What started as a shared space for runners has evolved into a full-throttle triathlon team that swims, bikes and runs through the school year. With a balance of competition and camaraderie, each member trains nearly every day keeping members constantly on the move.
The University of Missouri’s Triathlon Club has been active on campus since 2016. Originally, it was combined with the running club before the two groups split, paving the way for the current triathlon-focused organization. The current team consists of about 50 coed members, led by junior club vice president and swim coach Emily Gump, who provides organizational support and leadership for each member.
A triathlon is a multisport endurance race consisting of swimming, biking and running. Athletes transition between each leg, where valuable time can be gained or lost. The first transition involves exiting the water, removing swim gear and getting on the bike. After biking, athletes go into their next transition where they must dismount their bikes, run with their bikes to the racks and switch to running gear for the final leg of the race.
“I think it’s definitely a mental sport,” first-year student Ellie Willenborg said. “That’s literally the hardest part because your body can go so much further than your mind, but when your mind thinks it hurts, it wants to stop.”
Swim practices are held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. at the MizzouRec pool. Workouts are provided by coach Gump, and participants complete them at their own pace. Indoor biking practices take place on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. in the MizzouRec Tiger Lair. Running practices are not organized by the club; however, members may run individually or join the MU Running Club, which meets Monday Through Friday at 4 p.m. at Stankowski Field.
“Tuesday and Thursday, I’ll print out workouts, and I do varying difficulty because we have all ranges of swimmers in our club, so I try to cater to the people who aren’t as strong as swimmers, and then people who have swam club swim before,” Gump said.
MU Triathlon Club is a part of the Midwest Collegiate Triathlon Conference, which consists of various colleges and teams around the Midwest. Schools such as Washington University in St. Louis, Iowa State University and University of Wisconsin-Madison regularly compete against one another in races open to people ages 18-100.
The club competed in the eighth annual Tri WashU Indoor Triathlon at the Gary Summers Recreational Center on March 2. The race included a 750-yard pool swim, a 12.4-mile bike ride in the spin room with a stationary bike and a 5k run on the outdoor track. The team earned a total of 50 points, contributing to their overall standing across all three events.
“Triathlons are always usually open to the public as well, so you always will see people a part of the public community that are just there to do a triathlon,” senior club president Khuram Choudhry said. “We’re not always just against other collegiate clubs, we’re also against community [members], because some of them are crazy, you’d be surprised.”
The club’s annual membership fee is $100, which returns a swimming pack with the club’s logo and one free race entry. Members also gain access to the club’s events and activities throughout the year.
The Tigers are sponsored by Fleet Feet, Cycle X and Wolf’s Bike Shop. The club recently collaborated with Flying Cow Downtown to create and sell merchandise as part of a fundraiser. The fundraiser, which included a roundup option, generated significant support from club members purchasing sweatshirts and t-shirts.
The club intertwines with the community by connecting with members of the local running club –many of whom have previously participated in running events. The triathlon club typically hosts its competitions, although its promotion for this year’s events was limited due to timing.
The Tigers hope to build a community by involving more MU students. Usually, they find potential members at the pool who are curious about triathlons, or they meet people who already run or bike and try to get them interested in all three.
Club members participate in team bonding by gathering at Addison’s every Thursday afternoon. The team partakes in the self-coined “The Brick and Brunch,” where they bike and run before enjoying a potluck. They also host social gatherings and organize karaoke nights.
“My favorite part of the club is definitely the people in our team,” Gump said. “We’ve all grown so close [by] training together and competing together. It’s just so amazing and I love all the people here.”
Triathlon performance relies on an athlete’s focus, motivation and resilience. Key factors such as managing fatigue, maintaining a positive mindset and enduring discomfort play a significant role in navigating the sport’s physical and mental challenges.
“I’ve learned about the sport in general, that it takes a lot of work and dedication, especially with being a pre-med student, I have a lot of scholastic responsibility as well, so learning to juggle all that,” Gump said. “I really do think it’s helped me overall manage my time better, and it takes a lot of time and training, so putting in that work is important.”
The club will compete in its next competition at the 23rd Annual Rookies and Rock Stars Triathlon in St. Peters, Missouri, on May 4.
Edited by Killian Wright | kwright@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Ethan Palgon and Ava Mohror | amohror@themaneater.com
Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com
