On May 4, 2012,
in If you weren’t around this blog in 2010 and 2011, I ran a really popular series that I affectionately called “Ten Questions With…” This interview series included interviews with some of the top professional triathletes, a bunch of age groupers, and some industry folks (see here for the full list). I totally enjoyed doing the interviews, and got to interact with some of the coolest folks around.
Well….I’ve decided to bring the series back.
And to kick off the series with a bang, I reached out to professional triathlete Sara McLarty. Sara lives and trains in Clermont, FL – home to the National Training Center and one of the more popular independent iron-distance races in the Southeast. She grew up swimming, and was an All-American at the University of Florida (go Gators!).
I could go on and on…..but why don’t we just get to the actual interview? So here we go…..Ten Questions with Professional Triathlete Sara McLarty:
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Professional Triathlete Sara McLarty
TriMadness: So congratulations on a solid race at St. Anthony’s last weekend. You had an amazing swim and came out of the water in 19:10. How did you feel about your race, in general?
Sara McLarty: Thanks, but it was a terrible result for me and I’m not happy at all. However, I am going up to Knoxville this weekend for the rev3 race and hoping for a better race!
TM: Like so many professional triathletes, you have a massive swimming… Read the rest
So yesterday I wrote about the little ‘ole race out in the Pacific this weekend. At the tail end of that post, I made my prediction as to who would win the men’s and women’s races.
Well, that race isn’t the only big-ticket event happening this weekend. The other event is the concluding race in the Rev3 Points Series!
In case you didn’t know, Rev3 offers a points series – for both professional triathletes as well as age groupers. The prize purse is pretty hefty. The winners of the pro series each get a $15,000 bonus payout. The age group series has a prize purse of $20,000.
To qualify for the series championship, athletes have to race at least one of each Rev3 distance (Olympic, Half Rev and Full Rev). Points are awarded commensurate with the finishing place at each race.
While we all know the popularity of the Quassy race (due to the HUGE prize purse for that race, the difficulty of the course, and the general awesomeness of the Rev3 crew), there are more than a few folks who are eligible for the points series championship.
The men’s leader board is topped by Andrew Starkowicz - also known as Starkey. He took a victory at Cedar Point, and as a result is 200 points ahead of Chris “Big Sexy” McDonald. David Thompson is also in the mix, just 360 points out of the lead. Sunday’s race in Anderson could be an epic showdown. In all honesty, you can’t… Read the rest
A few weeks ago, I interviewed one half of this dynamic tri-duo, Amanda. When I approached Amanda, I really wanted a package deal – I wanted to be able to interview both Amanda and her husband Michael. Luckily enough for me, either I had big enough puppy eyes, they felt sorry for me, or that big wad of cash I sent their way garnered me an interview with both parts of this epic triathlon couple. (of course I’m kidding….at least on the cash part).
Michael was born in North Carolina (I knew I liked him for a reason), but didn’t stay long – he grew up in New Mexico. He attended the “real” UT – University of Texas. It was there that he discovered triathlon.
Michael and Amanda split their time during the year between Austin, TX and Boulder, CO. Both are highly engaged in social media – you’ll find them both on Twitter almost every day.
And now….today’s version of “Ten Questions With…” I present Michael Lovato
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TM: So your race season kicked off a few weeks ago in Galveston, and you suffered a calf strain during the run. How is the recovery going?
ML: Now that it has been five weeks since racing Galveston, I have had a lot of time to recover; but to recap the rehab process a bit, I can say that it was a fairly quick recovery. While I don’t have a lot of experience with injury, I feel that I have a pretty conservative… Read the rest
You may not have heard the name Mandy McLane much before…but trust me, you will.
Mandy has only been a triathlete since 2008, but quickly rose to the top of the charts in the age group ranks. This season, Mandy is racing her first as a professional triathlete. She saw unparalleled success as an amateur – winning a World Championship at the 70.3 distance, a USAT national championship, and several victories as an elite amateur. Basically, she’s one hell of a good athlete.
Not only is she a successful athlete, but Mandy is also a successful businesswoman. She owns her own company, called Freedom of Speech. She’s a Speech Language Pathologist – what some of us might call a speech therapist.
Juggling a professional career with professional triathlon seems like a huge challenge, but we’re confident that if there’s anyone out there that can do both, it’s Mandy.
So today’s version of “Ten Questions With…” is with pro triathlete Mandy McLane…..
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TM: You’ve only been participating in triathlon for a few years. What compelled you to take up the sport?
MM: Post college I was just running to remain fit. I was getting bored with the monotony of running day in and day out. I had swimming and running background, so I figured I had a foot in the door already. So with the suggestion from a friend I decided to try triathlons. From my very first tri, I fell in love.
TM: In college you were a track athlete… Read the rest
Amanda Lovato is one half of triathlon’s most famous couples. She grew up in Maryland, attended Old Dominion University before transferring to the University of Knoxville. She’s had a great career thus far, both as an amateur and as a professional. Her specialty is the 70.3 distance, with a notable victory at Ironman 70.3 in Pucon.
Amanda and her husband Michael split the year between Boulder and Austin, TX.
And now, sit back and enjoy Ten Questions With…Amanda Lovato.
Photo courtesy of Competitor.com—–
TM: Tell us about your race in Puerto Rico. You had to withdraw due to breathing troubles. What happened, and are you feeling better now?
AL: Yes, thank you. I am feeling much better now. I have been suffering with Hiatal Hernia since 2005. Since I have not taken care of it surgically, I take series of medications to help control it. However, I ditched all of my medication last November thinking that I could control it naturally with diet. Obviously, I was wrong. The hernia causes a lot pressure on my diaphragm which sets off a reflex reaction with my breathing. After my poor performances at Costa Rica and Puerto Rico I am back on my medication and feeling better than ever.
TM: When you travel for a race like Puerto Rico or Rev3 Costa Rica, how much sightseeing and exploring do you get to do?
AL: When I travel to an exotic place like Costa Rica or Puerto Rico I don’t get to sight see as much… Read the rest
Pip Taylor is an Australian-born triathlete who you’ve no doubt seen before. Not only is she a fixture on the race circuit, she’s a regular contributor to Triathlete magazine.
Not long ago, TriMadness had the opportunity to sit down with Pip to talk nutrition, the business of being a pro triathlete, and life in Lawrence, Kansas.
And now, this week’s “Ten Questions With…Pip Taylor
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TM: Professional triathlete. Certified nutritionist. Which “job” would you say you’re better at (or maybe enjoy more), and why?
PT: Love both. My primary goals currently are as an athlete and that is how my time and energy is prioritised. Am very much looking forward though to more nutrition study and work at some point in the future.
TM: The fact that Americans are generally the least healthy eating population on the planet is well publicized. What do you think is the main culprit for our abysmal eating habits, in general?
PT: I don’t think it is just Americans by any means, but people in general are just out of touch with what they are eating. We are too easily sold a message that we “don’t have time” or “don’t know how” and I think there are very confusing messages from the food industry telling us what is and isn’t healthy.
TM: Most of the folks will read this interview are busy: kids, careers, triathlon training. What we eat often becomes secondary. How can we better balance the needs of life with the needs of training &… Read the rest
You know how there’s always that one person in a crowd who has everyone laughing because she says the craziest things? There’s hardly any professional triathlete more funny than Carole Sharpless. She’s in a league of her own when it comes to well timed zingers. But there’s so much more to Carole Sharpless than great one-liners or jokes.
Carole is similar to many professional triathletes in lots of ways…she has seriously kicked ass in races (including 10 Ironman races, with a 2nd place finish at IMFL), she’d swim laps around you in a pool, she coaches lots of age-groupers, she came to triathlon with a swimming background, and she lives (like seemingly the entire triathlon universe) in Boulder, CO.
That said, Carole may be different in that doesn’t take herself too seriously. She’s known to make wisecracks. She’s fiercely loyal. Inside, though, she’s a softie. She wants folks to succeed. She’s a giver. Maybe it’s her Italian ancestry, maybe it’s because her heart is bigger than most folks.
Today, you won’t find Carole out racing (two pretty horrific crashes are to thank for that), but you will find her on the sidelines of the Revolution 3 series cheering on competitors. Carole works with Trakkers GPS and Revolution 3 Triathlon, and heads up Team Trakkers.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Carole. In once sense, it was a cool turn of events, knowing that she interviewed me last year – and gave me the chance to be on Team… Read the rest
Earlier this week, professional triathlete Joanna Zieger wrote a post on her blog called “What should age groupers expect from pros?“ In her post, she talks about the need for pros to essentially be good role models in our sport…that by doing so, interest in our sport will grow, sponsors will be happy, and people will be “entertained”. Moreover, she wrote, professionals have a duty to perform well because, frankly, their livelihood depends upon their performance.
Joanna further writes about how open and engaging pro triathletes are, and should be, with us “normal” age-groupers.
I really enjoyed reading Joanna’s perspective. The even cooler thing is that her view on this is not unlike many other professionals in our sport.
Let’s face it, how likely are you to be able to strike up a conversation with Peyton Manning before a Colts game? The chances of doing so are slim to none. Heck, you’d probably get accosted (and maybe arrested) if you even tried to talk to him on a Sunday. What are your chances of having a Twitter conversation with Tiger Woods …perhaps bad example, unless you’re a young, voluptuous lady (snicker)…or with LeBron James? Many, many professionals in mainstream sports are simply untouchable. You can’t get close to them – and probably for good reason. I suspect that the vast majority of pros in other sports are good people – friendly, willing to engage, etc. I also believe that the more “famous” you are, the more you are at risk from dealing… Read the rest
Many of my recent interviews with professional triathletes have been with some of the most famous athletes in our sport. Athletes that we read about in magazines each and every month. Athletes who are in so many advertisements that it would be difficult to not recognize them at a race.
The reality is, though, that the vast majority of professional triathletes are not the poster-boys of our sport. Only a select few garner the marjority of the press at each race. The average age grouper may not have ever heard of a good number of pros who toe the line at any given event. This week’s interview is with a professional athlete who may not yet have the same name recognition as Hillary Biscay or Chrissie Wellington – but she will. She’s an up-and-comer. A future force in our sport.
I’m really excited to introduce you to professional triathlete Uli Bromme. Uli turned pro in 2009, and has solid success so far. She lives & trains in the tri-mecca of Boulder, Colorado. Uli is a prolific racer – it seems as if there’s not a race she won’t enter. In 2010, she competed in everything from sprint triathlon to Ironman, 5k runs to 10 mile races. Local events to big national events.
So, without further pause, allow me to share with you “Ten Questions With…Professional Triathlete Uli Bromme.”
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Uli racing at the 2010 Ironman Arizona – where she placed 9th overallTM: You’ve had a really strong year racing in 2010… Read the rest
There are few professional triathletes today that are as well known for their swim as is Andy Potts. He is typically among the first athletes (if not the first) out of the water at all of his races. He was an All-American swimmer at the University of Michigan. The reality is, though, that Andy Potts, the triathlete, is so much more than just a swimmer.
While being the first athlete out of the water may proffer a few moments of lead coming out of transition, as we all know that triathlons are won during the last two legs of the event. Potts success has come not just from his ability to swim fast, but rather his ability to put together complete races.
Potts has had a prolific career at every distance imaginable. He was an Olympian in 2004. He excels at ITU, and in 2006 finished the season ranked third in the world. Potts is extremely strong at the 70.3 distance – with victories at New Orleans, Boulder, Steelhead, and Timberman in the past two years. 2010 has been a breakout year for Potts at the 140.6 distance – he won his first Ironman race this year at Coeur D’Alene and followed that with a victory at Cozumel last month.
Sit back and enjoy this week’s “Ten Questions With…Professional Triathlete Andy Potts”.
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Photo courtesy: Gazette.com TM: First off, congratulations on an outstanding 2010 season! Victories at New Orleans, Boulder and Timberman, plus your first Ironman win (at Coeur d’Alene), and… Read the rest
