Age: 27
Favorite Food: Fruits, pasta, salmon, tomatoes
Preferred Race Distance: Olympic for now, but I have an inkling that I’ll really like the Half-Ironman.
Number of years racing: 5.5 (3 amateur, 2.5 pro)

How did you become involved in triathlon at such a young stage of life?
I grew up as a swimmer and it was just a natural transition to the sport of triathlon when my swimming career drew to a close. I first started dabbling in triathlon in the spring of my junior year of college as a member of the Purdue Tri Club.

When did it become apparent to you that you wanted to become pro?
I was invited to a national recruitment camp for developing athletes at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid in the summer of 2002. Before that I had no clue that there was anything beyond the local level of triathlon. The experience really opened my eyes to what was out there—national championships, world championships, draft-legal racing, the World Cup circuit, the Olympics. I was such a rookie. I bled more than anyone else at the camp; falls while trail running and practicing bike handling skills, luckily I didn’t embarass myself in the pool! The USAT Junior Development Coach at the time, Ric Rosenkranz, must have liked what he saw (despite my clumsiness) and he invited me to be part of a training squad at the USAT National Training Center in Clermont, FL. This is where I really learned how to train. I spent the summer of 2003 there, placed 4th overall at the USAT Age Group National Championships at the end of that season, and then applied for my pro card right after. My time spent training in Florida was really the stepping stone that gave me the confidence to turn pro.

Why have you chosen Utah for your headquarters?
I like the mountains and the high quality of an outdoor lifestyle that Utah has to offer. The altitude is nice, high enough to make a difference when you go down to sea level but not so high that you can’t put in a good effort in training. Of course, you can easily go up from here and it’s a convenient option to have. The terrain also allows for great cross-training opportunities like; hiking, nordic skiing, speedskating, snowshoeing, etc.

What is your favorite race that you have done?
Escape from Alcatraz. It is by far the coolest course I’ve ever done. Though, if I ever get into Xterra racing I might change my mind on that one.

Do you have a day job?
Yes, I work between 25-30 hours a week at 24 Hour Fitness in Sugarhouse as a personal trainer.

Popularity: 10% [?]