Back on the road, ready for tri season!

After seven months of sweating inside on a stationary bike, today I dodged the rain and rode outdoors. It felt unfamiliar--the return to traffic, wind, and swarms of recently hatched flies of some sort pelting me at times. But it still felt surprisingly good. Typically, when I get back out on the road in the spring I feel out of breath and out of shape. But this year is different; I’ve been training with the Gazella Off-Season Triathlon Training Program. We have spent hours on bikes indoors – listening to disco or 80’s music – with our head coach Reem Jishi, a retired professional cyclist and co-owner of Gazella Studio, leading us through specially-designed bike sessions for triathletes. We have also built up our strength—essential for triathletes in off-season—through TRX Suspension training. And, we’re ready for triathlon season.

On May 16 the Gazella Women’s Triathlon team will kick into gear outdoors with returning members joined by beginning triathletes. Last year I joined the team as a beginning triathlete as the Skinnyman Triathlon approached. I was attempting to train by myself for my first triathlon. I had wanted to do a triathlon for years but my one previous attempt had ended short in an over-training injury before the race. In early August I began to stress as I had not ever swam any distance in a lake, especially in the deep area where there were feet of water below. I needed to get in the water with others – but I was new to town and had no one to swim with. So I searched online and found that the new Gazella Studio was offering Skaneateles a triathlon training program, complete with group swims in the lake on Monday nights. And, as they say, the rest was history. I completed Skinnyman, feeling well-prepared for what lay ahead, having been led through several practice triathlons on the course as part of the team. I also made some of my best friends in town and continue to feel welcomed by the community of triathletes here.

This year four more coaches are joining Reem – two additional swim coaches (Sharon Azzam and Jill King), a cycling coach (Chris Hueber), and running coach (Laura Kline). Their list of qualifications is inspiring. But, even more important than their resumes, I am sure they will offer as coaches what Reem has provided – support through injuries and sickness, willingness to answer endless questions and concerns via email or phone, and personal attention and adjustment to training programs to meet individual athlete’s needs. While most of my teammates specialize in sprint distance triathlons or running races, I continue to struggle to ward off running injuries. So I am trying aquabikes this summer – the triathlon without the run. And I’m aiming for some longer distances, starting with the Mussleman on Geneva Lake (1.2 mile swim and 56 mile bike in July!). Reem has worked with me individually to provide a training plan that adapts our team schedule to meet my needs and work with my busy life.

As a PhD Student at Cornell University, I not only appreciate the help in fitting triathlon training with my life, I also appreciate the affordability of Gazella. With an interest in supporting student athletes, Gazella offers their programs at reduced rates for students. Triathlons can be an expensive sport but Gazella’s training program is a deal –even for the non-student. Each week brings an open water swim, a trained bike session and a trained running session, and a multi-sport workout/practice mini-tri. In addition a detailed training plan is provided weekly (which can be adapted for you). Gazella’s other classes (such as yoga or strength training) are only $25/five class for those in the triathlon program. And, even more exciting, over ten local businesses are sponsoring the team and offering discounts on products and services to team members. Coffee at Creekside Books & Coffee and haircuts at Bijou are now more affordable as well, helping defray the cost of all my event registrations for the summer.

Can you tell I’m hooked? I hope you’ll consider joining us as well! Check it out: www.gazella-studio.com