Most people who have found success in life have at some point been guided by solid mentors and role models. My life is no exception. While playing organized sports throughout my life I have had a number of great coaches who have positively impacted my life. This blog however is dedicated to two mentors of mine from outside the world of sports

Unbeknownst to him, author Dan Millman has been a mentor to me for over 20 years.  When I was 6 years old my Mom read aloud to me Millman’s first book The Way of the Peaceful Warrior. The book is considered an autobiographical novel; essentially about Millman’s life with a few composite characters and subtle changes to enhance the message.  The book takes place during Millman’s college days at Berkeley where he was one of the nations top gymnasts and Olympic hopefuls.  He meets a mentor of his own in the book, an old man named Socrates, who changes his life forever. Millman faces many ups and downs throughout the story, but ultimately his mentor Socrates helps him to understand the lessons of life even in the darkest moments.

I was captivated by this book as a child.  At that age I was particularly excited to hear the passages about elite sports, and [..]

Well this race did not quite turn out the way I had hoped. I felt really good about my training and preparation heading into the race.  It was a very long travel day to get to Subic Bay, Philippines.  I arrived 5 days before the race to get my body adjusted to the time zone.

In past years this race has not drawn that many competitors, but this year was different. There were 45 guys on the start line, a number of whom where Olympians or very high ranked athletes. One of the things I have enjoyed most about racing in distant locations is the community that forms on race week.  When the race starts all bets and friendships are off, but in the lead up to this race I really enjoy hanging out and training with other athletes from around the world. The race organizers put us all in the same hotel, so it made for an even more closely knit race week community.  As I am relatively new to ITU racing, it is always good for me to get the opportunity to hang and compare notes with some of the best in the world.

Other than the sweltering heat (95 degrees or hotter) Subic was [..]

Coach Phil getting the fit just right.

I am excited to announce that my new ITU race bike has arrived! Many thanks to my wonderful sponsor Athletes Lounge. It feels especially great to have a new bike after having my bike lost and never to be found by the airlines flying back from the World Championships in Budapest last September.   I honestly could not ask for a nicer bike. The Cervelo S3 is the bike ridden by the Cervelo Test Team in the Tour de France, as well as many of the other top riders in the world. My friend and fellow bike aficionado Lucas Clarke, just informed me that Bicycling Magazine just named the S3 the #1 racing bike in 2011.

For all of you bike geeks out there here are the details:

Frame/Fork: Cervelo S3 3T Funda Team

Group Set: Sram Red

Bars: Carbon Pro Stealth Evo, with ITU Legal Pro Stealth Clip on Aerobars

Race Wheels: 2011 Zipp 404 Firecrest Tubular

Training Wheels: Fulcrum Racing 7 Clincher

Saddle: Fizik Airone CX (white with a red stripe)

It was a great trip down to Valparaiso, Chile. I was very excited to go to the Southern Hemisphere to get some summer sun and race.  It was my first time back to Chile since I spent 3 months down there in 2004 sea kayaking and mountaineering in Patagonia. It was a very long travel day (or should I say days!).  I was pleased to find Valparaiso to be a very charming city.   I stayed in the Cerro Concepcion district which was a cable car ride up a steep cliff (check out the video) from the central business district. This area was full of little cafes and art boutiques. I particularly loved the old cobblestone streets and narrow walkways.

I arrived 4 days before the race to give my body enough time to adjust to the time zone and long travel. On the second day I met a couple of the other America athletes.  It was great to get to know them. Getting to know other athletes in the triathlon community from around the world makes these trips very fun.

The ITU race director informed us the day before the race that the course would be different then what they had posted all year.  Rather than a totally flat course, it would be very hilly.  This was frustrating to say the least, but what can you do other than give it your very best on race day? It was probably the most [..]

Well its the day after my 26th birthday!  I had a wonderful birthday celebration with family and friends. It was serendipitdous that my birthday happened to coincide with my recovery day.  I was able to get my weekly massage from Cheryl Greathouse and then enjoy the rest of my birthday.

Well today (St Patricks Day) was a little bit of a different story. Spring was trying to peak through in Portland and it looked to be a nice day.  I headed out to the track at for my usual Thurday session.  The weather changed quickly to say the least, and I found myself doing 1200 repeats in a hailstorm.  When I began my workout in the sun there were probably 50-100 various people on and around the track.  When I finished, the track was covered in small white ice balls and it was just me and my coach Phil all alone.  Phil said “Well this is the kind of thing you will be talking about in 20 years when you look back on this whole experience.”  He’s probably right…but at that moment all I could think about was a hot shower and resting my tired legs.

Happy St. Paddys Day!