PEORIA'S ORIGINAL OUTDOOR STORE. SINCE 1971.

A member of the team since:
Spring 2009

What outdoor sports do you enjoy?
Biking (on and off road), Running, Swimming, Hiking, Skiing

What's your favorite product or brand in the store and why?
Cervelo, They make some of the best bike frames out there. I absolutely love my Soloist and P2

What favorite competitions have you participated in?
Triathlons - Ironman 70.3 Steelhead, Maumee Bay Triathlon; Rodney T. Miller Lakeside Triathlon

What's your greatest sporting achievement?
Placed 100th overall at the 2005 NCAA Division III Cross Country Nationals to help my team place 8th in the race

What's a sport/outdoor lesson you learned the hard way?
Get your feet in your shoes before you start pedaling. The first time I tried to do a running mount out of transition I managed to lose one of my bike shoes and had to go back for it. It was a bit embarrassing and it really slowed me down instead of speeding me up.

What's the strangest/scariest thing that has happened during an event?
I took a wrong turn on the bike at a triathlon once. I was leading the race at the time and it wasn't until I reached a dead end that I realized I had made a mistake.

Tell us how many hours a week you train and how you stay motivated.
It really depends on where I'm at in the season. Shorter weeks I will put in around 6 hours and longer weeks I get 15 or more hours of training in. I stay motivated by setting race goals, tracking my progress, watching races online, and reading books and articles.

Name the next item you're planning to buy from the store and why?
New saddle for my road bike. The stock one isn't cutting it for longer rides.

What's your most useful advice for someone who's thinking about getting into your sport for the first time?
Find a smaller, local triathlon with a pool swim for your first event. Borrow a bike unless you already have one. Don't go out too fast. Have fun.

What music do you chill to?
Snow Patrol, Jason Mraz, Joshua Radin, Jack's Mannequin, Will Hoge.

What music do you train to?
All Time Low, The Maine, Mayday Parade, Paramore, We The Kings.

What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Never try something for the first time in a race.

What's the most memorable event you've competed in?
Ironman 70.3 Steelhead in 2010.

What is your favorite in race nutrition, whats the least favorite?
My current favorite is Hammer Perpetuem in Orange Vanilla. Not sure about my least favorite.

What new sport would you like to try and why?
Cyclocross. It seems really like an exciting and challenging sport. It would also be a good excuse for another bike.