“It has definitely improved my time here,” senior club member Shay Brown said.
Brown, like many other members, participated in track and cross country in high school and said he saw Alabama Triathletes as the perfect way to continue competing. Although many members join the club with similar backgrounds to Brown, Alabama Triathletes welcomes anyone regardless of ability or experience level.
“Half of our members join and have never done anything before,” club president Taylor Wood said. “They are looking to get in shape and they are looking to challenge themselves.”
Triathlons by nature are competitive, but Wood said lack of ability should not deter beginners from joining the club.
“We don’t define a member’s success by how they are performing,” Wood said. “For a lot of people it is just about finishing a triathlon in the first place.”
Many club members said they enjoy the thrill of competing. Andrew Zeller, a recent addition to the team, said he relishes the competitive opportunities club membership provides.
“You just have a little sense of pride that you are racing for Alabama and that you are representing the school,” Zeller said.
The club recently competed at Lake Lanier in Georgia and now looks ahead to Oct. 12, when the team travels to compete in the Rev3 Anderson in South Carolina. This will be the club’s last official event of the semester, but it does not mean the club members will be taking it easy.
Many of the members will compete as individuals in various events as they attempt to prepare for collegiate nationals, which will require the team to return to South Carolina next semester.
Students are able to take advantage of minimized lodging and travel expenses as members of the club.
“[Competing in triathlons] will never be cheaper than to do it as a student,” Zeller said.
More information about the club can be found at bamatri.com
