CHRISTIAN WATERSTRAAT, MPRO

lisle, illinoise

How long have you been competing in multi-sport races? My first official triathlon (Chicago) was in 1998, so it’s been 10 years. Wow.

What is your favorite product available at TriSports.com? It has to be the cowbell. It’s super noisy.  So loud and obnoxious, that when I was cheering at IMAZ, my wife grabbed it from me and threw it to the ground because she was tired of hearing it for the last six hours.  It was thrown so hard that the clapper broke off. I almost shed a tear.

How did you get your start in Triathlons? After coming back from college that was located in the middle of cornfields where the riding was awesome, the prospect of riding everyday in Chicago didn’t sound fun. I figured I could keep in shape with some running and swimming in addition to the cycling I already enjoyed doing. I ended up participating in the Chicago Triathlon on a whim. Haven’t looked back since.

What is your favorite workout? I usually like the group ride/brick.  There’s a group ride here that’s pretty tough and going easy is not an option. Trying to run on legs of Jello after the ride is just classic masochism.

“When I’m not training/racing, I enjoy…” Love playing video games.  I’m surprised how many times I’ve gone to play and realize it’s been nine hours since I last looked at the clock.  It’s almost like I was kidnapped by aliens.

If you could train for a week with one other triathlete who would it be and why? I would train with my wife.  We started dating after training together and I still enjoy spending that time with her.

If you could do any triathlon in the World (regardless of monetary restrictions) which one would you do? Even though it’s not a triathlon, I would like to do something like 24hrs of Moab or something that involves going really fast in the dark.

Describe your biggest race disaster. My very first triathlon: which was the Chicago Triathlon in 1998. It was the first time swimming in open water, in which I nearly drowned and was about to be pulled onto the boat by the lifeguards.  The clip-on aerobars I just installed the night before on my road bike rattled completely off onto Lake Shore Drive half way through.  Someone suggested that I skip the running socks because it would make a faster T2 transition, so I did.  I eventually had to pull over and run barefoot because of the blisters on my feet. Loved that race ever since.

Do you have a non-negotiable pre-race ritual? Usually I do an imaginary race in my head while standing in front of my gear and I go though each part of the race, remembering what pieces of equipment I’ll need or use. Then I check to make sure that piece of equipment is actually there or laying out.  I don’t know how many times I’ve realized I had forgotten something important like running shoes.

What culinary indulgence do you allow yourself after a big race (that you don’t normally partake of)? Hitting up the DQ for a Blizzard with cookie dough. The large size is the best size.

What is the worst job you’ve ever had? I once tried out for this job at a rehab project at a hotel.  The construction boss wanted me to go out and scrape the paint off the pool railings with a dull putty knife.  After 5 hours on my hands and knees in the blazing sun, I realized I had gone nowhere with the scraping.  I’d be doing this all week. I just left and didn’t even try to pick up the paycheck for the day.

What adjective describes you best? Determined

Finally, do you have any advice for athletes new to multi-sport competition?This sport is time consuming.  I think one of the most important barriers to overcome is focusing on the important things and ignoring the things that do not matter. Sometimes you just have to miss the latest episode of Lost to get a workout in, and that’s OK.

Recent Results: California 70.3 Oceanside, 7th AG; Memphis in May, 2nd AG; Eagleman 70.3, 1st AG (3rd OA & Kona Qualifier); Amica Rhode Island 70.3, 2nd AG (5th OA)