There was some trouble getting into the meeting for those who did not have their Cat cards. The Rec Center staff told us that they are going to be very strict about who gets in. Basically no one gets in without a Cat card now.
The meeting began with the officers introducing themselves, followed by a few words from different people about "What is Tricats?" Then the new people and returning Tricats mingled and and got acquainted. Then Makko gave out some prizes about the winter training log. Most hours: Alex Riegert-Waters clocked 100 hours, as did Kathy Rakel. Least hours: no one wanted to admit to having the least hours, so Sean Burr and Matt Ward (I think) shared this prize for 45 hours of training each. Most inspirational: Andy Suter went for an icy swim, and thus won a ninja costume and some other stuff. And also: kudos also to those who took the plunge and bought a bike this semester, a strong sign of commitment to tri.
Coach Grasky couldn't be at the meeting b/c of illness so Makko said a few words about how this semester the returning tricats will work on speed, and the new folk should at least for the first month or two just work on cardio base. Don't dive directly into speedwork or you risk injury. [Sec. note: for new Tricats, there is some more helpful workout info here -- a few pages from Coach Grasky. Please read.]
We then went through quite a few announcements:
- Membership and Dues
- The workout schedule will be open to all for the next 2 weeks. Membership dues are due on 4 Feb. After that the workouts are available only to members.
- Dues are $76 for new members (which includes the official 2007-8 season club t-shirt) and $70 for returning members.
- We also have some other cool club t-shirts if you find you need more tricat t-shirtage, but these are an optional $6 purchase.
- To everyone: the membership list is going to get reset in 2 weeks when we get the new list of members, so there will be a 6 hour period in which your account will be temporarily inaccessible. Do not panic.
- New members should get signed on to this site, www.arizonatricats.com, and please register using Real First Name space Real Last Name as your username.
- Collegiate Nationals
- Open registration begins Feb. 1, at 11 AM. If you want to go but did not sign up early, that will be the time. We will sign up together at the ILC. At this point, it looks likely that everyone who wants to go will be able, but please don't go berzerk if we are wrong about that.
- To get club funds to help pay for the travel expenses, we ask members to participate in eight fundraisers and the letter writing campaign.
- Tricats go to the superbowl: those working this game have a mandatory training session on Sunday.
- Social at Rock and Ropes on Friday at 6 PM. We hope all can come! There will be pizza. About 30-35 people expressed interest in going. You need to bring some money:
- $19 if you need to rent gear, and if you have not climbed at Rocks and Ropes before -- because they need to train you on how to use the gym. Please be there at 6 PM if you are in this category because they want to train everyone at the same time.
- $12 if you have been through the training at RnR but you still need to rent gear.
- $6 if you have been through the training and you own your own gear.
- Tricats members sometimes host unofficial socials and invite club members, and one of those might be coming up.
- On Wednesday at 6 PM at the Rec Center (subject to change), Dave Brown, the coach of Cal Poly (i.e., one of them) is coming here to meet the club and talk about the Western conference. He also is the founder of a nutrition company called Fluid. This is sort of a business meeting, but any Tricat who is interested is welcome to attend.
- A few words about the run workout tomorrow. There is a run workout both in the morning and the evening. You should go to one of them.
- The evening one is the usual workout. It is at 6 PM at Reid Park. If you are driving, go south on Campbell, turn left (east) on Broadway, turn right (south) on Randolph and park in the parking lot next to the stadium. This is pretty close to the starting line for the 2.75 mile loop around the park. Hopefully you will see Tricats milling about there. This is typical for Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Rides to Reid Park: if you need a ride, gather at 5:35 or so at the northwest corner of the Rec Center's east parking lot, the big one that is currently fenced up for construction. There's a bit of alleyway there.
- Can you help drive people to Reid Park? If you have space in your car, swing by the abovementioned spot around 5:40 - 5:45 and if anyone is there, pull into the alleyway and give them a lift to Reid Park (if they are Tricats, that is).
- The Tuesday morning run workout was established as a substitute run for those who are going to do the Tuesday evening trainer workout. (More about that later.) If you want to run Tuesday morning, meet at the Flagpole (west of Old Main) at 7 AM.
- Feb. 24 is our spring training camp, part of which is the Desert Classic Duathlon. This should be great fun and a great training time.
- It is already time to register for the Tucson tri and the D.C. Duathlon. Don't wait. The Tucson tri is a local sprint race and great for beginners.
- Safety and Legal Requirements
- All new members need to fill out an Assumption of Risk form (ideally before your first workout). This is very important. The form is from the Rec Center, you can pick one up at their business office, and you fill it out and turn it in there. Please do this right away even if you are not sure about joining Tricats -- it is requirement to work out with the club.
- Also, Tricats strictly requires helmets on group bike rides. If you forget your helmet, you'll have to go back and get it.
- Finally, tomorrow is as always Tricat T-shirt Tuesday. Wear your club t-shirt every Tuesday and let people know about Tricats.
I counted 65 or so people at this meeting.
The club secretary would like to add that this semester he will be more consistent than last semester at getting these minutes posted every week. :-)
