Team Rev3!

I just spent the weekend in Denver with 50+ of some of the most amazing athletes I’ve ever met.. and what a weekend it was! But let me take a step back.

First of all, 2013 was a complete unknown race season for me. 2011 was Ironman year. 2012 was a year of “fast and fun” (which turned into “fun” due to a nagging Achilles/plantar fascia irritation).  2013 was supposed to be another Ironman year  but the stars just didn’t align. Work is REAL busy. Busy in a good way, yes, but still REAL busy. So busy that work was really impacting my training… and it’s only January!  With no sign of let up I had to make the call that this year was just not the year for another Ironman. It’s all good, I’ll find something else… But…. let’s just say I hadn’t. I had a few things on the schedule… but nothing truly inspiring. A lot of the “same ole-same ole”.

Then I was notified I was selected to join Team Rev3. Holy cow. Really? Wow. Cool! Wait, what?!

For those of you who don’t know about The Revolution 3 triathlon brand, it is truly unique. I’ve been a fan since 2010 when I did the HalfRev (Half Ironman distance) race at Cedar Point. I went to Knoxville 2011 and had one of the best races of my career. Like all Rev3 races they are family focused which is important to me. As a husband and father of 2 boys I have to balance family as a core area of important in the life-equation. And anyway, triathlon can be a really dull sport to “spectate” so by having a family focus there is always stuff for your family to do while you’re there for 5-6-17 hours racing… win-win. Plus they WANT you to go race cool places… PLEASE dad can we miss a day of school and ride rollercoasters? Ok… I guess so!!! As I said… win win.

So back to the weekend… I got to meet most of my fellow Team Rev3 teammates. They all flew in from all over the country. I tell you I’m honored to be considered in their ranks. All are active in their local communities, social media, experts in some area, and all in love with the sport. How cool is that?!?! Very cool. This is what the sport is all about. THESE people I tell you are the heart of Triathlon.

We got to meet the sponsors of Rev3 and learn about their products. Talk to them. Ask questions. HARD questions by athletes who know their stuff. Get REAL answers. It was awesome. The lineup was pretty cool too. More on that in coming months though… but I have to say the highlight for me was visiting the Pearl Izumi headquarters and getting a tour of every nook and cranny, getting sized for everything possible, and talking to Tim Deboom (pro triathlete and winner of Norseman 2011!).

And of course we got to know each other… every night was a late one with much merriment to be had. Everyone was sad for it to end as it went by too fast. I envy those who stayed another day to go Ski but many of us have families and obligations at home – so 2 days was long enough from home… after all, it’s not even race season yet!

Even with the long days talking to sponsors and the late nights every morning these dedicated folks were out working out. Early morning runs were standard but a few of us were invited to swim with Michael Lavato (Ironman champion) over at Flat Iron Athletic club, home to Dave Scott’s (6x Ironman world champion) Boulder Coaching Masters program.  Simon Lessing (5x World Triathlon Champion) was on deck commenting on form and providing the workouts. How freaking cool is that? It’s like a who’s-who lineup.

Oh, and by the way doing are hard masters program after a night of drinking,outside (30 degrees, pool was heated though!) and at 5,000 feet is not easy. Although I wasn’t in the guppy lane I was close and I was gasping like a newbie – with a grin ear to ear. I wasn’t alone.

So 2013 is the year of Rev 3. Currently on the schedule is Knoxville, Williamsburg, Dells, Cedar Point and Florida.  I’d like to do Maine but I’m not sure that will work out.

I’m now really excited about 2013!