Quest for Wellness

Health, Fitness and Joy with Colleen Cannon

When Colleen Cannon injured her hamstring in the mid-1980s, she probably never thought that it would cause such a significant change in her athletic career, as well as to her overall life philosophy.

One of the world's leading professional triathletes at the time, Cannon was part of group of athletic pioneers pushing the boundaries of training and performance in the fledgling sport of triathlon.

“It was easy and fun” recalls Cannon who relished the family-like bond of this intrepid band of multi-sport buccaneers making a living doing what they loved.

“We made a decent living from sponsorship deals and prize as well lucrative appearance fees from the bigger races. We didn't really know how much was too much, so we all just went out and had a blast! We – the professional athletes – would do most of our long training rides and runs together.”

Caveman Construction

Off Season with Conrad Stoltz

“If you don’t enjoy the process, your athletic career won’t last very long.”

Prophetic words from Conrad Stoltz, who, at thirty-nine years of age, is still at the very top of the  Xterra tree. With the onset of his 28^th triathlon season around the corner, the “Caveman” is certainly the poster-child for athletic longevity, the process of which he has certainly perfected over the years.

“My coach, Ian Rodger, is a firm believer in science, so we only train to what science tells us; far less volume than the more conventional training program out there. The result is less physical and mental stress, with fewer overuse injuries and illnesses on the whole. Plus I really enjoy the multi-sport lifestyle, which I think is applicable to athletes of all levels.”

Gordo Byrn Interview

One of the by-products of sports – and endurance sports in particular – is the plethora of interesting and charismatic personalities that are the participants. From beginner all the way to the elite level, the people are what make the sport, with each individual having their own approach, philosophies and story to tell.

Gordo Byrn stands out in the world of triathlon in many respects. His rise to prominence at the top level of Ironman-distance racing is only one aspect of his many talents. Originally working in the international financial industry, Byrn decided to change his lifestyle and pursue the sport of triathlon away from the constraints of the corporate world.

The term “athletic entrepreneur” may be an apt description of Byrn, but really only scratches the surface in terms of his arsenal of skills. Another entrepreneurial elite athlete, Jonas Colting, once described Byrn as “Tim Robbins in a Speedo.”

Gordo’s journey has been an interesting one, and well documented; his exploits and adventures were shared to a wide audience through his engaging and detailed blog posts. He continues to write extensively, in addition to having become a much-renowned coach, all the while maintaining an impressive balance with his young family.

Nature Gym: Having originally been in venture capital, you left that industry and moved to New Zealand to pursue elite triathlon. Discuss your motivations for making this move and why New Zealand was your destination of choice.

Gordo Byrn: I had been working in finance for a decade and wanted a change of pace. At the time, I was living in Hong Kong and the pollution made it tough to enjoy and active, outdoor lifestyle. I had saved enough money that taking a year off work was feasible and had received permission to emigrate to New Zealand. So I negotiated a leave of absence with my boss and hit the road. At the time I left, I wasn’t sure if I was making a permanent decision.

Alternate paths and Unplugging

One of the bloggers that I subscribe to recently published an e-book where unplugging from your day job is part of the theme. Good writing normally inspires me and this particular piece got me thinking of how I’ve managed “unplug” from everyday life over the years. This includes the many characters I have known who have “unplugged” from normality and done things the other way around.

Cape Epic 2006 was one long party, with long time friends Trevor Seinen and Gary Neill being the protagonists. After over a week on the road, the beer certainly flowed at the finish at Spier.

My interest in the travels of others dates back to my high school days. I was fortunate to be friendly with several top athletes who were 10-plus years older than me and took me under their wing. Looking back, I realize how fortunate I was to have this outlet and friendship; their maturity - and sometimes lack of – and zest for life had a lasting impression on me, as were the stories of their travels abroad. Status and athletic accomplishments aside, it was the way the lived their lives as well as their perspectives that fascinated and intrigued me, even though was in only my mid-teens.

Cycliste Féminin and the Director

I listened to two great podcasts today, covering two totally separate subjects.

The first one was with Inga Thompson, former top US cyclist and three-time Olympian. Thompson’s palmares is extensive, including stints on Team 7-Eleven and Ritchey – two of the dominant ladies teams of that era. 

Inga Thompson http://www.cyclingarchives.com/

Competitor Radio recently interviewed Thompson after her detailed letter to Velonews in light of the doping revelations surrounding several American riders.  Needless to say, Thompson turned out to be a fascinating interviewee, revealing that women’s cycling is as difficult – and some cases more difficult – than the male version.