News
16 Aug: WPA Cross Country Champs - [ show/hide ]

The Western Province Cross Country Championships takes place on Satrurday 21 August at the Peninsula Technicon in Bellville South.

15 Aug: Coffee Shop ride, 60kms - [ show/hide ]

On Sunday we will meet at the VA Point parking lot at 8am for a group ride to Durbanville

29 June: 70.3 Half Ironman training - [ show/hide ]

70.3 Half Iron Man group training starts on 1st August 2010 with Embark

10 June: Applethwaite Duathlon 19th June - [ show/hide ]

Fill your lungs with fresh air and experience the breathtaking scenery at Applethwaite in Grabouw
20 May: Donate your bra's and running kit - [ show/hide ]

Please join us next Wednesday for our campaign to collect bra's (for the Pink Drive at Comrades) and running kit for our new ATC Development Squad.
22 April: This months newsletter - [ show/hide ]

Keep up to date with our latest news
14 April: NB Eden Campus Trail Run this weekend - [ show/hide ]

Come and join other ATC Runners for this beautiful off road run this Saturday
1 April: Duathlon venue's confirmed - [ show/hide ]

This years Du trials will be held at Killarney Race Track
ENTRY FORM for WP Du Qualifier 2010.doc [ 54.00 kb ~ 18.00 seconds @ 56kbps]
entry form. please print out and take with you to save time

15 March: 80th ATC Running Member - [ show/hide ]

Be our 80th running member and receive your licence and kit for free

10 Feb: Entries open for Knysna Half Marathon - [ show/hide ]

Get your entries in now for this year's Knsyna Forest Half and Full Marathon on 10th July 2010.

1 Feb: ATC and offshore bank to sponsor elite team - [ show/hide ]

Fairbairn Private Bank, an offshore bank with representative offices in South Africa, is proud to announce its sponsorship with ATC Multisport of the Fairbairn Private Bank Multisport Team (“Team FPB”) for 2010.

14 Jan: ATC Running is officially recognised - [ show/hide ]

Great news- ATC Multisport now has an official WPA-licensed running club, ATC Running.

10 Jan: Totalsports Challenge Round-Up - [ show/hide ]

The weekend saw over 30 ATC Multisport members complete the TSC 2010.

17 Dec: Humbling and Hot - Kona Report - [ show/hide ]

During race week, downtown Kona was a feast of activity, excitement and nervous energy. Every morning hundreds of lean mean skinsuit athletes were swimming part of the course at the Kailua Pier whilst we had breakfast at our favourite spot – Lava Java (it’s worth traveling 46 hours just to taste it!) You have never seen so many beautiful bodies and bikes. Ripped guys and very fast girls were running and biking everywhere. I tried to keep my cool in more way than one…

 

The weather conditions for the Hawaiian Ironman World Championships on 10 October 2009 would have been perfect for a windsurfing world champs what with 100% humidity, an average temperature of 32.2ºC, and the unmistakable presence of the brutal Kailua-Kona wind. As it happened, there was no sail in sight and I went head-to-head with the elements sporting and a head cold!

 

It was a surreal, and yet a very genuine experience, to stand on the shores of Kailua bay beside 1800 of the best athletes in the world. I was about to start the holy grail of triathlons, the race I have dreamed about, sacrificed for and focused on. The gun went off way too suddenly, no counting or warning, just the noise and the white and fight. The kicking, pushing and shoving was much worse than any other race I have ever done, but I was mentally prepared for this. My main aim was to preserve energy and slip as much as I could; this I managed to do, but it was at the expense of my own speed and rhythm. I actually left the water with some sense of excitement and in high spirits, as I did not stop swimming once and never freaked out (for those who have shared my swim journey will know how huge this is). My ecstasy was short lived as the 1h17 on the clock and my lonely bike made it clear that I will spend the next 5+ hours playing catch up.

 

Other than the coughing and the constant internal battle, it all went according to plan until about 90km into the bike when I hit the climb to Harwee; it dawned on me that I have not eaten any solids! I took two sips of my Herbal Life/Pronutro shake and realised this is a South African winter training drink and I lost the bottle as I was not going to carry any unnecessary weight up the climb. Yes, you sometimes loose your head when you are doing the most important race of your life? The 17km climb was tough and I did not know it then, but the best 17km of my race was upon me. I flew down Harvee and the people around me seemed stationary. When I took the turn to take the last 55km back to Alii drive the infamous Kona wind hit me. There were times when I thought I should stop to check the breaks on my wheels. It was brutal to bike your heart out staying below 20km/h; seeing with each slow kilometre the sweat, training, commitment and my sub 11h goal slip away. At 170km all guns blazing my inner thighs started to cramp – I took 4 salt tablets and earnestly prayed for a cramp free marathon. I finished the bike in just under 6hours.

 

The run plan was to walk every water point until 21km and after that only the ones I needed…it turned out that every single water point until 42.2km was desperately needed. It seemed I could never get enough ice – in my sport bra over my head; constantly rubbing my face and arms with those magic little blocks – the only solution I had to combat the excruciating heat with. The black tar and the black lava fields crept in and there was no colour – inside or out. I was certain they moved the energy lab as I was waiting, anticipating, praying for that turn around point which did not seem to come. Getting there was like reaching an oasis (albeit short lived) plus seeing Sarah made me feel that it was not all lost and I was not totally alone in my agony. It was about 2km out of the energy lab on my way “home” when I realised I had absolutely nothing left. Deep down I somehow still believed my fighting spirit will come back and I will end the race like any other – fast and in high spirits. The rest of the way was the toughest 15km of my life it was a constant internal battle for survival. I had to keep convincing my body  that I did not hate it I just hated what I was doing and I promised myself I will never ever do this again. I was searching for the reason I was there, the reason I ever took up the sport, the reason I have gone crazy and thought I ever liked this, not to mention love it. And obviously I was searching for that fighting spirit… I could not pick myself up and run the way I trained countless hours for. Taking the last turn onto Alii drive hearing the 20,000+ American fans shouting “good joab” did put a smile back on my face and that feeling you only get on the Ironman red carpet did cloak me with a feeling of victory and gratefulness. I finished the marathon in 3h58 and the race in 11h18 with tears of agony and joy, and not true to myself I have to admit – a deep sense of disappointment.

 

My findings of my 10 October 2009 Hawaiian Ironman World championships are summed up by Lee Gruenfield: “Experience is a harsh teacher – she gives the test before she gives the lesson”.

 

And those lessons are invaluable and good and I would love to share them with any athlete who wants to be bored. But above all I have the pure joy of knowing that I passionately love it all – the test, the pain, the suffering, the success, the disappointment, the searching, the defying of all natural laws and the knowledge that impossible is just a big word…impossible is nothing!

 

To you Ironmen, prospective Ironmen, promising Ironmen, loyal supporters and invaluable friends – I look forward to meet you on Hoby beach on 25 April 2010 for yet another lemming in the pursuit of what we love.

 

To my AMAIZING sponsors: PricewaterhouseCoopers, CareCross, the Ackerman Family Foundation, BioAnabolics and Cadence; I will never be able to thank you enough!

 

I wish you a blessed active and safe festive season!

 

Love and peace, Martha


10 Dec: ATC Winners crowned - [ show/hide ]

The year was finished on a high-note recently at the annual ATC bash as they named their top performing athletes for 2009.

10 Oct 09: Clan William Report - [ show/hide ]

Once again ATC dominated the annual Freshpak Rooibos Fitness Festival at Clanwilliam!

29 Sep 09: ATC Juniors victorious on MTB circuit - [ show/hide ]

Team Fairbairn Private Bank/ATC Juniors Craig Boyes and Dominic Calitz have dominated recent MTB events taking the top positions.

7 Sep 09: Join or renew your ATC membership now! - [ show/hide ]

The new membership year for ATC started on 1st September 2009. If you join or renew in the month of September only you will get a free 6-month subscription to Go-Multi Magazine

5th Sept 09: ATC repositions as ATC Multisport - [ show/hide ]

Although triathlon has always been our core focus, our new format club under the banner of ATC Multisport will now cover Triathlon, as well as road & trail running, and road cycling & mountainbiking.


28 Aug 09: Girls rides - Summer is almost here - [ show/hide ]

It's officially spring in less than a week. The days are longer and the sun is shining more often, which means more days to ride!

24 Aug 09: More success for Team FPB/ATC - [ show/hide ]

The Fairbairn Private Bank Cycling Team, supported by Atlantic Triathlon Club, has had a string of successes recently. This included the TransBaviaans Mountain Challenge, where they had a great result.

8 Aug 09: The new tri season starts 1 September - [ show/hide ]

Start planning your races and join us for our training sessions. We currently have many training sessions

14 July 09: Triathlon Workshop 102 - [ show/hide ]

Aimed at more experienced athletes that want to 'up thier game'

25 June 09: Pnp Knysna Festival - [ show/hide ]

3-12 July is the sports festival in Kynsna, choose from biking, running, swimming, xterra, paddling etc

23 June 09: Greg Eden no.1 for Legends Challenge - [ show/hide ]

The updated leader board now puts Greg in the lead for the club challenge

26 June 09: WP Duathlon Champs - [ show/hide ]

Full results for the New Balance Western Province Duathlon Champs

13 May 09: WPTA Committee Elected - [ show/hide ]

Last week a new committee was voted in to take Western Province Triathlon (WPTA) to the next level.

8 May 09: African-X Challenge starts today. - [ show/hide ]

Good luck to all ATC members taking part in this gruelling 3-day trail running stage race.

7 May 09: Winter Training Schedule kicks off - [ show/hide ]

Our new winter training schedule is up on the website. Go to the training tab for more info.

11 May 09: New Balance Duathlon on 24th May - [ show/hide ]

Entries for the NB Duathlon go live on 8th May on entrytime.com and endorphin.co.za. This event incorporates the WPTA Duathlon Trials.

21 Apr 09: Western Province AGM this week. - [ show/hide ]

It is the AGM for the Western Province Triathlon Association this Thursday 23rd April from 7pm in Bellville. Please try and attend.

17 Feb: Yes, we're going over Chappies! - [ show/hide ]

Chapmans Peak has been opened for the Argus

3 Feb: New Balance Tri Results - [ show/hide ]

New Balance Tri Results incorporating Western Province Champs. WP team to be announced shortly

2 Feb: End of Master Marina's and ATC Club House - [ show/hide ]

As the development continues for 2010, Master Marina's Sports Club and home of ATC has been given its marching orders

1 Feb: New Balance Triathlon + WP Champs - [ show/hide ]

Congrats to Western Province Triathlon Association for an outstanding event over the weekend. Results will be up this week...

31 Jan: New Balance Triathlon - [ show/hide ]

New Balance Triathlon Including 2009 WPTA Triathlon Championships

12 Dec: And the winners are..... - [ show/hide ]

The annual ATC Xmas bash was a huge success and some very deserving members received the Club's top awards.

3 Dec: And the nominees are......... - [ show/hide ]

The nominations are out for this year's ATC Annual Awards. We will be honouring our top athletes and supporters at the Christmas Party on Wednesday 10th Dec. Click here for the full list.

25 Nov: Get tickets for ATC awards in early Dec! - [ show/hide ]

It's that time of year again for the annual ATC awards evening and Christmas party, taking place on Wednesday 10th December from 6.30pm at the Clubhouse.

2 Nov: Schutte and Gower-Jackson series winners - [ show/hide ]

The third and final race in the X-Roads duathlon series was set to be a fast race as the Phisantakraal Farm had dried out over the last month or so. This meant that the mountain bikers at last had the upper hand. The 1st and 2nd race had both been won by road bikers!

6 Oct: ATC dominates at Freshpak Festival - [ show/hide ]

The Atlantic Triathlon Club dominated at the Freshpak Fitness Festival in Clanwilliam this weekend, taking 8 of the top 10 men's spots and 5 of the women's.

3 Oct: Murray wins Duathlon Worlds for 2nd time - [ show/hide ]

SA under-23 athlete Richard Murray has won World Duathlon Champs held recently in Rimini, Italy, adding a second world title to his achievements.

29 Sep: Schutte and Weir lead X-Roads after race 2 - [ show/hide ]

The weather was playing along for one day only as the second event in the USN New Balance X-Roads Series took place yesterday at Phisantekraal Farm.

14 Sep: Get your entries in for Clanwilliam! - [ show/hide ]

There are less than 3 weeks to go until the Freshpak Fitness Festival in Clanwilliam on 4/5th Oct, so go to www.entrytime.com and enter.

28 Aug: Getting into triathlon gear workshop - [ show/hide ]

SSISA/New Balance “Getting into triathlon gear" workshop & WPTA registration takes place Monday 1st Sept.

27 Aug: Online entries open for Race 2. - [ show/hide ]

Book online now for the second leg of the USN New Balance X-Roads Series.

26 Aug: Results and Pics are up for X-Roads Series - [ show/hide ]

The results are up from event 1 in the USN New Balance X-Roads Series held on 24 Aug 2008.

24 Aug: ATC rejuvenates duathlon with X-Roads - [ show/hide ]

Almost 250 athletes of all levels took to the starting line today in the inaugural USN New Balance X-Roads Series.

19 Aug: Snowsill and Frodeno take Olympic Gold - [ show/hide ]

Australian Emma Snowsill and German Jan Frodeno have taken gold in the triathlon at the Beijing Olympics.

18 Aug: Excitement grows for X-Roads Series - [ show/hide ]

With a few days left until the first event in the USN New Balance X-Roads Series, excitement and entries are growing.

1st Aug: One week to go to the Olympics. - [ show/hide ]

With just one week to go until the Olympics, here is the schedule of important events in our sport.

28th July: Beginner to CYCLING? - [ show/hide ]

ATC introduces 'complete beginner training rides', specifically targeted at girls

18 July: X-Roads Series starting to fill up! - [ show/hide ]

We are limited to only 300 entrants per event for this new format of duathlon! Are you are roadie or a mountainbiker? Enter now and show who rules!

3rd July: ATC reveals the X-Roads Duathlon Series - [ show/hide ]

USN and New Balance are sponsoring the brand new addition to the Duathlon race season, the X-Roads Duathlon Series

20th June: Great special offer from USN - [ show/hide ]

ATC members can get USN supplements at rock-bottom prices!

18th June: Don't forget upcoming events - [ show/hide ]

There is lots to do in the Winter, so be sure to be up to speed on the events timetable.

9th June: SA athletes shine at World Tri Champs - [ show/hide ]

South Africa performed exceptionally well at the 2008 Tri Champs held this past weekend in Canada.

1st June: ATC launches a new website! - [ show/hide ]

After much anticipation, here it is...our new website!

25th May: ATC secures new sponsors - [ show/hide ]

ATC is proud to announce a new apparel sponsor in the form of New Balance.

24 Apr: New WPTA Committee elected. - [ show/hide ]

At the recent Special General Meeting of the Western Province Triathlon Association a new committee was unanimously elected.

14 Apr: Congrats to all the Ironman 08 finishers! - [ show/hide ]

Almost 30 ATC members joined a record field at the 2008 Ironman competition in Port Elizabeth on Sunday 13th April.

2 Apr: ATC launches a girls only section - [ show/hide ]

To respond to the needs of our members and to encourage more girls into our sport, we have launched ATC girls.