Never ever have I EVER thought I’d be part of a triathlon club...not even talking about participating in Ironman races!  I have friends who  participate in ironman races quite regularly.. and they always seem to intimidate me a bit.. until I started dreaming about completing my own 70.3.

I could not swim, I did not have a bike, and I’ve never even ran any race.  December 2017 a couple of my friends from church decided they want to do the Durban 70.3 the next year.. so that is when it all started, I started dreaming.. and I also completed my first 70.3 in June 2018.  

Now to make a very long story short.. I did not have the best of first half-ironman experiences!  Biggest factor contributing to this was the fact that I got lost on the bike route (those that know me will start laughing now, because they know I have NO sense of direction, and I get lost VERY EASILY..).  I finished the race, I got my medal, but it was a semi-traumatizing experience to me, as at least 4 officials either yelled at me or got very upset with me.. I eventually had to restart the second loop of the bike leg, being completely alone on that high-way.. trying to catch-up from behind, and finished the rest of the bike and run route almost completely alone on the course.

After my race in June 2018 I read a Trivium blog post on Facebook from a school friend of mine, Hendrik, where he described his experience of joining Trivium, the coaching, and completing a 70.3 with them (compared to all the previous ironman races he did). 

I started dreaming again... and I contacted Magda, asked if I can meet her for coffee.  Initially I was a bit intimidated by telling a professional triathlete about my dream to participate in this sport, I thought the club was full of semi-professional athletes and that I would never fit in....

While writing this, and thinking back of all those early fears.. they seem so silly now!  Joining Trivium was one of the BEST decisions I have EVER made!!  One of our first group training sessions was at Tuks, on the tartan track – I was so scared, I have never even been on a tartan track. The first, and last time, I ever ran track was that first day in primary school where they make you compete to see who will go through to the athletics team.   Luckily my fears did not even last 10 minutes, as everybody from Trivium made me feel so welcome, and I soon realised nobody is competing with each other, everyone is competing with themselves.. everyone has their own goals and own dreams.  
This year, June 2019, I completed my second Durban 70.3, and it was such an amazing experience!  Magda advised me to go stand in one of the faster blocks at the swim start, and it made such a big difference as I actually had people around me in the race this time, and I could experience the whole vibe on the bike and run route!!  I think I was the happiest participant in that whole race, as I could not stop smiling and enjoying all the people around me!  I regularly saw one of my fellow Trivium team members on either the bike or run route, or next to the road supporting, and that made it even more memorable! 

Two weeks before our race I got very sick, and although I did everything I could think of to get better, I just did not get any better.  Eventually I was a bit disappointed, as I was so looking forward to see what I can achieve, as my swimming, cycling and running have improved so much training with Magda!  At that stage Magda was in the UK, participating in some of her own races, so she phoned me and convinced me that she think I can participate, but the battle will be the strongest in my head, so I need to be prepared.  
I realised, just as in our everyday lives, sometimes stuff happens that we did not plan for, or that was not part of our dream... but the way we treat those changes determines what kind of life we have!!   

We only have this one lifetime.. one time to truly LIVE!  Joining Trivium and doing triathlons has teached me that we are capable of way more than we can ever dream of.  This sport is extremely rewarding,  takes up a lot of time, money and energy.. but you also learn so much about yourself in the process.  One area where I’m still learning daily, and aiming to gain more wisdom in, is to live out dreams like these, but not let them consume me.. still prioritising my time with God, and staying close to His feet.  I have so much respect for my fellow Trivium members who can balance work, their families, and training!

One last word:  Coachie, I just want to thank you for everything!  I have enjoyed learning from you so much, but even more than that, getting to know you as a person have been such a pleasure!  I don’t know how you do it.. you are a pro athlete, but somehow you manage to meet me right at my level, you can relate to my dreams, and you know just how to motivate me!  I look forward to many more adventures with my fellow Trivium family...  bring on the next DREAM!!!

- Richa Wentzel

Describe Triathlon in one sentence?
Triathlon to me is the balancing of the swim,bike, run disciplines that all compensate each other to allow my body to feel the best when I swim, and when I bike and when I run.
What makes you tick during a race?
Every swim stroke, every pedal push & pull, and every running step brings me closer to the red carpet, that’s what keeps me ticking.
What was the most difficult part off preparing for the IM?
Balancing my time between work, family and training created stress at times.
4. What is your occupation?
MD of a Remade Recycling which is a waste and recycling business.
5. When do train best mornings or afternoons?
Mornings
6. What is your favourite leg of the three, and why?
Running - I developed a love of running way back when I was at school competing at cross country, after school I completed numerous marathons plus a couple of Comrades so running and I have come a long way… running makes me tick and keeps me focused.
7. What is your best motivational quote?
Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm…. Sir Winston Churchill
What type do you use:

- Bike : Argon E117
- Wheels : Vision 35mm
- Helmet : Scott
- Cycling shoes : Aero
- Running shoes : Asics Fortitude
- Wetsuit : Blue Seventy
- Nutrition of choice : PVM
- Power meter or watch : Garmin 920XT
- Race morning breakfast. : Boiled egg bacon and either PVM Fusion or PVM Porridge with nut butter.

How would you describe Trivium Triathlon in one sentence?
Trivium Triathlon is the passion and drive that every member embraces to achieve a Strong Head, Big Heart and Light Feet because we all crazy and love to TRI….athlon

Support Bryce on his campaign to race for Cansa. Follow the link:
​https://www.givengain.com/ap/bryce--blum--raising-funds-for-cansa/

1. Describe Triathlon in one sentence?
Always keep moving forward.

2. What makes you tick during a race? 
(1) the reminder that it is a blessing from God to take part in such an event and
(2) the fact that I am very competitive and I owe it to myself to not leave anything on the field.

3. What was the most difficult part of preparing for the IM? 
Long hours and early mornings. 

4. What is your occupation? 
Quantity Surveyor

5. When do train best mornings or afternoons? 
I love sleeping in, but I’d say mornings

6. What is your favourite leg of the three, and why?
The run definitely. It is the toughest leg as it is last, but everything depends on that last effort to get yourself on that red carpet.

7. What is your best motivational quote? 
It is easy to overcomplicate things
 
What type do you use:
- Bike                                       : Argon18 E-117
- Wheels                                  : Mavic Cosmics
- Helmet                                  : Rudy Project Wing57
- Cycling shoes Maurice      :Louis Garneau
- Running shoes                    : Asics Gel Nimbus 20
- Wetsuit                                 : Xterra Vector Pro X3
- Nutrition of choice?           :Biogen Carbogen and Farbar’s (and Steri Stumpie of course J)
- Power meter or watch?     :Garmin Fenix 3HR
- Race morning breakfast?  : Oats with honey and butter and coffee
 
How would you describe Trivium Triathlon in one sentence?
More than just a club - its family

​1. Describe Triathlon in one sentence? 
Triathlon is the crazy sport you don’t play but do, the ultimate test for a complete athlete because one sport isn't enough.

2. What makes you tick during a race? (What gives you that extra oemf)
Three things come to mind:
1. Those moments when all the training come together and you find a rhythm. You feel so strong and you almost have to hold back as you just want to run faster. 
2. The satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment when i get to the end of each disciplines of a race. 
3. The crowd cheering you on gives you energy you didnt know you have. Its a great feeling. 

3. What was the most difficult part off preparing for the IM? 
Staying awke at work and keeping breakfast down at SSL sessions. But on a serious note just managing to still get the sessions done when work gets hectic. Late nights at the office and early morning training sessions isn’t  easy. 

4. What is your occupation?
I am n Financial Controller at Atterbury Property
5. When do train best mornings or afternoons
i enjoy training in the mornings. It is cooler, I feel fresh and energised for the day and work or other responsibilities can’t get in the way then later on in the day. 

6. What is your favorite leg of the three, and why? 
At this stage the bike leg is my favorite because i think its my strongest leg. Since i have started triathlon i think my bike has improved alot. 

7. What is your best motivational quote?
The only easy day was yesterday - US Navy Seals
Meaning: Every day you will need to work harder than the last. But when you work hard every day and see what you’re now capable of - yesterday seems easy. 

Equipment questions:
What type do you use:
- Bike                         : Look (Aero 576)
- Wheels                    : Vision trimax 45
- Helmet                    : Casco
- Cycling shoes        : Lake tx322
- Running shoes      : Brooks adrenaline gts18
- Wetsuit                   : Xterra
- Nutrition of choice: PVM octane and gels. Also droewors and nuts on longer rides
- Power meter or watch: Garmin Forerunner 935
- Race morning breakfast? : PVM pap, coffee and some PVM fusion. 

How would you describe Trivium Triathlon in one sentence? 
Trivium Triathlon is a tri club where ordinary people reach extraordinary goals they never thought possible through great coaching and hard work, and at the same time having fun and making new friends in the process. 

1. Describe Triathlon in one sentence?It’s the one sport that gets you out of your comfort zone, challenges you and rewards you with the greatest feeling of accomplishment when you cross the finish line. (That’s one sentence right?)

2. What makes you tick during a race?
For me it’s when mental toughness overpowers physical fatigue.
How do you get through when you’re at the lowest point in a race? If you don’t want to quit, you need to find ways to motivate yourself to keep going. It is as simple as that. When the going gets tough, ask yourself, “why do you want to finish”? The answer to the “why” question is powerful, the “how” is easy.
 
3. What was the most difficult part off preparing for the IM? 
Definitely trying to balance family life, work and training.
 
4. What is your occupation?
I’m a Chartered Accountant working as an asset manager for a private property fund.
 
5. When do train best mornings or afternoons?
I prefer training in the mornings – It kick-starts my day.
 
6. What is your favorite leg of the three, and why? 
I suppose it should be the run because I come from a running background, but I would have to say the swim. It might be the fact that I experience the build-up leading up to the start of the race as part of the swim leg, I don’t know. Specifically for an Ironman, when you stand on the beach with the adrenaline pumping, the cannon goes, you run towards the sea and the cold water hits you in the face as you dive through that first wave. That’s a thrill. After the rush and the noise, it’s quiet, just you and open ocean.
 
7. What is your best motivational quote?
“The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in combat.”

What type do you use;
- Bike                                                    : Argon 18 - E117
- Wheels                                              : Vision TriMax 55
- Helmet                                              : Casco
- Cycling shoes                                 : Bont Tri Shoes
- Running shoes                               : Asics Nimbus 20
- Wetsuit                                             : Blue Smooth Mk2.Zero
- Nutrition of choice?                     : PVM
- Power meter or watch?               : Garmin 935
- Race morning breakfast?           : Coffee, Oats, Toast with Peanut butter and syrup.

How would you describe Trivium Triathlon in one sentence? 
A group of athletes that became friends, training and racing with the same motto: Strong Head, Big heart, Light Feet.

1. Describe Triathlon in one sentence?Challenging, by bettering yourself not only in one discipline, but three, aiming to be an all-round athlete.

2. What makes you tick during a race?
Supporters, and knowing that I am busy doing this massive challenge.

3. What was the most difficult part off preparing for the IM?
Definitely balancing work, life and training. With 3 small children and a wife that is also a triathlete, it was interesting at times. Training at either 4am in the mornings or 7pm to fit everything in, tested my motivation at times.

4. What is your occupation?
Director at Kreston Advisory Pretoria

5. When do train best mornings or afternoons?
Definitely mornings. But it never gets easy waking up at 4am to train.

6. What is your favorite leg of the three, and why?
Love riding my bike, especially in TT mode and you can just focus on the rhythm and heartbeat.

7. What is your best motivational quote?
I don't stop when I'm hurt or tired. I stop when I'm done!

What type do you use;
- Bike : Argon E117
- Wheels : Vision TriMax 35
- Helmet : Bell Sweep
- Cycling shoes : Specialized
- Running shoes : Brooks Ghost
- Wetsuit : Xterra
- Nutrition of choice? : PVM
- Power meter or watch? : Garmin Fenix3
- Race morning breakfast? : Mieliepap and scrambled eggs

How would you describe Trivium Triathlon in one sentence?
Trivium to me is a family, with like minded and goal-orientated people constantly motivating each other to reach new limits. Massive thumbs-up to our coach, Magda Niewoudt, to create such an environment, where you don't want to miss group sessions for the fear of missing out (FOMO).

I am sure you will all recognise that one day, usually in January, or somewhere in the beginning of a new year, you decide to flip your switch. You want to eat healthy, lose weight, exercise more, be kind, make a difference, wake up earlier and just be a better, happier and healthier person.
If you know me, you will know that I do not like any form of exercise at all. This will never be on my list of new year’s resolutions. I like to be able to breathe normally and I do not like any kind of pain and suffering, nausea or near-death symptoms during any activity.
January 2019 I travelled to East London to support the Trivium Athletes taking on the Ironman 70.3 South Africa.
I got to experience how many people actually train for something like this. Young men or women with full time jobs, some with kids, actually managing to train for this in-between their busy lives. I saw older people, double my age, running like it’s the easiest thing in the world.
This is where I flipped my switch. If they can do it, so can I.
​
I asked my friend and Trivium coach, Magda Nieuwoudt, to help me get started with a running program. She knows I am no runner. I am not someone who decides to take on a 10 km or a half marathon on a Saturday morning. I could not even run 500 meters without the life being sucked out of me.
Magda got me started with 3 short running sessions a week. I felt embarrassed to even start something so completely out of my comfort zone. You don’t want anybody to see how unfit you actually are. But Magda motivates you and supports you, even if you only managed to run 500 meters at a time. A goal is a goal no matter how small. She helps you believe in yourself and make you feel like you can do anything.
During this time, I also learned to really respect these athletes. They are 100% dedicated and it sounds a lot easier than it actually is. I honestly do not know how they do it. I felt nauseous, I could not breathe, my legs burned and I actually cried every time I came back from a session.
However, after about a month, with the help of Magda’s sessions, for the first time I could breathe and see myself improving every time. I ran my first 5 km without walking.
It’s still difficult and I am still struggling, but I am very excited to see even just a little bit of improvement every time I go for a run.
​
To some runners this will sound like nothing, but to me this is everything.