Dan Johnson is a three year veteran of triathlon from Hilliard, Ohio. He competes in the 35-39 age-group when he is not caring for his family as a father or his community as a police officer. He made a decision to become fit and now he has plans for taking on Ironman Louisville in August, 2011.
TS: What got you interested in triathlon?
DJ: After several years of doing absolutely nothing, gaining weight, drinking too much, and feeling like a slob in the making, I decided that I needed something to motivate me to get going. I signed up for the Police Unity Tour, which is a 250 mile bicycle ride from Chesapeake, VA to Washington, D.C. over a three day period. The ride is in honor of law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty the previous year. Another piece of motivation for me to do this ride was because my department lost an officer in the line of duty, and I would be riding in his honor. I purchased a bike and began training. In preparation, I signed up for a local duathlon, which was later cancelled. I ended up transferring my registration fee to a sprint tri race. I began training for the swim, did the race, and the rest is history.....I'm officially a tri junkie!
TS: What is your best discipline (swim/bike/run)?
DJ: I don't really have a best. I suck equally at all of them. Seriously though, if I had to choose a best it would be the run. Not because I'm fast, but because I feel like I can choose a pace that works for me and run that pace all day. I'm actually a slower runner, but I feel I have a good grip on my run endurance.
TS: Why do you want to do an Ironman?
DJ: I want to do an Ironman because when I first started doing triathlons, I viewed the distance as something that I could only imagine. I viewed the folks who attempted the distance as athletic freaks of nature - I want to be an athletic freak of nature! Just kidding. With how I viewed the distance when I began my journey, to the first sprint triathlon, and to be where I am today, I want to prove to myself that I can do it. I also want it to serve as a demonstration to my children that you can do anything you want to do with the drive, determination and discipline.
TS: Why Ironman Louisville?
DJ: I selected IM Louisville because it's the closest Ironman event to where I live. It's roughly 4 hours from me, so I don't have to fly or arrange to ship my bike.
TS: What do you expect to be greatest challenges in preparing for IMLOU?
DJ: Hill training will be my biggest challenge. I live in a very flat area, so I'll have to travel to ride hills. Hills on the bike are my kryptonite! The slightest incline on the bike taxes my legs immensely. I'm really going to need to work on this if I'm going to have a successful bike in Louisville.
TS: What would your best case scenario be on race day in general?
DJ: That I cross the finish line! My secret goal is to finish while it's still daylight out.
TS: What is your most critical piece of equipment for each of the three disciplines?
DJ: Swim - goggles, bike- bike, run - shoes :)
TS: What triathlon professional(s), if any, inspire you, and why?
DJ: They are all inspirational, but the pros aren't the ones who truly inspire me. It's those who do this distance with a disability, or one who have experienced a great deal of adversity in their life and they come out and get across that line.
TS: Other than Ironman Hawaii, what is a major “bucket list” triathlon on your radar?
DJ: Other than Hawaii and Louisville (for obvious reasons), I don't really have one.
TS: Which would be a better triathlon rig, a classic Big Wheel or strap on roller skates with wooden wheels?
DJ: The big wheel is out! It would cost you a lot of wasted effort to get anywhere. However, the roller skates, even with wooden wheels, would be my pick. I just think it would take less effort to go forward on the skates. Plus, when I'm wearing spandex, I feel way hotter on skates than I do on a big wheel. Ahem.....not that I've ever tried either of them :)
TS: Which would be worse, losing your cycling shoes in T1 or your running shoes inT2?
DJ: Losing my cycling shoes would definitely be worse. I would have t steal a slower swimmer’s cycling shoes, and that could create some real issues. One, I would have to make sure I stole a pair that fit. Two, I could get arrested or DQ'd for stealing. By the time I get to the run there will be tons of people that are already done and I could "borrow" a pair of shoes from someone.
TS: Which is more important, the finisher’s t-shirt, or finisher’s medal?
DJ: Definitely the medal. The shirt will fade and wear out. The medal will last forever.
TS: What song or artist would you love to hear blaring at mile 20 in the Ironman run?
DJ: Der Kommissar by After the Fire. I love 80's music!
TS: Who will you contact first to let them know that you are an Ironman?(Given they are not in attendance)
DJ: My father in law.
Dan, you are already a good example for your children, and they are going to absolutely love being able to call their dad an IRONMAN!
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