FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2016

1. What do you think about while racing during long swims?

Form, my line and not losing focus, and OUCH! the cramp that is developing and swimming through it.

2. How much while running in a race do you focus on form and your immediate performance versus "other stuff"?

I try for 100% but usually hit 90%. I race far better when I am "in the moment" rather than disassociating (read "spacing out").

3. When you get to that point when racing on a bike when you are going so hard it hurts, then what? Do you keep it up, push harder to push through, or back off, and what's in your mind at this point?

I mostly keep it up and sometimes push through. This can be a liability in triathlons, especially long ones, because it destroys the running legs. But I really like riding a killer (for me) bike leg and passing all those young tricked out snots who think they are God's gift to bike racing. (Sorry, I sorta got off on one there...;-)

4. When you race, who are you racing against? Your past performance or goal? Your body at the moment? The random person around of you? Another specific person who is racing?

Me, my past and goal, first and foremost. But being an "in the moment" racer, I also am usually trying to gain ground on the person ahead of me, and have been known to race a specific person over multiple races, which I find to be a lot of fun.

5. What single mental approach or "trick" can you share that you find most valuable for racing well?

Stay in the moment. The idea is to have the best form, race the best line, stay at the right heart rate, know where you are versus the plan, understand how the weather is affecting you, etc., every moment of the race. That's how to get the best result, I find.