ATHelite celebrate season of success

Nov 14 2012 by Paul Thomson, East Kilbride News

ATHelite Triathlon Club are building for the 2013 season after their founding members emigrated to Canada.

Last month Colin and Genevieve Freeman left the club behind to pursue a new life in Toronto and become full-time athletes.

They will now be training full-time while coaching others.

Before they left, they helped the members prepare a plan to ensure that the club continues as there is a wealth of experience in all disciplines.

And new president Mark Russell is the man charged with leading the club into the future. He said: “Losing Colin and Gen wasn’t easy for the club but we wish them the success they deserve.

“The members all wanted the club to continue and we’ve appointed experienced athletes the responsibility of organising the different training sessions.

“In a strange way it has meant the members have taken greater responsibility for their training and we have seen benefits already.

“Colin and Gen are staying in touch and will be there if we need their help.”

The winter is where the hard work is done so the athletes will be increasing their indoor training including turbo training (on fixed bikes), yoga, weights and swimming. The membership of the East Kilbride and Hamilton based club has increased as the popularity of the sport increases, partly due to the success of the Brownlie brothers in the Olympics.

And Mark added: “Swimmers, cyclists and runners who are looking for a new challenge from their sport have switched to triathlon.

“People who want to get fit or lose weight have also been attracted to this multi-disciplined sport.

“We expect there to be an increase in membership come January when people make new year resolutions.

“It’s much easier to maintain those promises if you are training with a group of motivated athletes who support each other.”

But it has been a great season for ATHelite with members taking part at every distance of triathlon. They have also competed in duathlons, cycle races including some tough charity rides (Land’s End to John O’Groats) and off-road triathlons.

Their 2012 season came to an end on Sunday, November 4 with the final races of the year being the Strathaven Run, the Wind 10k and the South Side 16-mile race.

Plans for next season are already being made, with some athletes stepping up their distance or entering their first triathlon. At least three members are taking on the Ironman for the first time and one is taking on the Marathon des Sables in the Sahara desert.

For more on ATHelite email athelitetriclub@gmail.com