Alex G's intro

[alexg]

What is your name?
Alex Gonzalez

What brings you to Detroit Triathlon?
Jared, Damon, Eric

How long have you been doing triathlons or are you just starting?
This is my third season

How did you get started?
I used to work with Andi Duncan. She started with TNT and found out that I was a cyclist. She asked me to do a triathlon with her but I thought she was crazy. At the time, I couldnt swim very well and I hate running. Well I started training and started to like it and then did my first race. From that point on it was all downhill!!

What was your last race and what's your A race for this year?
IM Louisville was my last race and IM Florida is my next A race

What's your best/favorite triathlon leg?
My best leg is the bike by far but I really like the run too. It hurts the most but it's a good hurt!!

What's your worst triathlon leg?
The swim. I'm not going to say much about that.

Where do you do most of your trainings?
Indian Springs and Independance Oaks during the week, and Island Lake and Stony Creek on the weekends. I swim at the Brandon High School pool 4 days a week which would make you think I was alot better at swimming than I am.

What would you like to find/see/do/explore this season?
I was just really happy to complete an Ironman. When I first started doing triathlons I would have never thought I could have ever done that. I don't think it still has really sunk in.


What do you like to do when you're not training for triathlons?
I spend a lot of time with my wife and dogs or watching TV.

Tell us a good triathlon story:
There's a lot of good stories. Just watch a Kona video from the last 15 years. I really got inspired watching the Jon Blais story from 2005 and 2006. I have had 3 surgeries on my right knee including and ACL reconstruction. When I first started training my knee would bother me all the time. I would think about how Jon couldnt even tie his own shoes and he finished Kona. That always motivates me!!!

Anything else?
What else do you want to know?

[jared]

Alex, It's good to see you on here. You've come a long way in the last couple of years if your IM time is any measure! Do you mostly come from a cycling background or have you also done a lot of running in the past?

[alexg]

I'm sorry I didnt see your post sooner. Mostly my background is in cycling. As a kid I would put in miles of riding everyday on my bike. I would do laps around block for hours. Mostly jumping curbs but I would start very early in the morning and stay out all day. When one friend would have to go home, I would ride to someone elses house and go ride with them. I've been a "cyclist" since I was 18. I used mtn biking for training when I raced motocross which I have done since I was about 4 or 5 years old so two wheels and handlebars have been my life as long as I can remember. As for running, never really did much. I tried it as cross training but didn't enjoy it like I do now. As far as swimming goes, I couldn't swim 100 yards when I first started tri in 07, very glad someone invented the pull bouy or I would still be drowning.

[Damon]

Alex, I'm still so impressed by your time at Louisville. I hope the training has been going well for Florida. Too bad it's not nicer outside. Ashley and I are thinking of heading down to Kentucky for a weekend sometime before Cozumel so she can get in a long ride outside.

Damon