Los Alamos triathlete Cyndi Wells coming out of the swim portion of this year’s Ironman in Boulder, Colo. Courtesy photo

By MANDY MARKSTEINER

Have you ever cheered on a friend or family member as they complete a triathlon and wondered whether you could ever do it?

Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned athlete, one of the most exciting things about training and competing in triathlon is finding ways to beat your own best time, working hard and getting better. 

Los Alamos triathlete Cyndi Wells riding in this year’s Ironman in Boulder, Colo. Courtesy photo

Cyndi Wells is a triathlete and owner of Pet Pangaea and she is opening a multisport training center in Los Alamos called Launch Endurance. Launch Endurance will be the ideal place for people at every skill level to train for endurance sports, she said.

Anyone who has ever thought that swimming or cycling would be fun, but didn’t know where to start, Launch Endurance is the perfect first stop, Wells said. Trainers will demonstrate swimming strokes in an endless pool, where trainees can see what they’re doing and get instant feedback, and make sure everyone’s bike is fitted properly before they hit the road.

“This will be a great place for people of all levels to learn and try out the latest fitness technology, like power measurement, without having to outlay a lot of money,” Wells said, adding that Launch Endurance also will be the best place for athletes to go when they want feedback that will get them to the next level.

“For example, if you are training in a regular pool and you have a trainer watching you from the side, it’s hard for them to see what you are doing,” she said. “Launch Endurance will have an endless pool where you can train in a current that is adjusted to your speed. While you work out, trainers will videotape your stroke so you can see for yourself and analyze everything that is happening in the water, which allows you to make changes to your stroke and immediately experience the results.”

Wells, who is a scientist in addition to being a business owner, has thoroughly researched the options and plans to use the Endless Pool Elite. She found a study in the Journal of International Society of Swimming Coaching that showed that age group swimmers who used an endless pool with a coach for two hours were able to gain an increase in force of about 20 percent. The study attributed that gain to real-time feedback, which is difficult to get in a pool.

“I wish these tools were available to me when I started in the sport 22 years ago!” Wells said.

Endless pools not only help swimmers perfect their stroke, it also forces them to swim at a constant pace and provides an experience similar to an open water swim like they would experience in a triathlon race. Swimmers can finally ditch the flip turns.

Want to be a more powerful cyclist?

At Launch Endurance, cyclists will come away with detailed information about their ride, including time, distance, elevation, heart rate, calories burned, pace and speed. They will be able to measure their functional threshold power with a calibrated Computrainer, so that they can take immediate steps to increase oxygen uptake to improve performance.

The facility will have Wahoo Kickr’s, an indoor bike trainer that will let trainees accurately measure their power and control resistance, as well as virtual reality worlds that will allow them to race in the tropics when the snow is falling outside. All this will be done with the trainee’s own bike, so the training will be seamlessly connected to their outdoor workouts.

“Our goal is to become the first USA Triathlon Certified Performance Center in New Mexico,” said Wells, who believes that this type of center will draw people to Los Alamos.

Launch Endurance isn’t going to focus on running, because running isn’t quite as equipment intensive, she said. Instead, the operation will focus more on providing specialized equipment that people won’t have at home. Wells already has a commercial space for Launch Endurance in downtown Los Alamos and an architect is working on plans. She will have to pay a lot of upfront costs, like architect fees, permits and equipment and she also is reaching out to the community and to her future customers to help her meet those costs and make this business a reality as soon as possible. To help, visit her crowdfunding page to back her Launch Endurance with a financial contribution at https://mainstreetcrowd.com/projects/launch-endurance/.

People who donate will earn valuable rewards. For example, three people can score a one-year membership to Launch Endurance with unlimited access to the cycling equipment and the pool by donating $500. That’s a great deal, because a yearly membership will cost more than $500.

“Let’s work together to build a place that energizes us and where we can get healthier,” Wells said. “Let’s build a place for cycling and swimming training that is a community hub, supportive of all abilities and ages, with the latest in geeky equipment to help us efficiently get healthier and fitter.”