I started my athletic journey at age seven as a swimmer. Not because I particularly wanted to but because my dad wanted me to.
I didn’t know I could protest, so I didn’t. I also didn’t protest my involvement in football, basketball and baseball. I just went along. In retrospect I was above average in every sport I participated in, except basketball – I sucked! However, our team did win a game where I scored four points where the final score was four to six. A real nailbiter!
Triathlon was never my destiny. I swam occasionally and started running a bit when I graduated from college but as I stated in Chapter 1, it just sorta happened.
A funny thing happened along the way, I really developed a passion for the sport. I wasn’t much good initially. My swim and run were okay but my bike was terrible. Paying attention to my shortcomings, I worked really hard on the bike.
Joining the OC Tri Club was instrumental to my success. The social aspect kept me motivated and the group rides kicked my ass, but over time I got stronger and raced better.
There was a race near Palm Springs every spring. I’ll never forget my first podium there. It was probably 1990 or so. It was then that I figured “Hey, I’m pretty good at this.”
Training became an everyday thing for me, and I loved it. I raced more and more every year, eventually hitting a peak of about 20 races a year (none were full Ironman). Now, when I raced I expected to “podium.”
I became a true student of the sport, reading everything I could get my hands on. I sought out the best coaches including Dave Scott, Mark Allen and many others. I soaked in everything I could to get to where I was.
Somewhere along the line someone said you really need to find your “why.” What? No, “why.” Why are you doing what you’re doing? Funny, I never thought about that at all. I was just doing it because I loved it. Only later I discovered my why.
Today, I’m in the 70 – 74 age group so I’ve been in the sport 42 years. Man, that’s a long time. It’s a huge part of my identity now and I’m so grateful I not only found my passion but that I’m quite good at it too.
Enroll in a “premium” TriDot package by 3/1/25 and you’ll also get:
- 2025 race plan.
- Video swim analysis.
- Kona training camp 10/14 – 10/21/25 (optional – air, hotel, meals extra, $3,000 value)
Not ready yet? Go to WiiseCoaching.com and get a FREE two month TriDot trial.
Coach Ron Saetermoe
Phone: 949.795.1900
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