My good friend and neighbour, Tristan Jenkin is competing in his first ever Ironman this weekend and I couldn’t be more proud of his hard work and dedication. I was lucky enough that he took time out of his regimented traning schedule to share his story with me and I just had to share it with all of you.

Tristan is 26 years old and lives in Vancouver, BC. This is his rookie season competing in triathlon. So far this summer Tristan has competed in three half Ironman distance triathlons which were held in Victoria, Vancouver, and Calgary respectively. This coming weekend on Sunday Aug. 28th he will be racing in the full distance, Subaru Ironman Canada triathlon in Penticton, BC.

What got you into this sport?

My girlfriend and I moved to Vancouver in July ’09. During our first weekend in the city, we went for a walk on Jericho beach and saw that there was a triathlon going on. It looked like a lot of fun and I had always loved to swim, bike, and run, so I decided that I would challenge myself to enter the race the following year. So in July 2010 I entered the half Ironman triathlon at Jericho beach and just hoped I could finish the race! I managed to complete the race without too much pain (until the next day!) and although I didn’t really know what I was doing out there, I had a lot of fun and I have been a fan of triathlon ever since.

Jericho Beach, Vancouver BC

What do you love most about it?

I have always loved to swim, bike, and run so competing in a sport that combines all three is a lot of fun. Also, I really enjoy the mental aspect of the sport. In triathlon, and especially in long distance triathlon, it is rarely the strongest athlete that wins. To have a good race and to get the most enjoyment out of the experience, you have to be tactical and strong, and most importantly you have to listen to your body and run your own race.

Have your eating habits changed?

I consider myself a Paleo athlete. This means I try to eliminate grains, legumes, and dairy from my diet whenever possible. I didn’t choose to eat this way specifically for athletic performance but I truly believe it has led to a serious boost in my abilities. My recovery time, endurance, and general energy level throughout the day have all improved since I have adopted the Paleo diet in my lifestyle.

Do you think this has had an impact on your training?

I feel as though my recovery time has decreased substantially. I also feel as though I can push longer and harder than I was able to before. I can’t fully explain everything in just a few short sentences, but I encourage other athletes to read up on the Paleo diet. It may work well for them as well.

What does a typical day of training and eating look like for you?

I start my day with a large smoothie full of lots of fat and protein. It generally consists of frozen berries, a banana, an avocado, spinach, kale, fish oil, coconut oil, almond butter, raw egg, pomegranate juice, carrot juice, water and cucumber.

For lunch I often have a large salad consisting of spinach, eggs, chicken, vegetables, salt, olives, celery, and cucumbers. Then for dinner I’ll generally have lean meat, a large salad, and a large amount of yams made with coconut oil and cinnamon. In between meals I am constantly snacking on raisins, almonds, or anything else I can get my hands on that doesn’t involve grains, legumes, or dairy.

As for training, my approach is very unorthodox. I focus on quality training sessions and lots of rest. My swim, bike, and run workouts are capped at 90 minutes and I supplement these short sessions with heavy weight training a few times a week. This type of training plan leads to shorter recovery time and increased performance over any distance.

Although I have been preparing for the Ironman, which is one of the longest competitive sporting events out there, I have limited my maximum training time to 8-10 hours a week. I first heard about this type of training plan on www.crossfitendurance.com and after experimenting with it for a few weeks I was hooked. The results from the last 6 months of my training plan have been undeniable.

Furthermore, less time working out, means more time relaxing, and more time spent with friends and family!

Yams

What is your favourite thing to eat…

… before a race?

A Paleo Breakfast of Champions: Bacon and Eggs, with Lots of Avocado.’

… during?

As this is still my rookie season racing in triathlons I have yet to figure out a healthy Paleo option for race nutrition. As a result I use an energy gel called CarbBoom and I put a Maltodextrin powder in my water called CarboPro for added calories.

… after?

A green smoothie. Often consisting of avocado, celery, cilantro, banana, fish oil, almond butter, an egg, and any other healthy food I find in the fridge

… anytime?

My favourite thing to eat are yams, cubed, and baked in the oven covered in salt and pepper, coconut oil and cinnamon. AMAZING!

What are your goals for this weekend?

My goal for this weekend is to race smart, enjoy every moment, and finish strong. Ideally I would like to come top three in my age group (25-29) and I would like to qualify for the Ironman world championships in Kona, HI. That being said, it is my first year racing triathlons and it is my first Ironman so I am not putting too much pressure on myself to obtain any placing. I am going to have friends and family in Penticton cheering me and the other competitors on and I really want to enjoy the experience as much as possible.

Well Tristan, you are an impressive man and athlete and we will cheering loud and proud for you this Sunday.

Thank you!

Check out Tristan’s blog: Living Against The Grain. You can track Tristan’s race live at here.