Name: Jason Duncan
Age: 41
Occupation: ERP Systems Analyst
Years doing triathlon? Year and a half, so still very new at it.
First Triathlon? Lake Hickory sprint was my 1st attempt. I didn’t complete the swim because i panicked halfway through, but went on to finish the bike and run. That made me realize I needed a lot more training and Triathlons are no joke, even a sprint.
Your favorite triathlon? High Point Sprint was a lot of fun! It’s local and you get to see familiar faces along the way.
Meal the night before race? Baked chicken with rice at least 12 hours before the race start.
Pre-Race Meal? I have oatmeal and banana 2 hours before the start and sips of water with Nuum. About 15 minutes before the start I will have a Gu Roctane (no caffeine) and more water.
Race Nutrition? For 70.3, I take Nuun (no caffeine), Gu Roctane (no caffeine) for the first 3/4 of the bike leg. Then I start taking Gu with caffeine and Bloks Chews to help me push through. If it’s extremely hot, I’ll add an extra bottle to my bike with a mix of Pedialyte/water.
Favorite motivational training song? Trance music. It’s so upbeat, fast and helps me stay focused. I listen to podcast by Above and Beyond, they play new music and each session lasts 2 hours. Perfect for my long runs.
Favorite mantra? It changes with the distance. At the start it is “you got this, go kill it!” Towards the end, it’s more like “don’t stop now, just a little further……”
Key Workout? Swimming, especially open water. It’s my weakest and needs a ton of work…
Best Triathlon training or racing tip? For training, practice your weaknesses. For racing, always carry more nutrition than you think you’ll need.
Triathlon literature or other sources of information? Triathlete Magazine and internet articles. I am currently reading Swim Speed Secrets by Sheila Taormina.
Who inspires you?My Coach Jordan McAmmond. She’s always upbeat and positive which motivates me and keeps me positive. Plus, she has completed numerous Full and Half distance races, so she usually knows the courses I want to race and how best to navigate them.
Future goal? To complete a 140.6 event. Already registered for Chattanooga this September, so no turning back now!