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 [...]
30
Jan
24
Jul
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 [...]
23
Jul
Announcing Expansion of Mental Skills Training
Think back to one of your best races…what made it such a rewarding, successful experience? I’m guessing you will say something like…”it just flowed” or “it all came together”. [...]
11
Jul
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 [...]
18
Feb
Mental Skills Training Tip – Focus On What You Control
Focusing on the things you can control while letting the uncontrollable variables go is the best way to reduce race day stress and improve overall performance. You can control [...]
02
Feb
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 [...]
06
Dec
Run To Become – December 2013
Are you willing to become everything you are meant to be? Do you want to breakthrough in training, racing and life? How are you going to make that happen? Run [...]
22
Sep
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 [...]
10
Sep
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 down [...]
28
Aug
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 [...]
22
Aug
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 [...]
02
Aug
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 [...]
16
Jul
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 to [...]
18
Jun
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 [...]
12
Jun
Proving there is always a positive and moving on!
by Kristin B. Yesterday (The ET Batavia Sprint Triathlon) was an amazing race. Coach Joe masterfully executed a well-organized, fun, inviting, competitive race that was supported by many wonderful volunteers. [...]
28
Mar
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 [...]
19
Feb
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 to start my [...]
17
Feb
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 [...]
17
Sep
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 [...]
16
Sep
Run To Become – September 2012
Are you willing to become everything you are meant to be? Do you want to breakthrough in training, racing and life? How are you going to make that happen? Run [...]
18
Jul
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 [...]
07
Jul
Run To Become – July 2012
Are you willing to become everything you are meant to be? Do you want to breakthrough in training, racing and life? How are you going to make that happen? Run [...]
20
Jun
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 [...]
15
Jun
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 two [...]
13
Jun
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? [...]
24
May
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 last weekend. [...]
22
May
Glowing in Galena
by Coach Joe OMG was that HOT!! Might have been the hottest day in Galena Tri history! Congrats to all the finishers, and a huge THANK YOU to our world [...]
16
May
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, [...]
12
May
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? [...]
25
Apr
Run To Become – May 2012
Are you willing to become everything you are meant to be? Do you want to breakthrough in training, racing and life? How are you going to make that happen? Run [...]
08
Feb
Run To Become – February 2012
Are you willing to become everything you are meant to be? Do you want to breakthrough in training, racing and life? How are you going to make that happen? Run [...]
30
Nov
Run to Become
Are you willing to become everything you are meant to be? Do you want to breakthrough in training, racing and life? How are you going to make that happen? Run [...]
13
Nov
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 [...]
16
Oct
18,132 Seconds of Awesome – The Chicago Marathon
by Amanda L. “Fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds' worth of distance run.” –Rudyard Kipling After the marathon, my mom asked my dad if he ever thought about just stopping. [...]
14
Oct
An Answered Prayer – Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
by Kim C. My best friend of 26 years, Dottie, heard about a great challenge: hiking the Grand Canyon from rim to rim in one day. That’s 25 miles! She [...]
12
Oct
My evolution as a runner
by Aaron A. Looking back I’ve been an athlete for many years. I did cross country, swimming, and track in high school and continued swimming/running on my own in college [...]
28
Sep
9-11 American Challenge: A Journey of the Human Spirit
by Lynn B. The journey has come to end. A journey that began on 9-11 at Liberty Park, NJ and ended on 9-18 at the Pentagon, a culmination of 530 [...]
28
Aug
Seaweed, Hills, and Tenacity
My first Olympic-distance triathlon by Amanda L. When I’m talking to my friends, I sometimes forget that they aren’t fellow triathletes, which is why I was frequently asked about my presumed [...]
26
Aug
My Ironman Journey
by Kevin M. Last year was a big year for me! I decided to do my first triathlon longer than a sprint. In December ’09, my sister said, “I signed [...]
22
Aug
Three Years in the Making
by Tyler H. My story starts three years ago (2009) before I met Coach Joe. The prior year, I attended the Naperville Tri with my dad to watch one of [...]
04
Aug
95th Vierdaagse
by Marge P. “You walk the Vierdaagse because it is there—to see if you can. It’s the Mt. Everest of walking; a 100 mile peak laid out flat and decked [...]
23
Jul
From 3 Miles To 70.3
by Suzy C. “We never truly know who we are unless we push ourselves beyond our known boundaries.” – Unknown My journey began about 14 years ago. I started running for [...]
22
Jul
Beating the Swim Demons at Evergreen Lake Triathlon
by Drew R. Coming into the Evergreen Triathlon, I felt that I had plenty of reasons to be nervous. First and foremost among them was the fact that it would [...]
21
Jul
Pain is Temporary; Pride is Forever!!
by Cathy O. What do the following have in common? Beach, hot weather, a firefighter, yellow painted toenails, and the best cheering section in the world. They all share in [...]
29
Jun
Pleasant Prairie, My First Olympic Tri
by Jim R. My journey into triathlon started a little over a year ago. Knowing that I didn’t know everything, I started a search for someone who did and found [...]
23
May
Starting New Traditions – The Galena Triathlon
One of our long standing Experience Triathlon traditions has been our annual road trip and season opening team triathlon to Memphis in May. Last year at Memphis they announced [...]
13
May
ET Half Marathon Training Class
Summer 2011 session open for registration So, you want to run a fall half marathon? Whether you’re a first-timer or you’re looking to improve your performance at the half marathon [...]
08
May
Speechless in Panama City – The Gulf Coast Triathlon
Words just can’t describe some experiences in life. Even pictures can only do so much when in paradise. As I sit here overlooking the Gulf, watching the sunrise and [...]
11
Mar
This is why I run
by Jillmarie D. Wrestling with restlessness I open the door to my therapy The road and the rhythm of my running shoes. The sound of my heart's constant beat and my breath I run. I [...]
05
Mar
Justin Bieber – triathlete? Never Say Never!
You’d have to be living under a rock to not have heard the buzz about Justin Bieber’s new movie, Never Say Never. Anyone who knows my girls can surely [...]
03
Mar
Turning Tragedy Into Hope
On October 6, 2001 I got one of those phone calls that drops you to your knees… “Joe, this is Pat Samel, I’m calling to let you know that [...]
22
Feb
My Journey to Bring Enjoyment to My Running
by Paul W. I recently read Running Within by Jerry Lynch and have now developed my "running statement." I have done this to build a more positive AND ENJOYABLE attitude [...]
25
Sep
An Incredible Ironman Journey
by Jeff P. Lao-tzu has been often quoted saying, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” So began my journey into the world of Ironman [...]
16
Jun
I am a TRI-ATHLETE
by Holly F. In my life I’ve never thought of myself as an “athlete.” I was overweight for the first 20 years of my life and then up & down [...]
05
Jun
Top 10 Things I Learned in Memphis
by Sarah F. 10) Hills + Heat + Hip pain = a helluva hard run! 9) Flying mounts on an uphill bike start are a little tricky. Thank heavens for that [...]
31
May
Melting in Memphis
by Jeff P. I have always thought every triathlon race I have participated in was a unique learning experience - an opportunity to discover what it takes to swim every [...]
14
Oct
An Amazing Year
by Jeff P. The Chicago Marathon was the end of a great season of racing both in running and triathlon. It was an ambitious season to get in a lot [...]
10
Sep
I could run like this all day!
by Judie R. Coach Joe! I did it! :) And while I can't say that every moment was great, the overall experience really was. I wouldn't have done it nearly [...]
20
Aug
Seaweed Monsters
by Jen C. Hey, Coach Joe! Happy Monday to ya! Yup...it was toasty this weekend. I'm sure you can relate, though...it was just perfect for me and Kent. :) Bang's [...]
28
Jul
Breaking Through
by Jeff P. My journey to the Spirit of Racine Half Ironman Triathlon began long before the actual race started. Nine months ago, Coach Joe and I sat in a [...]
22
Jul
Officially Becoming a Triathlete
by Sarah F. THURS – Little over a week to go. Coach Suzy is already working on my schedule for next week…I’m excited to see what race-prep workouts she’s going [...]
08
Jul
A Smile On My Face
by Michelle H. My journey started over one year ago. Last year, around February or March 2008, I decided that I wanted to do a triathlon. After all, I had [...]
01
Oct
You are running HOW far today? You must be joking…
by Viki T. September 28th, 2008, dawned crisp and sunny and clear. Good news as today is Berlin Marathon day. I roll out of the hotel bed in my third [...]
01
Aug
The Big One That Didn’t Get Away!
by Jeff P. This was the big one for me – the Spirit of Racine Half Iron in Racine, WI. The adventure began on Friday with traveling up to Racine [...]
03
Sep
Facing My Demons
by Drew R. On August 12, 2007 at the Naperville Triathlon ET athlete and webmaster Drew R completes his year long journey toward becoming a swimmer and triathlete. It was [...]
01
Sep
Why am I here?
by Marsha H. Ever wonder what triathletes think about during a long, tough race? Here’s a peek into our world as Marsha fights the demons and completes her first Olympic [...]
18
Sep
One of life’s great experiences
Ironman Wisconsin 2006 Swim 2.4 miles, Bike 112 miles, Run 26.2 miles, SMILE for the rest of your LIFE! The Ironman. One of life’s great experiences. Considered to be the most [...]
25
Jun
My First Triathlon Experience
by Katie S. I am writing this on Monday, the day after the triathlon. My triathlon experience didn't begin yesterday. It actually began last August when I decided to "check [...]