Tim McNamara

tucson, arizona

Occupation: Fitness Instructor/Coach

Educational Background: University of Denver, BSBA Marketing

you grow up? Where do you live now? I grew up on Long Island, NY. I now live in Tucson, AZ.

How long have you been competing in multi-sport races? 8 years

What is your favorite product available at TriSports.com? Since there is so much to choose from, every day it seems to change. However, if I needed to pick 1 thing, it would be the exceptional bike fitting that TriSports provides.  

How did you get your start in Triathlons? The Mighty Montauk Triathlon has been held in the town where I grew up for nearly 30 years. I always wondered what the bumper stickers “Tri Montauk” meant on people’s cars, and then when I found out, I wanted one for myself.

What is your favorite workout? It’s a love/hate relationship, but I love to do 6 hour bike rides when training for an Ironman. Early in the season, 6 hours is a very long time to spend on a bike. After consistent training, I love to see my progress/improvement as 6 hour rides seem to only get easier and easier.

"When I'm not training/racing, I enjoy." Living each day to the fullest, as well as if was my last

If you could train for a week with one other triathlete who would it be and why? Macca – simply because he’s cocky/confident and hasn’t ever given up. After he won Hawaii this year, he was certainly allowed/entitled to brag, but he was very humble and sincere, which also show’s maturity.

If you could have one superhero power what would it be? Not to sound like a motivational speaker, but everyone has superhero powers. Some people just stand too close to the kryptonite and temporarily loose their powers. If they were to step away from the kryptonite (diet, exercise, etc), they would slowly start to regain their superhero powers.

Describe your biggest race disaster. Experimenting w/ caffeine to boost performance during the race, and not before during training. Now I always try (more than once) something out in training before attempting it in a race!

Do you have a non-negotiable pre-race ritual? No, I’ve learned that you really need to be flexible in both sport, and life. As Jimmy Buffett once said, “No plane on Sunday, maybe one come Monday. You make the best of a bad situation is about all you can do”.

What culinary indulgence do you allow yourself after a big race (that you don't normally partake of)? I believe and live by the cliché, “Everything in Moderation” during training, but after a big race that thought tends to shift to, “Excess in Moderation”, especially Mocha Almond Fudge Ice Cream.

Have you ever accidentally destroyed a very expensive piece of gear? While I’m careful to avoid any expensive equipment disasters, I once cracked a carbon fiber seat post by tightening the bolt too tight. A stupid expensive mistake.

What is the worst job you've ever had? It’s the best/worst job, but teaching a Spin Class. You would think that it would be any triathlete’s dream to get paid to ride/train. However, the nightmare is that not everyone else is there to ride/train.

What adjective describes you best? Jack of all trades, master of none!

Finally, do you have any advice for athletes new to multi-sport competition? “The journey is the reward, not the destination”. Enjoy each and every aspect of it, all of the highs, the lows, and everything else that exists in-between.