NewsTriathlon Meets Football
Barrry Siff reports on the Timex Multisport Team Camp at NY Giants Training Facility
Published Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Updated: Look for pictures at the end of this story.
Timex Multisport Team, now in its ninth year, held its annual "camp" at the Timex Performance Center (TPC) in East Rutherford, NJ, February 18-21. The TPC is home to the NY (football) Giants; and, the camp reflected the tremendous partnership that has begun between Timex and the pro football team. (Timex Multisport Team member Trista Francis is pictured here between a couple of members of the Giant's team.)
Ronnie Barnes, the Giants VP Medical Services (and Head Trainer), was excited to to learn from Timex and its athletes about overtraining, heart rate monitoring and mental strength. He notes that players are, for the first time, actually training with heart rate monitors. “This is new to football,” said Barnes. “We have an opportunity to measure pace, heart rate, and learn about true scientific training.”
The 72-hour camp was jam packed as the athletes learned about Timex’ newest products – most notably, the Global Trainer, due out this summer. This fully loaded GPS unit has been designed with great input from the team and the athletes who used the initial test units during camp were extremely excited. The unit will include an accessory kit for the bike, so that cadence can also be monitored on the wrist. Additionally, the Expedition WS4 (altitude, compass, barometer, temp), and the Sleek, with tap screen technology, were unveiled.
But, without a doubt, the highlight of the weekend revolved around the aura of the Giants. Walking into the team locker room and seeing Eli Manning’s locker, watching offensive linemen doing their strength workouts and, finally, having our own football games on the magnificent field of the TPC … it was truly three days of teambuilding and team bonding.
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The team heard from the Giants’ nutrition consultant, who dealt with specific questions from the triathletes of the team. The team had quite a laugh when the nutrition expert showed a table of desirable carb and protein levels, based upon one’s weight … with the lowest weight level being 200 pounds and going up to 340. On the nutrition side, the TPC has a fantastic cafeteria, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the team, with a full complement of Gatorade, juices, fruit, yogurt; as well as terrific pastas, meats and veggies. It definitely satiated both the triathletes and the offensive guards.
Another “exercise” during the camp was developing short You Tube videos to reflect the lifestyle of triathlon, incorporating the TPC and, of course, Timex. The four teams produced some hilarious, and entertaining, videos which were judged “Idol Style” by Carl Banks (ex-Giants superstar), Gurian (Timex President) and the VP Marketing for the Giants.
The Timex Multisport Team boasts such well known names as Clearwater age group champion, Chris Thomas; USAT Collegiate Champion, Jessica Broderick and 2009 Ironman Florida Champion, Kiril Kotsegharov. But the true strength of the team is in its breadth of demographics. Ranging from ages 18 to 57, athletes from over a dozen countries and an excellent split of females and males, the diversity of the group is far reaching. One common reference point for each of the 50 athletes, however, is their passion for the sport of triathlon, and their willingness to share their spirit and enthusiasm for the sport.
Watch for the Timex Multisport Tour at Ironman events this season, as well as area clinics across the U.S. To read more about Team Timex athletes and their adventures, visit http://teamtimex.timexblogs.com/.
Barry Siff is in his second year on the Timex Multisport Team. His team finished 1-2 in the Timex Football Championship. He lives and trains in Boulder, CO, along with his wife, Jodee, and dog, Jackpot.
