It’s hard to believe that Austin Aquatics and Sports Academy has only been open since January. In one respect, it seems like just yesterday they were still painting the locker rooms, adding light fixtures and moving in the proper training equipment. In other moments, it feels like we’ve been at this for years based on the performances, improvements and friendships that have been gained with the athletes we see on a daily basis.
As Marketing Manager and Tri Coach, one of the biggest questions I’m asked is, “Don’t you have to be an elite athlete to train at the Academy?” Well, heck! If that was the case, I would’ve never been hired! The answers is a re
sounding, “No.” You don’t have to be a professional or expert swimmer or triathlete in order to deserve an “elite level” experience.
That experience is what we hope to create with all of our athletes at the Academy. Regardless of what level you enter the doors, we want you to leave that day feeling better and more confident. Perhaps you’ve broken a new weight, or time goal, or learned something about heart rate or power that you didn’t know the day before. Regardless of whether you’re a rookie triathlete or olympic hopeful, we can all learn something new about ourselves and breaking through barriers.
One of our first triathletes on the team was Amy Beisenherz. She and her friend, Ellie Sanchez, joined our very first triathlon swim clinic that we hosted in February. This four week introduction to swimming clinic was one of the first we held here at the Academy. Our doors were barely open but 12 people signed up to learn about proper swimming technique. Ellie and Amy were two of those newbie athletes who wanted to learn to swim so that they could cross a major item off their bucket list: Complete a Triathlon at age 40! Their goal? The Rookie Triathlon!
In her own words:
“Last year I turned 40 and was casually chatting with one of my best friends about wanting to take on some kind of challenge for the big year. I can’t remember how it came to be, but somehow I found myself agreeing to go for a triathlon (?!). The only swimming I had ever done was for fun – scuba diving, playing in the pool, or at the beach. Certainly not for exercise. I didn’t own a pair of running shoes and had never even jogged around the block. I didn’t own a bike and had not ridden outdoors inover 20 years. To keep active, I simply ran around with the kids and attended weekly group exercise & spin classes. Where to start? I figured learning how to properly swim should be the first step and found mention of a new facility opening close by. I checked back in over the next few months and was excited to read the new Austin Aquatics & Sports Academy would be opening for business in January. One of the first offerings was a swim clinic called Freestyle FUNdamentals in February – and I just happened to know one of the swim coaches who also taught a cycle class at my gym. ..And so it began. The swim clinic, the facility, and the staff were all fantastic. I got my feet wet, learned the basics, and gained a wee bit of confidence in the water. It was a start. Next, I heard AASA was about to roll out a full Triathlon training program. The experience to date had been so positive and the staff so encouraging & enthusiatic, I decided to go for it and enrolled when the new program launched in March. Only a few months later, my buddy and I have raced in the Rookie Tri, Pure Austin’s Splash & Dash, and Lifetime Tri’s CapTex. It’s been a wild ride – both incredibly challenging and personally rewarding. And fun! And now that we’ve DONE it – we are finding that we are not done. The expertise, training, and community at AASA is not something we can simply walk away from. What will be next? ”
It’s enthusiasm and confidence like that that breed more excitement for what we’re doing. She wasn’t lost in the shuffle. In fact, as an early member, she was a star of the program and even landed on the top of the podium in her first race! As of now, in just 10 weeks of launching our Academy Triathlon programs, we’re at almost 40 athletes. We couldn’t be more happy and proud for what they are accomplishing everyday. Just ask Amy how her training has been…
“The training at AASA has been comprehensive, personalized, challenging — and never boring! Even for the novice, the triathlon program offers the full range of workouts – swim, bike, run/track, and strength/conditioning. The pool, equipment, and overall facility is truly stellar. Workouts are in a group setting, but customized not just to my fitness level, but in relation to my overall training schedule, goals, injuries, etc. Across the board, the coaches provide personalized instruction and support not just during training, but on all things Tri related – nutrition, race logistics, gear, and best practices. The communication is fantastic – towards the end of each week we are notified of happenings for the coming week, including special events, upcoming races, or weekend group rides & runs. Workouts can be scheduled andmanaged easily via the AASA App which also sends out notifications if there are changes in schedules or other updates.
What advice would you give “newbies” or people who feel intimidated by our place or by training in general?
Just visit and talk with Carrie, Natasha, and the rest of the staff. They will put you at ease, gleefully (editors note: ha ha!) answer any & all questions, and ultimately talk you into it! Being a complete novice on all fronts, one of my biggest concerns starting out was whether I would be able to succeed at AASA. Would I be given the basic training and support I needed as a beginner? Would I feel high-maintenance and out of my league in the company of so many “real” athletes? Would the cost be worth it? YES, NO, and YES. The culture at AASA is a genuinely supportive environment that is welcoming to members at all levels, with varied goals and reasons for joining. It’s awe-inspiring, not intimidating, to see the Pros in action and get to workout right along side – all while receiving instruction from the same top notch coaches. The offerings continue to be varied and geared toward making triathlon accessible and attainable for all from open water swim clinics and beginner triathlete Q&A sessions, to informative emails and weekend rides/runs at changing locations around town.
She’s right– If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with any of the coaches here at the Academy! From Sprint distance to Ironman distance races, we’ll get you to the finish line of your dreams!
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