Raise the Bar
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RTB Team Clothing Order 2016

3/22/2016

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 Uniforms

Q. What is new this year with uniforms?
A. A LOT! We have moved to a new uniform company (Sugoi) and are pretty excited about the clothing.  We have a NEW DESIGN as well. There isn't a change in colors or sponsors, but the uniform will look different (see photos).  You can learn more about the Sugoi clothing at their Apparel Technology page. This page will go over the types of chamois, fabrics and fit to expect.
Sugoi has 3 clothing lines- RSE, RS and Evolution. RSE is the most expensive, RS less expensive and Evolution the least expensive. The difference is in the material and you can find more about each material on the items online description or at the Apparel Technology page link above.

Q. Do I need to buy a new uniform this year?
A. 
We really, really would like everyone to race in a current race top in 2016. As far as shorts, if you are wearing team shorts, we would like them also to be the current 2016 uniform. If you wear plain black, then those are not in conflict. If you absolutely cannot purchase a race top, we will ask that you borrow from a team member or rent from our "rent a uni top" program. Though remember not all sizing will be available in that program. 
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Q. How do I know what size to get?
A. Starting on Friday, March 25, you will be able to go to Northwest Tri and Bike and try on items from the Fit Kit (sample clothing). Take a piece of paper to write down what you choose as when you go online, there are several options. Unfortunately we were unable to get all items in the Fit Kit but the items we have plus the size chart should help you select your items. Most items have a Unisex or Female size option. A few items are female or male (bib shorts). Windblock Jacket and Evolution Relaxed Jersey are only Unisex. 
Fit Kit available March 25- April 3 at Northwest Tri and Bike Only
Sugoi Size Chart and Fit Information
Q. What is the schedule?
A. The Fit Kit (samples of the clothing) will be at Northwest Tri and Bike to try on from March 25- April 3  (Check bike shop hours) Clothing orders can be made anytime using the information below but will be due by Monday, April 4 at 10 PM.Clothing will be shipped to NWTB and be available for pick up in mid-May. If getting to NWTB is hard for you, you will be able to pay for shipping from NWTB to your home (that process and payment will be done after the clothing arrives).


Q. Will there be another order?
A. We will do additional orders, but the clothing will take up to up to 5 weeks after that order closes to arrive. So if you have an early season race that you want a uniform for, order that in the first order and then if you would like to order some additional items, there will be a few other opportunities.
ORDER PROCESS BELOW!

1. Click on this link to access your team order site: https://www.sugoicustomorder.com/raisethebar

2. Find the items you would like to purchase. Click either on the name of the item or the photo. Select gender, size and quantity and add to cart. If you would like to purchase more items then click continue shopping.

3.When done shopping, new users will need to click on New User to create your new User ID and Password. If you already have a username and password, click log in to put in your info. You will then click continue to check out and put in your address and then credit card information to complete the order.

4. After the order deadline date has passed, you will no longer be able to access the order site. If you have not completed the checkout process for your order by this date, any items in your cart will be removed. The Order Deadline is displayed on the order homepage. 
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Everything Counts in March

3/16/2016

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It's March!  With the start of tri season just a couple of months away, every workout matters - every rest day matters...   what you're eating, how you're sleeping.  It all adds up to a great race season - and March is a good time to take stock.

In March it's a great time to size up the race calendar if you haven't already.  Which race or two will be your big 'A' races?  And what races might you just do to get sharpened up for those most important events?  Will you grab a couple of teammates, friends or family members and do a relay?  Our family is checking out the new Shasta Sports Triathlons on Memorial Day Weekend for some fun and travel and grudge racing. 

If you (and your family, employers, etc.) have made some sacrifices for you future A-race, then In March it's time to stop casually skipping workouts.,    Most of us deal with busy schedules and we have people that count on us so there are inevitable conflicts that get in the way of training - that's life.  But if you can get up a little earlier, or shuffle your schedule and get it in, you'll be proud of the athlete you bring to the starting line and will cross the finish line knowing you brought your best-prepared self on race day.

In March it's time to quit ignoring those nagging injuries and "itis's" you thought would go away over the winter.  Hamstring and Achilles Tendonitis?  Plantar Fascitis?  Get to one of our partners in health care and sort that out!  Quick!  Coming up next month, we're hosting an event with Road Runner Sports that will bring some great medical minds together that you can pester. Put April 14 on your calendar.

In March you can train into the evening hours outside in daylight if you're so inclined- FINALLY.   In March you can log your aerobic gardening and yard cleanup workouts. In March you can go play outside with your kids and grandkids while they get in shape for their soccer games or track meets or bike races. 

2016 is warming up and lightening up - it's a great time to be an athlete!

Patty Swedberg
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RTB Coached Swims....Early AM Sunday swim added

3/9/2016

 
In addition to managing a big triathlon Team  and  producing some popular Pacific Northwest Swim and Triathlon Events , Raise the Bar  provides Coached Swim Training throughout the week and are adding a workout on Sunday Mornings at 6:30AM at the Kent-Meridian Pool.

RTB'  workouts are primarily freestyle-based.  You won't be forced to do any butterfly, breast, or back strokes, but you'll have the opportunity to do those if you like. We are firmly planted in the world of triathlon - and triathletes are pretty stuck on freestyle. 

There's always a coach on deck who leads the workout and you'll swim in a lane with swimmers your same general speed.  The advantage of this type of swim workout over swimming solo at the athletic club or local pool has been proven hundreds of times - you'll get faster sooner!  Motivating yourself to swim with the same intensity solo is next to impossible - group workouts breed improving swimmers.

There are 3 coaches at our swims.... 

Erin Eronemo is our morning coach - Tues/Thurs/Sat/ and now on Sunday.  Erin has a 3-decade history in triathlon - he's won MANY races, raised a couple of swimmers from birth, and brings an unparalleled love for triathlon to the pool deck. 


Mike Murphy
- a lifelong swimmer who now travels the country officiating swimmers of every caliber, and brings a wealth of experience as a coach is our Monday Night Coach. He's also the Swim Course director of our triathlons.  

Patty Swedberg
(that's me) is the co-owner and founder of RTB.  I'm a fan of improvement through hard work while having fun (triathlon = recreational activity = fun...right?) - so expect something along those lines with me on Wednesday night. 

All of us are intent on your improvement - It's what motivates us to keep you swimming hard, efficiently, and consistently.

Your first coached swim at RTB is free!  That's so you can try it out and see if you like it.  If not - you've only lost an hour.  If you like it - sign up!
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Erin Eronemo
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Mike Murphy
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Patty Swedberg
RTB's Swim Workouts have Recently Exploded in Attendance

And that's why we've added a Sunday swim - early enough for you to get to your morning ride, run, or church service.  Erin Eronemo is looking forward to welcoming swimmers of all abilities to the workout - wondering if you'll fit in?  If you can swim 50 yards freestyle at any pace - fast or slow - you're perfect.

Fees:  If you sign up for the 'session' - basically a block of swims every couple of months - you'll pay $11/swim. (RTB members pay $8/swim). If you've looked at other programs, you'll realize this is really low.  Is the quality lower than other, more expensive swims?  NO.  If you think so, we'll refund you - no worries.  You do not need to have a US Master's or USA Swimming license to participate in RTB swims.  Right now the session price is $66 for non-RTB members, and $48 for RTB members. There is no swim on Easter Sunday.
Register Here for Swims

Why I Tri? by Katie Zech

3/2/2016

 
PictureTroika Sprint 2015
For years soccer ruled my life. When I was younger, the opposing team parents used to yell, “Watch out for that redhead!” My parents got a kick out of that. They came to all my games for 17 years and even made it to several of my college games in Kansas.

Then in 2009, a high school soccer teammate pinged me on Facebook and randomly said, “let’s do the Seafair triathlon.” What! I mean, that included swimming. Of which my best skill at the time was not drowning. I never was a water kid, nor were we a water activity family. No biggie. My life revolved around soccer, with a little bit of basketball and track thrown in during the off season.

Attempting the swim was the scariest thing for me. I mean putting my face in the water and trying to breathe seemed impossible. An ex-boyfriend tried to give me swim lessons, but he gave up after one session in the pool when he realized how little experience swimming I actually had. It was pretty darn humorous. I could have done Seafair as a relay, but I was determined to take on a sport that I was not good at. My grandmother swam across the San Francisco bay in the 1920’s, so a half mile, in a wetsuit, in a lake, was totally doable, right?!

During my training I met this amazingly supportive and awesome chick Marlene at the Puyallup High School pool. She saw me struggling to swim and we chatted. She was a friend of a friend. She took me under her wing, let me borrow her road bike, and even came to the Seafair triathlon to cheer me on. Her excitement about triathlon was contagious.

I survived my first season of triathlon (3 races) with a lot of back-stroke and side stroke for when the waves of swimmers behind caught up and passed me. It just meant I had to get on my borrowed road bike and pedal faster and run on my jello legs faster. My brother came to support me at two of my 3 races (the only family member willing to wake up at 5am).

I was hooked after the first race and there was no turning back. My soccer friends lost a co-ed rec teammate. I bought my first road bike and a body glove wetsuit from Costco.

My greatest accomplishment is actually learning to swim - somewhat properly. It’s an ongoing attempt. I can now get out of the water with my wave and not two behind me

One of the best things about triathlon, and what drew me to it, is the camaraderie and friendliness of the people. My boss came to take pictures at a race and asked me if I knew the women I was talking to before and after. He was surprised to hear me say I had just met them. The passion triathletes have and their willingness to chat and share and bring you into the triathlon fold is so awesome. Very similar to my experience with the running community when I was training for my first marathon in 2012.

Soccer post college was full of adult attitude and arguing with refs and teammates and worrying if a teammate came to play or just run around. It was also full of good people whom I am still friends with, but the attitudes from others got to me. It has been nice having only to rely on myself to finish a race. I don’t have to worry if my teammate brought their A game. The individualness of triathlon, outside of the camaraderie, has been just what I needed to renew my athletic spirit. Sometimes I’m a bit too competitive and have to remind myself it’s not all about times, but also about enjoying the moment and the gift of health and fitness.

2013 was a rocking and successful year of triathlon and running but I over-trainined and under-strength trained leading me to a variety of hip and knee flareups. After 2 years of trouble shooting and recovery I’ve finally found a balance.

This gift of health and fitness is one of the reasons I started the non-profit Running for Tyler (runningfortyler.org). A friend of mine owes over $300,000 in medical bills for his son Tyler. Told Tyler would only live to 2 — he is now 24. Tyler has severe hearing loss and partial loss of sight in his right eye. He is severely developmentally disabled and has respiratory problems. I do most running races wearing a bright orange “Runningfortyler.org” shirt. I get asked at least a few times a race about Tyler. Any exposure to help raise money is great. My BRF's and I usually do the Rainier 2 Ruston relay as the Running for Tyler team.

This is the beginning of my second year as a South South RTB’er. I skirted the group for years, joining in on group swims, lessons and chatting with members at races. Actually joining was the best decision I made. I continue to meet members at each event and race, and the support on race courses is encouraging and definitely kept me going during the Black Diamond 70.3 when all I wanted to do was quit.
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June 22nd is my 40th birthday and four days after I’ll be doing CdA 70.3. What a great big party! I can’t wait.

On a side note, my dad has never been to one of my running or triathlon races as an adult. He is NOT a morning person and doesn’t get cheering at a race where he only sees me a few times in a few hours. Dad says he did 17 years of standing out in the cold and rain for soccer games. I don’t blame him. However, I did recently get him to agree that when I do a full ironman, he will be at the race cheering me on. His caveat is that it’s a warmer weather location (he gets cold easily). This is huge! And since he turns 80 just 5 months after I turn 40, I’m thinking a full ironman is in my near future - probably 2018. Any suggestions?! ​

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    • SEASON KICKOFF!!
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    • Log in
    • Team Directory >
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      • Manage your Directory Listing
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    • Andy Potts Racing & Coaching >
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        • Compare Plans
      • 70.3 Race Groups
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