Triathlons - July 2002 Update

Kristen Turner has been coaching swimmers and triathletes for over a decade. She is a former NCAA Division I swimmer as well as age-group world champion in triathlon. More recently, she placed third overall elite in the 2001 Danskin Women's Triathlon in Austin, 2nd in the 2001 Texas State Champoinships, and was named a 2001 Triathlon All-American . She and her family (mother, father & brother) were the first family ever to finish the Hawaii Ironman in 1998. She lives in Austin with her husband Nathan and son Austin. They are expecting their second child in June, 2002.

Having been a triathlete for over twenty years now, and a swim coach for over ten years, I have seen first-hand the importance of master's swimming to the triathlete. For years, I've heard triathletes with non-swimming backgrounds express being intimidated by traditional master's swim programs. For some triathletes, the focus on swimming drills, sets with different strokes (especially butterfly!), and swim competitions has not been appealing to those who would rather log long freestyle yardage. However, triathlons have become increasingly popular and more and more triathletes are turning to master's swim programs as part of their training regimen. It is my observation as a swimmer, triathlete and coach that most master's swim programs are working toward developing mutually beneficial relationships with the triathletes.

Although triathletes are easily spotted at a swim workout (need I mention the cycling short tan, the neon colored triathlon swim caps, and the men's shaved legs?), when a triathletes enters the pool, s/he becomes a swimmer. As one triathlete wrote, "…personally I dislike being categorized as someone who swims for triathlon. To me it is that I came back to swimming to try triathlon and found that I love swimming in and of itself. When I swim, I am a swimmer. When I run, I am a runner. When I bike, I am a cyclist. Pursuing each sport on its own is my goal. Putting it all together is simply a higher goal that detracts none whatsoever from being involved in each discipline."

It is my goal that the South Texas Master's website triathlon page will provide a place where the swimmer-triathlete can find resources to support both their involvement in swimming and in triathlon. Each month we will feature a triathlete, who is involved in a South Texas Master's Swim program. We will also provide links to local and national triathlon organizations. Please feel free to contact me with your ideas or feedback at kristenmturner@hotmail.com.

Kristen Turner
kristenmturner@hotmail.com