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2011 Iniative: Expanding and Improving the TeamEN Race Presence

Coach RichCoach Rich
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From the Blog:

Expanding the EN Race-Day Presence

Endurance Nation is now likely the largest triathlon team in the long course space. And part of what makes us so unique is the race weekend experience we create for our members and they create for themselves, particularly at the Ironman distance. Every US Ironman includes:

  • 15-40 TeamEN athletes racing
  • A coach on hand to support and lead the athletes and their families for the weekend.
  • Team Dinner (20-90 people)
  • Four Keys Talk
  • Coaches, family, and friends cheering on the athletes at a specific location on the bike and run course.
  • After Party: food, beer, coaches, and tall tales after the finish.

For 2011 we want to blow this out even more, extending as much of this experience as we can downwards to the half Ironman distances. Many of our Ironman athletes race 1-3 x HIMs in route to their Ironman, creating similar per race numbers of TeamEN members at many HIM’s around the country. We now have the leverage, capital, and resources to bring some of our race weekend IM mojo to the HIM space:

  • Race Captains will “rally the troops” around every US Ironman and key 70.3 events. Will organize and coordinate dinner plans, meeting locations, and family presence.
  • The Race Director will manage all of the Race Captains, with the assistance of Coach Rich

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Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions? We have our own long list of stuff we want to do but we'd love to hear your ideas as well.

Comments

  • Mike HedmanMike Hedman
    I think it might be good to have a mini-camp in and around the IM races. Many members come to the race to sign up for the next year's race - so it would be cool if someone (probably other than RorP) did a swim day, a bike day (maybe with a rented truck to move people around to ride just the challenging sections (or all of it)), and also a run (at least of the challenging sections). So it would be some structured race recon for next year, they could provide feedback for people racing this year ("be in the right gear when you leave town, that first hill starts steep"). And then they could still sherpa, visit, and cheer on race day...and be first in line to sign up for next year.
    Mike
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Mike, great idea and something that PnI sorta got off the ground this year. But, you're right, it can get messy for us as we need to travel with a bike, these are valuable work weekends for us, etc.

    Would be great to facilitate the members in town for the race getting together to train on the course.

  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    I think this is a great idea; Team Mojo is huge, regardless of the distance, so being more present at the HIM distance is fantastic. Not only do you have a lot of people doing HIM on their way to IM, you have some pretty large fraction of people doing HIM as their A-race. You also have the chance of experimenting easily with going outside the WTC brand-space, as noted on another thread.

    You probably know this, but you want to be pretty careful about choosing your race captains. Getting a volunteer who doesn't accomplish what you need is pretty frustrating. (I'm heavily involved in a youth sports program.) But hopefully that won't be an issue given the connections you've been able to make.

  • Al TruscottAl Truscott

    Idea for adding value IM race day race weekend: The valets/sherpas/ironmates, etc. especially the first timers might be finding race day a bit confusing. I remember the EN tent parked on Lakeview at IM CDA. If there were a non-racer who was identified as "den mother" for all the support troops, so they could maybe get together ahead of time to talk about race day logistics, or at least have a gathering spot race day to provide a group cheering section?

  • jburbattjburbatt
    As an addition to Al's comment, I know my family found the IMWI packet by David Williams incredibly helpful. Maybe we can start an initiative in doing this kind of thing, or at least gathering the information, for more races? Especially tapping into the knowledge of the locals was key- family found easy parking for the race, dinner suggestions, etc. And ultimately it made my life easier since I didn't have to be overly concerned with helping them out. I know there's a race guides section in the wiki, maybe something there, or a separate spectator guides section where we can upload info/packets as they are made?
  • WisemanWiseman

    RnP,

    I've got a buddy who wants to join OS in Jan. We're doing Canada together, along with Tim DuPree. What does he need to do ? Just sign up as a member ?

    Thanks,

    Bill

  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Bill,

    1. Have him go the Join page to become an ENFan. We'll send him an invitation to create a free trial.
    2. Please also have him go to the Free Resources page and sign up for the OS course. We will want him to learn more about how we work in the OS, so he knows what he's getting himself into
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