After racing his first sprint triathlon in the Spring of 2002, Head Women's Triathlon Coach Jamie Church was hooked! Triathlon is a sport that most everyone can do – simply swim, bike, and run. No matter how fast or slow – most individuals can swim, bike, and run.
After racing LOTS of triathlons for the first few years, Church knew that he wanted to take what he had learned in the sport and help and encourage other new athletes – and veteran triathletes – by coaching. In 2005, Church started TYB Coaching (www.TYBCoaching.com). Slowly, Church has grown TYB Coaching into one of the Premiere Coaching Services in the Southeast. They have coached 100's of athletes through various distance – Sprint Triathlons all the way up to many Ironman's – and have also had the privilege to coach many types of athletes – beginners, those looking for their best race possible, and also a handful of professional triathletes. Church and TYB Coaching are excited to continue to be coaching at one of only 14 universities in the nation that has Women's Triathlon as a Varsity Sport! "What a blessing and a way for us to continue to develop and grow the sport of triathlon!" said Church.
Along with the coaching of athletes, in January of 2015 Church was fortunate to open the TYB Studio (www.tybstudio.com) right down the road in Anderson, SC. Currently, the facility is a 12 unit Computrainer Multrider facility where athletes – from beginners to veterans – bring their bikes into the facility – and are in for a great one hour workout with 11 of their closest friends!
Church is looking forward to using the TYB Studio as one of their go-to facilities for bike workouts for the SWU Team. Not only will this ensure a quality and direct workout, it will also give the SWU Team a chance to interact with the Upstate Community. Church envisions classes that will have not only five SWU Women on the bikes and working out, but also on the bikes at the same time will be seven other Upstate area age group athletes – getting the chance to interact, engage, and develop friendships.
The motto at TYB is "Striving, Believing, Achieving." Church and his team are looking forward to taking that thought process and implementing it with the Women at Southern Wesleyan. Each athlete has a unique way of responding to workouts, but at the end of the process, Church believes that they will achieve! The team is looking forward to developing relationships with the future student athletes, watching them grow in their triathlon life, but, more importantly, grow as a student athlete surrounded by the staff and community at SWU.
Along with interacting with the Upstate Community at the TYB Studio, the TYB team is also looking forward to engaging the SWU Community and surroundings with various community involvement opportunities through Fun Runs, community races and runs, and more! They are looking forward to not only competing at a high level, but also interacting with the community.
Church and both the SWU and TYB communities are looking forward to kicking off the SWU Women's Triathlon program in the Fall of 2017! Look for them to be doing their very best, having fun, and engaging the community through the sport of triathlon
*photos courtesy of Tri-Your Best Coaching and Jamie Church
