Random AG Edward Dudlik III
Edward Dudlik III is another athlete who just recently fell hard for the sport of triathlon. Currently in law school in Washington, DC, this Willow Grove, PA resident is this week's random age grouper.
ST: Welcome to slowtwitch.
Edward: Thanks, it’s my pleasure to be involved.
ST: We randomly selected you for this interview because your slowtwitch Facebook comment had the right random number. Does that though mean you spend too much time on Facebook?
Edward: It is actually random? I was hoping someone found me particularly witty or handsome. I’m on Facebook less than an hour a week, unless I’m stuck waiting in a queue or if my phone goes crazy with notifications.
ST: Alright you witty man, how did you learn about slowtwitch?
Edward: If you Google anything substantive about triathlon, slowtwitch is hard to miss. I was researching tri bikes, and your site had basically all that I needed to know and more. Who knew articles on bike fitting could be so interesting?
ST: Most any article written well could be interesting I suppose.
Edward: Fair point. Then credit to Dan for some excellent writing.
ST: Will do. It appears that you are fairly new to triathlon. Who and or what got you going with this sport?
Edward: I honestly don’t know. I remember watching a rebroadcast of the 2005 Ironman World Championship in 2008 or 2009, but I couldn’t tell you whether that was before or after my interest in triathlon emerged. I had run a marathon, so I think I was looking for a challenge, and since I could barely swim at the time, triathlon certainly qualified.
ST: So which triathlon was your maiden event?
Edward: Savageman 2010. I had a couple of races planned before that, but illness and injury got in the way, so it was trial by fire. I blew up completely on the run, assisted, no doubt, by picking up and carrying my girlfriend a few hundred feet, and I swore I would never do it again. By the time we got to the car, though, I was already talking about the next time. I was hooked.
ST: You met coach Jeff Devlin at the Austin Triathlon Camp. But had you heard of him before?
Edward: Shamefully, no. My knowledge of triathlon was largely limited to coverage of old Kona races rebroadcast on Universal Sports, basically nothing earlier than 2002. That said, Jeff’s impressive history had no effect on my decision to work with him. Great athletes aren’t always great coaches, but Jeff is both. He manages to inspire while still keeping my expectations realistic.
ST: Was Jeff surprised that you did not know him? And did he care?
Edward: I don’t think it ever came up, but I seriously doubt he would have been bothered. He’s a regular guy.
ST: Why the Austin Triathlon Camp? Was the weather there just more promising in March than in the Northeast? Or was it all about what was offered there?
Edward: The weather was certainly a factor, but the small size and level of personal attention were what sealed the deal. I had previously worked with John Kenny, the camp’s primary swim coach, and he assured me that my relative lack of experience would not be an issue.
ST: Looking back at 2011 you seem to be especially fond of your Savageman experience. Is that a fair statement?
Edward: Definitely. The 2011 race was my second Savageman, and I bettered my previous time by nearly an hour, so it had huge personal significance. There’s something special about the race itself, too. The bike course is an absolute suffer fest, especially for someone my size, but I love it. The event is also very well organized (with fantastic volunteers), and it supports a good cause (the Joanna M Nicolay Melanoma Foundation), so I’ll probably keep going back as long as it’s feasible to do so.
ST: Did you ride up the Westernport Wall without dabbing or tumbling to the ground?
Edward: Yes. I now have two bricks in the Wall, and I plan on getting more.
ST: Road bike or tri bike for Savageman?
Edward: Tri bike all the way. I didn’t actually own a proper road bike in 2010, though, so it wasn’t a hard decision.
ST: Which segment of the triathlon do you enjoy the most?
Edward: Although I got my start as a runner, it has to be the bike. I love to ride. Bike time is happy time. It’s also my strongest discipline, which certainly helps.
ST: Any big events on your schedule for 2012?
Edward: My first event is the National Marathon in March, where I hope to break 3 hours for the first time. I’m then doing a cycling camp in Italy in May. The only triathlons currently on my calendar are the Savageman 30.0 and 70.0 in September, although I plan to schedule a few other multisport events through spring and summer.
ST: But Law School has priority we would assume.
Edward: Yes, for sure. That being said, training is a big component of my study strategy. Scheduled workouts break up the day and keep my head clear, and there’s nothing like an intense session to provide occasional stress relief.
ST: How much training time does that give you in a week?
Edward: I usually squeeze in 8 hours, occasionally up to 12. I think I can ramp that up a bit now that I have a better handle on school, but only time will tell.
ST: Do you eat healthy, if that is actually possible while in school?
Edward: I do pretty well. Food in DC is quite expensive, though, and being a law student doesn’t pay well, so campus events offering free pizza are a serious, potentially diet-destroying temptation. If anyone is listening, offer free salad instead!
ST: Any other interests?
Edward: I really enjoy hiking, and I wish I still had time for rock climbing. Perhaps ironically, I love to bake when I’m resting or injured. I hardly eat any of the goods, so my family and friends often receive deliveries of cookies and cupcakes. I also love to travel. I often try to combine my trips with training or racing, but sometimes it’s good to be lazy for a week.
ST: Did we miss anything else?
Edward: I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me in my sporting “career.” The races wouldn’t have been the same without my friends and loved ones cheering me on, and I owe a lot to Guy’s Bikes for getting me on such a wonderful bike.
ST: Oh, the crew in Feasterville. Is that your regular shop?
Edward: Abington Wheel Wright, another great crew, gets most of my smaller purchases, but I bought both of my new bikes from Guy’s, and I wouldn’t hesitate to go again. Both shops have wonderful customer service, so I do everything I can to support them.
ST: Well Edward, study hard, train smart and bake like you mean it.
Edward: Thanks. Where should I send the next batch of cookies?
ST: To your friends and family of course.
