Our Nutritionist

We are thrilled to introduce our team to Christine Greene, Ph.D.

Here is her philosophy when it comes to food, diet and exercise:

I come from a place of balance with my advice.  I do not feel that any one food or food category has any advantage over another.  They each have their own place and function in the body.  The science and art of what I do comes in finding the balance between your nutrient intake and your performance outcomes.  Looking at my core values, you will see that they suit the triathlete perfectly, as they do most everyone else, but a triathlete will see the relevancy almost immediately. 

Go Original – From a nutrition standpoint means to eat your food as close to nature as possible.  For triathletes, You ARE original, in that you are tackling an obstacle, each in your own way, with your own path.

Portion control -  This is the ‘brick’ of nutrition and needs to be solid if success is to be achieved, just like your workouts.

Patience & Persistence – These are core values not only to my nutritional strategy, but to athletic  training in general.  Good solid training principal here as well.

Movement, Rest & Recover – Staples in nutritional fueling for balance AND athletic training overall.

Water – the basis of life and the only fluid you need, most of the time.  Triathletes know the importance of water, but BALANCED water that meets the needs of your workouts.

Get Outside – Enjoying  the abundance of nature feeds the soul.  For triathletes in New England, you are well aware that nothing beats the outdoor workout.  Treadmills and wind trainers  in the winter are necessary but they are NOT the same as being outside!

Christine Greene has been working with athletes of all varieties in the Greater Hartford area for the last nine years.  Dr. Greene is committed to making your event an expression of your best effort, and that starts with your fueling.  As a certified strength coach, she is adept a designing or critiquing your workout program as well, to optimize your performance  for every event.  Please visit www.drcgreene.com to learn more about working with Dr. Greene and improving your race results.

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You’re Never To OLD to try something NEW

Twenty years ago, I did first sprint triathlon as a part of a relay team.  This was so long ago, I don’t remember the names of my teammates.  I volunteered to do the bike portion.  Running and biking weren’t a problem for me, but I doubted I could survive (or even master) the open water swim.

It took me three years to decide that I’d like to try doing a sprint distance triathlon alone. I signed up for swimming lessons, figuring I could use a refresher course. My goal was to survive the triathlon’s swim portion so I could get onto the biking and running.  The coach announced he was offering a triathlon training weekend.   Desperate to feel more comfortable swimming in open water, I signed up.

I remember getting in the lake for the first time, knowing I was going to swim and not just splash around.  It was so dark and murky.  What was I thinking?  I swam very nervously, slowly picking up one arm and moving it forward over my head.  I was moving, but barely.

And then something clicked.  During our pool workouts, our coach said, “Do not look down at the bottom of the pool.  Tilt your head up and keep your eyes looking forward at your hands.”  Until this moment, I never understood the point of this instruction.  In this cold, dark lake, the only thing I could see were my hands.

Suddenly, his advice made perfect sense.  My hands were something I could see through the pea soup, something I could focus on and my anxiety level dropped.  I took another stroke, and then found a great rhythm and I wasn’t terrified anymore.

Looking back, I realize that moment taught me that no matter our age, we can always learn something new.  It helps to have a good teacher and I will always be grateful to my first swim coach, Doug, for sharing the one technique that made the difference for me.

I keep this lesson in the back of my mind and keep pushing myself to try new things.

In February, I went skiing in Utah with my sister and a few cousins.  Three of us decided to try something called skate skiing.  It’s supposedly a great cardio workout and we thought “no problem, we know how to ski.”  Not so fast.  Sue, our patient instructor, told us that we were doing great.  I strongly disagreed.  My body was flailing and tired and I was frustrated.  I was not having anything resembling fun.

After our lesson, Sue let us loose on a 3 kilometer groomed track.  All I wanted to do was make it safely around the track (and get in the hot tub).  During the last 100 yards, I finally felt all the instructions from the lesson sink in.  If I wasn’t so fatigued, I might have been up for another loop.

While I was struggling with the skate skiing, I thought back 17 years ago to my first triathlon in Upstate New York.  Scared and panicked, I couldn’t imagine completing the half-mile swim portion of a race.  I wanted to turn back.  But then I saw my hands and started to relax.  So, I enjoyed the skate skiing for what it was, a new experience, a new challenge and potentially something that I could get better at in time.

As a triathlon coach for first time triathletes, I am constantly reminding myself about these experiences and the lessons I learned from them.  Most things don’t come naturally.  Many things are humbling.  However, there are few things more rewarding than succeeding when you challenge yourself.

So, make this year the year you try something new.  Remember, you’re never too old to try something new. You may be humbled. You may get frustrated.  But, you’ll learn something and you might, just might, have fun.

Latest TTNE newsletter

Click here to read the latest TTNE newsletter.

It’s easy being green

As an athlete and an adult, I know the importance of eating more fruits and vegetables. Though it is hard to get all the daily servings into my day.  A little known secret is that I am a pretty basic, bland eater. When I go out to eat, I often pick the item on the menu that is the least objectionable.  And if I don’t like it, which happens often, my husband usually switches with me.  Whatta guy!  I’m not allergic to anything, I eat gluten, I eat red-meat (although not that often) and while I have an aversion to fennel and many types of nuts, I always find something to eat anywhere I go.

However, I do think that I could eat more fruits and vegetables. So, on a recent visit to Cleveland, my cousin Jill introduced me to the Green Smoothie.  At first I was a bit hesitant.  I didn’t know what to expect. I thought since it looked like grass, that it would probably taste like it too.  But, she was so excited to share this with me that I just said, “Sure, I’ll give it shot.”  For my inaugural green smoothie, Jill added a bit more sweetener for my benefit.  The color was a bright, fluorescent green and I was a bit hesitant before taking my first sip. But…much to my surprise I loved it!  While it looked green, it didn’t taste green.  With my eyes closed, it just tasted like bananas and pineapple, not carrots, celery and kale.  Every morning during my visit, Jill blended me another delicious green smoothie and my day was set!

I know that I’m a bit late to the Green Smoothie Party, but better late than never.  After speaking to two other friends, I am armed with more information to start down the road paved with green smoothies!  I’m still in the experimental stage.  I’m not quite sure if I can make the leap and purchase the super-duper expensive blender yet. But when my son drank his first green smoothie and said, “I loved it!”  The new blender might not be such a stretch.  It’s not a replacement for whole vegetables at dinner or fruit as a snack, but as a way to supplement what I already eat.  Plus, I seem to feel a bit fuller after drinking one, so I eat a bit less.  If that is a placebo effect, so be it.

It’s comforting to know that in one glass you can get a jump start on your daily fruit and vegetable servings.  It’s even more comforting to know that my children will drink them too.  While still a novice in the Green Smoothie world, I’m open to learning more.

This is my first attempt. I’m tweaking it as I go.

This makes 3 servings at approximately 100 calories per serving.

1 medium banana
1 c of frozen mango bits
1 c of frozen pineapple bits
2 lime wedges
4 leafs of kale
1 carrot
1 celery stalk
2 cups of water
1 c of ice
1 tbsp of chia seeds

As I’ve been researching, I’m learning that I could make it even more simple.  Ditch the carrots and celery and add more water.  Here’s my attempt on Day 3.  I’m pretty happy with this one.
1 medium banana
1 c of frozen mango bits
1 c of frozen pineapple bits
2 lime wedges
4 leafs of kale
1 c of spinach
2 cups of water
1 c of ice
1 tbsp of chia seeds

It can be easy to be green! Check out some of these links to learn more.

Here is a great article on how Green Smoothies are a great addition to your diet.

Blended Salads by Healthy Girls Kitchen

Here are some great Green Smoothie Recipes to try. I’m sure you’ll find one or more that you’ll love!

Big List of Green Smoothies by Healthy Girls Kitchen

How to Make a Green Smoothie

Raw Family Green Smoothie Recipes

 

TTNE Training and Events Calendar

2012 is going to be an amazing year for Team Training New England.  New programming options, tons of cool events, indoor triathlons, and more.  Click on the right arrow on the calendar below to see what’s in store for the months ahead.

If you are considering the al la carte/drop-in session training option, you can see all the training dates we have planned, what kind of group workout we’ll be doing on a certain day, its location and time.  Just click on the event title that you are considering and you will see more details.

If you are ready to sign up (and we hope you are!), click here to go to the registration page.

TTNE Registration

We’re very excited that you have chosen to join us for the upcoming season. Please take a minute to complete this form so that we can properly enroll you in the program(s) of your choice.

Any item with a * by it requires that you fill it out in order to complete this form. Five minutes, tops!

If you came to this form too soon and still need to review the programming options, go to our programming details page.

Please review our refund policy below.

REFUND POLICY
TRAINING PROGRAMS
We will refund your money at any time for any reason upon written request.  Our policy is to pro-rate your training program minus a 10% administrative fee. You may also transfer your registration to another TTNE program with coach approval.

DROP-IN SESSIONS AND PUNCH CARDS
Single or multiple drop-in sessions are NON-REFUNDABLE.  However, if you get injured or no longer have any interest or need, you may transfer the remaining sessions to another person with written advance notice. We ask that you please not take advantage and purchase a multi-pack and share it with another person. These drop in sessions are priced very fairly. All drop-in sessions will expire at the end of the year in which they were purchased.

Coach Lynne & Coach Janice

TTNE Shop

The TTNE store is open and chock-full of great training gear!

Meet the coaches

Where in the world is TTNE?
Still not sure that our programming works for you?  We’d love to meet you in person and help you decide.  We are either being hosted at a few locations or attending several  events throughout the winter and early spring months.  There is sure to be a date that will work with your schedule.

Mark your calendars now!  Come learn about our new training options and you’ll learn about:

The benefits of group triathlon training

-Training program and description, time commitment and preparations

-Triathlon fears (real and imagined)

-A brief video highlighting past programs (very inspiring!)

-Q&A to put your mind at ease

No pressure.  Just come, meet us and learn something about yourself and triathlons!

2012 Schedule (as of 3/28/12)

Thursday, March 29
7:00-8:00 p.m
Information Session at Fleet Feet
1003 Farmington Avenue
West Hartford, CT
860-233-8077

5 Reasons to Train With Team Training New England
Program FAQs
Program Registration Information

Why Tri? The athletes speak.

We can talk ’til we’re blue in the face about how wonderful we think our program is.  But who better to hear it from, then past participants.  We encourage you to read a sampling of some of the letters and emails we have received since 2005!

If a picture is a worth thousand words, then what’s a moving picture worth?  Click on this video below to watch a few minutes of genuine, former TTNE athletes talking about their motivations for and benefits from training for a triathlon. Be sure to pause the video on the column on the right before pressing play below.

I want to thank you for all the knowledge and encouragement you gave me in the 2 clinics I took this summer.  It made such a difference as I prepared for this upcoming triathlon.  Here’s what I’ve been doing for the past 2 mornings instead of my normal bricks.  At 6:30 I take a shower in my tri-shorts and sports bra, walk outside the house where I had my bucket set up, dried myself (my dog is definitely confused) and dressed in 3 [top] layers because I know I’ll be cold when it’s in the 50s.  Then I ride a bit, peel layers and run a bit.  I would never have thought to do this, if I hadn’t taken your clinics.  I learned to get mentally prepared as well as physically.  Thanks so much !!! – Janet

I have really enjoyed this program and feel I have benefited greatly from it. The structure and workout schedule has helped me stay to a course without slacking off or over doing it, as I probably would have on my own. One week to go and I am still injury free and feel physically in shape to take on my first TRI   ever. Biking was not one of my top ten before, but this fall I will be   shopping for a good road bike (after I get two kids settled in college).    I have been listening to all that you advise and plan to apply as much of it as I can. Your records show you are the experts.  Thank you for running this program. As women, moms, I think we often stumble when it comes to perceived indulgences for ourselves.  But the time and money spent on this was well worth it to me.  - Mary

I just wanted to thank you both very much for your support and helping me accomplish a long time goal….my first triathlon.  As you are aware I was thrown for a loop a week and half prior to the race with my first open water swim.  I don’t know if it was because the water was dark, full of weeds, or I was unexpectedly reminded of how I almost drowned as a teenager in open water….I don’t know why & why didn’t matter I just needed to fix it & fix it fast.  I was able to swim a mile in the pool comfortably, so this was a huge surprise and discouragement to me.

I found a swamp (ok, they call it a pond, but its more of a swamp) and forced myself to swim in it everyday leading up to the tri.  I figured if I could swim in that, I could swim in anything! I also did visualizations.  I felt confident and calm before the start.  I sailed, that’s right, sailed through the water.  I couldn’t believe it when it was over (and no side stroke or back stroke needed).  It was a piece of cake for me! – Char

Thank you for offering the clinics and training this summer.  You’re such an awesome athlete and inspiration.  You could have spent your time training for yourself, whittling off minutes here and there so that you could medal, but you shared your time with us.  You’re awe-inspiring.  I am so grateful.  - Janet

I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you. You really are a wonderful coach. You are not only inspiring but willing to go that extra mile. Your efforts and of course your constant words of encouragement help to keep me going on what has been a more challenging (but rewarding) journey than what I initially predicted.
Thanks again!!- Tammy

I first want to thank you so very much for the training program!  It has been great to train with you both with all of your coaching and tri experience/expertise. I really felt very well prepared and knew what to expect for the first race, I was still extremely nervous and tired due to lack of sleep, but well prepared!  It has also been a joy to meet and work with all of the workout leaders.  They have been very attentive and were there to answer all of my questions and concerns as I trained for my first race.  It has been a wonderful eight week journey! - Tonya

What a great workout tonight was!  Thanks!  I really feel so proud of me, and strong!  I could do it!   What a treat to come in to the house and tell my kids what i did today – they were totally impressed!  This is really working!  thanks to you both for bringing me along! - Lucy

What an amazing experience… I think I am hooked!  I loved achieving this personal physical goal but even more important I enjoyed spending time training with a group of wonderful women! – Aileen

After a long a 2 page letter about what an incredible experience this athlete had, she ended her letter by writing this…

I have sometimes regretted that I have not spent my summer as committed to other projects that have been put aside while I have been training.  I suppose what the training has brought me, beyond a certain level of fitness, is the knowledge that if I can compete in a triathlon, what else might I be able to do?  How else might I be able to improve?  What more might I have to give to others?

This is all by way of saying that I appreciate from the bottom of my heart the work that you are doing, and I will always remember with great fondness my “triathlon summer.”  There will be other triathlons but I imagine never so eventful or emotional as this journey has been for me.  Thank you so much, again.

From start to finish, the entire experience was nothing short of spectacular.  Thank you once again for all of it.   You, and all of the workout leaders, are so inspirational in your personal fitness and goal setting, your unending enthusiasm and support, and your joy of mentoring others.  Congrats to you on your race and on your enormously positive role in all of our triathlon experiences.

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