Since our founding, Kids Tri NC has donated to the UNC Triathlon Team to help fund the team’s travel expenses to USA Triathlon’s Collegiate National Championship. You may have seen members of the team volunteering at our races over the years. This year, Fleet Feet will host a shopping giveback day on April 8th. Shop at either the Carrboro or Durham store on that day and 15% will be donated to the UNC Tri Team on Kids Tri NC’s behalf.
Here’s a great piece on the UNC Tri Team from one of the team members, Tristan Pike:
This year on April 23rd, the UNC Triathlon team returns to Clemson, SC to compete at Collegiate Nationals. We hope to send one of our largest groups, 16 athletes, to compete this spring. The women’s team placed 5th in the conference and 14th at Nationals last year. The men’s team placed 4th in the conference and due to unfortunate final exam times, didn’t have enough members for a team score at Nationals last year. Both the men and the women are looking strong this year and aim to improve their standings this year at the National race.
Our training consists of early morning bike rides, group swim practices, weight training, track workouts, long runs in the Carolina North, and lots of food. An important part of our success is attributed to our wonderful coach, Dave Williams of Triangle Multisport. Dave teaches us how to push our bodies, refuel, rest, and become better athletes!
Personally I have a found a community and family within the triathlon team at Chapel Hill that I never would have expected for such an individualized sport. We support each other in our struggles to balance school, training, work, and other extracurriculars while somehow finding the time to eat the absurd amounts of food necessary to fuel our bodies through Dave’s workouts. In every way I have grown as athlete with the help of this team. I have progressed not only physically, but mentally and have found a deep love for a sport I never would have expected.
