Can Proper Nutrition Really Make a Difference?
by Amy H. How can two races just three weeks apart have such different results? The races were both Olympic distance triathlons, Pleasant Prairie and ET Lake Zurich. The bike...
28Jul
22Jul
8 Things I Learned Training for a Half Ironman Triathlon
by Nancy A. Eight years ago, I did my first half Ironman triathlon … on a dare. I had no idea what I was doing. So like any young, confident...
20Jul
Mind Over Matter
by Chris B. I tend to think of myself as a positive, mind over matter person. I truly feel if you can conceive it and believe it, you can achieve...
14Jul
Overcoming my fear of lakes, Part 1
by Jamie G. It was 4:30 am on Saturday, May 19, 2012, and I was being rudely awakened by a panic attack. Not a good way to start a race,...
30May
It was a great day
by Richard M. I was not planning on doing Galena this year and only signed up the week before the race. Last time I did Galena in 2013 I did...
23Apr
Boston or Bust
by Jeff P. The life of an endurance athlete is filled with brief moments of exhilarating highs spaced by long periods of tedium, self doubt, misery and a never ending...
18Apr
Running in Circles
by Jim R. It was an interesting road training and running a spring marathon this year and for a time it looked like it would never happen. It started with...
15Apr
Ryan's Story – Time to not be afraid anymore
“Occasionally in life you meet someone that you somehow know will make a difference in the lives of so many people” – Coach Joe Please support Ryan in his quest to...
03Apr
No More Chi-bernation!
by Nancy A. There’s nothing like the first running event of spring. For me, it’s usually the Shamrock Shuffle 8k. But the Shamrock Shuffle usually kicks off something else: the end...
30Jan
Yes, We Can, Part III
by Alyse K. Athletes train and compete for many reasons - the sheer love of competition, the satisfaction of achieving a personal best, or the feeling of pushing their...
07Dec
I was not going to give in today!
by Bob H. 2014 seems to be the year of the destination race! In April, Pat and I travelled to California with Drew and Laurie for the world famous (and...
30Nov
A Grateful Heart
by Jada B. It’s dawn on Thanksgiving morning. There is already a bit of snow on the ground and apparently this Thanksgiving in Chicago will be one of the coldest...
09Nov
I AM AN ENDURANCE JUNKIE
by Heather G. It was the Saturday before Ironman Wisconsin and things were starting to get real. The months of early morning swims, six hour bike rides (sometimes with drinks...
22Oct
To Prove To Myself I Can
By Amy H. October 12, 2014 … How did I ever get to this day? Seems like a simple question at first, since it’s just a date on a calendar...
10Oct
Ironman Wisconsin 2014 – The Race of a Lifetime
by Laura C. After a year of preparation, 4am wake-up calls, long rides on the weekend away from my family, and numerous other sacrifices, the week of Ironman Wisconsin had...
04Sep
Finishing My First Olympic Triathlon
by Pat C. I’ve often wondered if I would write a blog for this space and if I did, what would I say and where would I start? Start at the...
18Aug
When Things Don’t Go as Planned
by Vicky T. This was going to be "my" year. Having qualified for Nationals by winning my age category last September, I was exceedingly excited to be able to race...
16Aug
Bouncing Back at the Naperville Triathlon
by Bob H. Last year, I ended my triathlon season with the Pleasant Prairie Olympic distance triathlon. In that race, my plan was to swim and bike fairly easy and...
11Aug
Becoming an Athlete
by Sharon K. Two years ago yesterday, the day of the Naperville Sprint Triathlon presented by Experience Triathlon, I started my fitness journey. I...
04Aug
Confidence Gained! I am an Ironman 70.3 Finisher!
by Beckie M. Confidence/noun – The feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something/ a feeling or belief that someone or something is good or...
27Jul
Is Triathlon a Team Sport? My Journey to Ironman Racine
by Darryl T. Racine was a stop on the map heading towards Ironman Wisconsin. Leading up to the race a vast amount of training and discussions took place to build...
24Jul
Come Back, v. 70.3
by Laurie P. I was an athlete as a kid, the youngest of six in a Midwestern family. Our Dad, a baseball player in his earlier days, took great pleasure...
11Jul
It’s not always about the race…
by Steven M. Sunday morning I woke up a little later than usual. It was the Sunday after the 4th of July and we were all tired from the weekend’s...
09Jul
Finding Peace at Pleasant Prairie
by Emily O. I knew as soon as I finished my first sprint triathlon in August 2013 that my goal for 2014 HAD TO BE to complete an Olympic distance...
08Jul
Always A Good Day to Tri Hard
by Bill K. I began the season with a terrific Memorial Day race in Traverse City, MI: The Bay Shore Marathon. As the name implies, it’s a spectacular run along...
05Jul
Experience Triathlon athlete Mike Babicz Racing Ironman Wisconsin for Families of Fallen Police
Officer Mike Babicz, a K9 officer with the Maywood Police Department, will complete two long course triathlons in Wisconsin this summer to raise $10,000 for the families of his...
25Jun
Grandma’s Marathon
by Bob H. For a number of years, I have wanted to run Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota. Every report I’ve ever seen about the race gushes about how well...
23Jun
AND I’M BACK!!!!!
by Susan G. This was the best way to return to triathlon!!!! Three years ago I never thought I would be able to do another triathlon. My heart condition caused me to...
24May
Big Sur: Puppy Kisses and GUs
by Laurie S. I ran the Big Sur Marathon this year. It was an awesome race for my first marathon and I don’t think I could run a better marathon....
22May
My name is Jada … and this is my Galena sprint triathlon story :)
by Jada B. I have to say that this particular sprint triathlon, I learned a few years ago, is one of the toughest little sprints out there and it has...
21May
Consistent hard work, with a plan, will move you forward
by Bill Jene Two and one-half years ago, I started training with Coach Joe. My goal at that time was to be able to run a triathlon and...
02Feb
I Choose My State of Mind
by Amy H. Ready or not, January 11, 2014 had arrived. Only 11 days into the new year and it had already been a very long year. I had missed...
15Jan
My First 10K
by Emily E. I never thought I could complete a 10K run race. I started jogging about 3 years ago after we got a dog and walking her got boring....
27Oct
What are you grateful for today?
by Diane R. What are you grateful for today? That was a post I read on a friend's Facebook page this morning while I was still flying high from completing...
21Oct
Still On Pace for Big Sur
by Laurie S. By now, it’s no secret that I will be doing the Big Sur Marathon in April of 2014. I’m already reading guidebooks and searching for ideas...
16Oct
My trip to the ITU 2013 World Triathlon Finals race in London 2013
by David Z. It all starts here before I knew I was even going. 2006 I quit smoking then gained weight to almost 300 lbs. I was going nowhere fast, well, actually...
24Sep
Becoming an Ironman
by Jim R. I started on the road to Ironman four years ago, yet it seems like a lifetime ago, without even realizing back then this is where the journey...
22Sep
Staying in the box at Ironman Wisconsin
by Bill K. First and foremost I want to thank Joyce, my wife, and my family for their support throughout this entire process. Also, I want to express my appreciation...
17Sep
140.6 Rocks!!
by Cathy O. Racing is funny at times. There are times when you can’t wait for the race to be here and done and then there are times you can’t...
10Sep
My First 140.6 Ironman
by Dale R. After 10 months of hard training, the time was finally here! I was physically ready and mentally prepared for what awaited me at Ironman Louisville. Heading...
03Sep
Breaking Through at USAT Nationals
by Kristin B. USAT National Championship in Milwaukee. My A race of the year. I could write about so many great things related to this race, but to keep...
30Aug
Why Triathlon?
by Tom Z. It all started back in 2003. I was working on an individual as a PTA when I noticed a tattoo on the back of the calf. Unbeknownst...
28Aug
Becoming a Triathlete
by Kim P. Hi Coach Joe! I may have been slow and I may have sold myself short, but I finished the Naperville Sprint Triathlon presented by Experience Triathlon only...
22Aug
The burden of old beliefs
by Erin M. "I can't swim." "I'm not an athlete." I've dragged these old beliefs around like a chain on my leg for as long as I can remember. They are powerful...
21Aug
What an AWESOME first Triathlon
by Nader A. I signed up last winter for the 2013 Naperville Triathlon presented by Experience Triathlon after having been road cycling for about a year. My wife's first...
11Aug
I Didn’t See The Lighthouse, But I Did See The Light
by Drew R. When you strip it down to its bare essentials, swimming is pretty simple. One hand pulls you through the water as you lift the other one out...
02Aug
When Dreams Come True
by Tanya L. In 2010, I volunteered at the Ironman Oceanside 70.3. What a fun experience! I decided that day I wanted to complete a 70.3 race. So I bought...
27Jul
Bill and Rob’s Excellent Adventure
by Bill K. and Rob K. This was Bill’s second Racine HIM and Rob’s first. Rob: Dude! Great idea on doing the Racine Ironman 70.3 together this year! Bill: Yeah, thought...
16Jul
Anything is Possible if You Want It Bad Enough
by Rob K. This year’s ET Batavia Triathlon was my second tri and was much better than my first. I cut my swim time in half! I owe that...
18Jun
My First Triathlon
by Amy H. June 9, 2013 has finally arrived. I have been working toward this day for 1 year and 6 months. I started this journey the last week of...
12Jun
Proving there is always a positive and moving on!
Smiling as Coach Joe yells “there’s your mom and brother!!” by Kristin B. Yesterday (The ET Batavia Sprint Triathlon) was an amazing race. Coach Joe masterfully executed a well-organized,...
05May
Our Little Piece of Paradise – Spring Camp 2013
by Amy H. After a long cold winter and with spring just not wanting to make a long term appearance in Chicago, Thursday April 25, 2013 finally arrived and I...
07Apr
An Ironman Mindset
by Jim R. While Ironman Wisconsin isn’t until September 8, 2013, it’s been on my mind since signing up in September 2012. Lately it’s been on my mind more...
28Mar
The Hill
by Amy H. Saturday started out as just a chilly early spring day, sunny but 35 degrees, with another trainer ride on the schedule. But wait, I scored a half...
19Feb
Breaking Through in Miami
by Kelli Z. Every Thursday at 5:30am I “Run to Become” with Coach Joe and a small group of Experience Triathlon teammates. It is a great way...
17Feb
Second Chances
by Sarah F. Do you believe in second chances? Maybe even third or fourth chances? I do. I shouldn’t even be doing this sport, for all intents and purposes. I am not...
05Feb
I Beat the Miami Heat!
by Susan G. For those of you who know me, I have a ton of enthusiasm and excitement. So I don’t think that there was anyone else from Experience Triathlon...
23Oct
Mount Desert Island Marathon
by Bob H. When I signed up to do the Mount Desert Island marathon, I had not begun training with Experience Triathlon, had not met Coach Joe and...
19Oct
Round 3, Aaron: 1, Chicago Marathon: 2
by Aaron A. When I finished my second Chicago Marathon last year, my ET blog post talked about my next challenge being mental toughness during the race. However, I...
17Oct
MY Olympic Gold Medal
by Tanya L. I would never have thought that two years after dropping out at mile eight of a half marathon because I allowed my inner demons to win that...
12Oct
An Amazing Experience at the Chicago Marathon
by Elliott L. Today I arrived at what I consider the halfway point of a dream that was born in April of this year. Before April I never swam, biked...
11Oct
Staying in the Box at the Chicago Marathon
by Mike L. "Don't start too hard. Don't start too hard. Don't start too hard." I had been working with Coach Joe for six months, and when we...
03Oct
Falling in at Fort 2 Base
by Sherri H. If you know me, you know I don’t have an overwhelming need to participate in a lot of races. My races aren’t planned out a year...
19Sep
A Different View – Ironman Wisconsin 2012
by Jeff P. A couple of years ago, I wrote a long piece titled An Incredible Ironman Journey detailing the wonderful and emotional journey that led up to the...
18Sep
On Pace for Big Sur
by Laurie S. I love half marathons. I think it’s a great distance: long enough to feel that you’ve trained for something but not so long that the training or...
17Sep
My Journey to Ironman Wisconsin
by Bob H. My journey to Ironman began in 1978 when I read about these crazy people in Hawaii doing a race that included 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles...
04Sep
Move over Ben & Jerry, USAT is in town!
by Judie R. The suitcases are back in the attic, the TriTats are scrubbed off, and it’s the end of another race weekend that was not like any I’ve done...
24Aug
An unbelievable day in Benton Harbor
by Jim L. I think my story of the Steelhead Ironman 70.3 has to begin this past winter, because this offseason laid the foundation for having such a special...
17Aug
Another medal for the big guy! Vineman 70.3
by Tom S. 8+ months of training have paid off, as I finished the Vineman 70.3 on Sunday, July 15th. I’m happy to report that I finished with a...
15Aug
A Great Day to Race!
by Drew R. As I stood on the beach surrounded by nearly two thousand of my fellow triathletes, I was enjoying the feel of sand under my bare feet. As...
14Aug
My Day at Ironman Racine 2012
by Jim R. I had an awesome experience at Ironman Racine 70.3, my first long distance race course. The journey began on Friday when Kevin and I drove up...
10Aug
OK, it IS a journey, not just a race
by Pete J. We all get into triathlons for different reasons. I got sucked in listening to my sister regale me about her first tri last summer in Charlotte where...
08Aug
A Year of “Firsts” with my Team!
by Laura C. For me, it’s always fun doing events for the first time. 2012 was a year of many “firsts” for me. Since I joined Experience Triathlon and...
02Aug
GUPPY KLATCH
by Sal D. Tips for Beginning Swimmers from an Overanalytical, Somewhat Battle-Tested, Almost-Beginning Swimmer Human bodies and bodies of water go together perfectly. But only if the body of water is...
31Jul
Half Ironman – Take 2
by Jill A. This year was a success at Racine 70.3 Ironman! What an awesome and grueling day all at the same time. Silly as it may sound, one...
31Jul
Becoming a Champion in Madison – 2012 ET Summer Camp Recap
by Kelli Z. Well, it is Sunday night at 8pm and I am ready to head for bed. Yes, it is a pretty early bedtime but you have to understand...
27Jul
My First Olympic at the New York City Triathlon
by Tanya L. I’ve always been fascinated with the city of New York. “New York, New York, a town so nice, they named it twice,” as David Letterman says. So...
24Jul
A Half-Ironman Ain’t Half of Anything
by Amanda L. My family recently attended a picnic hosted by some of our oldest friends. In response to my parents RSVP, the host replied, “It’ll be good to have...
23Jul
Live Your Dreams – Ironman Racine
by Bill K. Training for longer duration triathlon events takes a good deal of time and effort. There were 4:30 am morning swims and evening and weekend training in preparation...
22Jul
Thank you 2012! You’ve Been Good To Me!!
by Cathy O. You’re probably wondering why I’m thanking the year already when the year isn’t even over yet, right? While some of my colleagues are continuing on their racing...
21Jul
Spinning Plates at Ironman Racine
by Jeff P. One indisputable fact I have learned from triathlon racing – there is no such thing as a perfect race. There are just too many moving parts and...
20Jul
The Winding Road to Ironman Racine
by Glenn S. What a great feeling to have completed Ironman 70.3 Racine, my first half Ironman. For such a long time the big race seemed so far away. ...
18Jul
Racing to achieve your goals
by Kristin Bagley Last month I was interviewed by a writer at Chicago Athlete Magazine. This was my first interview and before hand I ran through all the possible questions...
05Jul
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
by Wendy H. 102 Degrees. A 55 minute Fartlek workout. And the first Laurie Sweat Test of the season. I get all ready, strapping on heart rate monitor, sunglasses, and hat. ...
28Jun
The Best Race I’ve Ever Had
by Natalie H. I was so excited to be going into my first race, Naperville SheRox Tri, after deciding to work with a coach from Experience Triathlon. ...
22Jun
How Do You Measure Success?
Amy before and now by Amy H. When I made the decision to lose weight I naturally thought I would measure my success on what the scale told me. For a...
20Jun
Life can take the girl out of triathlon, but it can’t take triathlon out of the girl!
by Sarah F. Pleasant Prairie, here I come! I just realized this morning that it’s been over TWO years since I’ve gotten to race in a triathlon, and this weekend...
15Jun
How Tragedy Helped Me Become
by Kelli Z. On June 10th I participated in the ET Batavia Triathlon. I also celebrated my first year as a triathlete. How does a wife and mother of...
13Jun
The Comeback Kid – ET Batavia Triathlon
by Amanda L. Since October of 2011, it has felt like rather than focusing on getting faster, stronger, and tougher, my training has been about moderation, control, and self-discipline. Why?...
12Jun
Starting a New Hobby
by Alyse K. In March of 2011 I committed to losing weight and getting back in shape. I started a weight loss program and worked out six days a week....
11Jun
A Personal Best at Grand Rapids Tri
by Bob H. I was feeling bad about missing the ET Batavia Triathlon and Duathlon and helping my ET teammates run a great event. That was the only bad...
24May
A Time to Grow
by Jim R. The Experience Triathlon group shook off the cobwebs of all the off-season training we do during those cold dark days of winter at Galena this...
18May
A Life Devoted To Kids Keeps Her Young
Flecky by Coach Suzy If there is such thing as an "earthly angel", my good friend and loyal client, Kathy Fleckenstein (aka "Flecky") embodies it. I have always said that it...
16May
There is no shade in Boston
by Bob H. About a week out from Boston, my friend wrote to say that it was going to be about 80 degrees on race Monday. As the week progressed,...
12May
Beating the Beast – Ironman 70.3 St. Croix
by Andy R. Well, the moment I’ve been waiting for. The post-race write-up. Does this mean I finished? You’ll have to read on for that. Does this mean I survived? ...
11May
From Heartache to Running Princess
by Susan G. 10 months ago I sat in a doctor’s office and heard the results of a series of tests. I was diagnosed with a rare heart condition that...
27Mar
The Next Starting Line
by Amy H. How do you get to the start line at the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle? For me the journey started almost two years ago, although I didn’t know it...
12Jan
My Journey into Triathlon
by Andy R Survive the tide, cruise the ride, enjoy the stride A word of caution before reading this. It’s long. Really long. I’ve decided to write it in one pass...
28Nov
Multisport and Motherhood
by Laura C. My plate is undoubtedly full. I work part-time, have two young kids, a husband who frequently travels internationally for work, an aging parent, and all of the...
13Nov
The Perfect Storm – Ironman Florida 2011
by Coach Joe “Give me one moment in time when I'm more than I thought I could be. When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away and the answers...
