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athlete Archives - Britt Fit

May 18
0

Meet the Athlete: Karen

By | Fitness, Fuel, Meet the Athlete, Triathlon | No Comments

Meet the Athlete: Karen O’Neill, newly engaged Irish triathlete!

Current place of residence: Ventura, CA

Hometown/place of birth: Dublin, Ireland

Day job: Controller

Favorite sports or hobbies (besides triathlon): Reading, Wine tasting

Current (2015) triathlon goal: To beat my last time at the SB Long Course Triathlon

Best triathlon race leg (swim, bike, run, T1, T2, beer garden): Beer Garden!

Dream race: Warm water swim, downhill bike, and 3 mile run 😉

Race mantra: “There’s a cold beer at the finish line. You just have to get there.”

When/how/why did you start triathlon? Three years ago my friend Mariel convinced me to register with Team in Training for a triathlon. It’s all her fault.

Hardest race you’ve ever completed: Ironman AZ 2013 due to the length of the race. I was ready to be done after the bike leg. But I got a hug from Pat in T2 and he told me I could finish it. So I did.

Most memorable training and/or race moment(s): It’s always wonderful to see friends along the way and at the finish line. It’s what makes it every time for me.

Words of wisdom to someone considering training for their first triathlon/endurance event: You can do anything you put your mind to. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. And don’t forget to have some rest days too.

Something you’ve learned about yourself through triathlon/endurance sport: That I can actually keep going even though I feel like stopping. And I’m not afraid of open water anymore, well maybe just waves.

Pre-race ritual or superstition: A checklist with all items needed

Training/racing “secrets”: Tri-slide- it’s so useful

Training/racing pet peeve: Sometimes there are not enough days in the week to fit it all in

Why do you keep Tri-ing? It’s fun! I’ve met a lot of great people, and triathletes are a social and friendly bunch.

What does “Fuel” mean to you? Fuel to me means the gas in the tank

What does being “Fit” mean to you? Being able to do things without being out of breath

Pick one:

Long swim, long ride or long run? Long ride, even though I’m slow
Open water or pool? Pool- sometimes the dark depths in open water scare me
Trail or track? Track
Solo or group training? A bit of both
Chocolate or cheese? Cheese
Watch on your left wrist or right? Left
Morning or evening workout? Morning
Hat or visor? Visor
Swim cap or no cap? Cap
Cheerios or Wheaties? Neither
Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate? Tea!

Want to see yourself featured in a future edition of M.T.A.? All BrittFit Athletes are eligible. You could be next!

Apr 27
0

Meet the Athlete: John #1

By | Coaching, Fitness, Fuel, Meet the Athlete, Triathlon | 3 Comments

Meet John #1, Ironman triathlete, husband,  and newly-appointed grandfather. He pretty much does it all.  Why #1? Because John #2!

Current place of residence:  Camarillo, CA

Hometown/place of birth: Sun Valley, CA / Hollywood, CA

Day job: Architect

Favorite sports or hobbies (besides triathlon): I love to ski.

2015 triathlon/race goal: To complete two 140.6 distance events this year. IM Switzerland in July and IM Arizona in November.

Best triathlon race leg (swim, bike, run, T1, T2, beer garden): Definitely the bike. Definitely not T1.

Dream race: My parents were both from Switzerland.  I’m really looking forward to competing there this year.

Race mantra: Just keep moving.  A good friend once told me that every step I take during the race is one I don’t have to take again.  I think about that a lot.

When/how/why did you start triathlon?:  A good running friend of June’s (wife) asked me to help her with her cycling.  I said sure, what are you doing?  She said she signed up for an Ironman.  I seriously asked her if she knew what that was.  She had never participated in a tri.  I signed up for my first sprint tri with her a couple months later.  I was hooked.

Hardest race you’ve ever completed: IM Arizona, because of the distance and training commitment.  The run during the Rhode Island 70.3 with the crazy steep hills, 90 degree heat and 90% humidity was also not fun.

Most memorable race moment: I was starting the second lap of the Oceanside run in 2011 and an athlete who had finished the event high fived me and encouraged me on.  I then realized it was Andy Potts who had won the event.  That really stuck with me.

Words of wisdom to someone considering training for their first triathlon/endurance event: Baby steps.  Don’t overcommit to a race that is too hard or too long.  Build slowly and you will enjoy the experiences much more.

Something you’ve learned about yourself through triathlon/endurance sport: You can accomplish a lot if you dedicate yourself and put in the work.  You can do more than you thought possible.

Pre-race ritual or superstition: June says I wait to the last minute to pack.  Not a good thing.

Training/racing “secrets”: Coffee

Training/racing pet peeve(s): Slower riders who ride to the left of the road.  People who claw at you during the swim.

Why do you keep Tri-ing?: My training partners.  I love to associate with the people who “Get it”.

What does “Fuel” mean to you?: Coffee

What does being “Fit” mean to you?: Feeling strong. Looking forward to the next workout.  Wanting to do more.

Pick one:

Open water or pool?  Open water
Trail or track?  Trail
Solo or group training?  Group
Chocolate or cheese?  I’m Swiss, do I really have to choose?
Watch on your left wrist or right?  Left
Morning or evening workout?  Morning.  I never would have said that before doing tris.
Hat or visor?  I use both.
Swim cap or no cap?  Pool, no cap…Open water, cap.
Cheerios or Wheaties?  Wheaties
Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?  Coffee, coffee, coffee.

Want to see yourself featured in a future edition of M.T.A.? All BrittFit Athletes are eligible. You could be next!

Mar 30
0

Meet the Athlete: Andrew

By | Coaching, Fitness, Fuel, Meet the Athlete, Triathlon | No Comments

Today, we get to meet Andrew- a world traveler, fruit connoisseur, and BrittFit athlete since 2014.

Current place of residence: Oxnard, California
Day job: Director of International Field Development (I buy fruit)
Favorite Non-triathlon sports/hobbies: Futbol (the real sport, not the U.S. version…Hala Madrid!)

Current (2015) triathlon goal: TBD-at least one Olympic distance race
Best race leg: Bike
Favorite pre-race fuel: PB and Banana Sandwich
Dream race: IM 70.3 Manta Ecuador
Race mantra: I have two:

Everyday mantra– “Be STRONG when you are weak, be BRAVE when you are scared, be HUMBLE when you are victorious, be BADASS every day”

Gut check race/training mantra–  “I will never quit, I am never out of the fight.”

When/how/why did you start triathlon? I started training for my first triathlon in Oct 2014 and just finished my first race at the Tritonman Sprint in Feb 2015.

Hardest race and/or workout you’ve ever completed: To date, the hardest event I’ve ever done was a GoRuck event a few years ago.  7+ hours with a backpack full of bricks doing military style exercises while hiking all over the streets of downtown L.A.  True test of physical and mental endurance and also an overall test of fortitude.

Most memorable training and/or race moment(s): A few months ago, I got a flat ~10 miles from home:  spare tub punctured on refill, no cell phone.  Luckily a fellow S4T (Swimming for Triathletes class) teammate happed to ride by and saved the day!

Words of wisdom to someone considering training for their first triathlon: Start small, build a strong running base and find a sugar daddy/mamma to sponsor your new expensive hobby!

Something you’ve learned about yourself through triathlon: I should have taken a few swimming lessons growing up….

Pre-race ritual or superstition?: Body Glide on keys areas starting 5 days out….

Why do you keep Tri-ing?: Because I suck at it!  I like that it forces me out of my comfort zone and provides daily challenges and obstacles.

If you could swap out one leg of the triathlon (swim, bike, or run) for a new sport, which would you swap out, and what would you swap in, and why? I’d take the swim out and swap in white water rafting, something to get the adrenaline boosted before the bike and run.

What does “Fuel” mean to you? Finding the right mix of nutrition, sleep and personal time to stay in balance.

What does being “Fit” mean to you?: Being physically and mentally prepared to accomplish the goal; one without the other is not enough.

Pick one:

Long ride or long run? Long Ride
Open water or pool? Open Water
Chocolate or cheese? Cheese
Watch on your left wrist or right? Left
Morning or evening workout? Morning
Hat or visor? Unfortunately Hat- my bald head would burn otherwise.
Swim cap or no cap? Depends on how cold it is, my dome is pretty hydrodynamic as is.
Cheerios or Wheaties? Cheerios
Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate? Coffee…black

Want to see yourself featured in a future edition of M.T.A.? All BrittFit Athletes are eligible. You could be next!

Jan 26
1

Meet the Athlete: Lou

By | Coaching, Fitness, Fuel, Meet the Athlete, Triathlon | No Comments

Two weeks ago, we met Ironwoman Jolene. Today, we get to meet the Ironman in her life: Lou, 5x Ironman finisher and BrittFit athlete since 2014.

Favorite non-triathlon-related pastime: camping
Favorite workout: long group ride
Favorite athletic accomplishment: completing my first Ironman in 2011 at St. George (IM-SG).
Dream race: IM Kona (by qualifying)
How many races do you participate in each year? 5
How many 70.3/Iron distance races have you completed? 3x 70.3 and 5x 140.6

Most memorable race mishap: dropping my fuel on the bike during IM-TX within the first 25 miles, and then dropping my BACKUP fuel within five more miles. I turned around to go pick it up, waiting for all the bikes to go by (for an opening), only having to leave it behind once I got to it because the container broke in the fall.

Most difficult race: IM Lake Tahoe 2013. The high altitude, a new bike with wrong gearing (for so much climbing) and only two months of training made it a very difficult race. And snow the day before race day didn’t help either.

Most memorable moment in triathlon: The first time I met the Rincon (Tri Club) Ironmen. It was at one of Shigy’s Duathlons and I was in awe of them all.

Who inspires you in triathlon? Two of the top qualifiers in my age group: Shigy Suzuki & Jim Avrea. They keep setting new standards.

When did you start doing triathlons? In 2010 I started training for the 2011 IM-SG. I purchased an online training plan and used that in preparation for the race. I also joined Rincon triathlon club which helped me.

Race mantra: just keep smiling 🙂
Favorite recovery treat: Double-Double from In-N-Out
Go-to pre-race breakfast: toasted bagel with Peanut butter and Gu
Any odd rituals: I always wear my pj’s & volunteer shirt from IM-SG 2010 to bike/gear drop off before race day.
Triathlon “idol”: Chris Lieto

Pick one:
ice cream or froyo? Ice cream
hat or visor? Hat
long runs or intervals? Long runs
hilly or flat? Hilly
coffee or tea? Coffee
watch on your left wrist or right? Right
summer or winter? Winter
chocolate or cheese? Chocolate
drive or fly? Drive

Anything else you want to share with the world? Just Tri

Want to see yourself featured in a future edition of M.T.A.? All BrittFit Athletes are eligible. You could be next!