Understanding how to balance life with triathlon training, family and job responsibilities is the key to being successful in your triathlon journey. Read the profile below to see how he does it!

Meet David:

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1. How long have you been doing triathlons?
   I have been doing triathlons now for about 5 years
2. How do you balance your workouts with family/job responsibilities?
   The most critical aspect of balancing triathlon and other responsibilities is to make REALISTIC time sacrifices and ease up on yourself if you must modify training….understand, though, that you simply cannot go from being busy at work to training for a half-Ironman….best bet is to map out a workout plan in advance based on time constraints and to follow it as closely as time allows….I have found that while the most dedicated triathletes often place better in races, a reasonable time allowance for training will allow you to finish a race feeling good about your time and yourself, even if you had to forego a brick a month out to care for a sick child or handle a matter at work!
3. Do you have a favorite triathlon moment?
   I was inspired to try triathlon by several of my friends, who decided themselves to try one a few years back. Unfortunately, I did not then know how to swim…..Liz took care of that over several agonizing (for me trying to learn to breathe!!) weeks….then it was lots of drills and practice….in many ways, it is Liz who is responsible for my accomplishments, including the recent Eagleman, non-wetsuit swim
4. What is the best advice you can give to a newbie?
   The best three pieces of advice for newbies: (1) set a realistic goal first year…Columbia now offers almost everything you can ask for in a triathlon: sprint distance, Olympic distance and long distance (almost half-Ironman), so these are locally a good place to start….(2) do at least one “brick” before your first event; this will give you supreme confidence in your ability to do the race; and, (3) practice transition, as those can add amazing amounts of time to race day, if you ignore them
5. What is your favorite workout?
   My favorite workout is the one that leaves me feeling confident that I can complete the course on race day….for Columbia, that is a good brick, because the bike/run is more difficult; for Eagleman, the longer swims were better
6. What' was your favorite triathlon moment?
   My first triathlon was Columbia in 2006….great feeling to cross the finish line….

Interested in telling TriathaNewbie.com readers how YOU balance YOUR life with triathlons? Email us with the subject line "Triathlete Profile" and let us know! We would love to hear from newbies as well as seasoned veterans. Your words just might inspire someone to get off the couch and to the starting line!

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