Born: Albuquerque, New Mexico 12/07/1985 (Pearl Harbor Day)

Raised: Fairfield, IA

Height: 6'0'' or 72 inches

Weight: 160 lbs or 72 kg

Athletic biography:

1985-2004 Childhood to High School

I was always an active kid growing up, whether it was riding my bike to a friends house, running around playing, or swimming with friends at the swimming pool in the summer. Subconsciously I was in secret training to become the best triathlete I could become.

Growing up I played many sports, including: baseball, football, basketball, soccer, wrestling, track and field, and cross country. I was too small for football weighing only 90 lbs. in 7th grade. One of my friends, Tim Buch, said I would be a natural in cross country. I thought I would give cross country a shot after having some success in the 800 m (2:30) and the mile (5:30) in 7th grade track. My first season in 8th grade cross country I was undefeated in all 5 races.

 I enjoyed all the sports but by high school long distance running quickly became my favorite sport. At Fairfield High School, I focused on cross country and track running for varsity in each sport all four years. I ran at the state cross country meet all 4 years of high school with a 5k state PR of 16:33, good enough for 15th my senior year. My PR's in high school track were: 2:01 (800 m), 4:42 (1600 m), and 9:59 (2-mile).

2004-2006 Iowa State University

After graduating from Fairfield High School, I went to college at Iowa State University. I tried out for the Iowa State XC team my freshman year, but I wasn't quite fast enough to make the squad. After not making the team I became very depressed and gave up running for a couple of months. I started to miss running so I started training on my own competing in various road races throughout the spring and summer.

 Starting my sophomore year of college, I decided to try out for the Iowa State XC team one more time. I failed to make the team for the second year in a row. I started to think running just wasn't my sport. Looking back I realize that I approached racing and training without enough dedication to the details: nutrition, smart training, rest days, etc.

My first triathlon experience was the Cy-man sprint triathlon. I entered through intramural sports my freshman year at Iowa State in the fall of 2004. I owned a Trek 1000 road bike, so why not? I could run, and biking and swimming couldn't be that hard. I showed up to the triathlon wearing running shorts wondering why everyone else had on wetsuits. I panicked in the swim and lost my goggles from the multiple elbows and feet hitting me. Maybe starting at the front of the pack wasn't the best idea since I couldn't swim. Freestyle wasn't getting me anywhere, so after awhile I ended up swimming the last half using the backstroke!

Biking came relatively easier for me as my legs were in good shape. Once I got to the run I started catching people right and left. In 2005, I decided to join the Iowa State Triathlon Club. I did my first Olympic Distance Triathlon in the spring of 2006 (2 hr 27 mins, practically drowning in the water). That summer I entered a couple more triathlons along with some running races.

2006-2008 University of Iowa

My third year of college I transfered to University of Iowa and joined the U of I Triathlon Club. I came in 4th place overall at the Trihawks Sprint Triathlon in the fall of 2006. I was still using my Trek 1000 road bike at the time so I thought I could improve in future races using a time trial bike. I saved up enough money to buy a Quintana Roo Caliente which was on "sale" for $3200. All winter I trained very hard in swimming for Collegiate Nationals in the spring of 2007. All my hard work paid off improving my Olympic Distance time by 24 minutes, lowering my PR to 2:00:43.

I won my first triathalon at the Lake Geode Challenge in July 2007. Later that year I won the Nemo Triathlon in Kirksville, MO. It seemed that every year I raced and trained a little bit longer. Despite having to walk on the run portion, I was able to finish Pigman Half Ironman in 2007 (9th place, 4 hr 23 mins) with primarily only Olympic Distance training. I decided that in 2008 I would sign up for Ironman Wisconsin and dedicate more time to training. The longer the race the better for me, as it gives me more time to catch up to the competition using my strengths in biking and running.

At the beginning of 2008, I wanted to know what training under a coach would do to my performance. I trained with the Peak Performance Triathlon Training Center in Burlington, IA from January to April. This training helped me determine what heart rate zones to train at after VO2 max tests on the treadmill & stationary bike. They also helped me improve my swin stroke by watching movies of myself swimming. Their training plans and advice helped me get more motivated and determined with my training.

I decided to train myself by using what had worked for me in the past: reading books and studying training methods, and talking with other athletes. I think the best way to learn something is by learning from your own mistakes.

Here are highlights on my 2008 season:

In June I broke 2 hours for the first time at the Hy-Vee Olympic Distance Triathlon.

In July I was the fastest amateur at the Vineman 70.3 Half Ironman, qualifying for 70.3 World Championships in Clearwater, FL November of 2008.

Ironman Wisconsin was the real test, my first attempt at the Ironman distance of 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking, and 26.2 miles of running. I successfully crossed the finish line in 9:15:18, breaking the course age group record. By placing 11th overall I beat half of the professionals. 

Qualifying for Ironman Hawaii in 2009, I jumped at the opportunity because after all this is the race that put the sport of triathlon on the map.

I plan to continue to improve in all three sports each year that passes. 2009 is going to be another season racing as an amateur since I qualified for Hawaii as an amateur. If all goes as planned, I'll be racing with the professionals for the top spots in 2010.

Home page 2008 highlights:

Vineman 70.3 amateur champion

18-24 age group Ironman Wisconsin course record holder (9:15:18)