Dear Athlete,

We've had an exciting month as the first month of the race season has kicked off. We have a pretty cool athlete of the month - check it out! In this month's Edition of the Extra Mile we cover "Season Goals" from Coach Mark Dillard and "Training is not just about Racing" by Coach Amy Kuitse.

Check out the list of Athlete Race Results this month as well.

Lastly, Congrats to the CU Triathlon Team, who were 3rd overall at the USAT Collegiate National Triathlon. The men were fourth team and the women were second. Also, Cedric Wane finished 3rd overall for the man and Freshman Jessica Broderick was First overall becoming the first freshman to do so in the history of Collegiate Triathlon. GO BUFFS!

Enjoy this month’s edition of "THE EXTRA MILE"!

Happy Training,
Mike Ricci
USAT Level III Coach

D3 Athlete of the Month: Beth Noble

Beth is currenly deployed in Iraq, working as a doctor in the Air Force. During her 6 month deployment she had to leave behind her 1 year old daughter Martha, her 3 year old son Liam and her husband, Matt. She and Matt are both training to complete their first triathlon when Beth returns to the states.

Who is your coach?

Amanda McCracken

What is your workout schedule like?

I usually work out every day for an hour or so based on Amanda’s recommendations. I like getting her assignments because it gives me motivation to push myself harder than I would do on my own. I don't have a lot of motivation to run (I really prefer the bike) so I've been entering as many running races as I can because the competition of a race gives me incentive to go farther and faster. I can't believe how much I've improved on my 5K!

What do you miss most about training in the US?

One of the biggest difficulties in training for the triathlon here is the lack of a pool. I really thought there would be pools over here (since it's a hot desert!) but I've had trouble finding one. They have a small one at my new base but it isn't open yet and may not be big enough to do laps. More to come on that! I also like how Amanda has me do core work. At home I had some back pain and sciatica but strengthening my core has gone a long way to relieve that problem.

Have you found it easier or more difficult to train while being away from home?

I'm glad I've taken this separation as an opportunity to get back in shape and I will try to continue it once I get home. I've also been focusing on having a healthy diet here. I usually have fish or grilled chicken and avoid all the fried foods. I also have at least 5 servings of fruits/veggies because they are also available in the chow hall. I've never felt better!

Do you get to email / talk to your kids often?

I speak to Matt and my kids on the phone nearly every day and Skype once every 2 weeks usually.

When was the last time you volunteered at a race? read USAT Certified Coach Mark Dillard's article

Triathlon is not just about racing

We all train hard for this sport as it is very demanding just to finish a sprint race for many. If you have completed an Ironman, you know it takes everything you have to just finish. However, you may not have realized that there is more to triathlon than just racing.

continue reading online »