INTERVIEW WITH IRONMAN MIKE WIEN
Some of you may recall a small race held in Kona, Hawaii during the month of October. Like the Rose Bowl it is the Grandaddy of them all when it comes to triathlon races. Questions were all over the internet regarding Chrissie Wellington pulling out. Questions were abundant when it came to the conversation during the marathon portion and what Macca said. It was an exciting day, but the race is not just one day for most of the participants. The race is a journey and during all the excitement I began following the blog of Mike Wien. He gave us an inside peek into what life is like in Kona during race week and it was exciting to follow, and thought my readers would love to hear what Mike had to say about Kona plus much more. Mike even provided me with an untold story, that you will have to go to the bottom to find out about.
1- How did you get involved with the sport of triathlon?
I was a runner who as I aged, was trying to deal with increased soreness in my legs. So I started swimming and biking as part of a cross training program.
2- How long have you been involved with the sport?
Nine years ago after celebrating my 50th birthday.
Long rides (Over 60 miles on the bike)
4- How many hours per week do you train?
25 hours…an average of three hours a day during the week and 5 hours a day on the week-end.
5- What do you enjoy the most in the sport of triathlon?
The wonderful people I get to meet while training and the amount of food I get to eat.
6- Do you have an off-season?
Get plenty of rest….eat whatever I want….swim a little and take a couple spin classes. After that week of recovery, I go back to my regular training schedule. (What is “off-season?”)
8- What shoes are you running in? Adidas and I am testing Newtons
9- How do you balance life/work and your training?
Balance is critical to being successful in anything and avoiding burnout. I focus on four elements to maintain balance:
a. Physical - Aerobic exercise, stretching, weights, diet, sleep.
b. Intellectual – Work, learning, self-improvement, financial.
c. Emotional – Family, friends, mentoring, celebrating successes.
d. Spiritual – Community, religion, volunteering, helping others.
I work hard at keeping these four things in balance. A full life must be multidimensional to be sustaining.
10- Best venue for a race you have either participated in/volunteered in?
The Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Why? Only the top 3 % are invited. Everyone is serious about the sport. The volunteers are all veterans and very proud of the critical role they play in making the event a success. And last but not least, the spiritual experience created by being a part of the Hawaiian culture and learning how to gain strength from the water and the land.
Find something that you really can be passionate about, something that you can be very good at and enjoy doing and structure your life around doing it. In life or in sport? Both…should be one and the same.
12- Favorite triathlon distance? The Ironman Why?
Most of my competitors start falling apart after 13 miles on the run.
13- Best swag you have received from a race?
Newton Running Shoes or a Timex Ironman Kona watch
14- Tips/Tricks you do prior to a race?
Relax…Relax…Relax
15- Least favorite sport to train for? Swim Most favorite sport to train for? Bike…..
But this is not a good question. It really depends on the venue. I love running in the woods or in an interesting location (Like San Francisco.) I love to bike on interesting roads (like Coloraodo). I love swimming in interesting places…out doors and not in a pool.16- What are you goals for the rest of 2010 and the 2011 racing season?
2010 is in the record books. 2011 - I would like to re-qualify for Hawaii, go back and end up on the podium in my new age group. I would also like to qualify for the 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas and stand on the podium there.
a. What about for your career? I would like to continue mentoring triathletes who are trying to move from ordinary to extraordinary. I would also like to be able to reach and motivate more people to chase their dreams through my public speaking.
17- How important is family and friends support for your training?
It is the most important element. Without the ongoing encouragement from my wife, my family and my training buddies, I would find something a lot easier to do.
I have been very fortunate as I have not had a serious injury during a race. However, I did break a rib four weeks before the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in 2009. I was very careful with my exercise prior to the race and pushed through it during the race.
Boston Marathon – 2007. The weather was bad, I overdressed, did not get enough to drink and fell apart after 16 miles. Just kept moving forward and moving closer toward the finish.
20- How has training/racing helped you in your life?
It has provided me with a platform to help others. It has also differentiated me in the world of professional services where finding a point of difference has become more challenging.
a. How do you keep yourself motivated on down day’s? I think of how lucky I am to be living the life I am living and then give myself the hypothetical kick in the rear end and announce that the pity party is over.
Celebrating every milestone.
22- How has the sport changed since you started racing?
The technology and the competitive level has improved dramatically.
23- What is your favorite recovery drink/food?
Very cold light beer. (An answer this author agrees with as I celebrate with Michelob Ultra)
24- How closely do you watch your nutrition and how much do you think that helps?
Very close - I focus on low fat, high carbohydrates, low simple sugars. Calories are irrelevant to me. Stay away from dairy.a. During training days and off days? What is an “off day?”
25- Is Kona the ultimate dream for you in terms of triathlons?
Yes…after two visits…it still is.
Canada Ironman
It will open the sport up to a much broader audience…but it will dilute the impressiveness of the Ironman Brand.
28- Are you a member of a team and how did you get involved with them?
I am a member of six different training teams. One swim team, two bike groups, two triathlon groups and one running group. I like training with people and join many groups for the company. Most of the groups I met while training.
29- Most important piece of equipment for a triathlete?
Their legs.
30- In terms of effective cost, what will help a triathlete shave the most time?
Learn to bike faster.
31- What would you tell a beginner to get them interested?
It will help you meet some great people who are living life, stay forever young, live a longer and more fulfilling life and allow you to eat everything. Other than that…it will have little effect.
32- Do you believe anyone can become an athletic person?
Yes, I am leaving proof. I played right field as a kid…worst player on the team.
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| Lew Hollander |
I would like to win my age group when I am 80.
34- Who are the triathlete(s) you look up to the most?
The common man or woman who has lost over 100 pounds and completely turned their life around. The biggest losers. Those are my heros.
35- Finish that you are most proud of?
Wisconsin…2009. With two slots for Hawaii, I went from 5th and 22 minutes behind the leader after the bike to winning my age group by 8 minutes.
36- What phrases do you use to push yourself across the finish line?
Web site: http://www.keepingtheflamelitforlife.com/
Blog: http://keepingtheflamelitforlife.blogspot.com/
Accomplishments:
Completed 5 Ironman:
Florida 2004
Wisconsin 2005 – 2nd AG
Kona World Championship 2006 – 5th AG
Wisconsin 2009 – 1st AG
Kona World Championship 2010 – 15th AG
Completed 5 Ironman 70.3
Florida 2006 1st Age Group
Clearwater World Championship 2006 - 4th AG
Florida 2009 2nd AG
Clearwater World Championship 2009 9th AG
Florida 2010 3rd AG
USA Team
Long Course Triathlon – Lorient, Friance 2007 5th AG
Long Course Duathlon – Rimini, Italy 2008 14th AG
THE UNTOLD STORY
Since you were so good about reading my blog, I thought you might like to read the untold story.
When I checked my bike in on Friday, my volunteer escort asked me how old I was. I told him I was 59 TODAY. He said…”Really? Today is my birthday too!” He was 20 years younger. We laughed and both agreed it was quite a coincidence. About an hour later, I passed the same guy near the host hotel wearing the volunteer shirt and yelled, “Happy Birthday!” He stopped cold and said, “Thanks, but how did you know?” I looked at him like he was crazy and told him he just checked my bike into transition. He said, it was his birthday, but he was not working bike check-in. Wrong guy…right birthday. What a coincidence!
Before continuing…I need to confess to a story I did not write about. On Thursday afternoon, Gary Kessler and I went out for a four mile run on Ali’I Drive. Three miles into the run, I missed a raised drain cover and fell on the asphalt in front of a lot of tourists. I attracted too much attention from the on-lookers who undoubtedly saw my gold wrist band that indicated I was a competitor. I got up, assured everyone that I was OK and continued running with Gary. During the next quarter mile, I did confirm that I was OK…nothing broken, but I had banged my elbow and taken a good piece of skin off my left palm.
Back to the story….so when the new birthday boy stuck out his left hand to shake as he was carrying supplies in his right, I was very protective of my left hand and did not put it out to shake his, but followed with a lame excuse. He said, “let me see your hand.” I showed him my hand. He looked at it and told me he was a volunteer at the medical tent, and while they were just setting up, he wanted someone to look at it. So he brought me over to Dr. Pierce, the director of the medical tent who looked at it, told me how to treat it, gave me a bunch of dressings and medication and asked me to stop back before the swim start in the morning for one final check. I did everything Dr. Pierce said and in the morning, he put a special dressing on the palm in an attempt to seal it from the salt water. He also convinced me to put some cream and gauze on it in the swim to bike transition and wear a bike glove to protect it. The pain I felt from my hand during the day was insignificant compared to the rest of the aches and pains I was feeling. This is just one example of how the 5,000 volunteers make this event and the location so sacred. They all really care about the safety and success of each competitor and making sure the spirit of Hawaii is shared with everyone.
