Part 4: Tri NB's Subaru East Coast Race Series and our Race Directors!

We hope you're enjoying our series so far! Next up is our feature on the Rockwood Triathlon by the Bay on June 19, hosted by RD John Russell. John's name will definitely be familiar to you as he has been with Tri NB for a number of years, serving in different capacities. His Rockwood race is highlighted by a great location / course in Saint John, strong organization and rave reviews from our athletes. Let's hear from Mr. Russell then as he shares a bit about his background, passion for the sport and plans for the 2011 race...take it away John!

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you became involved with triathlon and the sporting community? Do you have a race background? Any key accomplishments or highlights you’d like to mention?

I credit my parents with getting me interested in sports. We used to snowshoe, cross country ski, swim, and cycle constantly. As a teen, it became downhill skiing (which I taught for years in the Eastern Townships of Quebec) and rugby (for the Brome Lake Ducks, Acadia University, the Valley Vikings, and the New Brunswick Black Spruce). Then I saw the Hawaii Ironman on ABC’s Wide World of Sports and was immediately hooked (sorry for the tired out “aha” moment but it’s true). Since then, I’ve completed numerous races of various distances here in NB, NS, and PQ.

How did you end up in a Race Director role and how have you seen your race grow over the past few years?

The Rockwood event is hosted by the Fundy Extreme Triathlon Club based here in Saint John. I’ve been a member of our board for many years and volunteered to take over the race five years ago on a “ one to two year term”. I’m very proud of the Rockwood event and credit the input of John Parks, Mark McGraw, and our strong group of race day volunteers. Canaport/LNG deserve corporate branding kudos for their past help and we look forward to our new partnership with Aberdeen Subaru of Saint John. As for a reason to participate in 2011, three words: NEW BIKE ROUTE!

What developments do you foresee in the triathlon and sporting community in NB in the coming years? Any trends that you see emerging or key areas of focus you would like sporting orgs like Tri NB to capitalize on?

Club development is key to the growth of the sport here in NB. Triathlon Canada and the Canadian Coaching Association have developed the Community Coaching program which TriNB has offered to the NB sport public for the past couple of years. The trend is towards energetic, enthusiastic folks getting certified under this designation then pioneering a club in their local community. A qualified coach can offer advice and help structure training workouts and plans. This in turn helps “newbies” learn the basics and provides a safe, supportive environment where they can get fit, have fun, and meet/encourage new friends. NB needs more clubs…which means we need some key people who are willing to take that step towards becoming a coach and starting a club.

What keeps you busy in your spare time? Racing, mountain biking, family fun, travel, camping, reading, community / charitable involvement, watching movies…anything you’d care to share with us? Hobbies, musical tastes?

Part of the draw of the sport for me is the training and it’s how I choose to spend the bulk of my spare time. Every day is planned around how to best fit in a workout (or two). I also enjoy playing guitar…which quite often causes more stress than it relieves. My friends say I should call myself a collector as I have way too many guitars for a guy who plays as poorly as me. Yeah, they’re good buddies.

How is the 2011 race shaping up for you? Anything in particular you are focusing on? For example, increased participation, sponsorship, volunteers, etc?

Our event is booked for June 19th, it will definitely be wetsuit legal, Aberdeen Subaru is our lead local sponsor, we’ll have a new bike route, and we’re hosting the sprint Provincial championships! We’re looking to break the 100 participant mark this year…please plan to be a part of the fun.

Where can people find information about your race to sign up or contact info if they have questions?

Stay tuned to the TriNB website and all the information for the Rockwood event which will soon be listed there.

Are you involved in other aspects of sport in NB or beyond the Province?

My involvement in the politics of sport is confined to triathlon: I’m on the Fundy Extreme board, am past President and currently a director at large for Tri NB, and am the Atlantic Regional Director for Triathlon Canada.

How does your race appeal to youth and encouraging them to get involved in the sport?

We will host a junior wave geared towards getting more youth involved in the event. If the lure of fun and fast paced competition isn’t enough, we’ll be serving pizza and watermelon as a post-race meal…who doesn’t like pizza???

Favourite pastime to relax and forget about the stresses of the day?

When I travel, I like to bring my running gear and get out for early morning tours before the residents wake up/get going. Tourist attractions are much cooler when there’s no one around. I’ve seen many cities in a way many of the locals may never get to: quiet, calm, relaxed…ready for the “real world” to start.

Favourite food, drink, country / state visited and dream job?

Fave Food = Green Curried Scallops, Fave Drink = Castello Banfi Summus, Fave Country = Canada…still lots of it left for me to see, State = Florida…especially in February!

If I won the lottery I would buy a ????

Specialized Epic bike and spend some time in Italy for a training / cycling vacation. The bike = I’d like to get back on the trails and in the mud, Italy = wine and hill climbs…and did I mention the wine?

Biggest pet peeve?

Small talk: questions asked for the sake of asking and answers that are quickly forgotten.

The one race I would like to complete in my lifetime is?

Ironman (anywhere, really). I’ve been involved with the sport for many years and have competed in sprint, Olympic, and ½ Iron distances. It’s the last rung on the distance ladder and I want to hear those words: you are an Ironman. Oh, and I want to get my IM ink, too. As for other races, the best race I have ever participated in was the Philadelphia Marathon. Why? It was my first 3:10 and qualified me for Boston for the first time. Setting and achieving that goal made that the best race of my career to date.

The thing I am most proud of is?

The growth of Tri NB over the past four years. The sport has allowed me to live a healthy lifestyle, has taught me some memorable life lessons, and has offered me opportunities to grow and succeed. I’m proud of the work we have done as a board, the efforts of our race directors, and the commitment of our athletes to the sport.

The most important thing about my race I would like people to know is???

Have I mentioned the new bike route?

Any words of encouragement for those who may be thinking of racing but have not made the leap yet and are watching from the sidelines?

Over the years I’ve heard this statement countless times: there’s no way I could do what you do. Here’s the truth: getting fit and racing a triathlon isn’t easy…it takes commitment to eating well, training regularly, working on your form to avoid injury, and it takes time. BUT, I assure you that every single triathlete started somewhere at some point by deciding to start down this path…they went for a walk instead of watching TV, they borrowed a bike to go for a ride with a friend, they decided to swim out to the floating raft at the beach. Set some realistic goals, put in the time and effort, and you’ll be toeing the start line of any one of our quality TriNB events.

Who is your favourite athlete of all time and why?

Terry Fox because he ran the Marathon of Hope not for personal prosperity or recognition but for those in the community that couldn’t.

Awesome stuff John. Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us. See you on June 19 (and at the next Board meeting of course)!!