Interview with Kris Swarthout: OptumHealth Performance Tri Series

1)      As the tri season is rapidly approaching, how are registration numbers looking for Manitou, Minneman, and Twin Cities Triathlon?

Registration is up from this point last year. This is really encouraging since we have made some serious strides to incorporate athlete feedback to correct mistakes of the past. It is also encouraging to see since last year so many races took a big hit with lower than expect participant levels.

2)      What is the registration capacity for each race?

We are going to cap Manitou and MinneMan at 600. TwinCities Tri is another story. Harriet Island could legitimately hold 3000 athletes with no problem. This year we have not set a cap, but we are shooting for around 750 racers.

3)      Last year was the Inaugural year for Twin Cities Triathlon and it was a hit.  Will participants see anything new on the swim, bike or run this year?

For starters, the river will be flowing at a lower level. 2011 saw the river at 5 times the normal water level. There will not be any more 14 minute 1.2 mile swims, sorry. The sprint swim start will move to the St. Paul Marina gas pier, about 100 yards upstream from last year’s start point. The swim course this year will be marked with a single line of buoys and athletes will simply keep the m on their right. This should eliminate any confusion in the swim course. The bike stays relatively the same. Ohio Street is epic and changing that would be a crying shame. The Sprint will have a small course change based on construction, but basically remain the same. Right after both bike courses converge, athletes will now continue straight downhill on Butler to Concord. This is a slightly steeper decent, but a safer course than last year’s trip through the neighborhood. We will also be closing Wabasha Ave. from where it intersects with Cesar Chavez St all the way to Kellogg Ave. This will make the turn onto Plato as safe as possible and a fun corner to watch the elites take at about 25mph! The run stays the same.

4)      Minneman will have an Olympic distance race this year. Can you speak about that a little bit and maybe tell us the thought behind bringing this distance to Minneman?

I have personally always hated when I hear people say “I am just doing a sprint”. If you have seen how hard DKT or DP or KO or CY run sprints you will agree that they are not JUST doing a sprint. With that I always like to put my own touch to a race and wanted to give those that are prepping for a mid-season half or longer something new. People like to experience something new at a familiar site and I think this will give people that new added flare. I believe that races with multiple distances on one day also serve the tri community better as a whole.

5)      Since you are adding a different distance for Minneman, can it also be expected that a Pugsley fat tire wave will also rise up at one of these races?

Maybe, but I think I might save that bit of fun for another date or season.

6)      Most of these races have excellent prize purses for the top three men and women. Since OptumHealth Performance has numerous coaches that could make it to the podium, do you set any regulations on how they spend their prize earnings?

Manitou pays 5 deep on both sides and the other two pay three deep. As far as how our coaches use their money, that is truly up to them. I can say that my desk has no shortage of Soy Lattes in the week after a good race. I will also accept Jimmy John’s #12 with no mayo and Chipotle Chicken Burritos. Hint, hint, wink, wink.

7)      Speaking of reaching the podium, there was a small little rumor that you have the nickname of Kris “Podium” Swarthout. Please enlighten us on how you earned this rock star status amongst your fellow peers.

Back in “The Day” I was at Turtleman, hitting the food line for the third or fourth time during the awards. My partners at the time were John Shelp and Dan Cohen (SCS Multisport). Jerry McNeil was the MC and in rare form. During the awards I hear John and Dan get announced to the men’s overall podium followed by “John and Dan are 2/3rds of SCS Multisport, Kris Swarthout is the other third, but we usually don’t see him up here on the podium.” Of course Kevin has never let that one die and so from that point on Kevin has nick named me “Podium”.

8)      We have heard that the Junior Draft Legal Race will not be taking place at Manitou this year. Does that provide any benefits to the age group athletes out there as far as race-day logistics?

I think that we did a good job of integrating the two events last year and we heard some good feedback to that extent. As far as athlete experience this year, the only real change will be less skinny little kids running around and an 8am start time as in previous years prior to the draft legal event.

9)      As race director, what is the number one thing that has you excited about each of these races this year?

Manitou-the increased participation in the corporate challenge. I love to see people trying triathlon out for the first time in the safety of their co-workers. MinneMan-the Olympic distance race winner will set a CR guaranteed and I can’t wait to see who it is. TwinCities Tri-watching this race grow to be the iconic race I envisioned it to be. It is also nice to know that so many of the small kinks are going to be gone. It will be great to see all athletes experience this race.  Also for all three- Breakfast Burritos can’t be beat! Nobody does better post race food that we do.

10)   Since you are also an awesome coach over at OptumHealth Performance, can you close out the interview with a little coaching advice? In your mind, what is the top thing that should not go overlooked in February as people begin spending more time training for specific races?

Don’t skip the base work. Training in HR zone 2-3 can be boring to say the least, but without it you are setting yourself up for failure. I told an athlete last week that they need to do the foundation work because no one lives in a tree house and skipping the base work is no different from building a house with no foundation. So go out and build those basements people!!!!

Meet Claire Bootsma: The Latest GWB Team Addition

We are VERY excited to have Claire Bootsma join the Gear West Development Team this fall. Although the race season is winding down, Claire will be a smiley and talented addition come race season next spring. Read more about her unique childhood, athletic background, and goals below!

Where did you grow up and where are you living now? Do you have family nearby?

Both of my parents are Canadian and grew up in southern Ontario. I was born in Malawi, a small country in Eastern Africa. My dad is a researcher who studies fresh water biology and has an affinity for the African Great Lakes. Growing up my family lived on and off in Malawi with stints in Ontario, Manitoba, and Michigan in between. When I was 13, we moved to Milwaukee which is where I went to high school and where my parents still reside. I have three younger siblings, a sister who is studying physical therapy at UW Lacrosse, one brother in undergrad at UW Stevens Point, and another brother who is a senior in high school. I moved to Minneapolis in 2005 to attend the University of Minnesota and I still live in the cities.

Tell us about your athletic history; High School, College, Post College:

When my family moved to Milwaukee is when I first participated in organized sports. I swam competitively year round for a club and for my high school team. As a high school senior I joined the track team at the urging of my gym teacher who was also a track coach. Distance running came more naturally to me than swimming had and I was able to walk on to the CC and track team at the U of M. I competed for the U primarily as a miler but also ran the 800, 1000, and 3K. My junior year of college I bought a road bike for cross training purposes. I competed in two sprint triathlons while I was still in college and had modest results. After graduating from the U I spent my first post collegiate summer training for the Twin Cities Marathon. That experience lead me to the realization that very long distance running is not my cup of tea. I did my first post collegiate tri in August of 2010 (Maple Grove sprint). It seems to me that I have found my athletic niche in tris. I have so much fun racing and training for multi sport. The different disciplines keep me from getting bored and are wonderful overuse injury prevention. I also love the tri community; it is a competitive environment but much friendlier than D1 running.

What did you study in College and do you use that degree in your current career?

I graduated from the University of Minnesota’s School of Nursing and am a registered nurse. I currently work in long-term care, but obstetrical nursing is the field I am most passionate about. I love being a nurse, every day is something new and I have the privilege of working with people during difficult and transition periods of their lives.

You smile a lot and we really like that about you. What takes the smile off your face? Racing hard certainly doesn’t.

Let’s see…flat tires (especially during a race)…and I’ve been sitting here thinking for about 10 minutes and can’t come up with anything else :0)

You have had great success in your early racing career. Do have any specific short-term or long-term goals you would be willing to share?

This season was my first full summer racing and has helped me benchmark goals for next year. I’m super excited to race next season with another year of experience under my belt and to get in my first winter of triathlon specific training. My race goals for 2012 are to win the Pigman Sprint (and take down Dan Hedgecock in the gender equalizer), win Lifetime Minneapolis, and place top three at Age Group Nationals. Specific time goals are to break 20 in an Olympic swim, break 36 in an Olympic run, and set a course record at Manitou. My final goal is to just keep learning more about how to race, I am definitely still a tri newbie. As for the long-term, I’m going to give myself more time exploring triathlon and seeing where it takes me naturally before I am ready to commit to long-term goals.

What made you decide to represent GW Bike & Tri at the races and beyond?

Gear West is synced with my approach to both competition and life. Having your best race is important; but ‘best’ means more than really fast, it’s making sure you have a good attitude, recognizing that everyone having a safe fun race is way more important than winning, and definitely not taking yourself too seriously. I know with GW I’ll be in the company of people who are both fast athletes and conscientious individuals. I’m super excited to race in a uniform that represents these foundations.

Most importantly, what do you do in your free time? Any interesting hobbies?

In my free time I read a lot; I love novels and short stories. Painting is a hobby I love but which I don’t make enough time for. I also really enjoy cooking for people and trying new recipes, usually from my monthly Canadian Living magazine. When I have enough time for a vacation I spend it camping, canoeing, or backpacking.

Do you have any unique talents that you try to hide from the general public?

Not that I can think of, but if I did have a unique talent that I usually try to hide I wouldn’t divulge it here.

New to the Development Team: Meet Brian Sames

(Photo Credit: TommieSports)

Brian is the latest addition to the Gear West Development Team this fall. After running for much of his life, the three sport variety has grabbed Brian’s attention as a possible diversion from solely pounding the pavement. Brian has some awesome potential coming from a running background and has thrown down some fast PR’s since his running days at St. Thomas (1:09 Half Marathon @ Grandma’s 11′). Brian’s attitude and love for racing makes his talents that much greater. Even though he needs to spend some time chasing the center line in the pool this winter, we think he is going to be an awesome addition to the community and Gear West’s Development Team.

To formally introduce Brian to the community, we figured we would do the oh so serious GWB interview!

1.  Brian, can you tell us where you grew up and attended college?

I grew up in Shakopee, MN and graduated from the Shakopee high school in 2005. From there, I attended Saint Thomas University and graduated in 2010 with a double major in Electrical Engineering and Business Management.

2.  Can you give me the “cliff notes” version of your athletic background?

In high school I competed in cross-country in the fall, basketball in the winter and track and field in the spring. While at Saint Thomas, I started off playing basketball and running track for my first two seasons. Eventually, I figured that I should stick to running and joined the cross-country team and continued with track for the indoor and outdoor seasons. My focus in track was middle distance races, specifically the 800m and 1600m. 

Today, I continue to run and play basketball whenever I get the chance.

3.  What was your first triathlon? Did you have any good learning or embarrassing moments as a triathlon rookie?

My first triathlon was in the summer of 2007. I had not swum over 10 laps in a pool, my bike was an old mountain bike but I figured I would give it a shot anyway. Well, I almost drowned in a half mile swim, took over an hour to bike like 15 miles and my legs felt like rubber for the entire run. My first tri showed me that anyone can accomplish this event; however, not preparing for it can make it a miserable time.

4.  Do you have a coach? Would you mind enlightening us with what a typical week of training tends to look like for you?

As of now, I do not have a coach and I am basically picking up training workouts from email threads and discussions online. Since running has been a major part of my life, I tend to run around 90miles a week and play basketball whenever I get a chance. Now that I am really looking forward to seriously competing in triathlons, I plan on biking and swimming multiple times a week.

5.  What triathlon based goals do you have for next season? Are you doing any other races this fall?

So far I have only competed in a few sprint distance triathlons. I am hoping to put some serious training in this fall and winter and come out next spring and be able to compete in the Olympic Distance. Hopefully I will be able to complete my first half Ironman in the next year or so and finish a full Ironman eventually down the road.

I have the Twin Cities marathon in a few weeks. It will be my second marathon and I am aiming for sub 2:30, it should be a good time

 6.  So I have to ask. Last time you came into the shop you had a pretty shameless mustache in preparation for Twin Cities Marathon. What’s the motivation behind that?

Hahaha, my cross-country team grew out our mustaches in preparation for our Conference, Region and National meets. I figured since I have put some serious miles in the past year for this marathon that it is only necessary to carry on tradition. A few of my buddies from UST have also misplaced their razors and are looking exceptional to say the least.

7.  Is it true you had to dye it to make it legit? Is your girlfriend annoyed at all of the ladies swooning over you for this graceful look?

Unfortunately yes, the mustache is dyed. For some reason, my mustache hair is blond…like dirty blond. If I didn’t dye it, I don’t think I would be allowed to watch my sister’s high school volleyball games.

My girlfriend is very disappointed in me and cannot wait for the marathon to be over so the mustache will finally be gone…until ‘No Shave November’!!!

8.  In all seriousness, other than us asking you, what made you want to race for the Gear West Tri Team?

I wanted to be part of a successful team that is well-known in both the racing and multisport community and respectful and encouraging to all athletes. I am hoping that this group will help me in my training and give me plenty of advice along the way.

9.  Other than participating in endurance sports, what else do you like to do in your free-time?

To be honest, during the fall and winter I play in 4-5 basketball leagues outside of training. So there isn’t much free time there. However I am a big Call of Duty fan. Modern Warfare 3 coming in November!

10.  Do you have any unique talents that you try to hide from the general public?

Nope, what you see is what you get.

Catch Her if You Can! Interview with Speedster Kate Lowrey

Recently, MJET’s triathlete and Gear West Bike employee Kate Lowrey was recognized nationally as the #1 youth elite female athlete for the 2010 season! Since Kate is so humble and you would never know she is a rising star in the local and national triathlon scene, we had to corner her into an interview. Staying true to her performance on the course, Kate kept her game face on all the way through, no matter how cheesy we made the questions! Here is what she had to say.

GWB: Kate, first off, I must say congratulations on being ranked the #1 Youth Female Elite Triathlete in 2010. That is a spectacular accomplishment! What are a couple of things you worked on to have such a break-out season? Did you ask your parents for a raise in allowance?  

KL: Haha no, I don’t get an allowance. I have a job at Gear West! I did work really hard on biking and keeping my swim as strong as possible! 

GWB:Tell us about some of your season highlights and key learnings from 2010?

KL: A key learning for me was Relearning my flying dismount…struggle. Finally I had it down, thanks to Coach Kris’ help. The first time I raced with the new technique it went great but I had too much speed and tripped. Mild road rash and a win by over 30 seconds was the result of that race! That counts as a key learning and highlight, right?

GWB: Since you are such a fast swimmer and a technologically savvy high school student, can we expect text message updates this year as you roll out of T1?

KL: I’m not very coordinated, so I’ll leave that up to Coach Kris and the ‘rents.

GWB: Your off-season appears to have gone pretty well by the looks of your swim and bike in Clermont, what are some of the things that you focused on?

KL: Biking, biking and more biking!! The compu-trainer and I became good friends. I really tried to incorporate some strength training as well, which I feel like has helped a lot!

GWB: How does it feel to pass 80% of the male field that is at least twice your age?  Do they ever draft off you on the bike?

KL: I don’t really notice it. Honestly, I look at every person as a competitor during a race.  I do my best to be a good sport but, on the race course I have my game face on and I just want to pass you. Haha. If the guys do draft off of me I don’t notice….I should probably pay more attention to that!

GWB: Kate, since your dad works for Ford and you obviously know their product line so well; give us a little preview of how fast your bike splits will be this year. Are they going to be like a Ford Focus (efficient and reliable) or like a Mustang (full of speed and horse power)?

KL: Ideally I want both!! I want to be the Mustang and have a lot of power, but on the flip side I want to be a Focus and use that power efficiently so that I go fast for a long time!  Best of both worlds right there!

GWB: Since you are now a fellow employee at Gear West Bike, do we need to buy more Sharpie markers for autographs this season?

KL: If you think I’ll need it then yeah sure!

The Truth Behind Devon Palmer’s IM AZ Bike Numbers

Last week I did a quick analysis of Devon Palmer’s power profile from Ironman Arizona. Devon was quick to put in his two cents, adding a little humor and a more accurate analysis of his performance. Here is what he had to say about the bike portion of his race.

• I rode the first lap strong in an attempt to chase down the front group, not realizing the only thing resembling a front group was a few of the super stars riding together in the lead. My average power over the first loop was around 270-280.
• I settled into a comfortable effort the second loop but started to lose a little bit of energy as my ‘fuel’ bottle with 1200 calories of carbo-pro and gatorade was running out – I was planning to pick up a second one at special needs. Unfortunately I was given someone else’s special needs bag. This person had packed a hummus sandwich for lunch. Needless to say, I did not get the calories I needed the second half of the bike. The second loop was probably close to my overall average power at 240.
• The third loop I really started to fade due to insufficient calories. With the bonk my watts dropped to around 200. I am extremely pleased my cadence appears consistent regardless of diminishing power. 

Catching Devon Palmer Before IM AZ

Prior to his departure for Ironman Arizona, we wanted to catch up with first year pro and a member of the Gear West Bike and Triathlon Development Team, Devon Palmer. Devon turned in another impressive season with multiple wins against Minnesota’s top elites and some impressive national performances at the professional level. Some of his highlights include placing 4^th at 70.3 Racine, 1^st at Manitou, and 11^th at both the Lake Stevens 70.3 and LTF triathlons.

At 23 years old, Devon continues to develop at an unfathomable pace while finishing degrees in Kinesiology and Coaching at the U of M and applying his knowledge as a coach for Optum Health Performance. Since Devon’s entry into IM AZ came as an end of the season surprise, we wanted to see what motivated him to scratch the IM itch, learn what he has taken away from his first pro season, and hear some of his expectations for racing as an IM newb (new to the distance). Below are his responses to some of our serious and not so serious questions.

1. Why have you decided to race an iron distance triathlon?

I’m doing the race for two main reasons. If I get it done now I’ll have the credibility to coach IM athletes for 2011. Who wants to hire a coach with no experience? I’m also doing it to scratch the Ironman Itch, which I’ve had since I finished my second 70.3 in 2007. If it is a disaster I’ll do shorter races the next few years.

2. When did you sign up for IM Arizona?

September

3. How have you adjusted your training schedule in preparation for this race?

Well, if I wasn’t doing it I would have spent the fall sitting around doing homework. So that’s a big adjustment. Otherwise, I’ve emphasized longer sessions working at steady paces and practicing nutrition. My run mileage has been fairly high for me, emphasizing a long run and a hard run each week. My swimming has been a sad story. Biking has been the biggest change as I did quite a few more miles than usual.

4. What goals do you have for this race?

Mostly I want to execute a reasonable IM in terms of pacing, nutrition, hydration, and thermoregulation. I don’t think I’m ready to ‘race’ it. If I can swim fine, bike fine, and avoid slowing down too much on the run I’ll be happy. 

5. Are you looking to apply your first iron distance experience to your coaching? If so, how?

Yes. I will have my own ideas about preparing for the distance. Also, I will have practical ideas about nailing the details on race day. For better or for worse, I will be learning out there.

6. After another strong season of racing, what are some triumphs and learning points that you will take away as a first year pro?

It was good to mix it up in the pro field to see where I stand. My triumphs were the two 70.3s I did where I was able to stay with the leaders in both swim and bike, so I know I can be up there and position myself to make money. At Racine I actually placed in the money so in my mind that validated the decision to race as a pro. Now I just need to run faster. 

7. You have stated before that eating is a strength of yours and maybe even a weakness. Are you planning on taking down some double cheese burgers and gas station muffins like DKT, or what does your nutrition look like?

I did some long rides with DKT this summer and learned the value of a McLunch on the go. It’s cheap and so tasty after hours of Gatorade. I considered a McDouble on the bike but ultimately decided against it. I’m going with a mix of Gatorade and Carbo-Pro. I’m also having a fun size Snickers every hour on the hour during the bike. If things are going terribly out there, I might have a McRib in my run special needs bag just so I can one-up Thompson.

8. While we are somewhat on the topic of racing weight, I have always been impressed at how fast you can run while looking like a UK cycling track sprinter. Any projection of how quickly you will run 26.2?

I really can’t say too specifically as I’ve never done a marathon and certainly never tried to run too far after racing 112 on the bike. That said, I’ll be pretty sad if it’s too far over 3:30. If it is going really poorly I’ll just stop. On the subject of weight, I recently had a tooth out and it will not be replaced before the race. I strongly recommend this as a method of weight loss.

9. So…Chrissie Wellington just found out that she had/has bacterial strep throat, pneumonia, and a bout of West Nile Virus. She is taking a ton of antibiotics and getting ready for IM Arizona. As a stud cyclist yourself, are you NOW going to have a chance of beating her?

Honestly, I was figuring she would handily defeat me overall but I’m holding onto the hope of biking faster. It is a flat and open course, so skill will not be a huge factor (except when passing AG athletes the 2nd and 3rd lap) and weight won’t count too much. Our bikes and wheels are both top of the line, except she rolls on HEDs so I have an advantage there with ZIPPs but this is not a huge factor overall. I am more powerful and I’ve hopefully trained enough to not blow up on the bike. The only way she goes faster on the bike is if she can sustain a much, much higher relative intensity than I can. I will be riding very controlled and perhaps her training will allow her to go that much harder. We will see. I’m just excited that the best female athlete in the history of our sport is going to be there. I’m trying to think of clever things I can say when she passes me on the run.

10. After doing some math and balancing your checkbook, are you in the black or red racing as a pro this season?

Two sponsors, Enterprise Lighting and The Law Office of W. Harvey Skees, P.A., have helped me tremendously this season with expenses. (To all the small business owners out there looking to spend marketing money on a dashing young Minnesota athlete, call me.) Obviously, my connection to Gear West affords me certain luxuries with bike equipment that I could not otherwise afford (Kevin is loaning me his sub9 Zipp Disc with Powertap and his Joule head). With this support I am actually in the black but I’m not exactly quitting my day jobs with Optum Health Performance, Gear West Bike, or St. Paul Central where I coach the boys swim team.

Boston Bound: Keeping in Stride with Drew

After a stellar performance at Twin Cities Marathon this year, we wanted to catch up with Drew and see what he did to perform so well. With 9 years of marathon experience under his belt, shaving close to 8 minutes off of a PR takes some serious effort and a little bit of luck! By finishing the race in 3:29:22, Drew is Boston bound and wondering how fast he can really go.  To find out whether he is simply getting faster with age, training smarter, changing his diet…ect.. read more.

1. You qualified for Boston at the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.  What was your previous PR at the marathon distance? 

 At last years’ TCM I ran a PR of 3:37:00.  

2. Is there one thing that helped you run better than your previous several marathons?  Did you have more long runs?  Lose weight?  Better Taper?  Weather?

I did add a fourth 18+ mile run this year as well as lose about 5 lbs and of course the weather for this years’ marathon was absolutely perfect.  Most importantly I incorporated three new things into my training early this summer.  For starters, DKT had blogged early this season about reviewing your training logs from past years and using what you learn from them to make changes to your routine.  If anything, it was obvious my training was just that… routine.  So, the second important thing was to start taking speed workouts more seriously than before.  Finally I approached my long runs differently.  After the first two thirds of my last three long runs, I would try to push my pace 5 to 10 seconds faster than my marathon goal pace.

 3. After qualifying can you look back on your other marathons and see any mistakes you made during those races?

Breaking out of the same old training routine as mentioned above.

 4. Since you have passed your racing prime (no disrespect) do you see your continued marathon improvement from better racing, better training, or simply that you are a    genetic freak?

Besides being perhaps a late bloomer or a slow learner?  Working at Gear West puts me around a lot of athletes with lots of experiences, successes as well as failures.  Over the last several years I’ve been able to connect those dots and this year finally applied them to my own goals.

5. What did you consume for nutrition during the race? 

 Four gels, two bananas and water from all but three aid stations.

6. Did you wear compression socks during the race?

No, but I put compression tights on immediately afterwards and though I’m moving slow today, I have to say I feel better than after previous marathons.  I’m convinced compression is a great recovery tool.

 7. Are you going to race Boston in 2011 or 2012? 

Right now, I think the plan will be ’11.  My oldest graduates from high school this spring and it would be fun to make it a family trip before she’s off to who knows where for college.

 8. What mistake(s) did you make in this years’ race and how much time do you think it cost you? 

Just before mile 22 I went down with a muscle cramp in my right calf.  A spectator and one of the race medical staff were with me immediately and helped me work though it. They were great.  I figure that about three and a half minutes went by.  Frustrating, but after I was running again I actually picked up the pace a little.  I should have probably tried to stretch it out when it started to bother me a couple of miles earlier.

Curt’s Off to Tackle a New Endurance Endeavor

At Gear West Bike and Tri, it is often said that “no one leaves feeling too good about themselves.” This includes all staff members and our most valued customers in a loose and friendly manner. Although many of us take endurance events, the success of the shop…(honestly Kevin), and anything bike / triathlon related seriously, there is always room for humor and witty remarks directed at one another.

With this said, it is fitting that we would spice up the employee exit interview process with some humor, make it public for all to see (with permission of course), and make all remaining employees look slightly better.

Below, is the official copy of Curt’s exit interview before leaving GW Bike to join the ranks at Best Buy Corporate as a demand planner. Before we all had to say goodbye to a valued employees, we figured we would have some fun and get a few last laughs from Curt.

1.  We understand you finally gave in to the intense pressure from your GW Bike co-workers to either shave your legs or find a new job?  Was this truly the reason or was it that you weren’t viewed as a “real triathlete” because you haven’t done an Ironman? 

I would have to say it’s a little of both.  The shaving pressure was intense, but I always enjoyed being the fastest hairy legged cyclist.  Thank goodness for the public acceptance of compression socks so I could avoid shaving questions all together.

And don’t even get me started on the Ironman thing.  I guess I’ll have to join with Simon Whitfield, Javier Gomez, Matt Reed and David Thompson in not being real triathletes (Keep in mind that David is not doing a “real” Ironman at Rev3… just Iron-Distance (Totally not the same thing!) You didn’t mention this, but Trent’s perma-frown was a major reason as well.  

2.  At the Year End Tri Banquet last year you stated that at your previous job you were the fastest triathlete on the floor of 150 employees but at GW Bike you are #4 in the office of 6.  Isn’t this the real reason you are leaving?

You better believe that was part of the screening process. “So, can anyone here do a sub-2 hr olympic?”  I think they have one guy who’s pretty fast, but he doesn’t even wear compression socks or an aero helmet, so I’m not too worried. It will be nice to be in the top 10% again. 

3.  Virtually every week each of us are mistaken for one another by customers.  Did you conduct a photo line-up with your prospective co-workers to make certain there would not be that confusion at your new job? 

I did, and there’s no close match. This is actually unfortunate because I really enjoyed being the owner, winner of the Minnetonka Half Marathon, and top pro-triathlete.  I always got a kick out of people leaving thinking, “Wow, David is way bigger in person, and he actually looks a little soft”.  

4.  Since you were willing to make the run up the road to Super America you accumulated an impressive amount of Speedy Rewards points. Are you planning on sharing those points with GW bike before you leave? 

I will take these to the grave.  They are mine.  I don’t even plan on using them, I just enjoy being in the 100,000 point club…. it gets you special treatment at SA.  Sometimes they’ll give me a 44oz for the price of a 32oz, or tell me which hot dogs are the freshest.  It’s pretty sweet.   

5.  Is it true that you are trying to steal our Gear West Bike Facebook fans?

 I was planning a sly facebook name change from the “Gear West Bike and Tri” page to the “Curt is my hero” page.  I figure most people wouldn’t notice 

Top 10 Reasons Curt is Actually Leaving:

1. Jared (say no more)
2.  We hired Josh Busacker who is 1/4″ taller than Curt
3.  He didn’t get respect because he was only a Div 3 swimmer
4. He knew his job was in jeopardy when he wouldn’t commit to an Ironman
5.  Although David only works 4 hrs/wk he seems to always work in comments about his swimming superiority to Curt
6.  Trent’s “naturally downturned mouth”  aka “permafrown”
7.  Once Corey was hired, Curt no longer had the largest calves in the store
8.  To be a more overbearing father as his son Sebastian begins his athletic career
9. Kevin’s Compression socks and Crocs,  now also worn by Devon, Corey, and Brennan
10. Drew’s pompous comments about how much better he is than Curt since Drew is a Macintosh guy

On a serious note, Curt will be missed a great deal.  He was a tremendous asset here at the store and we will all have to pick up a lot of slack with him gone.  He is often recognized because of his stellar athletic ability, but he is an even better person.  He will have great success in life at whatever he chooses to do.  Curt is a quiet and very humble person.  When he joined us, we thought we knew him from years of racing with him, but we had we had no idea he was such a funny and talented guy.  The answers above are just a taste of his humor.  If you want to see some of his funny work, take a look at these videos he made for the shop. 

Curt will still be racing with the shop, so we will all get to see him at the local races.  He will also still be the anchor on our 4 man Team Time Trial for years to come.  

Gear West Bike & Tri wishes Curt, Christine, and their baby boy Sebastian the very best.  Luckily, they are staying in the Twin Cities, so we will be able to see them regularly.

 All the Best,

 The family at Gear West Bike and Tri.

An Interview with DKT Before Rev 3 Full

Our very own David Thompson has his Iron Distance debut this Sunday at the Rev 3 Full in Sandusky, OH.  The weather forecast is calling for dry conditions and the competition will be strong due to the $20,000 first place prize.  David had incredible success with the 101 Series in 2007 (These races were 3/4 of an Iron Distance) winning both races by huge margins.  He has had success with many Half Iron Races as well as Non Drafting Olympic Distance Races.  His 2010 season has been one of his best.  He is healthy, motivated, and very fit.  With a solid base and fast results he added some volume to his training and is going for the win this Sunday. 

We wanted to catch up with David prior to his race this weekend, hear his thoughts, and give you an idea of how and why a pro triathlete goes to races like these. If you would like to hear more of his race stories after reading the interview below, read his personal blog at:www.thompsontri.com You may even begin to understand the mind of DKT if you follow him close enough! 

Pre-Race Interview: 

David,  

Why now are you doing an Irondistance Triathlon?

I’m doing it because there is a considerable amount of money involved.  I don’t know why so many triathletes get caught up in iron distance races.  The demands of this distance consume too much of a person’s resources: time, money, physical capital, mental capital, and family time.  There is also a huge risk with pooling all of these resources into one or two races.  If something goes wrong with the race, your efforts could all disappear with one flat tire or piece of lost luggage.

When did you make the commitment to this race?

 I started doing the training required for the Rev3 Full after Life Time Fitness triathlon in early July.  I’ve never been fully committed to this race.  Even now, I’m not fully committed to finishing the race.  If the stress of the marathon starts to put in jeopardy my ability to train for and race the US Open Triathlon in Dallas, I will probably drop out.  I would prefer to finish and win some money, but a marathon could easily injure me.

You have told me that if it isn’t going well you will pull out.  Can you explain why it is different for you as a professional to pull out of a race compared to the rest of us who are racing as a hobby?

 I know I can finish an ironman distance or any other triathlon.  I have to use my body to make money.  If continuing  to race is going to hurt my chances of making more money at the next race or if I’m not going to finish in one of the money places, I would think about the pros and cons of dropping out.

Did you change your traditional training plan to prepare for this race?  

Yes, I added in longer bike rides.  Usually, my longest ride is 3 to 4 hours. I did at least one if not 2 long rides a week of 5 to 6 hours.  I also added a little bit of intensity to these rides and added rides and runs onto local triathlons.  For example, I rode home from Minneman and ran an additional 6 miles after Pigman Half this year. 

You raced Duathlon worlds just 7 days before the Rev 3 Full and finished 14th.  Is this going to effect, positively or negatively, your performance this weekend?

 If I’m in shape it shouldn’t have any negative effects on my performance at Rev3 Full.  If anything, it should keep up my tolerance for racing and be a positive influence for this Sunday. 

After some of the long rides and runs, are you confident you can recover quickly to begin training again?

 From my previous experience with long distance racing at the 101 races, it took me about 10 days to start feeling good again.  However, I can still train during this time. The intensity and volume will be reduced to help with recovery.  I’d like to get going quickly to maximize my training block for the US Open Triathlon in Dallas.

There is some big money at this race which means a big field.  Going into this race are you more concerned with the competitors or the distance/course?  Is this much different from the other races in which you compete?

 I’m going to win money so I will be racing my competitors, but at this distance there will be much more time spent managing my ability to finish the race at the pace I want to go. 

Will you share a little on what you did for a taper?

 I reduced my volume and held my intensity.  My volume is half or a third of what my max weekly volume was, and my intensity is about the same, but the sessions are shorter.  I used Pigman Half, Chicago, and Duathlon Worlds as intense workouts for my preparation. 

You raced Pigman Half, Chicago, and Du Worlds the past 3 weekends.  Did you train between the races?

 Hell yeah, these races were part of my build up before I focused on recovering for the Rev3 Full.

Now a few questions from Kevin’s boys, Lance and Blake

Did you train as hard as my dad when he was racing long?

 No, I think your dad trained harder for Kona.  He was under a lot of pressure to qualify, so you guys could go to Hawaii.

Are you going to buy something fun if you win $20,000?

 Most of it will probably go to savings and fixing the house.  However, the big Wii screen in the backyard was damaged in a thunder storm this summer, so I’d use some of the money to fix that.   

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?  A pro triathlete?

 As home work, I had a writing assignment on this topic, and I remember writing that I wanted to be a pro football player.  I wasn’t necessarily sure that I wanted to be one, but I had to write something down.   I think it’s much too difficult to decide what you want to be at that age because the amount of life experience you have is so limited.  But, it’s fun to speculate. 

How do you think you are going to do?

 Based on the start list, I have a good chance of winning, but I can only control what my body can do.  If someone else has prepared better or has a super race, I’ll just have to live with it.

Who is the person you most want to beat?

 Victor Zyemtsev

What made you decide to do this race?

 The money

What is your favorite thing about racing?

Finishing! It feels good to be done because I can eat whatever I want after the race.

What is your favorite event out of swimming, biking, and running?

 If it’s hot out, I like the swim.  If the bike course is difficult and technical, I like the bike.  If I’m doing well in the race, I like the run.

To follow DKT this Sunday while he races, go to REVOLUTION3 Triathlon Race Series and look on the left side of the page for race coverage under “REV3 News.”

Meet: Jenny Shaughnessy

Remember your first triathlon?   The nerves.   The questions.  The fear of not knowing what’s to come.    Most people are just hoping they can finish.   Jenny Shaunhnessy’s first ever triathlon was this past June at the Buffalo Sprint Triahtlon… and she won.    It takes a special talent to win your first triathlon outright, on a road bike no less.     She then shows up at one of the most competitive races in Minnesota and Best of the US qualifier, the Waconia Triathlon, and proceeds to win that as well, essentially leading wire-to-wire.    Along with Dan Hedgecock, Jenny is one of those triathlete’s who we can unflinchingly say, will go as far as she wants to in triathlon.

Jenny is only 1 year removed from an outstanding collegiate swimming career at the U of M.  Since she won’t brag about her times (as you will see in the interview) I will.    She holds 6 school records at the U.     1:44.73 in the 200 free  (yes triathlete’s, that’s 52.3 per 100 yds).   1:55.41 in the 200 back, 1:57.18 in the 200IM and 4:06.37 in the 400IM.    Four NCAA appearances, First Team All America honor and Academic All-Big Ten honoree among many other honors.

Along with the athletic accolades, Jenny also happens to be a genuinely nice and humble person.  That’s just the type of person we want racing for us!  I wanted to ask her a few questions so we could all get to know her a little better.

Jenny at the Minneman Triathlon; Photo Courtesy of Yndecam

CW: Other than us asking, what made you decide to race for Gear West Bike and  Tri?

JS: Being a complete newcomer to the sport, I’ve been so impressed by the
genuine kindness shown to me by each member of the GW team that I’ve met
over the past few months. I can’t imagine a more helpful and welcoming
group of individuals. Equally as appealing to me are the values emphasized
by GW. The focus on sportsmanship and healthy development of athletes and
the surrounding tri community is something that I entirely support.

CW: Obviously, we know you come from a swimming background.  What are you most proud of from your swimming career?

JS: Tough question! I guess I’d have to say I’m happy with the fact that I
was able to keep it all in perspective over the years and finish without
any big regrets. I’m grateful that I was surrounded by so much support
from family, coaches, teammates, and friends. Balancing school, swimming,
and life’s other demands (eating and sleeping, to be precise) would not
have been possible without help from an incredible support system. As my
swim coach, Kelly Kremer, often told us, “Family first, school second,
swimming somewhere after that.” I think adopting that attitude made me a
happier and healthier athlete.

CW: Looking at your Gopher Sports Bio I see you have a number of family members that were high performing athletes. Did that put any pressure on you athletically growing up?

JS: Absolutely not! My parents, both former collegiate swimmers, are definitely
not the “crazy swimmer parent” types. I received nothing but positive
encouragement growing up. If anything, I loved the fact that they
understand the sport and could relate to what I was going through, provide
advice, and even follow my overly-detailed accounts of the latest
fun-filled sets from practices! I think they made it to just about all of
my meets, which I am really grateful for. I’m also lucky to have an
incredibly supportive extended family, including several successful
athletes who continue to inspire me.

Jenny still owns 6 school records at the U of M. Here she is showcasing her butterfly.

CW: Did you ever run competitively before triathlon? Did you know you had  talent there?

JS: I think I did two random, very short races when I was in grade school, does
that count? Haha. And I’ve seen a few photos of my 3-or-4 year old self
running on a track. That just about sums up my running career. I did a
little bit of running to supplement my swim training in college, and even
enjoyed it so much that I dipped into a short period of overtraining before
backing off. Turns out that too much of a good thing can actually be a bad
thing! Wonderful learning experience, nonetheless. While I really enjoy
running, and probably would have taken up running if the sport of swimming
did not exist, I’m still at the point where swimming 6 miles feels more
comfortable to me than running 6!

CW: What was your first tri, and what inspired you to do it?

JS: The Buffalo Sprint Triathlon this past June was my first race. During SCUBA
diving class this past semester (yes, a college class! I would highly
recommend it), my cousin – who had already signed up for Buffalo –
convinced me to sign up as well. I had been considering triathlon for quite
some time, but needed that extra nudge. The Buffalo crew put on such a
great event that I was completely hooked.

CW: I’ll ask the same question I asked former D1 runner turned triathlete Dan Hedgecock. It seems that so few D1 athletes come out of college and start  in with triathlon.  Why do you think that is?

JS: While I’m sure it all depends on individual circumstances, I think 2 main
factors are to blame. First, it seems that a lot of D1 athletes are simply
‘ready to be done’ after 4 years of rigorous training and competing.
Some admit to feeling burned out, and I think others just want to sleep
past 5:30 am! Second, a lot of former athletes find themselves too busy
with grad school, traveling, or searching for jobs right after graduation.
If only there were a few more hours in each day.

CW: Do you have a coach? If you don’t mind telling, give me an idea of a  typical week of training.

JS: I’m currently writing my own workouts and training mostly on my own.
I’m actually having a lot of fun with it. The variety of swimming,
biking, and running is exciting and new, and I’m able to modify things
based on how workouts are going. I’ve always loved training, probably
more so than competing, and I’ve had quite a bit of time for it lately.
When school starts in a few weeks, I may need to rearrange the schedule a
bit! Over the past 4 months or so (ever since I’ve had a real bike), a
typical non-race week has included 6 swim workouts – 3 with intensity and
3 on the lighter side, 5 or 6 rides – mostly inside on the trainer, 2-ish
sessions of running supplemented with elliptical if need be (lots of
trouble with medial shin splints, a bit of trial and error at this point),
3 sessions of weight training, along with a good core workout most days,
and lots of stretching!

CW: How does that training compare to what you were doing for swimming at the U?

JS: Training is different than it used to be, but fortunately there is quite a
bit of carry-over from swimming to tri training. Training while I was
swimming at the U called for a bit more pool time. So much pool time, in
fact, that my sense of smell is almost nonexistent! I trained in the
mid-distance group and we were in the pool for 3.5 hours 3 days a week, and
2 hours 3 days a week. We lifted weights 3 days per week and incorporated
cardio 3 or 4 days per week. We trained year-round with about a week off
after each season. A good portion of our swim volume focused on kicking and
IM work, whereas now I do much less kicking and focus less on non-free
work. While I do miss all the kicking, freestyle is definitely my favorite
stroke to train.

CW: For me, I’m a better pool swimmer than open water swimmer as I have  relatively good flip turns and streamline. How does open water swimming  compare to pool swimming for you?

JS: I can completely relate. My short course swim times were always better
relative to my long course times. I’m a big fan of turns and
streamlining. I also find comfort in the unwavering presence of that black
line on the bottom! Open water swimming has been fun, but much different.
The run-in still terrifies me a bit (I’m a fan of those dives and lane
lines as well). As a swimmer, I’ve always been one to count my strokes
and pay attention to details – probably too much for my own good. I’m
excited to work on just relaxing and swimming toward the next buoy.

CW: What are your racing plans for the rest of the summer/fall.  Any thoughts on next year?

JS: I just re-located to Durham, NC to start in Duke’s Physical Therapy
program. As for the rest of this summer, I’m doing a race down here next
weekend – it’ll be my first international distance! If I survive the
heat (it is REALLY hot here), I may do a sprint up in Virginia with my
brother. My plan, if school allows, is to race in the Best of the US in
October as well. Next year, I’ll be here for most of the summer (school
is year-round for the next 2 and a half years), so I’ll most likely do
some racing here, and it’d be fun to possibly get home for a race or two!