Starky - You are one of the most talked about triathletes in the sport. Not only are you young, but you have put together some monstrous results and won some bigger races. Do you feel a lot of outside pressure from this press? Do you feel that the press puts more pressure on you or that you put more pressure on yourself?
Yoder - Most of the pressure comes from myself and I’m working to set more realistic goals and focus on what I can control in races. I had some early success and that caused me to set higher goals but not see the process to reach them. It takes many years of training and racing to reach a consistent level of racing. All athletes feel pressure at times and those who can channel it constructively are the most successful.
Starky - You spent last summer in Boulder in the center of the triathlon training hot bed. At the end of the summer you moved back home to PA and trained through the winter and plan on training this summer out east. Did you feel that having the triathlon nation around you every day in Boulder was detrimental to your training and improving as an athlete? Yoder - Boulder is the mecca of triathlon and it can be easy to get caught up in the lifestyle and lose sight of your own plan. However, if you stay focused, Boulder has a lot to offer. The riding is incredible with multiple canyon climbs that go up to the Peak to Peak highway. The trail network is very good and the masters swim sessions are always full of strong swimmers.
I decided to move back to PA because I have a solid support network and felt I could train at a higher level. I like to train by myself and can stick to my plan without worrying about what everyone else is doing. Its refreshing to train and be able to shut it off and not be consumed by the sport.
Starky - Do you look at pre-race hype for your races? Stuff like the entry list, the odds on slowtwitch, and so on talking about the big names. Do the big loaded fields pump you up and that you are stacking up against the best in the sport or does it intimidate you? What kind of fields do you race best in?
Yoder - I do look at all the start lists for my races. Its important to know who is racing but you can't allow it to dictate how you race. The stronger the field the better. I want to race the best athletes in the world and get a true gauge of where my fitness is at. I don't cherry pick races or avoid racing certain athletes. I enjoy the challenge of stiff competition as it makes you a better athlete and you gain so much experience.
I typically like strong but smaller fields as the bike is more spread out. The harder the bike and run courses the better. Climbing is my strength and I love when I can use it to full advantage.
You are a powerhouse on the bike and showed in Abu Dhabi that you can ride away from the best long course athletes in the world. Do you have any plans of racing IM?
Starky - The good old Mdot question. No plans. Yes, I did fantastic on the bike at Abu Dhabi, but just as spectacular as the bike split was the ensuing meltdown on the run, and that was only 20K! I am racer, as you and many know I am hitting the road next week and will be chasing races for 10 weeks. In those 10 weeks I will race 9 times and work 1 race. If I tried to do that with any other distance than the Olympic distance, I'd be as good as dead. Down the road a few years, if I lose that killer instinct to race week in and week out, I can do one then...but now, on EVERY given Sunday I will shoot to be the Champ. Do you still love it as much as you did when you were in high school? Is it still fun?
Yoder - I love the sport but sometimes I get very stressed in races and end up not enjoying the actual race. I embrace the training and hard yards that go into competing at this level and never have any issues with motivation. The sport is not smooth sailing though and I’m still learning to roll with the highs and lows. I physically developed very quickly and I'm now trying to learn the mental skills required to race professionally. When I got into the sport, I believed that it was just training and racing and everything would be great but the sport is hard and there are many aspects that need to be addressed. I still feel very fortunate to be able to race do this full time and would not trade it for anything.
You mentioned that you will be racing 9 times in the next 10 weeks and driving from race to race. How are do you recover from the long drives and maintain your training?
Starky - Driving for me is therapeutic during race season. I can sit and run through what went right at the race and figure out ways to build on that success. I can stop and train or sleep when I need. I can dig on the radio or run through the phone book on my phone and provide myself with distraction if I don't want to deal with the races. As for recovery. 110% compression wear and assorted devices. 110% compression wear has ice sleeves so I can get some ice out of the cooler put it in a bag and ice my IT bands, quads, hams or back as needed. I also travel with tennis balls, golf balls, and massage sticks to rub out the muscles. I am serious, my body gets better and better as the trip goes on, because all I am doing is getting ready for the next dig (race) and there are zero distractions.
What went into your decision of racing pro full time versus going to college?
Yoder - Triathlon is my passion and I don’t have any regrets with my decision to race professionally. During my senior year in high school, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to study and I saw triathlon as an opportunity to do something that I enjoyed. My parents were very supportive and I didn’t want to look back 20 years later and think what I could have done in the sport.
I considered racing pro and going to school full time but I didn’t want to be mediocre in school and triathlon. To reach the highest level of this sport, you really have to commit everything and do the all the little things. I’m still learning a tremendous amount and will continue to absorb as much as I can.
It was great to be able to talk with this young man and I wish him the best of luck this season. I will see him in a week when we clash in Knoxville! Safe travels and thanks for taking a few minutes to enlighten us!
Train Safe,
Race Safe,
Andrew
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