Feature: Dialed Triathlon Team
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of being a part of a team, you know just how special and memorable the experience is. Regardless of the sport, event, or the purpose of your coming together, there are certain aspects of teamwork that make our goals, however big or small, feel more achievable. And honestly, who doesn’t love a genuine sense of camaraderie?
The Dialed Triathlon Team out of Vancouver, Washington has accomplished exactly that. 60+ athletes comprise the team, wherein many compete in local, national and international triathlons of varying distances: the Sprint, Olympic, Half-Ironman and full Ironman. While all athletes have various goals and are at different phases in their respective fitness and triathlon journeys, the Dialed Triathlon Team offers a special atmosphere that goes beyond teamwork: they are supportive and encouraging in every moment, broadening the vision for their goals and the way in which they approach them. This remains a vital component of any fitness journey.
Kassandra Meras, affectionately known as “Kassie” or “Kas”, now a member of the Dialed Team for nearly two years says of her experience, “I appreciate the genuine enthusiasm in celebrations of success from teammates. We know the amount of work it takes for each of us to achieve the goals we set as triathletes. It makes it that much more special to be able to share an accomplishment with someone who understands what it took to get there… More importantly, I appreciate that they are there for the failures. For the days when the workout doesn't go as planned or the race doesn't have the end result you had hoped for, I can count on my team to be there to help me analyze what went wrong, learn from the mistakes I made, and come up with a game plan to move on from it. That may sound straightforward - but it's not as easy to do alone!” And luckily, no one has to do anything alone due to the incredible team atmosphere they’ve created.
When asked what his favorite aspect of being a part of the Dialed Triathlon Team is, Robby Halterman echoes Kassie’s sentiments, cheerfully remarking, “Being a part of the Dialed Triathlon team is such an amazing experience! It is really about being with people who all have the same spirit about riding and racing with their friends! Everyone is so encouraging and always positive! They are all some of the greatest people you will ever meet!”
They are there for each other even in the down moments as well. Last December, 12 members of the Dialed Triathlon Team competed in the La Quinta Half Ironman. As it was her first, Kassie says of the experience, “We had a team dinner the night before the race which helped to calm the nerves and establish a sense of comradery. Race Day came before I knew it and the nerves hit HARD. I started the swim with my mentor right behind me (he literally had my back) and I couldn't have felt more supported and ready for the race than in that moment. It was awesome seeing teammates out on the course; we were encouraging each other every stroke/step along the way from start to finish. It’s certainly a day I’ll remember for a long time!”
It suffices to say the long hours and difficult seasons of training, challenging races, and intense discipline it takes to compete at some of the highest levels is no easy feat; something we can all recognize. But all team members can genuinely attest to this irrefutable fact: having a rock solid support system makes completing any race (or milestone between) taste that much sweeter.
This article was written by our very own Megan Carter.