Thoughts from the RTB Team Manager

The original "RTB in a Nutshell" document

​In March of 2007, I sat down with Patty to discuss RTB. At the time, I had been swimming with RTB for almost a year but had never done a triathlon. I had spent that year stalking the RTB website and finally joined the team that spring. I was a mom of a 7 and 4 year old, looking for something to do in my few hours of “free” time.  And I had mentioned to Patty that I would love to volunteer to help her with RTB if she needed. Patty and I had only met a year before when I signed up for swim, so we were just getting to know each other back then.

We sat down in her kitchen in March. She handed me a document that was called “Raise the Bar in a Nutshell”.  The four main aspects of RTB were training, team, projects and office.  I remember her carefully explaining each of those parts and then asking me what I thought I would be good at.  We came up with a small list and she hired me to work 12 hours a month. (Yes, a month). 

I remember my first job was to order car stickers for the RTB car, the white Escape the Swedbergs still drive around. I pretty much failed at that job. I don’t remember exactly why but those stickers never ended up on the car. 

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Yes, those are my notes from Day 1.

My notes of that first year include sweatshirts orders, bike rental program, swim workout pricing (it has only gone up $1 for team members per workout in 10 years), newsletters, bios (remember those old RTB members?), Lake Meridian training, end of the year party with an auction, website changes, spin classes, race calendars, race results, the beginning notes of XTERRA Black Diamond and the Raise the Hope program… I see names of people that were part of my welcome to RTB: Lisa Mason, Stephanie Monroe, Mike Loso, Mary (Hanna) Richards, Toby Mollet, Robin Payment, Angela Meeks and all of the RTH ladies, Ann Sloan, Becki Neel, Brian and Elisa Hope.

A lot has changed in these almost 10 years and a lot has not. Patty and I sat down last week with a document that included the RTB 2016 Goal and Team Objectives.  I do not have the team goal from 2007 but I imagine it is pretty close to the 2016 goal of “Create opportunities for fun and personal achievement through multisport”.  I know that is why I wanted to join in 2007. I wanted to be part of this group that was having so much fun being active.

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Finish of my first triathlon in 2007, 5 Mile Lake

So what does 2017 look like from a Team Manager’s point of view? It looks busy.  The team continues to grow and become stronger.  I love this team as much as I did when I joined. I have so much pride for the people that are part of it and I am forever thankful for the friendships and community that surrounds me and my family.  I will keep checking in with our members, try to keep track of their race schedules, making sure they know when they need to renew their membership and keeping them informed.

RTB Events will move into 2017 with 5 events (if you are counting, that is the same as 2016 but you might be surprised by #2). I will continue to be in charge of Athlete Services. Think of me every time you use a honey bucket, yep, I ordered those along with setting up registration and ordering shirts, medals, pint glasses, garbage cans (all glamorous jobs come to me- garbage/honey buckets) and more. As an athlete, I don’t think I really put much thought into how an event comes together but I can tell you now; it is an exhausting amount of work.  And every finish smile (grimace), I see on race day, makes it worth it. 

RTB will keep on training triathletes.  Some of the programming includes beginner clinics, swim workouts, swim videos, training camps, short course camp, a RTB retreat, Lake Meridian Training, new coaching options, increasing workouts on the calendar…  Will all of this happen? We will see. But if something on this list piques your interest, reach out to me so I know there is interest.

​Being a Team Manager is about details. I found out, I really like details. I am forever thankful to Patty for meeting with me that day in March. It set me on a path; I did not foresee, but in some ways am not shocked by.  So bring on 2017, my 10th year of RTB…

Go RTB!

Kathy 
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