PEORIA'S ORIGINAL OUTDOOR STORE. SINCE 1971.

A member of the team since:
Spring 2011

What outdoor sports do you enjoy?
There is the swim, bike, and run I do most frequently, but I also love to rock climb, kayak, ski, white water raft, and fishing

What's your favorite product or brand in the store and why?
I love bike wheels so probably Zipp, or anything bike related

What favorite competitions have you participated in?
Triathlons - Half Ironman World Championships 70.3 has to be my top favorite and Ironman Wisconsin comes in at a close second, also Ironman 70.3 Branson

What's your greatest sporting achievement?
I have completed the beer mile in 7 minutes flat

What's a sport/outdoor lesson you learned the hard way?
In triathlongs I learned that eating the wrong thing the night before a long race can lead to troubles during the last miles of the race...

What's the strangest/scariest thing that has happened during an event?
A bike crash a Lifetime Triathlon. It was not too bad at all, just happened so fast I could not avoid it. I crashed over the curb and landed in the grass, but at 25 mph it was a scare.

Tell us how many hours a week you train and how you stay motivated.
10 on average at the start of the year and 13 hours average getting closer to my A races. I rely on a coach to set my schedule

Name the next item you're planning to buy from the store and why?
Trek Speed Concept 7 and various other bike goodies

What's your most useful advice for someone who's thinking about getting into your sport for the first time?
For people doing their first triathlon, they always seem really stressed out about open water swimming. My suggestion is to go practice swimming open water before your race. If you have/have not swam open water then just RELAX and go slow. Relaxing will put you at an advantage because everyone else is so high strung that they tighten up and freak out when they swallow some water, get kicked, or burn out during their swim. If you relax and take it easy you will have a good swim and a good start to the rest of the day.

What music do you chill to?
DJ Tiesto, House Flavours Podcast, Tiesto Podcast, Deadmau5, Girl Talk, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Incubus, Disturbed, Empire of the Sun, Far East Movement, One Republic

What music do you train to?
Well I cannot listen to any music while racing. I will sometimes sing “Going the Distance” by Cake in my head while racing as it is my most favorite running song ever.

What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Never give up

What's the most memorable event you've competed in?
High school track senior year 4x800 relay at Sectionals. We edged out Metamora for the State Qualifying spot.

What is your favorite in race nutrition, whats the least favorite?
Favorite race nutrition is GU Rocatane gels and GU Brew to drink. I also love Salt Stick tablets for salt and they make a cool sleek salt tab holder you can zip tie to your handle bars so you do not have to mess with them in a zip-lock bag.

What new sport would you like to try and why?
XC skiing is next on the list. I was going to try this Winter, but want to skate which I will have to travel North for. It seems like a blast.