This is an interview with Steven Creek from Florence, SC. He's in the
25-29 age group, and is an accompished triathlon veteran who has only been competing for four years.
TS: What got you interested in triathlon?
SC: Like many others, I saw Kona on television. I was already a runner, but was getting bored and wanted to spice it up a bit. Triathlon was a good fit.
TS: What is your best discipline?
SC: The run because of my previous experience.
TS: Why do you want to do an Ironman?
SC: I think I can qualify for Kona eventually. Qualifying at IM Louisville isn’t my goal, but isn’t completely out of reach either. I’m taking Louisville as practice. It will be my second Ironman. I did Florida last year and my only goal was to finish. I finished in 11-hours and left a lot on the course mainly because I didn’t know how hard I could push. With that in mind, I enter Louisville trying to learn more about just how hard I can go without ‘bonking’. Tentatively, I’m planning to attempt to qualify in Cozumel 2012. The more Ironman races I get under my belt before then the better.
TS: That's really impressive going 11-hours in your first IM.
TS: Why Ironman Louisville?
SC: I didn’t want to do IM Florida again, and IM Louisville is also within driving distance for me. It was also nice to be able to register online since it doesn’t sell out on site.
TS: What do you expect to be greatest challenges in preparing for IMLOU?
SC: Biking is already my weakest leg. I’m definitely concerned about the hills on the Louisville bike course. In Florence, I have zero hills to train on. A bridge overpass is literally the biggest incline around. This means I’m left with three options. 1 - Drive to find hills to ride on. 2 – Mock hill workouts on the trainer. 3 – Don’t train on hills. Number three really isn’t an option for me. I’ll be doing a combination of 1 & 2.
TS: That is quite a challenge.
TS: What would your best case scenario be on race day in general?
SC: As was my hope during my first Ironman, best case scenario is to feel good coming off of the bike. It's going to be a more difficult accomplishment this time around however, with the hills and me pushing harder than I did in Florida. I’d love to clock off 8-minute miles for the marathon, but we’ll see what happens on race day.
TS: What is your most critical piece of equipment for each of the three disciplines?
SC: For swimming, my goggles are most important. I really worry about getting the kicked off during the swim. I have them under my cap just in case. I have prescription goggles and would be in trouble should I lose them. The bike and the run have the same answer. Nutrition. I simply cannot perform without it. From the moment I exit the water until about mile 23 of the run, I need liquids and I need calories. Without either one, my day is as good as over.
TS: What triathlon professional(s), if any, inspire you?
SC: Well, I really feel like I’m on the bandwagon with these answers but Chrissie Wellington and Macca. Chrissie because she seems to win so effortlessly and is a true ambassador for the sport. Macca because he is such a gutsy competitor. He is very smart and leaves it all on the course. One of my favorite parts about triathlon, particularly Ironman distance, is the 17 hour finishers. I feel like everyone who crosses the finish line (and many that don’t) are inspiring regardless of the time it takes them. It’s a phenomenon that I’ve felt in no other sport but triathlon.
TS: Other than Ironman Hawaii, what is a major “bucket list” triathlon on your radar?
SC: There are two races that are on the bucket list. One is Escape from Alcatraz. The other is a less known race called S.O.S. triathlon. It's in upstate New York where I was born and raised. The race starts with a 30 mile, mostly uphill ride. Then it goes run, swim, run, swim, run, swim, run. It’s a unique race that I’ve always wanted to do. From what I’ve read its comparable to a half iron distance race. Also, if I ever return to focus on my running roots I’d like to run Boston.
TS: The S.O.S. race sounds more like an S.O.L race if you don't prepare well for it.
TS: Which would be a better triathlon rig, a classic Big Wheel or a strap on roller skates with wooden wheels?
SC: Definitely the big wheel. Roller skating is too similar to running so your legs would be fried once you reached T2. Plus the big wheel is more aero!
TS: Which would be worse, losing your cycling shoes in T1 or your running shoes in T2?
SC: Losing the running shoes would be worse for sure. I can bike in running shoes, but I can’t run in cycling shoes.
TS: Which is more important, the finisher’s t-shirt, or finisher’s medal?
SC: For me I prefer the medal. I have too many T-Shirts already. And for a race like ironman, I like to have something I can show off in the house somewhere.
TS: What song or artist would you love to hear blaring at mile 20 in the Ironman run?
SC: Honestly, I get so into racing that I really don’t hear anything. Typically I don’t even hear my loved ones cheering unless I see them. It’s rather unfortunate.
TS: Wow, that's some lazer focus you've got going there.
TS: Who will you contact first to let them know that you are an Ironman?(Given they are not in attendance)
SC: I’m not sure who all is coming to Louisville yet, so I’ll take a stab and say my sister. She is extremely supportive and would love to be there, but it’s a long commute from her home in Alaska. I’m sure she’ll be watching if there is live web coverage and she’ll probably be the first I call.
Good luck to Steven in his training and racing. I have a feeling that if the stars are aligned and the weather is just right, he just might be standing in line to have his ticket to Kona punched earlier than he thinks.
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