Although my current run splits have slowed a bit since those days, I ran cross country and track in high school and college. One of my college teammates had a roommate who was a triathlete, a rare breed at the time. Since I already had some swimming background from age-group competition, I was intrigued at the combination of the individual sports I had competed in. I tried my first triathlon after my junior year of college and was hooked. Triathlon was a great way for me to continue competing without the injury-inducing high-mileage run program.
After a successful second triathlon season, I made an ill-advised foray into the pro ranks for my third season. I traveled to some of the USTS series races. It was exciting, but mostly humbling racing against the likes of Scott Molina, Scott Tinley and Ken Glah.
After that experience, I wisely went back to racing in the age-group or elite divisions.
2009 will be my 26th consecutive triathlon season. I realize this makes me the old man of the team since I think a few of my teammates may not have been born when I did my first triathlon.
It has been great to see Triathlon increase in popularity as well as benefit from advances in equipment, technology and training knowledge over the years. It has been just as good see some triathlon fashions disappear, like the neon yellow Speedos with matching crop singlet that the team sponsored by a local running store had us wear for the 1990 season. Fortunately, there are no known photographs remaining from that era.
I don’t think I had any idea I would still be competing for so many years when I entered the water for my first triathlon in 1984. Despite the number of years I have raced, I stil
The 2008 Masters Elite NCTS winner, Wade Laufenberg again joins team TMS-IOS this year. With twenty-five racing seasons behind him, Wade has more than proven himself. And he certainly doesn't look OLD enough to have such a history. Good think he started racing when he was six months old! : ) His excellence and enthusiasm for the sport continue as he leaves behind his longcourse 2009 season and returns to a few shorter races before the fall Half Max championship. Wade can do it all and is amazingly adept at the different tri distances.
