2009 and beyond for triathlon team January 1st, 2010 by Nikola
The idea of Triathlon Team started in October 2006….
I just finished a middle distance triathlon race at the Croatian island of Mljet (probably the most beautiful race I have ever experienced) and was having a cup of tea with Dejan, offering to set up a blog for him. He just won the race but was very calm and relaxed, he spoke of his plans for the next season and mentioned his concept for his own team of people who help him grow.
Few months later, I think early 2007, I met Dan at his parent’s farm in Worcester. I already worked a bit with Dejan and enjoyed it, and I was very thankful to Dan’s parents for their hospitality, I wanted to help somehow and most natural combination was to propose to Dan that we work on his web presence. Few months later, when he was in Truckee, we skyped and started working.
Dan was happy with our work and introduced me to Conrad in January 2008.
In the mean time I was managing Serbian Ironman Records list for my club and was looking for Ironman finishers with Serbian last names. Aleksandar and Igor answered emails and they were very communicative and open so we started working together.
Later followed Fraser and Gavin. Will emailed me to join us which was super amazing. I asked Lisa to work with us but she wanted to finish the season and waited till the end of 2009. Lesley was suggested by Conrad.
Somewhere at the start of 2009 I realized that the old name for the team which had my company name was very obsessive and one-sided. I remember this run on the Jonkershoek with Dan, we chatted about the team names. Now I am very thankful for his input… happy the team is not called Please Play Me.
Switch from company name to an abstract and blunt Triathlon Team was proven to be very fruitful. Even though the name is super bizarre and very hard to use as a brand (calling a computer company a blunt name like Apple works because of the strange combination but calling a triathlon team a Triathlon Team makes little sense!) it emphasized the essence of the project.
Even though my short history above talks about my experiences with the team, this team is so much more than me and what I do. I only know things which happen on my side which are very limited and focused. Everybody worked with everybody else on many levels. The team was there before long before any names were given or any content produced.
Naming something which already existed does not mean it was discovered or created.
I am very happy to have the privilege to be part of this team, to share the goals of these ten athletes. Also to share the goals with all the other people and organizations who are with them, with us, in this strange team. From families who offer them homestay for races to big companies who pay their bills, we are a strange network of people who are enchanted by this bizarre sport.
Best wishes for 2010…
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