chicago triathletes that are passionate about training.
All of our coaches are nationally certified and
have extensive triathlon backgrounds. Although all
triathletes now, some come from a running back ground,
Others are century cyclists, and some are nationally
ranked swimmers. Our coaches also range form recreational
triathletes to elite competitors including 8-time
Iron men with national rankings. We all have a common
goal of helping others in the pursuit of a great
goal and something we are all passionate about sharing.
5. How do you train us
from a base level?
Our programs emphasize safety so we encourage all
of our participants to listen to their body and
increase appropriately which is 10-15% per week,
making sure to include taper weeks. Our programs
take each persons base level into account. The first
three weeks concentrates on technique and getting
your body ready for increases appropriate for you.
Our programs also have mentors to train with you.
People who are new to the sport as well and may
have done their first event a season ahead of you.
We help you each pace yourself in the training whether
you are running for the first time with walk breaks
or a 6-minute miler. We take it all into account.
6.Where do you meet for
training?
Our programs are housed at All of the Lakeshore
athletic clubs this season at various times. Our
technique lectures start there as well as our initial
training, then our group starts meeting at the lakefront
for more intense workouts as well as open water
swims, brick workouts practicing transitions and
dress rehearsals simulating the actual race.
7. How many days do you
meet for group training?
We meet two days a week as a group, but you receive
a day by day schedule of what to do so there are
no questions in regards to your training schedule.
Also all of our participants have e-mail access
to our coaches, so even on non group days we are
there to answer any questions.
8. How many days a week
do I need to train?
A minimum of 4 days a week. Giving your weakest
sport 2 days of focus and your 2 stronger sports
one day a week. Building on all with increasing
intensity and endurance, but allowing rest days
and tapers in between your intense weeks is the
best way to train. We always stress that more often
than not less is more. You must always listen to
your body while training. The most common schedule
however is a 5-day a week training schedule. With
2 days a week on your 2 weakest sports and 1 day
a week on what you consider your strength. Many
seasoned athletes train 6 days a week and 1 rest
day. But this intensity is not needed for most people.
9. What are your programs?
Beginning to Tri is a 2-hour lecture, covering the
basics of triathlon. We go over race distances,
gear, transition set up and how to formulate your
own safe training schedule. It?s a big Q & A
session to try and help the participants answer
their personal questions and concerns before venturing
into their first attempt.
Our Stronger Tri is a series of tri focused workouts,
one workout a week each lasting 2 hours. Each workout
we do weights to compliment the sport we are focusing
on, for instance the first week we do arm weights
and a swim, the second leg weights and a spin, the
third abs and a run and the final week we do a mini
triathlon.
And our most popular program is our Complete Tri,
which is a 12-week program where we meet two days
a week for group training and then you follow the
day by day schedule given to you for training. We
have technique clinics to evaluate all sports. Nutrition,
injury prevention, transition lectures and open
water swims as well as practice with your brick
workouts and dress rehearsals. This is our most
inclusive and makes training a lot more fun since
you have a group pursuing the same goal. Plus your
confidence is great come race day, which makes the
whole adventure a lot more fulfilling. It becomes
a fun challenge rather than a scary challenge.
10. What is a brick
workout?
A brick workout is basically a back to back workout,
for instance doing a swim followed immediately by
a bike, or a cycle followed immediately by a run.
This is to practice going from sport to sport and
training your body to call on different muscles
or sometimes the same muscles in a different capacity
immediately. Doing Bricks is a great way to help
with your endurance and to practice your transitions
for a better time.
11. Do I have to know
how to swim?
For a triathlon you must feel comfortable and practice
an efficient stroke in your training, for our program
however, we have had people that were even afraid
of the water or very poor swimmers to start and
after our clinics and a few lessons became confident
with a proficient stroke. Our programs will take
your level and teach you to the best of our ability
an efficient technique in order to train appropriately
and get you across the finish line. We have so far
had a 100% success rate even among participants
that couldn?t swim a single lap when they joined
our program.
12. What if I don?t
have a bike?
You will eventually need a bike for the event, however
you can start our program with out a bike initially.
We do try to encourage you after our bike lecture
and giving you tips on what would suit you best
that you find one to train and race with. This could
be borrowed, rented or purchased. It doesn?t have
to be anything fancy if your goal is just to cross
the finish line. It can be a granny bike with a
basket on front a mountain bike or a road. We emphasize
a good fit but we say as long as it fits, has 2
wheels and you can pedal it. That?s all you need.
A light road bike will get you there faster, but
there is no need to spend the money for your first
experience. A warning however, many participants
get hooked and one of the best ways to better your
time is to purchase a fast bike for the next race.
13. Is it expensive
to do a triathlon?
Race entries range anywhere from $40-75 dollars
for a sprint distance and as much as $500 for
an Iron man. The gear can be as minimal as a bathing
suit and goggles and a borrowed bike and a good
pair of running shoes. You can however invest a
lot in your equipment as you want to upgrade, but
it is not necessary especially if you are pursuing
this as a goal to cross the finish line and not
become an elite competitor...yet.
14. Do I have to be
doing a regular exercise program to start your program?
No although it is better for your overall health
to be doing a regular schedule. Many people just
have not found the time until they commit to a program
such as ours. We start our programs with a base
phase lasting 3 weeks that gets your body used to
a routine before we start increasing intensity.
If you are already on a regular program however
we can start your increases day one of training
after we go over proper technique. You can follow
the more aggressive program in your logbooks given
to you in our training groups.
15. Who enrolls in your
programs?
All shapes and sizes, ages and people of varies
athletic abilities. We have a lot of self proclaimed
couch potatoes, nationally ranked swimmers who have
never run a step, out of shape college stars, marathoners
and seasoned triathletes wanting to better their
skills. We have such a diverse group all wanting
to accomplish a similar goal and overcome... whether
it's to do a first race. Get over the fear of water,
learn how to run, or train to win their age group.
WE all have fun pursuing our own goal together.
