PILATES AT UNIVERSITY

When Janis Luby agreed to coach Northwestern University's triathlon team, there were only 26 returning members. Five months later, she was coaching a team that had grown to 54 athletes.

'I knew I was going to have a variety of athletes,' Luby said. 'I didn't realize the magnitude. I didn’t realize we would get so many people. I didn’t realize that when we started out we would have people coming to swim workouts who didn’t know how to swim.'

The USA Triathlon certified coach donates at least nine hours of her time every week to coach and write daily workouts. She has added structured bike, Pilates and brick workouts to the team’s previous routine, which was comprised of two self coached swim practices per week.

Considering she usually charges for her workout plans and knowledge while running her own athletic training business during the day, and that other collegiate triathlon coaches are paid through fundraisers or club dues, this is no small gift.

'New people feel good about coming,' Bryan Wynn, the team president, said about Luby’s contribution. 'Last year there were four people at practices. Now there are 15 to 20 people at every practice. People are more interested, I think, because Janis fosters a fun, but still committed, atmosphere.'

According to Wynn, Luby's gift is also what will inevitably help the team in the long run. Or the long swim bike run, that is. Last year's Northwestern Collegiate National Championship team consisted of eight members. Only one woman competed, which was obviously not enough to create a woman’s team, and the best finish of the seven men came in 175th out of 500.

This year, the club has 18 competitors registered for the race who, Wynn says, are in much better shape.

'I honestly think if there was a most improved team award [at nationals], that our team would win it hands down' Wynn said.

Only the race results will tell for sure how the team has improved, and nobody is more excited than Janis to find out.

'The biggest reward for me will be watching [the team] at nationals,' she said.

By Sarah Kessler

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