An Interview With Alex Baron

With a very successful 2011 race season behind me, and an incredibly underwhelming blog season behind me (my masses of fans have been very unhappy)... I thought I'd take some time to sit down for an interview... with myself.

Interviewer:  Thanks for sitting down with us today Alex.  We really appreciate you taking the time to speak with us.

A very fast 8 ton purple elephant

Me:  No problem Alex.  Its my pleasure.

Interviewer:  So we might as well acknowledge the 8 ton purple elephant in the room... Where have you been all year?  You stopped blogging back in April.  What happened?

Me:  To be honest... I took up bowling.  I quit triathlon and was well on my way to becoming a professional bowler.  Ok so not really.  Life has a tendency to get away from you.  In preparation for Ironman Texas I took training very seriously.  As soon as IM was over my real job picked up.  Suddenly you find yourself devoting all your time to sleep, work, training, family and my girlfriend.

Interviewer:  Well that makes sense.  It can't be easy to find time to have a real job and train at the level of an elite triathlete.  I am very impressed that you also find the time to maintain a relationship.  How do you do it?

Me:  Well I am a very lucky guy.  She is very low maintenance.  Incredibly easy on the eyes.  She doesn't weigh much so it is no problem taking her places.  A joy to ride for hours at a time...

Interviewer:  Wait, we aren't talking about a girl are we?

Me:  What?

Interviewer:  Nevermind.  So tell us about 2011.  What were some of your major accomplishments?

Alex Baron's swim stroke circa 2010

Me:  My first order of business this year was to learn how to swim.  I spent a lot of time staring at a black line this year.  I have actually memorized each black line on the pool at the YMCA.  I also learned not to swim near the day camps... those lanes smell like pee.

Interviewer:  So did all this work in the pool pay off?

Me:  It did.  I had a very successful race season due to some major improvements in the water and a little more time on the bike.  I scored 3 AG podium spots, completed IMTX in under 11 hours and went under 2:20 in an olympic triathlon for the first time.

Interviewer:  Those are impressive accomplishments for only your second year in triathlon.  So tell us, what is in store for 2012

Me:  My first order of business is to go under 5:05 for a Half Ironman.  This will qualify me for Long Course Age Group National Championship at Redman in September.  There I hope to score a top 20 AG spot to qualify me to race at 2013 ITU Long Course World Championship in France.  I also hope to race in a few road races this year.  Maybe try and finish the season as a Cat 4.

At least the bike is aero...

Interviewer:  That is quite a lot you hope to get done this year.  Do you have coach to help you achieve these goals?

Me:  I am now being coached by Walt Yarrow of Muddy Waters Racing.  We began working together at the end of last year.  I am very impressed with him and the plans he has for me these next few years.  We are trying to improve my bike by putting in a lot of volume this winter.  Compared to my swim and run, the bike has the most room for improvement.  He intends to take my threshold from that of a 3 year old on a tricycle to an actual triathlete!

Interviewer:  Well we wish you the best of luck this year.  Anything else you'd like to add?

Damn she is HOT!!!

Me:  I'd like to thank my family for their never-ending support of my obsession with this "hobby". Would also like to thank my coach Walt for all he has done and will do, Team in Training for helping me get my triathlon career off the ground and the men of JSC, Houston's newest triathlon team.  Big things planned for us this year!  Oh! and my girlfriend for her strength and stability during those long training days!