Chico Triathlon Club is having a Poker Run on March 27th from 8AM to 11AM. Participants will leave the Five-mile rec area on an out-and-back 5k course heading north on the levee. Runners will make a right turn onto the trail paralleling Wildwood Ave. At 5 Mile Rd, they will make a left turn and run up to where North Rim and Middle Trails split. At this point, runners can turn around and head back the way they came. There will be a volunteer handing out cards at each kilometer mark. The runner with the best poker hand at the end of the run will win a prize. 

There are many benefits to trying something new, so why not triathlon? If you have ever thought about training and competing in the multisport of swim-bike-run, there is no better time than now to start. Chico Triathlon Club (CTC) will be hosting an informational meeting via Zoom on February 25th  @6:30pm to talk about all the ways you can join in on the fun. CTC is a club for all ages and all abilities. Click on the Zoom Link Below to join the event and learn  how you can connect, train, and compete with friends. Can’t wait to see you soon! Questions ahead of time? Contact us at info@chicotriathlonclub.com.

Zoom Link for Info Meeting: tinyurl.com/bael8269

Swim, Bike, Run & Smile

Happy Holidays:

I hope everyone can take some time and reflect on the things and people in our lives that bring us joy. I look forward to seeing everyone soon.

Sponsors:

I would like to take a moment to remind our members that in this difficult time we need to be sure to support our sponsors whenever we can. They have always been there for us and now it is time we support them.

Frost or Fog (virtual):

I am excited to announce that our friends and sponsors, Under the Sun Events (under new ownership of Jeff Merrell) will be hosting the 2021 Frost or Fog. Let us all make sure to take this opportunity to support this long-standing event. Please find the link below to the 2021 Frost or Fog:

https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Chico/FrostorFog10Mile14Marathon5K?rsus=100-200-932162b8-42ec-4562-8e9c-5d8279c0e3d9&remMeAttempt=

Hypobaric Chamber Donation:

Several years ago, pro triathlete Mike Pigg donated a hypobaric chamber to the Club. We have in turn donated the chamber to the CSU Chico kinesiology lab.

Board of Directors Election:

This year we had five board seats up for election. We received five nominations as follows:

Greg Watkins (incumbent)

Justin Waller (returning)

Karen English

Tony English (incumbent)

Amy Bromelow (incumbent)

Because we had the same number of nominations as vacancies, we did not need to hold an election. I would like to welcome Justin Waller and Karen English to the Board. I also want to express a huge THANK YOU to Jenni Merrell and Jennifer Pothier for their service and untold number of hours volunteering for the Board and the Club.

Virtual Competition:

To help keep us motivated, we will be holding a monthly contest for members only. This contest will be a way for our members to compete against each other. Because we are all at different levels, we will randomly pick a member who has longed a training onto the Club's Strava page. The timeframe will be from the 1^st day of the month until midnight of the last day of the month. You will have to send in your completed training log to https://www.strava.com/clubs/ChicoTriClub by the 2^nd of the next month. We will then randomly pick a winner for the month.

October’s winner was Jenni McDowell Merrell, congratulations and keep up the inspirational work!

November’s winner was Greg Watkins, congratulations and keep up the inspirational work!

Training:

Swims: The One Mile open water swim workouts should return in May 2021.

In Motion is partially opened and the pool is open. They have moved some of the equipment outdoors by the pool. PLEASE CHECK WITH THE CLUB.

The River Road TTs:    Are done for the 2020 season. Thank you, Eric Ayers, for hosting the TTs.

Rides:  (Sorry Still on Hold)

The Sunday ride is run by Jenni Merrell. Location, route, and distance vary from week to week. Email Jenni to get the weekly details (treasurer@chicotriathlonclub.com). Also keep an eye on the Facebook page, she will usually post details there as well. Rain typically cancels. There is also a community Sunday 9:00 a.m. LSD (Long Steady Distance) ride that meets at One Mile. Pace is typically 18-19 mph and there are many options for early turns back into town during the ride.

The Friday Rides:

The rides will resume in the Spring of 2021. Email Shawn Hughes at amigohughes@gmail.com if you are interested in receiving notices of ride date and times.

Runs: (Sorry Still on Hold)  

The Saturday Beginner LSD is at 9:00 A.M. It is a slower paced beginner run going for up to 60 minutes. Meet at the 5-Mile Recreation Area near the bathrooms. There is also an LSD run on Saturday’s meeting at the 5-mile bathrooms at 8:00 AM. The Monday Night Run meets at Wildwood Park near the bathrooms at 6:00 P.M. bring headlamps. The run is posted on Facebook weekly.

CTC Track Workout: (Sorry Still on Hold)

Every Thursday meet at the Chico State track at 5:45 PM. Updates are made on the Facebook page.

Black Butte Tri/DU:

Race date is September 18, 2021. Registration will open again on January 1, 2021.

Race Results:

This is a shout out to anybody who has participated in a recent race. We would love to hear from you. Please send me any information on a race you have participated in.

This could be as simple as your name and the name of the event, your results or a race report outlining your personal experience.

Thank you, Darlene Henderson, for the following report:

Race season 2020

The hardest part was traveling to these races. My husband (Steve) and I spent the summer in Chester in the cooler weather at 4500 ft elevation. I did most of my biking and running up there with some open water swimming. My first 6 races were withTBF Racing.

TBF Racing was determined to race in safe conditions. Two bikes per rack n 10 athletes per half hour to start the swim. So 4 PM was the 1st starter's not always full. It was a short 400 m swim, 5 mile bike n 2 mile run. BUT it was between 90 to 100 degrees for the start, first race 100. Another factor every week the lake level declined. The last couple races were a swim run bike run. And I was so happy to support TBF racing.

My last race was in the Bakersfield area, lake Evans, Buena vista aquatic park. So I drove down the day before the race. I checked out the venue n picked up my packet. It was a very flat course. Race morning was perfect conditions. We were separated by sprint n olympic to set up in the transition area (masked). Olympic went 1st. We all lined up for the swim going every 15 seconds. Off into the green water but warm. I had a good swim ( good for me). The bike went really well for me 19-20 mph but a rough road. But the run was warm n no shade next to the lake, sort of like Rancho Seco! If u noticed I had two races, I only did one. I wore two timing chips. 1st place 65-69 in both.

Last note. The season isn't over yet. There is a few in November and December in Arizona. I'm a happy triathlete just getting to race this year!!

Athlete of the month:

This month’s athlete of the month is Darlene Henderson!!! Darlene and her husband Steve traveled far and wide to compete in events; keep up the great work.

Please take the time to help us pick the next Athlete of the month. Just send an email to president@chicotriathlonclub.com listing your nomination.

Hope to see you soon,  

Shawn Hughes   CTC President