iDaph Events has teamed up with iDream Athletes Foundation and other local, multi-sport community leaders to create and bring to you the Tri Local Community. They will be offering triathlon clinics, group training opportunities, a community to find training partners, pre-race course re-cons, clinics, transition zone coaching, and of course two amazing, local triathlon events.
All participants that are in the TRI LOCAL DUO Series will have exclusive access to all the fun and informative offerings coming up this winter/spring/summer.
Listen along in this podcast as Daphne Kirkwood, owner of iDaph Events and Founder of iDream Athletes Foundation has a conversation with Jay Hamvas, owner of Jay Bird Multi-sport Coaching. In this podcast, they discuss what the Tri Local Community is, it's mission and vision and what to expect this spring and summer. And how you can get involved and join in on the fun!
iDaph Events has teamed up with iDream Athletes Foundation and other local, multi-sport community leaders to create and bring to you the Tri Local Community. They will be offering triathlon clinics, group training opportunities, a community to find training partners, pre-race course re-cons, clinics, transition zone coaching, and of course two amazing, local triathlon events.
All participants that are in the TRI LOCAL DUO Series will have exclusive access to all the fun and informative offerings coming up this winter/spring/summer.
Listen along in this podcast as Daphne Kirkwood, owner of iDaph Events and Founder of iDream Athletes Foundation has a conversation with Jay Hamvas, owner of Jay Bird Multi-sport Coaching. In this podcast, they discuss what the Tri Local Community is, it's mission and vision and what to expect this spring and summer. And how you can get involved and join in on the fun!
Introducing Tri Local Community
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Daphne Kirkwood: [00:00:00] Okay, I am here with Jay from Jaybird Multi-Sport Coaching. I'm Daphne, the owner of Race Director for iDaph Events and the founder of iDream Athletes Foundation, our nonprofit as well. And really excited to be here today with you. Jay. Thanks for joining me on the
Jay Hamvas: podcast. Oh, I'm, it's my pleasure. Excited to be here.
Daphne Kirkwood: Awesome. Today's topic is about triathlon and multi-sport, which we both love. And so just excited to kick off the season and get some new things stirring up in our community.
Jay Hamvas: Absolutely. I've lived in Nashville for about three years now and I just love this community and I'm so glad that Gotten this community going and kept it going even through Covid, which is amazing.
I love to contribute any way I can.
Daphne Kirkwood: Awesome. Over the years, let's see, [00:01:00] I've started doing triathlons, oh man. 15 plus 17 years ago. So I've been doing. Started doing triathlons a long time ago, and it was mainly because I got running injuries. And so that's how it happened. ,
Jay Hamvas: and that's how so many triathletes get into the sport.
And my, I'm the same way. I was a running background doing marathons and just kept getting injured and I needed that cross-training component. So I started mountain biking and road biking. Next thing just throw a little swim in there and you got yourself a triathlon. Exactly. We have a lot of people to come from that background For sure.
Daphne Kirkwood: Yeah. Yeah. And I continue to swim, bike, and run consistently. Even though I'm not racing anymore because I feel like it is such a good balance for people in their life. It's not all running. I don't wake up in the morning going, oh, I gotta do another run today. I mix it up. I love the variety and
Jay Hamvas: I think especially, I think in this area [00:02:00] cuz it is so weather.
Changes from season to season. Yes. Maybe during the winter you're not gonna go out and bike in 30 degree weather, but you can run or you can get in the pool and swim. I changed to mountain biking and gravel biking, and stay off the roads. So there's just a lot that triathlon has to offer for that because it is a lifestyle.
Yeah. And still love to train for the races and still do 'em, but ultimately, Just a way of life to be able to do the sports and everything. So I think we're on the same page with that for
Daphne Kirkwood: sure. Absolutely. So this year we're launching something new it's called the Tri Local Community. And what I've seen over the years is when I first got into triathlon, there was definitely more of a community, a triathlon community in Western North Carolina.
where all levels and abilities would come out, whether you were a complete newbie whether you were super experienced. And we would train together, we'd go do course previews before races. And that has definitely tapered off over the [00:03:00] years. I think a lot of it has to do with the big beast that's out there now called Ironman
It's really pulled a lot of folks out of local triathlon, regional triathlon because people, number one only have so much time and right. energy to train and money. And we've seen that disbursement has happened and one of my most favorite parts about triathlon was the community aspect.
And I've had this idea for multiple years and then Covid hit and it was not the right timing to try to introduce.
Jay Hamvas: That was Yes. Something new. Yes, exactly. Being
Daphne Kirkwood: together with other people that might spread germs. Had to postpone it for a bit and I just really felt like this was the right timing to bring something like this to Western North Carolina.
And so really just super excited to have it.
Jay Hamvas: Yeah I agree a hundred percent. I've definitely have seen an ebb and a flow, I the other areas [00:04:00] I've lived before had strong triathlon communities, but even that would ebb and flow just through normal things. But you're right, you get into bigger races and the mindset is, oh, I gotta train for that 70.3 or that Ironman, so I can't do these little races.
As a coach, I totally disagree. I think these little races, a couple things. One, Tri community, a local community is uber important. , you find training partners, you you need to support the local triathlons. And these are great warmup races. . As a coach I recommend, you pick out an A race, a, B, or C and you put some bees and Cs as practices for transition for just the anxiety.
You get nutrition, all these little things that you have to go through for a tria. And these community races that you put on is the perfect place to actually go to. So I'm glad that you've putting this together. I'm excited to be a part of it and in any little way I can. So it's great to know where your background was, why you came up with this.
And I [00:05:00] agree with Totally.
Daphne Kirkwood: Yeah. And I think too, there's people now that have figured out, training for really long races is. Time consuming and people don't wanna spend that time and energy. And so I think I have seen. Especially last year, people coming back to the sprint distance.
Yep. And saying, Hey, I missed triathlon, but I wanna be able to have a life on the weekends. And yep, I'm gonna do Hendersonville Triathlon and Asheville Triathlon and see if I can improve my time, my energy, my placement, whatever that goal might be for that person. And. And I've seen that happen. And that was another thing that sparked this in me, where I thought, hey, if we have a series, the Try local duo series where people can do both races and be part of both of 'em, they can, there's all kinds of things you can work on,
Jay Hamvas: yeah. Oh, exactly. And I love the way Henderson's first, because to me you've kept the [00:06:00] transition. At the cars, which is very unique. Yes. And but actually love that it's great for beginners. It's very relaxing not to have that stress of racking the bike and all this, and the fact that Hendersonville was first and then.
Asheville second. So it's almost like a progression through the year so that when you get to the second one. Okay. Now I've already done my first one. Now I'm now I can be a little more competitive and the bikes are racked, so it just creates a different atmosphere. Oh yeah. So they're very two unique races, but I think they feed off of each other really well.
Daphne Kirkwood: Yeah, I do too. And so yeah, the Tri local duo is, like I said, it's both Hendersonville Triathlon and Asheville Triathlon. If you sign up for both of them I believe it's by June 1st, you're automatically enrolled into the tri local community whether you use the benefit or not, you're in it. You don't have to pay extra.
I feel like by signing up for both you or making this commitment that you want to do more and maybe possibly have training partners or maybe come to a clinic. And that's where you [00:07:00] come in, right? The coach to help lead. This community essentially I can't do this by myself.
A triathlon community cannot happen by itself. It takes a lot of people to not just show up, but also to lead in support. No,
Jay Hamvas: it's definitely a good community needs and don't know that I'm a. Leader of that in that nature, per se. It is not necessarily my, in my nature, but at the same time I know from experience when I was training from Ironman and I would create a weekend workout and I just, hey, call up a bunch of friends and say, Hey, I'm Saturday, I'm doing my long ride.
Meet me out at, it's such a road, and I got three hour ride. They would come, so if I put it out there, they're gonna show up. And that's how I feel like we need to do. You're gonna be the brains behind it. I'll be the , I'll be the boots on the ground behind it. But absolutely. I think what we have planned, and I think maybe you can go over what all things we have planned for 'em, but basically what we have planned and me being out there, the ring leader to, organize [00:08:00] it in the sense of what's actually gonna happen for that particular day.
But we've got some pretty exciting clinics, I think yeah. That people are gonna. Hopefully enjoy and get something out of. That's my goal as a coach, is that they get something out of it, whether it be community getting a new partner. Maybe they're nervous about the swim. We're gonna have those, we're gonna have the actually pre ride the bike courses, both of them.
Yep. And pre-run them. Yep. You're gonna come in if you. Join both races and you come out to the community and you come out to some of these clinics, I really feel like we're gonna give you so much confidence going into these races that you're just gonna crush your goals,
Daphne Kirkwood: confidence and fun.
The thing is like just having fun and being part of a collaborative group, it is fun. I think. We'll start with the Hendersonville triathlon because that's first. And so I know in May we'll start with a swim clinic. We'll do a run clinic. Actually the swim clinic, I think is the first in of June because Patton doesn't open till then.
But we'll start with the run [00:09:00] clinic. A course preview of the run. A transition clinic. Yep. And then, We'll, yeah. Then we'll piggyback off of that and after the Hendersonville try, we'll do the same thing for Asheville.
Jay Hamvas: Try. Yep. Yeah, we basically have a swim, bike and run for e clinic before each race.
Yes. And that just gives you the preview. I would like to do a little bit of a clinic beforehand. So for instance, for running maybe. Basic warmups and run form discussion before we actually go and. So it's gonna be informative, not just show up and run. Same thing with the bike. I really want to go over like some basic bike safety.
Pre, pre-race inspection. Things you can check on the bike, like to make sure your brakes are straight and not dragging and what gear to put your bike in before the race and those types of things. And then the thing that believe it or not actually most excited about is the transition practices.
Is it? Yeah.
Daphne Kirkwood: Most. I dunno why
Jay Hamvas: [00:10:00] about that All the time, I'm very, I'm a very. I'm gonna be organized and fast. Like I'm very competitive. So for me, transition was always those things. I think I was working on Uhhuh, . It's not for everybody and I get that. I'll prove it. But it's free speed, right?
Yeah. So we're actually gonna set up bike racks. We're actually gonna let people rack their bikes. And practice unhooking it and where to put your stuff on the ground and just and what you even need to bring, what you bring bing. We'll go over all that. Exactly.
Daphne Kirkwood: I've seen people with everything but the kitchen sink and transition.
Yeah. And you really don't need all that. So I think, if you're listening. and you haven't done a triathlon before, just fyi, your time on the clock does not stop when you get in transition. It continues to run. If you have a time goal or if you're actually racing and competitive transition counts.
So it's like the transition counts of the transition of the triathlon.
Jay Hamvas: Yeah. Yeah. But that's gonna be fun. I think we're gonna do, I have some. Competition slash [00:11:00] game ideas for that to Nice. Put a little pressure on you so you get a little nervous cuz that's where people make mistakes.
Yeah. And we don't, we want everybody's safe. The biggest thing is safety. And I think by practicing this, and especially in a group environment like that you'll practice with that nervousness and come race day, it'll be, you'll have a much better experience because you'll be more relaxed and you actually enjoy it.
Absolutely. The whole thing is, have. Thank the volunteers , cheer on your fellow competitors. And that's what this sport is about. It's so interesting to me cuz triathlon is an individual sport in the sense that it's you against you. , you're doing the training, you are come race day, you've gotta put it all together.
There's no help, there's no drafting, there's no, all these other things that so many other sports have is a team sport. This isn't, this is an individual. . . But it's not, it's a community. And there's people in transition that, if you got a flat tire, hey, here's your pump, here's a pump.
And they're gonna help you. They're gonna answer any questions you have and come race day, they're cheering you on, and that's the community aspect of it. And I think that this the [00:12:00] try local community that you're gonna create is just gonna foster that. And that's the most important thing to me is fostering that in this area and getting more people excited.
Daphne Kirkwood: Yeah, the camaraderie is huge. And it doesn't matter if you've been doing triathlons as long as we have been or if you're new, everybody will find some benefit of being part of the community. So it really is for everyone, every ability you just start wherever you're at and, whatever clinic you're in, we'll accommodate whatever level you're at.
Yep. Yeah I'm really excited to get it going. I think. Ha already have a good number that are in the community and they can take an advantage of whichever one of the clinics they wanna do. We also have on Facebook a tri local community Facebook group Facebook page.
Check that out. Look that up. Can look for that on the blog too, on our website, but and I'll definitely
Jay Hamvas: peek in there. . Yeah, I'll peek in. I'll, I'm, I'll be on Facebook occasionally on that group, so if somebody has any specific questions, they can [00:13:00] pop it on there and I'll, try to get in there and answer or anything as well.
And then of course the clinics, questions. That's what we're there. But yeah, Facebook's a good way in between clinics or if you have some other random questions. Yeah, I'll definitely throw 'em out there and yeah. And either the community will answer or I'll answer . It'll definitely be in there to help you out.
Daphne Kirkwood: And we have gotten this as a club U s USA Triathlon Club. It's registered, it's insured. Yep. So that's also, something that was important of both you and I. Yeah. That as we are doing this training together and stuff, that it's a legit organized club . And so with that, People can also, on the Facebook page, once you start meeting people and connecting, you can post their, Hey, I'm gonna go swim tomorrow, or I'm gonna go run this week.
And feel free to put that out there for other people to join you. That's what this is gonna be all about.
Jay Hamvas: No, that's definitely one of the things I always see on is people looking for workout partners. . And it's tough sometimes. If you get into. Backing [00:14:00] up.
The thing I like about the sprints is because they are a little bit shorter, it's a little easier to find workout partners and stuff when , I was training for an Ironman. I did go out for a six hour bike ride. No one went with me for six hours. I was lucky to have a few friends that rode the first half with me.
So after three hours, I came back to the cars, dropped them off, and had to turn around and go back out for another three. You don't have that problem. You got, you have people that are, you can throw in an hour bike ride here or a 30 minute run. And there's definitely gonna be workout partners available for that type of thing.
And Encouragement to hold you accountable. So yeah, we're,
Daphne Kirkwood: yeah. And you'll meet people who might be a stronger swimmer than you or a stronger runner, and those are the ones that you pair up with and go, Hey, I'll help you on your run if you help me on my swim. Yep. And. I love when I was racing, I love sprints because I felt like the time for each element was just enough to keep me engaged and focused, where my life didn't drift off . [00:15:00] So I, the longer races, it's oh, I would be planning what I was gonna have for dinner the following week. But for a sprint, you're, it's very intentional. Your time and your focus and your energy and the swim. You get in there and you do it, and it's done.
It's done. And it's wait, I'm already done with the swim. But it's great because you get to go through each of 'em,
Jay Hamvas: yeah. I've actually come back to the distance. I, and not all triathletes do this, but I think the, yeah, majority of them, you start the sprint and you go Olympic, then you go to 70.3 and then you end up doing an Ironman.
I do the challenge of the 70.3. Okay. Because it's not quite the workload as a training for an Ironman, but honestly between. Moving and a knee injury. And a couple things I've gone through. I've actually re-embraced the sprint distance and and that's, I plan on racing both of these races this year.
And I'm excited to come back and so I'll be on course cheer and yawn, but I'll also be there, and to help anybody else they have any questions. But yeah I'd like this distance. I like these local races. And I think I was [00:16:00] inspired, my first Was one of those local races like this one where there was such a wide range of athletes.
So I didn't feel intimidated in the sense that I was a beginner and there was a ton of beginners, but there was also some really local elite tri athletes. Yeah. Who I got to see them just crushed me . At the same time I. That is so cool. How did they go so fast? Uhhuh it. It gave me that incentive to learn more about the sport and to get faster and do these things.
So I just love these smaller races like this that are community based because it is inviting for the beginner, but also challenging for the maybe someone who's been in it for a while. man. If
Daphne Kirkwood: you go all out, sprint. If you're fit and you That's my plan. fall out. Yeah. I mean you're gonna fall over at the end.
It's to fall. It's by exerting all the effort you have. Even if you are super fit and going as fast, as hard as you can for a sprint triathlon, you're, it [00:17:00] hurts .
Jay Hamvas: I, a couple years ago I had a, like the perfect comparison cause I did a 70.3 and two weeks later I had a sprint. They both. But they were hurt in different ways, , because one was endurance based, five hours of just, trying to pace yourself the entire five hours.
And then the sprint, which was like an hour and 10 minutes for me, I was all out redlining the entire time. Totally different, but totally we're both very rewarding in the way they, the way you approach them. So yeah, I definitely embrace, so for all you triathletes out there that are all iron manness, looking for the long distance, I challenge you to come back and do a I do too.
I think it's great training and great practice. So come back, join us for these races. You won't be disapp. Yeah.
Daphne Kirkwood: Yeah. One of the other things that I really like about the sprint here in Western North Carolina is you really could use any bike. You don't have to have a triathlon bike in. In fact, [00:18:00] like I got rid of my trike and just used my road bike for a lot of the yes, sprint triathlons and you don't have as much of an advantage if you have abike.
Sometimes it's a disadvantage, frankly.
Jay Hamvas: I'm actually thinking about riding my road. I'm fortunate enough I do have a road bike and abike and I probably are gonna ride my road bike for Hendersonville. , knowing the courses, it's a l a little more curvy bowling curvy up and down. Yep. Where I think maybe Asheville might lend itself a little bit cuz there's some longer down.
But honest, like you said, I think both, it's a toss up, you really couldn't. I'm not, I don't think there's a huge advantage for sure at all. No. In fact, my road bike climbs way faster than my tri bike climbs yeah, I might ride the road for both of them.
Daphne Kirkwood: Yeah. And that's something people can check out at the course preview too.
Absolutely. And I have friends who've used their mountain bikes and their gravel bikes and their cyclo cross bikes and their hybrid bike. I've seen it all at the [00:19:00] races and I feel bikes can be so expensive right now. Yeah. And super intimidating, and I don't think that people should let that equipment deter them from a triathlon, especially a sprint here in North Carolina.
Jay Hamvas: No, I agree a hundred percent. People approach me as a coach and say, do I need to get a new bike? And I'm like, no, you borrow your neighbors if you need to. For this race, if you're brand new and you want to, I want to see what this triathlon thing's all.
. You can use a spin bike at the gym for most of your training. I would recommend some rides outside because you want to get used to your bike handling skills and so forth. But there's nothing wrong with building your fitness up on a spin bike or a spin class. . And then at least get out on the weekends or something and ride, bar your neighbor's bike or bar, your whoever's bike you need to borrow, come out and do the race and then.
Which I know you're going to be hooked, then you can check out some of your local bike shops or whatever else and buy a used bike and, and go that route or new whatever you wanna do. But don't let that deter you. Absolutely. Yeah, get out here, give it a try. [00:20:00] Literally give it a try.
And we've got the community to support you and this is the, this is a great opportunity this year. If if you've been on the fence about doing a triathlon, this is the year to jump in and give it.
Daphne Kirkwood: Yeah. And then, I think sometimes people need a little extra. Nudge, they need extra accountability, whereas just an open group like, Hey, show up and come to this thing just isn't enough.
They need somebody else tapping them. And I think that's where you come into play and do your job really well as a triathlon coach because you know you can help be that accountability person, you can answer all those millions of questions that people have. That are doing their first or trying to get better.
And for these races, do you have special packages that you're offering or what is, are you just talking to people individually?
Jay Hamvas: Yeah, obviously I've got I've got a training plan I can put out that's like kind of a canned, basic program as somebody once doesn't know where to start.
Yeah, and I [00:21:00] can do that, but but also with. Clinics that we're gonna be putting on. Obviously those are great opportunities for just answering questions and so forth. I would put together something, if somebody doesn't want to actually one-on-one coaching or something like that, I'm available for that.
, just reach out to me and find out. But but yeah. We'll accommodate, but definitely the clinics are gonna be the best thing because you, those are gonna. While you're there, while we're riding, while we're running, just pick my brain. That's what I'm there for those.
And that's free. You sign up for both races and you get a Certifi, , a U s a triathlon certified coach to run with you and ask and just pick my brain. That's what I'm gonna be here for. . I love beginners. I love the age groupers trying to get faster. That's where I get my passion from because that was me, that was me always struggling, trying to learn everything I could learn.
And there was so many things to learn in order to be competitive. So now as a coach and as a seasoned athlete, triathlete, I want to give that back. So those are the people I [00:22:00] really want to talk to and inspire. It's a great sport and I always wanna give back to it. It's done so much for.
Daphne Kirkwood: Yeah, a hundred percent, absolutely.
I feel the same. I think we both are just passionate about our community, about these sports, and, with that I think we've talked about everything we wanted to say. Yeah. But just excited about launching this tri local community and the two races. And we hope that we see a bunch of people in Hendersonville and Asheville Black Mountain come out, join us.
Jay Hamvas: Absolutely. And sure. Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of this and always appreciate you putting these races on and keeping the try light burning, , . Cause there aren't that many races in this area and so yeah, we appreciate you to continue to do this, so absolutely excited to what's coming.
Daphne Kirkwood: Okay, thanks everybody. And thanks Jay. And I'll see you. Yes, ma'am. All right, thanks. Bye
Jay Hamvas: bye. Bye.