Hi Squad, we’re well into race season now, and the energy in the club is unreal. Every weekend someone is out there racing, cheering, volunteering, or pushing their limits in training, and that momentum is contagious.
One of the greatest advantages we have as a club is each other. Teammates are the best form of motivation. When you see someone show up on a tough day, nail a breakthrough session, or step up to a new challenge, it reminds all of us what we’re capable of. Training alone builds fitness, but training together builds belief.
So keep showing up, keep supporting each other, and keep feeding off the collective strength of this group. The season is rolling, and we’re just getting started. Let’s make the next stretch our strongest yet.
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Here’s a quick summary of a TriSutto article that highlights why balance needs to be at the center of our training. We all only get so many hours in a day, and a healthy life requires a healthy distribution of those hours. Training is important, but it has to fit within the bigger picture — family, work, and everything else that makes up your life.
I want to chat about something that matters just as much as the training sessions we do together — your life pie. That’s the mix of family, work, and this sport we all love. Every one of us has a different pie, and the balance is always shifting.
Here’s the simple truth: you can’t load up one slice of the pie without taking from another. If training starts pulling too much from family or work, everything gets shaky. And when the rest of your life is unstable, performance eventually follows. Success in this sport comes from stability in the whole picture, not just the training hours.
For us non‑pros, triathlon should be a lifestyle enhancer. It should make you feel better, not worse. Too many athletes turn it into a source of stress or guilt, and that’s when the fun disappears. We never want that for anyone in this club.
We don’t see ourselves as just triathlon coaches. We see ourselves as people who help you keep your life in balance, using triathlon as the tool. Most of you have real jobs, real families, and real responsibilities — and that means the priorities should stay clear:
- Family
- Career
- Physical hobby (triathlon)
Triathlon belongs in that third spot, and that’s exactly where it thrives. When those priorities get flipped, burnout isn’t far behind. Our role is to help you realign things when they drift and to be the voice of reason when the “more is better” mindset starts creeping in. We want you still loving this sport ten years from now, not flaming out because you tried to train like a pro while living a full life.
The benefits of triathlon are massive when done with moderation. It can make you healthier, calmer, more confident, and more resilient — and those positives spill into every part of your life. And yes, you can absolutely improve your performance while keeping your life balanced. Those two things can coexist.
You’ve seen how hands‑on our coaching is — constant communication, adjusting plans to your real‑world circumstances, and making sure training fits your life, not the other way around. That’s how we get the best results.
We truly believe you can enjoy everything this sport offers and still be a net positive to the people around you. That’s our mission as a club: to make your life better, not heavier. Triathlon should help you decompress, not add to the stress you already carry.
Let’s keep building a version of this sport that lifts you up, supports your whole life, and keeps you in the game for years to come.
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Backyard Ultra
Jill is taking on the challenge of the Backyard Ultra! A couple of words of advice:
- Don’t fear the whistle, get excited for it.
- Don’t set a limit on how far you think you can go. Keep your mind open to the possibility that you can run far beyond what you imagine.
If you haven’t heard of a Backyard Ultra before, it’s a race where everyone DNF’s except the winner. Athletes run a 4.16‑mile loop, called a yard, that starts on the hour, every hour, until only one person is left standing. This wonderfully twisted format was created by Laz Lake, the same mastermind behind the Barkley Marathons.
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Training Camp!
Training Camp sign up live. You can sign up CTC Triathlon Training Camp – 2026 | CCN
Cost is $135.
Only 2 spots are available. If you are interested please sign up ASAP.
Date: July 10th-12th; Two weeks out from Calgary 70.3, perfect timing to cap off your training and start tapering!
All members will be welcome to attend, we will adjust workouts based on what you are training for.
Email me for more details or if you have any questions.
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Open Water Swimming
Harmony Lake on Thursday evenings @ 6:30pm.
When you show up, let them know you are with CTC and make sure to sign the waiver when you arrive for your first swim of the year.
The drop‑in fee will be $8, please e-transfer to payments@cochranetriclub.ca each time you come for a swim.
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Saturday Rides
The weather is starting to look better and some of us are already riding outside.
For now, keep an eye on the Cycling Channel on What App. Once the weather is a little warmer and more consistent we will start to organize group rides for Saturday mornings.
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Sunday Runs –
Reminder, Monthly Coffee Social this Sunday!
Starting at Coffee Traders
8:00 AM – Long/Faster Group
+12 km @ ~5:45–6:15 min/km pace
9:00 AM – Short Run Groups
- 8 min/km group
6 min/km group
Distances: 5–10 km
Everyone is welcome to join us for coffee at 10 AM, even if you don’t run.