Welcome Aboard!
Welcome to (or back to) Raise the Bar (RTB). We are happy to have you on board for a year of swimming antics. The mission of Raise the Bar (RTB) is to create opportunities for fun and adventure in sport and we will work hard to make sure that happens for you. Below you'll find descriptions of some of the elements of swim membership. It may not answer all of your questions, but it's a good start. If you are new to Raise the Bar, you'll be getting some confirmation emails and should expect to hear from our RTB Team Wrangler, Carolyn, very soon. You can email Carolyn anytime with questions.
Who We Are
RTB has been around since 2004. We’ve grown from a team of seven women to a team of around 250 adult endurance enthusiasts! In the early days, it was all about racing triathlons. As we evolved, our competing triathletes have been joined by single-sport athletes, people who love to find fun and fitness without the element of competition, hikers, social bike riders, etc. This team is a home for every adult of every level of fitness who likes endeavoring in endurance. RTB is owned by Patty Swedberg and Brad Williams. Carolyn Vahrenwald is our Team Wrangler and handles all the team-related business. If you like, you can find out more about us Here.
Welcome to (or back to) Raise the Bar (RTB). We are happy to have you on board for a year of swimming antics. The mission of Raise the Bar (RTB) is to create opportunities for fun and adventure in sport and we will work hard to make sure that happens for you. Below you'll find descriptions of some of the elements of swim membership. It may not answer all of your questions, but it's a good start. If you are new to Raise the Bar, you'll be getting some confirmation emails and should expect to hear from our RTB Team Wrangler, Carolyn, very soon. You can email Carolyn anytime with questions.
Who We Are
RTB has been around since 2004. We’ve grown from a team of seven women to a team of around 250 adult endurance enthusiasts! In the early days, it was all about racing triathlons. As we evolved, our competing triathletes have been joined by single-sport athletes, people who love to find fun and fitness without the element of competition, hikers, social bike riders, etc. This team is a home for every adult of every level of fitness who likes endeavoring in endurance. RTB is owned by Patty Swedberg and Brad Williams. Carolyn Vahrenwald is our Team Wrangler and handles all the team-related business. If you like, you can find out more about us Here.
Patty Swedberg
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Brad Williams
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Carolyn Vahrenwald
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Sponsors
There's a terrific group of sponsors that help RTB members save money on products and services in many different areas. The people who are behind these businesses participate in team events - many of them are members who race and enjoy the RTB community just like you will. They are our friends and we ask you to go to them first if you're looking for the goods or services they provide. We stand behind them and ask you to do the same. Sponsor benefits and discounts are available to Multisport, RTB Lite & Swim members. The swim benefits and discounts are included in the Multisport & RTB Lite memberships |
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Communication
We send regular updates to our members and they will go to the email address you provided when you registered. If you need to change this, please let Carolyn know.
The Raise the Bar website is the best source of general information about our teams, events, and training. We update the site as often as possible, but for the most recent info, be sure and read the RTB updates coming to your email inbox.
We also send out a newsletter twice a month with some great information, including introductions to our newest members.
Some of the best member-to-member communication happens on FACEBOOK. Please consider getting a Facebook account if you don't have one! We have a Team RTB group page that you’ll be invited to join. Please do! If you aren’t a friend of Carolyn Vahrenwald through FB already, that’s a good next step to take so she can invite you. Friend her here!
We send regular updates to our members and they will go to the email address you provided when you registered. If you need to change this, please let Carolyn know.
The Raise the Bar website is the best source of general information about our teams, events, and training. We update the site as often as possible, but for the most recent info, be sure and read the RTB updates coming to your email inbox.
We also send out a newsletter twice a month with some great information, including introductions to our newest members.
Some of the best member-to-member communication happens on FACEBOOK. Please consider getting a Facebook account if you don't have one! We have a Team RTB group page that you’ll be invited to join. Please do! If you aren’t a friend of Carolyn Vahrenwald through FB already, that’s a good next step to take so she can invite you. Friend her here!
Member Directory (new in 2022!)
We are excited to announce that in May 2022, we are launching a member directory for the first time. The basic listing includes the member's name and the city where they live, as well as how long you've been a part of RTB. You can also upload photos, descriptions, events, training habits, and info about your personal businesses or skills to network with other members. It has a great search engine so you can find other teammates who live or work near you, who are participating in the same events as you, who enjoy some of the same hobbies as you, and other member-related info.
The Goal? To help our team of 250 athletes get to know each other better and connect for training or attending events. You can see the developing directory Here. With an RTB account login, you can add to your own listing here.
We are excited to announce that in May 2022, we are launching a member directory for the first time. The basic listing includes the member's name and the city where they live, as well as how long you've been a part of RTB. You can also upload photos, descriptions, events, training habits, and info about your personal businesses or skills to network with other members. It has a great search engine so you can find other teammates who live or work near you, who are participating in the same events as you, who enjoy some of the same hobbies as you, and other member-related info.
The Goal? To help our team of 250 athletes get to know each other better and connect for training or attending events. You can see the developing directory Here. With an RTB account login, you can add to your own listing here.
Event Planning and Reporting
We have a BIG team and people going every which way to race or participate in charity events or recreational activities. It's fun to see where team members are headed and what events they are competing in each week. We use the "Race Plans" page on our website to keep track of all that great information and could use your help keeping it updated. (You can see where other team members are racing on this same page). Please fill out the race form and let us know what you are doing this season. Please include all swims or other events you participate in. If your plans change, no problem, just let us know and we'll fix it on the back end. We track your events for many reasons. It allows other RTB’ers to know where to find team members, lets our sponsors know where their logos have been, allows RTB to send support teams (cheerleaders) when possible, and gives RTB staff an idea of team needs to support members.
We have a BIG team and people going every which way to race or participate in charity events or recreational activities. It's fun to see where team members are headed and what events they are competing in each week. We use the "Race Plans" page on our website to keep track of all that great information and could use your help keeping it updated. (You can see where other team members are racing on this same page). Please fill out the race form and let us know what you are doing this season. Please include all swims or other events you participate in. If your plans change, no problem, just let us know and we'll fix it on the back end. We track your events for many reasons. It allows other RTB’ers to know where to find team members, lets our sponsors know where their logos have been, allows RTB to send support teams (cheerleaders) when possible, and gives RTB staff an idea of team needs to support members.
Racing as an RTB member
The official wetsuit sponsor of RTB is blueseventy. They are a Seattle-based team and make some of the best wetsuits in the sport. If you need a wetsuit for open water swim season, please consider heading to Northwest Tri & Bike and check them out! They have a wide range of sizes. You don't need the most expensive suit - but the suits do feel more flexible and higher up the line you go.
The official wetsuit sponsor of RTB is blueseventy. They are a Seattle-based team and make some of the best wetsuits in the sport. If you need a wetsuit for open water swim season, please consider heading to Northwest Tri & Bike and check them out! They have a wide range of sizes. You don't need the most expensive suit - but the suits do feel more flexible and higher up the line you go.
Swim Workouts
RTB's coached swim workouts are on the RTB calendar. We pay coaches and to rent a pool or park (open water season) so the swims have a fee. There are informal open water swims that happen during the spring/summer organized by team members. Follow those on the Team Facebook page or on the calendar. If you have a question about a swim workout, send a message to the contact person listed on the event. You swim memberships provides a discount of 20-25% for RTB swim workouts and swim races.
RTB's coached swim workouts are on the RTB calendar. We pay coaches and to rent a pool or park (open water season) so the swims have a fee. There are informal open water swims that happen during the spring/summer organized by team members. Follow those on the Team Facebook page or on the calendar. If you have a question about a swim workout, send a message to the contact person listed on the event. You swim memberships provides a discount of 20-25% for RTB swim workouts and swim races.
Buddy Program
We have a group of team members who've been on RTB for a while and are veterans at racing. If you'd like to bounce some swim questions off someone, or just get the RTB vibe another way, you can request a buddy and we'll hook you up with someone! We try and match up similar ages, interests, etc. Email Carolyn
We have a group of team members who've been on RTB for a while and are veterans at racing. If you'd like to bounce some swim questions off someone, or just get the RTB vibe another way, you can request a buddy and we'll hook you up with someone! We try and match up similar ages, interests, etc. Email Carolyn
Volunteer Credit Program
We are super fortunate to have an army of RTB members that volunteer at our events . (Lake Meridian Triathlon, Black Diamond Triathlon, and Swim Races). Members (or a family member) who volunteer at RTB Events receive a $15.00 credit per event toward their your next membership renewal. The maximum discount is $30.00 per season and the credits will be issued as coupons in September. Please contact Patty if you have questions about this program or are interested in volunteering.
We are super fortunate to have an army of RTB members that volunteer at our events . (Lake Meridian Triathlon, Black Diamond Triathlon, and Swim Races). Members (or a family member) who volunteer at RTB Events receive a $15.00 credit per event toward their your next membership renewal. The maximum discount is $30.00 per season and the credits will be issued as coupons in September. Please contact Patty if you have questions about this program or are interested in volunteering.
Your Membership
RTB Membership is 12 full months of multisport fun and community from the day you sign up. . You'll receive some emails when your membership is close to renewal. All members need to have a current (paid) RTB membership to access any sponsor benefits including shop discounts, event, and training discounts. Check the status of your membership Here.
RTB Membership is 12 full months of multisport fun and community from the day you sign up. . You'll receive some emails when your membership is close to renewal. All members need to have a current (paid) RTB membership to access any sponsor benefits including shop discounts, event, and training discounts. Check the status of your membership Here.
