Parkway Swim Club is offering new program for triathletes

The Parkway Swim Club is giving you the opportunity to learn to train for a triathlon.

Coach Jack Madden said he excited about the opportunity to grow the club and help athletes as well.

“We’re looking at trying to utilize our space at pools and, knowing there’s a big triathlon boom going on, we felt like this would be a great avenue of growth,” Madden said. “We want to reach out to people and tap into a market. We could end up running some triathlon races down the road.”

Starting on Monday (Sept. 17), the Parkway Swim Club will be starting its inaugural Tri-Parkway swim group.

The goal of Tri-Parkway is to offer a great environment for triathletes to learn and train so they can maximize their potential, Madden said.

The lead coaches for Tri-Parkway are Sara Gerth and Thom Bick.  Gerth is the girls head swim coach at Parkway South and assists with the boys’ program.

“Sara has been coaching with Parkway Swim Club for the last seven years working with all levels of swimming skills,” Madden said.

Bick has been with Parkway Swim club for 15 years, and has worked with all levels in the program.

“Thom has a huge background in triathlon training; he is a three time Ironman finisher and qualified for Xterra World Championships,” Madden said.

Thom will be running the morning workouts at Parkway North on Monday and Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:30 a.m  Gerth will be running the evening workouts at Parkway West on Tuesday and Thursday from 8 to 9 p.m. and Friday nights from 7:15 t 8:15 p.m.

Parkway Swim Club brings their tradition, history and experience to the triathlon community, Madden said. The goal of Tri-Parkway is to offer a great environment for triathletes to learn and train so they can maximize their potential.

The cost of the six-week session is $150. The first session runs from Sept. 17 to Oct. 26. The second session goes from Oct. 29 to Dec. 7. Session 3 runs from Dec. 10 to Jan. 18, 2013. Session 4 runs from Jan. 21 to March 1. Session 5 goes from March 4 to April 12. Session 6 runs from April 15 to May 24.

You can send your registration and check to: The Parkway Swim Club, 13157 North Olive Spur, St. Louis, MO 63141.

You can also visit the website at pkwy.org. or call the office at 314-415-6948.

“You can make of it what you make of it,” Madden said. “You get 30 swims. We’ve got six different sessions. This gives the athletes flexibility in their schedule.

“We’re really excited about it.”