SPEAR Talent
SPEAR
Super Powerful Endurance Athlete Regimen.
SPEAR will be open first and foremost to athletes ages 9-16 who are self-motivated and ready to take their training to the next level.
The Trident SPEAR elite development team for the 21-22 season will be focusing on all three tri disciplines. Athletes must show commitment, dedication, and talent. Required gear includes road bikes with clip shoes/pedals, heart rate monitor/fitness watch, and swim-specific wetsuit. This gear will better prepare athletes to be competitive at draft-legal races such as the East Coast Qualifier in Richmond in May. We will hold a monthly group Zoom training call to discuss various aspects of advanced training, nutrition, and race strategy.
SPEAR athletes will receive a personal TrainingPeaks account in order to log their workouts and communicate with coaches. Use of the account is required to get the most out of your training. Practices will remain flexible as we alternate among local training locations to include road biking, trail running, and open water swimming. In these cases, practices may start an hour or so earlier to allow for transportation to the alternate site. We can help to arrange carpools on alternate site practice days.
SPEAR athletes do not need to be registered for or attend an additional bike/run, but will be required to conduct extra practice sessions during the week using TrainingPeaks for direction. Athletes should be prepared to complete 2 swim, 2 bike, and 2 run sessions during the week, with practices counting towards those numbers.
SPEAR will prepare athletes for USA Triathlon's East Coast Qualifier in early May in Richmond, VA. This race is open to all athletes, but provides an incredibly competitive venue. At the developmental level, it is the best top-notch racing around, with over 1,500 athletes convening for a weekend's worth of racing. At the high school level, it serves athletes looking to be recruited for college triathlon programs and is the gateway that allows exceptional athletes to enter "elite" racing.
To be eligible for TNT SPEAR athletes MUST:
- Swim at least two days per week with TNT or with a USA Swimming team.
- Use TrainingPeaks for additional training and coach-athlete communication.
- Compete at the East Coast Qualifier in Richmond/Glen Allen in early May.
Bike requirements: Having the right bike is important for triathlon as athletes spend about 50% of their race on a bike and a faster, properly maintained bike makes a huge difference.
- 16+ speed bike (minimum 2 front chain rings and 8 rear gear cogs – this facilitates proper gear shifting for hills and a variety of speeds)
- Aluminum or carbon fiber road bikes (drop-style handlebars) and cycling shoes (clips).
- No aerobars permitted at races. These are specifically disallowed in sanctioned, youth USAT races. SPEAR athletes may attend practice with aerobars, as well as adult (non draft-legal) races.
Limited number of spaces: In order to provide a high level of personalized training, we are limiting the SPEAR group size to 8 total athletes, with preference going to former SPEAR members.
If your athlete is interested in SPEAR, but not yet on the SPEAR team, feel free to reach out to a coach for more information.