From CEO to Triathlete: My Journey Back to the 70.3 Start Line

Training seems different for this 70.3 than I remember previous training cycles being. Maybe that is because this is specifically 70.3 training. In the past, a 70.3 would have been part of training for an Ironman distance triathlon. In addition to that, the time spent swimming, cycling and running feels to be a lot less. I am grateful that the volume is tame in comparison. Running a business, coaching and teaching could get chaotic. The 70.3 triathlon training balance is making this journey more enjoyable. The training volume for a 140.6 triathlon would make this comeback nearly impossible.

The Shift: Training for a 70.3 vs. a 140.6

What I have been thinking about for the past month is how I have not truly raced in sometime. I have competed in a Last Person Standing event, which I have discovered is my Everest. That type of event is different from a race of All Gas, No Brakes. The DNF at Ironman Wisconsin as well as at the Canyons 100 Miler are still present. They show up when I begin to envision the swim start at Indian Wells.

I know that the water will be cold and that is my kryptonite. The thought of swimming in water that is ~60* is frightening. I then remember I swam 2.4 miles in Tempe Town Lake in those same temperatures. Surely, I can swim half the distance in those water temps.

I keep repeating to myself that I can swim that distance and in those conditions. I will be in the water for approximately 40 minutes and then out on the bike. While on the bike I will be able to soak up the sunshine and get warm. This thought replaces the worry of water temperatures and another DNF in the swim portion of a triathlon.

Balancing Business and the 70.3 Grind

Helping me move forward is the ability to balance all the plates that I am spinning. One of those plates is being the CEO of Run Tri Bike. We are starting our 5th year in business and it is shaping up to be the biggest year. This means that there is more responsibility. Making sure that our audience is getting what they need while providing value for our marketing partners is imperative. Business is never far from my mind and that is where training comes into play.

By training for a 70.3 triathlon versus a 140.6, I am capable of putting in training while running the business. Every day after I wake up, I work on the operations of the business. At that point, I have set aside 2 hours for myself which includes training and lunch. A midday break allows me to separate the operations of the business from the sales side of the business. In the afternoon, I reach out to potential customers. I am invigorated from the training and my creativity is flowing.

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Weekend Rituals and Finding My Rhythm

My weekends are a bit different. I don’t wake up at the crack of dawn to get training in. Rather, I wake up when my body is ready. After breakfast and relaxing for a bit, I’ll get on the bike or go for a run. Most Sundays, I head to the beach to run and follow that up with a blended mocha. That is sort of the signal that training for the week is done. Two months of this schedule has proven there can be balance being the CEO of a business and a triathlete.

This 70.3 triathlon training balance between running a business and training is a key difference between today and yesterday’s training. The last time I trained for an Ironman, I would say that the balance was off. I showed up to work, did what I needed to do and then focused on training.

This happens when you are putting in nearly 20 hours of swimming, cycling and running on a weekly basis. One of the biggest reasons for the drop in training hours comes from fewer brick runs off the bike. In the past, I would have had more 30 minute to 1 hour runs off the bike. Today, there is more intensity in the run training allowing me to remove the brick run.

Swim training this time has also changed. With the ability to swim outdoors versus in a gym, I am more inclined to swim a lot more. My training plan often calls for ~1,500 yards but I am swimming close to 2,200 yards each session. These swim sessions allow for ample recovery between days of running and cycling so I feel fresher on those days.

Experience as a Teacher: Flexibility in Training

My history of racing Ironman has allowed me to understand the balance between intensity and recovery. It also allows me to know that not every training session is going to be unicorns and rainbows. I know that if my body needs a rest day, I can accommodate that feeling without sacrificing any fitness.

Experience is a great teacher. In my case, it has helped me be flexible with my training. Trying to be rigid with training can lead to unnecessary stress which will impact performance and recovery. Having a goal of gettingt fitter over 20 weeks allows me to juggle my training schedule without losing sleep.

Looking Ahead: Embracing the Journey to Race Day

There is a lot of time between today and race day. I also know that this time will go by fast. It is important that I enjoy the journey to the start line. Race day will be my victory lap and celebration of months of training. The finish line is not guaranteed. Going through this process has taught me that just showing up is a win. 

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