Joe LoPresto's blog

Welcome to the EXPERIENCETriathlon blog! Enjoy the stories posted by our athletes, and feel free to give them positive comments!

Eighteen months ago, my daughter, Sarah, challenged me to join her in a triathlon.  "You can do it, Dad, you are in good shape and have been biking for many years.  We can encourage each other, and it will be fun to do this together."

I had been biking, but could hardly swim and had not run at all in almost 25 years.  Anyway, I was game for this, so long as the swim portion was a reasonable distance.  We selected the Evergreen Triathlon in the Bloomington-Normal, IL area for July, 2009.  As I lived in West Virginia, Sarah and I would be encouraging each other via telephone and email - no joint workouts.

Shortly after her challenge, she took a Master's Swim class, met coaches Joe and Suzy, and determined she could use their help.  Suzy became her coach, and Sarah took off.  Meanwhile, I slugged along, started running on our treadmill and joined a health club to swim.  Biking was fine, running was slow - I could manage 12 minute miles for a couple miles if I had not tired myself out with biking first.  But swimming was a challenge.  I could not do more than two laps in freestyle without getting so tired I had to stop and rest.  Side stroke in the pool was workable, so I thought I could manage the distance in that manner.  Overall, I thought I was in fairly good shape.

Over the months of 2009 prior to Evergreen, Sarah was making great progress, and while my running time improved, my swimming remained the challenge.  In May I visited with Sarah, met Joe and Suzy, and took a Sunday morning bike ride with the group.  I had no problem riding with the faster group, so I felt good about that.  I was able to see the tremendous progress Sarah had made, particularly on the bike.

July, 2009, Sarah and I are heading out to Evergreen and her first outdoor tri, and I did not know what I was getting into.  We talked about our goals, and when I asked her what she hoped to do, she said she really wasn't focusing on a time, but did expect to finish better than 2:15.  I said I hoped to complete in 2:30.  She helped me set up my transition area as Coach Suzy trained her, and now we began. 

I shared this story with Coach Joe on Tuesday and it may benefit someone out there.  It is how I came to train for a triathlon, found Coach Joe, and my road to recovery.

In March of 2008, I met a beautiful woman named Lindsay Gillilan.  She was everything I was looking for and we started dating shortly thereafter. It was love at first sight and we were soon talking about marriage, family, and the white picket fence she had always dreamed of.  During this time, Lindsay was training for the Chicago Triathlon.  I wasn't training with her, but encouraged and supported anyway I could.  On June 19th, 2009, all my dreams were fulfilled as I asked Lindsay to marry me and she accepted.

The next two days were the happiest two days of my life.  I was on a cloud and never wanted to come down.  Lindsay wasn't feeling the greatest and had a pain in her calf, but we thought she had pulled something during a training session.  Everything in my life came crashing down on June 21st at 12:04 AM as Lindsay began to seizure and passed away three hours later.  I went from being the happiest man on the planet to watching my heart, my soul, my love pass away in front of me.  I called 911, began CPR, and there was nothing I could do to save her.  The ambulance came and got her, but it was too late.  She had a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in her calf.  It shifted into her lungs and stopped her heart.  At 3:26 AM, she was pronounced dead.

I felt as though I was in a bad dream and would never wake up.  I laid on the couch and cried, for hours, days; I did not want to get up and could only think about making it through the next few minutes.  I fought my way through the week and spoke at her memorial service.  I stood in front of a crowded church and spoke about Lindsay, how she tried to truly live life.

The day after the memorial service, I went for a long jog.  I did not know where I was going, I really didn't care.  I just started running and then kept running.  After my run, I was able to think a little clearer than I had before.  I kept it up and kept running, increasing the distance each time.

I decided that on June 27th, one week after the one year anniversary of her passing, I was going to do the Twin Lakes Triathlon.  My only problem was that I didn't know how to swim, so I needed to learn.  A close friend of mine referred me to Coach Joe's swim class.  I signed up, informed Coach that I had no idea what I was doing, and then he started to teach me how to swim.  It took a while, but I put my heart into learning the strokes.  I practiced everything Coach told me to do and practiced it with a newfound passion for life.  I was surrounded by great training partners and everyone was great.  Two weeks ago, everything clicked and I was swimming!!!  I had put in the work, now it was time to try out this new stroke.  I have been swimming every other day since I figured out how.  I decided to push myself yesterday and I tried to swim a mile in the pool.  It wasn't pretty at the end, my whole body hurt, but I remembered all of Coach Joe's instruction, kept my form and I did it!!!

Training for this triathlon has become my form of therapy.  I am not only doing it for myself, but I am doing it for Lindsay.  I am going to finish something that she started.  This is only the beginning for me and my training.  I will continue to push forward like she would have wanted me to.  I will not be stopped; I will continue to overcome any obstacle I come across.  I plan on working with Experience Triathlon in more ways than just the swim class.  With Coach Joe's guidance in the pool, great training partners, and a beautiful angel looking down on me, I will succeed.  For her and for myself...

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 for the next 15.  I dropped out of every sport I ever started and quit anything that posed a challenge to me.  A few years ago I decided enough was enough; I hired a personal trainer and changed my life for good.  My trainer encouraged me to set annual goals for myself.  This year the goal was completing a triathlon.  The week after my 39^th birthday I started Coach Joe's master swim class.  I had a lot of work to do and hired Joe for one-on-one swim coaching.  In less than 6 weeks I was swimming.  I continued with Master Swim but was doing the rest of my triathlon training solo.  I decided it was time to hire a coach (and who better than the man responsible for teaching me to swim in 6 weeks)!  I started training with Coach Joe May 1^st, a month and 13 days before my first event.  My goal was to finish in 1 hour 45 minutes.  About a week before the event I was a nervous wreck.  Poor Coach Joe; he had a basket case on his hands!  His advice: relax and enjoy my first triathlon.  He knew I had been following my training regimen to a T and assured me that I was more than prepared!  It took a few days to sink in, but I knew he was right and I was determined to CHILL OUT!  I was in such a good place on race day.  I was only slightly anxious, but more excited than anything.  As my wave approached the start line, Coach Joe came over and gave me a big hug.  He reminded me to stay in the moment, smile at the spectators, say thank you to the volunteers and remember that you only get one first race!  And that is exactly what I did!  I also totally blew my race goal out of the water (pun intended)!  I am hooked for sure! I may never do an ironman, but I am a TRI-ATHLETE and I will NEVER quit when faced with a challenge again.

Click here to enjoy the photo set from the 2010 Naperville Women's triathlon.

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 "rubber-banded shoes-to-the-derailleurs" trick!

8)  Always remember our USAT cards and photo IDs at Expo check-in!! 

7)  Never walk out of Starbucks without making sure you've got the drink you actually ordered. 

6)  Even the toughest triathletes sometimes walk up hills in blazing heat. 

5) There was something oddly satisfying in elbowing those two big, pushy guys who tried to run me over at the end of the swim...(and 1500 m is not as long as it looks!)

4)  Sheer willpower alone cannot cure every injury or ailment, as much as I'd like to believe. Sometimes prolonged rest really IS necessary!  (I know, Coach Suzy, you are thinking. "Duh!  Haven't I tried to get that through your head before??!")

3)  Committed, encouraging coaches = awesome training & racing experiences.  Thank you, Suzy & Joe!!

2) A super support system at home can make all the difference in the world! Thank you, Phil, for being my patient husband & my rock, and thank you, Dad, for always encouraging me along and watching the kids for Phil & me!  

1)  Elvis is alive! 

Click here to enjoy photos from this year's Memphis in May triathlon.

 Memphis in May Triathlon 2010

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 stroke, push every pedal and put one foot in front of the other till I crossed that finish line.  Didn't matter that the course was long or short, hilly or flat, fast or slow, every race offers something to log into the memory banks for future reference.  This year's race in Memphis was yet again memorable, and for good reasons this occasion.  It marked the first Memphis race I didn't crash on my bike in three tries and it was the hottest day I have ever raced on.

Our small but mighty Experience Triathlon crew of five made the annual trek this year.  It's a nine hour trip down to Memphis for this amazing Olympic distance race that brings together some of the best age group and pro racers in the region to experience a challenging course, a nice venue and good pre and post race amenities.  This year was extra special due to evolution of this race into a regional qualifier for the USAT National Short Course Championship.  This meant even more elite age group athletes would be present and vying for an opportunity to make the trip to the Championship race in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in September.

Experience Triathlon Spring Training Camp 2010

As a newbie in the triathlon world, I began seeking out training programs and information, and met Coach Joe through a Master Swim program.  Immediately recognizing the benefits of his class, I hired Joe for one-on-one swim coaching. After seeing my enthusiasm for learning as much as possible about the sport, Joe casually mentioned his Triathlon Spring Training Camp.  I wanted to go. Then I found out that it involved a trip to California and really wanted to go! But, darn, I probably wouldn't be able to afford it; I asked Joe to send me the information anyway.  Upon review, my husband fueled my desire to go.  The schedule of training activities was nicely balanced and included ample private down time so that we could enjoy a little vacation along with the pursuit of fitness.  We were going!  I was nervous about how well I'd be able to keep pace with my more experienced campmates, and used it as motivation to intensify my training.  A week before our departure date, we received the camp itinerary, including information on our destination: Solvang, CA.  The town of Solvang looked like a quaint Danish village, and the surrounding country-side appeared to be designed for biking and running.

We were NOT disappointed! All we had to do was show up; the coaches took care of everything else.  This trip fulfilled our every expectation AND THEN SOME!  The hotel was comfortable, charming, and a great value. The locally guided bike tours were challenging but manageable, and included breath- taking scenery almost beyond description. In the final leg of our ride, we were beckoned by the gourmet lunch awaiting us at a beautiful local vineyard, to be followed by the obligatory wine tasting.  I honestly could not believe that the cost of these experiences was included in our camp fees.  We had such a wonderful time. Words really can't do justice to what a refreshing, SOUL-renewing vacation this was for me. 

While no one would have minded anyone spending their down time in relaxing privacy, my campmates seemed to naturally enjoy each other's company. So much so that we ate every meal together, went shopping/exploring together, soaked in the hot tub together after our long rides, and spent a fireside evening together singing along while my husband played his guitar (ok, so really only Kyle sang, but we were singing along in our heads).  I was very proud of myself for keeping up on those long bikes, especially on the second long ride through the mountains in rain and gusty winds (even the guides said we were hard core for biking in those conditions)!  And I'm even prouder to have made life-long friends who helped spark a new passion in my soul.

 Thank you to camper, Holly F, for sharing her experience from our wonderful Spring Training Camp.  All campers had ample opportunity to test not only their bike legs, but their wine palates as well!  Athletes also had a chance to run the picturesque streets of Solvang and Santa Ynez with the post-ride brick run option.  Coach Joe provided his expertise as we enjoyed our day off from cycling with a swim at the local YMCA, followed by an ET Power session of strength training.  Once again, our Spring Training Camp was a smashing success, and we are already looking forward to next year! 

Check out all of the photos from this great training adventure in CA wine country on ET-Photo!

It has been an amazing two years.  In seventeen months I completed three marathons and three Ironman triathlons with Craig Strong guiding me the entire way.  After my second Ironman, I earned a slot to the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, a dream that I never thought was achievable.  Earning the slot meant that only six weeks after my second Ironman I would need to race Ironman Hawaii with arguably the best athletes in the world.  My training with Craig to this point had gone very smoothly; there were very few workouts and races that I found too challenging.  My three previous marathons and two prior Ironman efforts had been executed almost to perfection.  But, it was unclear whether my body would recover enough to race another Ironman so soon.

I arrived in Hawaii with my Mom on Saturday a week before the race.  The atmosphere was very tense; there were crazy athletes out on the hot highway riding 100 miles and runners on the course every day.  I knew that I was with the best of the best.  During athlete registration I moved aside for Chrissie Wellington, the World Champion in 2007 and 2008!  I also met one of the media slots who had petitioned Ironman to let him race in Kona.  He was hoping to be the first person with a heart transplant to finish the Ironman.  I was extremely intimidated, not only by the great athletes, but all of the amazing people who came to compete hoping to accomplish something bigger than just finishing a long race.      

As the week progressed, I tried to stay in our condo as much as possible to avoid the other tense athletes.  To calm my own nerves, we drove the bike course so I wouldn't be surprised by anything on race day.  The entire way there were athletes training in the hot sun.  How were they going to race well in less than a week!?  I swam every day in the ocean, which was very pleasant compared to the pools in Virginia.  On Wednesday, my Dad and good friend Lectie arrived to keep me company, enjoy Hawaii and support me during the race.

On race morning, I was oddly relaxed. I knew that I could complete the distance and I was prepared to do everything I could to cross the finish line.  I suited up in all my gear, put body glide on every part of my body, hugged my parents and friends, and headed to the ocean for the swim start.

The morning was dark, chilly and foggy, the race site virtually empty when the shuttle bus dropped me off, save for a few race volunteers who must have been awarded the very early shift.  I had my body-marking done and headed into the sea of racked bikes.  When I'd racked my own bicycle the day before, there were only 3 others on my rack and a slight bit of breathing space around my bike.  Not the case now... bikes were jammed so closely that it took some finagling to lay out my gear. Not a problem; I'd make do.

The race didn't start for another 2.5 hours, and my wave wasn't set to go off for another 3 hours.  Keeping my brain off the intensifying nerves wasn't going to be easy.  I was doing this race alone, so there was no one to pass the time with.  Coach Suzy had given me an internal goal list to focus on, along with a few things to do ahead of time (pre-race warm-up swim, getting suited up in my wetsuit ahead of that, some stretching, etc), but time seemed to drag before I could actually start those things.

Eventually fellow racers started to fill the space around me, and I could sense the nerves and excitement the other women around me were experiencing.  Some women were sitting, some were stretching, a couple were doing light jogs around the parking lot, some were engaged in easy conversation with other athletes.  I just observed and tried to soak in the mood of the morning.  Finally it was time to mold my wetsuit over me and zip the nerves into my core.  The 15-minute walk over to the beach start was a chance to gather my thoughts and start my blood flowing.  The ground felt cool beneath my bare feet, but invigorating at the same time.

Danskin officials were allowing women to swim alongside the course for warm-ups, so I took advantage of it, using the time to follow Suzy's advice of a pre-race swim.  The swim leg always makes me nervous, so this was about the best thing I could have done to help my nerves at that point.  The water felt phenomenal... crisp, cool, clear.  I swam a few hundred yards, then it was time to clear the water for race start. 

Monday, Sept. 28th at 5am I started my swim across the English Channel.  Wearing a Speedo, goggles, 2 jars of Vaseline, and a smile, I dove into the 62-degree salt waters and swam to Shakespeare Beach just south of Dover Harbor.  Shakespeare Beach is where most EC swim attempts start, but you have to be taken there by your support boat.  Mine was carrying the Captain, Andy, an assistant crew member, Gary, an Observer, Steve, my wife Jennifer, my mother Mary, father Don, and ET coach Craig.  Swimming up to the beach from the boat was the scariest part!  It was pitch black outside and even on the sunniest of days, you can't see your hands in the waters of the EC.  I put a flashing bike light on my goggle strap and on the back of my Speedo so the boat could see me and not run me over.  It took me about 15 minutes to swim to shore.  Once there I raised my hands above my head and the boat sounded the start horn.  I dove back in, feeling much colder this time as I had been standing in the 55 degree air for a few minutes, and started a swim that I thought would take somewhere around 12 to 14 hours.  The tide was still coming in, so I felt like I was moving my arms but not going anywhere.

I must have been about 500 yards off the coast when I kicked a fish.  This was very startling because it felt like I kicked a human in the stomach, so I knew it was a big fish.  This made me pick up the pace a little.  The first few hours after this were pretty uneventful.  It was dark and I just kept putting one arm in front of the other.  I lost one of my flashing lights about an hour in and my boat pilot, Andy, made me stop to put a new one on.  I think I was pissed about this for about an hour and this was all I thought about, since I had had that light for well over 10 years.  This is the kind of craziness you fixate on when you have this type of sensory deprivation.  You can't see ANYTHING, you hear only the water rushing past your ears, you can't smell, and your brain starts systematically shutting down your body because of the cold.  It is one of the craziest experiences.

I was feeding every 30 minutes at this point, so I would stop for about 15 seconds and drink a carb/protein/water mix.  My goal was to take in around 350 calories per hour in two feedings equaling less than 15 seconds each.  This worked out well for the first few hours.  Although it didn't feel like I was going anywhere, I was keeping pace at 2 miles per hour.  As the sun came up, I was starting to settle in.  I had given up on my light and my brain had all but shut down.  I really don't remember much else, until I started to feel a little euphoric.  This was about 4 hours into the swim.  It felt like I had the perfect buzz until I started realizing I was losing feeling in the lower half of my body.  It started with my feet and slowly worked its way to my waist over the next two hours.  At this point, I was not able to kick, so Craig put on a wetsuit and got in to pace me.  He, Jen, and Andy had been asking me how I was feeling for the last two feedings and my only response had been, "Euphoric."  As I learned later, Andy did not know what euphoric meant.  This was a good thing, because he was looking for a reason to pull me out of the water at this point.  He and the Observer (Steve) thought I was hypothermic and wanted me out.  Due to some fast talking/ thinking by Craig and Jen, they convinced him to let me stay in.  At this point, I mentally thought I was done.  When Craig was getting out of the water (rules say someone can swim with you for only an hour), I told him to watch me and keep me from drowning.  He just looked back with a blank stare and got out of the water and I kept swimming.  Once the hypothermia made it to my stomach, I knew I was done.