One of the great things about Slowtwitch.com is that it allows us to get together with like minded triathletes and exchange discussion about all topics related to triathlon. It is a global water cooler where people come to exchange talk about triathlon. Or maybe given the energy and passion, it might be better categorized as a coffee room in your office as we constantly seem to have a buzz around here worthy of more espressos than we could possibly count.

Regardless, it gives us a place to go to, where we can discuss triathlon at a level where co workers or family would probably lose interest and roll their eyeballs. Instead we connect with people who share our over the top craziness for this sport. Yes, you can even discuss that you are wearing compression socks under a business suit after your morning interval session and not be totally mocked. Your co worker at the water cooler might think otherwise.

It is rare that when we train, or compete without the presence of peers that we are able to elevate our performance quite to the same level of having motivated guys and girls around us. But what Slowtwitch.com cannot do is magically fly all of you to the same place to train and race together. But, we see the value of the camaraderie of peer groups. Since the early days of triathlon, athletes have been getting together in concentrated enclaves where there is a critical mass of athletes to push each other in both training and racing. Sometimes this happens organically as is the case with San Diego or Boulder, in other cases, coaches or organizations or even National governing bodies create those enclaves. They are well known for lifting our performances, but they can also break us when we let them push us beyond our limits.

Here on Slowtwitch, over the years, we have virtually tried to bring that enclave of athletes to your front door, by organizing various virtual camps to provide that camaraderie and peer environment that you may not have access to at your place in Manchester or Hong Kong, or Jackson Hole or in Okinawa that the guys in Boulder may have.

On Dec 15th we kick off our annual 100 runs in 100 days challenge. It is a long virtual camp with the intent of helping you to elevate your run fitness. It is winter in the northern hemisphere and a great time to focus on run fitness. Running is the last sport in triathlon and it is where races are won and lost. This is where podiums and PB's either materialize or blow up in unrealized dreams. The goal of this virtual camp it to just get you out running and prod you with some motivation when you may not have it, and hopefully lift your run base over time. Some will run 100 times, most of us, will run a lot less. We still have to train for the other sports, and we have our other commitments outside of this sport to deal with. But at the same time, there is 23.5 hours per day for everything else. We are hoping that frequently over the next 100 days, you can find half an hour a day to give to the sport of running.

Participation is easy. Go to our reader forum where it is all outlined:

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=4331155

Through the reader forum you will log your workouts on our training log and become part of this 100 day long virtual camp. There is no cost other than some miles on your legs. If you are able to participate in the reader forum thread and share your experiences, like any training camp, this adds to the value for everyone.