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Jennifer's Story

I'm Jennifer Meyer, President of Tri Smart Training Systems. I love triathlons! I want to spend my time helping you reach your goals in our wonderful sport.

During the years I have participated in triathlons, I have avidly studied the scientific aspects of training, tried several different styles of training plans and made many mistakes (including a 2 minute bike penalty for racking my bike wrong at the National Championships that cost me a top 8 finish and a chance to compete at Worlds). What I do is based on the advice of the experts in our sport plus my own personal experience. I want to share with you what I know and help you set and make your goals as I have done, while avoiding those nasty mistakes.

Before my first triathlons I had no plan - Do I want to swim today? Run today? Or bike today? I did not own a heart rate monitor (or really even know why I would want to!). My first two races were a month apart and at the very end of a season. As the following winter and early spring months passed and I was swimming, running, and biking (still with no plan) I decided maybe I should look ahead and figure my season out. By the time I got around to it (still late spring and still very early I thought) some of the races were already filled! Finally, I started getting organized and following various ideas I was reading about in the training and triathlon books I was poring over.

However, during that season, I made the biggest mistake an athlete can make and the one that I see most triathetes make: I did too much. I did too much training, too much racing and not enough resting. Even though I had tried to gear my season to race at Nationals in September of that year, I remember telling my husband a week before the race that I was glad I only had one race left and I would be happy when the season was over. Clearly, that is not a very good attitude to take into an "A" race! Not surprisingly, I got smoked at that race!

After a little time went by I reevaluated my plans. I had trained too much. I had raced way too much and I did not have a clear goal and focus for my season. I began to schedule consistent rest days and periodize my training. I increased my use of a heart rate monitor to make sure I did not over train and that I trained at the right intensity at the right times. I dropped a few races from my schedule. I set realistic and yet challenging goals.

Once I started making these changes, my performances really began to improve. A big change occurred in attitude. It wasn't that my attitude was negative, as I have always loved to train and race, but now I have been able to keep my strong racing attitude intact for the entire season, avoiding mental burnout before the season ends.

It took a long time for me to figure this out, but it is the basis of my program: it is the type of training you do that matters, not how much you train. I know you've heard that before, but it really is true! I'm sure I am a better triathlete because I have had to be so tightly disciplined with my training time; this discipline has forced me to make sure I am doing the RIGHT thing and not just doing SOMETHING.

Since I made these changes to my system, I have continued to improve my performance each year in this sport. 2005 was my best year so far, culminating in a high age group finish at the World Championships and becoming a member of Team USA. As a working wife, the mother of two young boys, a triathlete, a musician (cellist in mezzanine String Quartet), and an avid reader (yikes! too many hobbies!), I have had to figure out how to fit my training into my busy schedule. On a training schedule averaging 6 hours per week throughout the year, I have been able to accomplish much. If I can do it so can you.

I am currently setting my goals for 2006, prioritizing my races and tweaking my annual training plan accordingly. I hope to see you out there!

Jennifer's Qualifications
2007 Highlights
  • Pose Method of Running Certified Coach - www.posetech.com
  • One of the "Fastest Amateur Triathletes of 2006" Inside Triathlon an/Feb 2007
  • USAT Level I Certified Coach continuing education.
  • 2nd female overall Max Trax Duathlon Columbia, MO 4/07
  • 2nd female overall Steamboat Triathlon Cape Girardeau, MO 4/07
  • 1st in AG W40-44 - Race for Sight Triathlon, Columbia, MO 5/07

2006 Highlights

  • Official Member of USAT Team USA with Top Ten Finish at the World Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland September 2006
  • USAT Age Group Nationals, July 2006, 7th in Age Group
  • USAT 2006 All American Distinction and Ranked 23
  • 1st female overall - Alligator Creek Triathlon - O'Fallon, MO 8/06
  • 1st female overall - Babler Duathlon St. Louis, MO 8/06
  • 1st AG Woman Overall (2nd place overall after 1 elite athlete) - field of over 2000 - Subaru Women's Triathlon Series - Chicago Area 6/06
  • 2nd female overall at Iron Abe 7/06 Springfield, IL.
  • Master Champion and 4th female overall - QuarterMax Triathlon Innsbrook, MO 6/06
  • Memphis in May 5/06 - 2nd in AG of 56
  • 1st female overall - Race for Sight 5/06
  • 2nd female overall Steamboat Triathlon 4/06
  • Masters Champion MaxTrax Duathlon (3rd female overall) - 4/06
2005 Highlights
  • Official Member of USAT Team USA Finished top 20% of the World field at the World Championships
  • St. Louis Area Champion - 1st Female Overall at Lake St. Louis, Missouri
  • 1st Female Overall - Trail of Tears in Cape - Broke course record by over 3 minutes
  • 1st Female Overall at the Iron Horse ¼ Ironman Triathlon in Springfield, IL
  • 3rd overall female behind 1st place professional Nicole Deboom at the Reebok Women's Triathlon of over 1800 women.
  • 1st place female team at the ½ Max triathlon at Innsbrook Resort
  • Won Age Group - Memphis in May
  • Won Age Group - MaxTrax Duathlon
  • USAT Level I Certified Coach
  • USAT All American Distinction
  • USAT 2005 ranking - 22
2004 Highlights
  • 1st Female Overall - Lake St. Louis, Missouri - Short Course
  • 1st Female Overall - South County YMCA Triathlon
  • Masters Champion and top 5 female finisher QuarterMax at Innsbrook, MO
  • 1st place female team Max-O-Mania at Innsbrook, MO
  • 1st in Age Group - Reebok Women's Triathlon with over 2000 entrants
  • 2nd Place Age Group - Memphis in May
  • USAT All-American distinction, ranked 40th and top finish at National race
2003 Highlights
  • 1st Female Overall - Lake St. Louis, Missouri - Short Course
  • 1st Female Overall - South County YMCA Triathlon
  • 1st in Age Group - Reebok Women's Triathlon with over 2000 entrants
  • Won Age Group Dannon Duathlon Chicago Area (largest Duathlon in the country)
  • USAT Honorable Mention
Running - Track & Cross Country 1982-1986 - University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia., PA, Varsity letter earned
Urbana, IL High School track 1978-1982 - Illinois State Qualifier in the mile

Swimming - Urbana, IL High School 1979-1982. Varsity letter and Most Improved.

What is your story? Contact us at jennifer@trismartusa.com and find out how we can help you.


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