Team JFT2

New Team JFT² Sponsors for 2008 season!!

Click this link for a list of current Team JFT2 members:

Check out the 2007 Team events page!

UPDATE ON TEAM JFT²

Team JFT² has now grown to 74 confirmed members. This has generated a lot of questions. Here is some background on the team, which I hope will answer some of those questions. For an overview of what we've been doing all year, check out the 2007 Team Event Page. Team JFT2 is a group that Jill formed about a year ago. Jill saw this as a great way to provide a support group for her coached athletes and friends. For many years Jill trained by herself. She did attend several camps over the years, and enjoyed the camaraderie and support that this environment provided. This is what she wanted to bring to her athletes in forming the team. She also wanted to extend this to any other passionate triathletes as well.

We were pleased at the number and quality of sponsors that signed up to support the team, they provided some great deals for our members. This next season will be even better; we’ve added Axley. We have special pricing for QR bikes at Triumph Multisport (through November) and we will have a team deal there on a wetsuit as well. We are also investigating a helmet sponsorship and a HR monitor/GPS device.

We will likely place our order for team uniforms in early January, to arrive by late March. This will give us time to finalize our sponsors for next season, finalize uniform design, and take advantage of the quantity price breaks that our increasing membership will provide.

Currently, our team is comprised of athletes from many age groups and abilities. We have two members in the 10-14 AG, and in every AG from 20-24 through 55-59. The biggest concentration is in ladies 35-39. Currently we have 31 women, and 30 men! Geographically, we have 35 “eastsiders”, 15 “westsiders”, six from the south end (from Renton to Roy), three from up north, one in the tri cities, and one in Austin, TX (yeah Doug... so sorry that you moved).

Throughout the season, the team met regularly for group rides and group runs on the weekends, with some mid-week sessions early in the season. Typically Jill would lead these events, but lately some of the other team members have been setting up and leading their own events, using the forum to coordinate these activities.

The team is not a money-making endeavor for anyone. There is currently no membership fee. There are three obligations for being on the team; you must have an active USAT membership, you must purchase a team uniform, and you must “bring it” to every workout and race (that is, bring your best attitude and your "A" game :-) There will be two mandatory uniform purchase items and many other uniform options to choose from.

Jill is taking a break after her race in Kona. She will be leading her next group ride on November 10. Other team members are currently leading group runs and rides on the weekends. There are many team members who are training together for the Seattle marathon and half marathon. Other team races include: Arizona Rock and Roll Marathon and half marathon, Mercer Island half marathon, Wildflower (RV convoy, anyone?), Ironman Arizona, Issaquah sprint triathlon, Ironman Coeur d'Alene, Seafair, Lake Stevens half, Seattle Danskin, USAT AG Nationals, and a huge group doing Ironman Canada. There will likely be a team presence at nearly every local triathlon and running event next season.

In addition to the races, the team will again be organizing other group activities, including group runs, some century rides, a couple outings over Stevens Pass, and a lot of kayak-supported lake swimming (starting in May).

The team is about being the best that you can be, whether you are an elite athlete or a beginner. A core philosophy of the team is that time is precious, and if you are going to spend an hour training, it's best to maximize this time to reach your goals. There is a respect for the balance that you must maintain between family, career and athletic endeavors.

Jill's vision for this team for next year is to have a location, or a hub, for the team activities. More details on this vision to come.

If you are interested in joining the team, please contact Michael at yrfm@hotmail.com. If you’re not sure, and would like to come to a group workout to meet some of the team, just let me know in email, we would love to have you join us.

Happy Training!

"Tri at the Y" Indoor Tri in March

What is JFT²?

A new team of triathletes, dedicated to competing in multisport events in the Pacific Northwest, with a “no excuses” attitude toward racing and training. The purpose of the group is to share ideas, train together, race together and learn to become better athletes. The team is an officially recognized USAT Club.

How do I join?

Step 1: If you are not a USAT member, go here and get your membership

FIRST

LAST

USAT NUMBER

DOB

ADDRESS

CITY

STATE

ZIP

Step 2: Send the following information to yrfm@hotmail.com

What does the team do?

Holds team workouts and training sessions (lead by Jill or other athletes; see FORUM on this site for details)
Selects specific events to meet and compete as a team
Coordinates and participates in social events
Forms team relays and competes from time to time
Has it’s own forum on the www.tricoachjill.com website for coordinating activities and events, sharing ideas and race reports
Wears a cool uniform (tri outfits and cycling outfits for racing and training)
Will likely hold specific “camps” throughout the season; multi-day training events for specific races (ie: Ironman Canada, Whisky Dick)
Forms a support system to help everyone become better athletes
Shares ideas, training routes, rides. There will be a place to post maps for rides.

What does it cost?

For the 2007-08 year, there is no membership fee. Team members will be required to purchase a triathlon uniform (at cost), and also have a fully paid USAT membership.
Those team members participating in camps will pay a small fee to offset coaching expenses.
Anyone who is not coached by Jill, and wants to have a Training Peaks account, can get one at Jill’s cost (less than half the retail $19.95 per month)

What sort of team functions should I anticipate?

Regularly scheduled team rides, runs, and (when it gets warmer), swims
Team barbeques and get-togethers
- Sometimes oriented around a race
- Sometimes oriented around a long ride (an example would be an afternoon picnic in downtown Leavenworth, after riding over Stevens Pass)

Do I have to be an elite athlete to join the team?

· No. The team welcomes multisport members of all levels and abilities. We currently have members from the age of 11 to 55.

Is this a team or a club?

· More of a team than a club, but the team will have USAT club status. This allows the team to compete in the USAT club championship event (typically held in mid October, in Las Vegas), as well as the newly created USAT-PNW club championship.

Do I have to be coached by Jill to be on the team?

· No. As mentioned above, the team is open to all multisport athletes.

Does the team have sponsors?

· Absolutely, and we have some great ones! All JFT² members will be able to purchase, under certain conditions, products at a discount from the following sponsor companies:

Triumph-Multisport, Everyday Athlete, Oomph!, Halo Swim Training Systems, Mambe Blankets, Body Fat Test, and Carb Boom. Details are posted here, viewable only by team members with a password.

We have also received sponsorships, in the form of cash, merchandise, or facility usage, from the following sponsors:

Misenar Homes, Hamish Anderson Construction, New Belgium Brewery

New for 2008: Axley, Garmin and Limar

Who runs the team?

· At this point, any help would be appreciated to help in organizing the team, coordinating social events, aligning sponsors, determining costs, etc.

· Currently, the Tricoachjill website will be used as the primary vehicle for communicating team activities. As the team grows, and distributes responsibilities, perhaps electing officers and a board, a separate website may be created. The domain name www.jft2.com has already been registered and is forwarded to this page.

Why do I have to buy a tri uniform?

To support our sponsors.
Because we need to order a minimum quantity of custom uniforms
To look a team when we train and race.

Why do I have to purchase a $40 USAT membership?

Team JFT2 is an Official USAT Club, and as such, we believe that all team members should support this worthy institution. The USAT is chartered to develop our nations youth in the sport of triathlon, and to train our Olympic hopefuls.

This website is dedicated to the sport of triathlon, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Jill Fry is a triathlon coach and an athlete who competes in triathlons ranging from Sprint Distance to Ironman. Jill and many of her athletes and friends have also formed a team, Team JFT². Information on Jill's coaching services can be found under Coaching Services & Info. On this site you will also find a large number of personal race reports, as well as event reports, with many event-specific photos.