All of the years I have been racing, I have longed to don the World Championship stripes. The rainbow stripes of the World Champion are a symbol of excellence and can be worn with pride; yes, I coveted such a jersey and dreamed of the day I would be worthy of one.

My road to the top of the World Championship podium was a rocky one, one that could only be navigated by the most cautious yet daring driver; a driver without fear. My early years in triathlon seemed smooth sailing to those watching from afar. Despite many successes, those years were marred by endless trips to the medical tent, learning how to deal with exercise induced asthma, frustrations on the ITU circuit and balancing a heavy academic load with global racing. Ultimately, I look upon those years with great memories – during that time I raced for my country in the Olympic Games and those were my most consistent races in the Hawaii Ironman – and now realize those were the simple and less complicated times.

The year 2001 marked a turning point in my career as a professional triathlete. While one of my most successful, it was the year I was a bronze medalist at the ITU World Championships, it was also the year I incurred a back injury that would plague me for the next 3 years. I raced continuously with mixed success, but always with some amount of pain and always with the fear of not being able to finish. In 2004, I was rescued by Amie Moriarty and Chuck Wolf at the National Training Center in Clermont, FL. My years of back pain were banished and my career revived.

I went on to win two Ironman titles and other triathlons. I felt rejuvenated, back to doing what I loved the most. I still harbored hopes of winning a World Championship title. An ITU crown was out of the question, so Kona seemed my only chance. Ah, the race in Kona. It is the one race that still eludes me! It seems not to matter if I toed the line healthy or injured, fit or not, since the year 2000 I have not been able to nail that race. When my focus switched this year to my most natural distance, the 70.3, the stripes were within reach. The training Dr. Phil Skiba devised was spot on and my racing showed it. It was now up to me to unleash the race of my life. And lo and behold, it happened on a beautiful November day in Clearwater, FL. I earned the privilege and honor to wear the World Championship stripes.

One may ask, why? Why, with all of the frustration, injuries, and uncertainty did I continue? The answer is simple. I felt I could do it. It mattered not that I was getting older, that my competition was getting younger and better, that there were doubters and naysayers and those who told me to hang it up and move on. Ultimately, I enjoy training, racing, and pushing myself to the limit. I have travelled the world. I have met the most giving and nicest people. Although this journey has been difficult, I can say without hesitation and without ambiguity: it is worth it.

Race hard, have fun.

Also check out JZ's DVD - Functional Training for Endurance Athletes.

Sponsors