KK: Please tell us how are you able balance your life between family, friends, training, career and racing. How do you find the time?

MB: Time management is a skill I am still trying to perfect. I recently got married, I am coaching both individual athletes and the UCSD Triathlon team and trying to fit my own training in as well. Add on to that friends and family that live across the country. I am extremely blessed to have so many things going on though. Many of the people I know have children and have full time jobs so my life seems pretty easy going. My biggest weakness would have to be my lack of sleep.

KK: Other than triathlon what other projects do you have going on? Do you coach?

MB: As mentioned above, I coach individual athletes through www.MacBrownRacing.com, I am the head coach of the UCSD triathlon team (www.UCSDTriathlon.org) and am beginning to work with my coach, Roch Frey, with www.Multisports.com. I am also pursuing some additional "triathlon-related" opportunities.

KK: What are some tips that you would give to someone just starting up in the sport of triathlon?

MB: Too many mistakes for this interview! The best advice given to me was to balance everything in life and enjoy the journey. You need to spend time with your family and friends because they support you. Also, training too much beats you up and leads to either injury or burning out, and sometimes both. The people associated with the sport of triathlon are amazing and if you are single it is a great way to meet possible boyfriends/girlfriends!

KK: What do you do to prevent injuries? If an injury does occur what do you do to recover so quickly?

MB: In all honesty, I am probably not the best guy to answer this question! I had some major injuries last year that could have been avoided if I was not so stubborn. I did learn a lot from my experience though. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! You are not going to lose all your fitness by taking some time off to let an injury heal. Massage, ART, acupuncture and ice baths have all become part of my weekly recovery as well.

KK: What is one thing you must have or must do for every race?

MB: I really do not have any superstitions or rituals until I get to Hawaii. That island has too much power not to offer something to its Gods. I really do not know how to explain it, but I consider Ironman Hawaii more than a triathlon and it takes more than just training and fitness to race well there. Respect the island and its people because that race can eat you alive!

KK: Which of the 3 disciplines is your favorite and why?

MB: I love to ride my bike and typically ride it too much. I just like seeing parts of San Diego most people never see. The Saturday and Wednesday group rides are pretty demanding as well. It is pretty easy to ride when you train with cyclists much better than you.

KK: Where is your favorite place to train? Why?

MB: I have not trained too many other places, but I really do not see how anywhere could be better than San Diego. You can ride up the Coast and see perfect waves and sometimes dolphins, then head inland and climb mountains for hours on end. I love climbing Palomar and have recently started running the trails in San Elijo Lagoon, which are amazing (and never crowded). We do not have altitude, but we have amazing year around climate and great open water swimming as well. What other town can claim Paula Newby Fraser, Michellie Jones, Kate Major, Greg Welch, Scott Tinley and Heather Fuhr? Oh, and there was a guy named Mark Allen who trained here when he was competing back in the day . . . he was not too bad.

KK: What has been your biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?

MB: I am in the process of overcoming that right now.  At the beginning of last season (Jan '08) I was training too much and ended up straining or tearing a muscle in my stomach while swimming. I, of course, trained through it and I ended up compensating for the weakness in my running form. I suffered a stress fracture in my pelvis in the Spring, but still decided to train through it so I could compete in Ironman Lake Placid. I ended up have a bad race at Placid and was in a lot of pain. I had an MRI, which showed my fracture, and had to take the rest of the season off. I am just getting back now and I just keep reminding myself to be patient. Overcoming this injury will show a lot about my character and perseverance as an athlete.

KK: What was your best race ever? Why?

MB: It would have to be a toss up between IM Hawaii in 2007 (finished as the 4^th overall amateur, 35^th overall) and Ironman Lake Placid last year. My time was terrible at Placid, but I raced on a fractured pelvis, had multiple GI problems and then suffered from hypothermia while walking the last 6 miles in pouring down rain. I never quit though. However, I proved to myself I was not a quitter, but after this experience, I will never do that again - it is not fair to my wife!

KK: What was the race you would like to forget? Why?

MB: There are definitely some races last year where I did not perform to my ability, but I learned from them all. I have only raced 5 Ironmans in my life and started the sport when I was 26 so I still have some learning to do.

KK: What are some of your favorite things to do, during the off-season?

MB: It seems that I spend all my down time learning about the sport to better help my athletes. I read a lot of sport-related texts and ask my coach a ton of questions (he is probably sick of me by now).  I also go to a ton of weddings and try to paddleboard/surf when I can find the time.

KK: What is the funniest thing you have either experienced or heard while racing?

MB: My personal favorite is Normann's blow up at Ironman Hawaii in 2005 where he double flatted. I love that clip of him crying and screaming.

KK: Do you have favorite quotes that you live by?

MB: "Enjoy the journey." - Skip McDowell (owner of Nytro)

"Patience is a virtue that carries a lot of wait." - Anon

"Excellence is not a skill, it is an attitude." - Ralph Marston

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