I seem to be starting to get some people who follow this but may not know me personally. First off, thanks! But I feel that in my boredom (ez training day), I should provide a short history of me. So here's a third-person autobiography of my athletic career...
Early Life:
Ryan was a bad runner, frequently frustrating his father who was a self-proclaimed awesome athlete and swift runner (evidence is lacking). It became clear that young Ryan was not an athletically-inclined child. Unfortunately he was an even worse swimmer. He was that kid in swimming lessons, you know the one who looked like he was drowning and kicked like a frog. Ryan learned the hard way that he was not a natural athlete.
Athletic Beginnings:
Like all athletes who suck at real sports, Ryan turned to baseball. He found success as an outfielder and pitcher, winning his league in 2004. His utter inability to hit held him back from true greatness, so he gave some other sports a try. By high school Ryan was starting to develop some leg speed, and played football for a year before discovering a sport with a much better dude:chick ratio - track and field.
Running Career:
Ryan began running in grade 10, focusing on distance events. He wasn't all that good, but continued to work hard. In grade 11 he began to improve and by grade 12 was competing at the club level in middle distance. In a few short years he had become the fastest kid in his high school and was reasonably successful, but due to a string of injuries and a really bad coach, he decided not to run for the UWO varsity team in first year. Instead he bought a road bike...
A Passion is Found:
Ryan was first introduced to the sport of triathlon at the age of 12. In that year, a neighbour competed at Ironman Lake Placid, and Simon Whitfield won Olympic gold in Sydney. He was intrigued by the sport, but figured it required a level of athletic ability he was incapable of attaining. However it remained in the back of his mind for 6 years until he hung up his track spikes and began what became his true passion: cycling.
Triathlon Career Timeline:
2006
-gave up track, bought a road bike and loved it
-competed in his first duathlon. Rode on an almost-flat tire in a rain/wind storm, but had one of the fastest run splits. He had found his sport.
-in the fall he realized he could not swim a single length of the pool and set out to learn how
2007
-first full season of racing - competed in his first triathlon, finished 3rd in his age group
-finished a half ironman at the age of 18, just to see if he could do it
-qualified for sprint and olympic-distance Age Group World Champs, took the olympic distance spot to force himself to become a better swimmer
2008
-discovered he had exercise-induced asthma, and from then on had to carefully monitor his winter training
-competed in Vancouver at Worlds, had a blast...1:01 40k bike split remains his PB
-shortly after returning from Vancouver, was diagnosed with spondylolysis - a strange and complicated issue with his L5 vertebrae. Sport physicians told him to give up triathlon.
-Ryan missed the rest of the racing season, but did not take the doctor's advice
2009
-returned to training, set his sights on obtaining pro status for the 2010 season
-lived the dream training full time with the Provincial Triathlon Centre, where he learned (somewhat) how to swim, but more importantly how to train and recover effectively
-had a successful racing season, and won age group sprint distance nationals
2010
-became a professional triathlete (ie. making a living out of avoiding having a real job)
-will finish his undergrad, and will make his ITU and Ironman 70.3 debut in a few months
-continues to try to learn how to swim
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