Chris Stehula – try, try again
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again seems to be the motto of Collegiate National Champion Chris Stehula. The tall Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo student actually has been attempting for quite a while to take this title.
Slowtwitch: Did your school throw you a big party when you returned to San Luis Obispo?
Chris: Not yet, but maybe someday. My friends are really excited. We will put on our own celebration.
ST: What is your field of studies?
Chris: I’m a Recreation, Parks, and Tourism major at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Basically I’m in the business of helping people be happy.
ST: Going into the race, what were your expectations?
Chris: I’ve been trying to win this race for about 6 years. I was 6th when I was 18 in Peoria, Arizona. After that, this race has been disastrous for me. Cramping issues at Lake Havasu, no swim in Reno, DQ last year, this has been a journey.
I was training to win this year. Everyone underestimated me except my training partners. I couldn’t have done this without them. I got in a good training block with Matt Reed, and he made me believe that I could win. This was my last chance and I knew that I needed to step up and kill it.
ST: How do you know Matty Reed?
Chris: We became friends and training partners a few years ago when he trained in San Luis Obispo for a winter. Now we spend about 2 months a year working together. It is a good time to focus for both of us. We can both just put our heads down and get in some really good sessions without any distractions. San Luis Obispo is more laid back than Boulder.
ST: Does the laid back San Luis Obispo explain the 6 years in college?
Chris: Actually this is the end of my 8th year of college. I went to a local community college for 6 years and eventually transferred to Cal Poly. Sometimes it takes some of us a little longer to get our act together, but as long as you get there, that's what matters.
ST: Lubbock was quite cold, especially the water temps. How do you typically deal with the cold?
Chris: I love it. Lubbock was tough as nails. The cross winds and temperature was insane. I do really well at the tough races. Something about the insanity of the elements affects my competitors more then me. I’m a lot bigger than most elite triathletes and I tend to be better at the tough races. My strength is my ability to handle the elements and not slow down. The colder, windier and hillier, the better it is. Someday I’d like to do Escape From Alcatraz without a wetsuit.
ST: You mean one day you hope everyone will have to race Alcatraz without a wetsuit?
Chris: No, just me. I don't think that any Pro has raced Alcatraz without a wetsuit. I like challenges. It's the whole reason to race triathlon. It's a challenge.
ST: Talk about your race.
Chris: I was disappointed that the swim was shortened. Kenny Rakestraw is a fantastic runner and I needed every advantage I could get to be able to beat him. I heard the complaining from everyone about how horrible the conditions were. This just fired me up. I love survival races.
The swim was brutal. I got hit pretty hard in the face. My nose still hurts and is swollen. I found myself in good position after the first bouy and found some feet. After the second bouy I realized how short the swim really was and needed to get to shore as fast as possible. I came out of the water in about 10th and passed 5 or 6 people on the run into transition. By the time I exited transition I was in first. I love free time! This is the first time that I have ever led a race onto the bike. Overall I was happy that I had a fantastic swim. This really set me up for later in the race.
The bike was intense. The wind tried to blow me off the road. My time-trial helmet was getting ripped off my head and I couldn’t see out of my right eye. The main goal of the bike was to keep the rubber on the road. I didn’t feel great on the bike. Cedric passed me at mile 10 and we battled for about 5 miles up and down the only hills on the course. He eventually pulled away and then disappeared. I thought the race was over. I had to battle with my own demons at this point. I was so disappointed. I had let him go. In my own mind, I was racing for second now. Cedric had 40 seconds on me by the end of the bike.
My second transition is what saved my race. I took 20 seconds back on Cedric and took off like hell. I don’t know why I was running so fast. I still thought the race was over. I only ran because I didn’t want to be caught by anyone else. Within 800 meters I could see him again and I started to realize that I was coming up on him fast. I was back in the race! My first mile was about 4:50. At a little past the first mile I caught him and knew that the race was going to be decided in the next mile. I dug deep and kept going by him. After that I just thought about my training and convinced myself that I could hold onto this pace. At mile 5 I couldn’t see him anymore and could finally start to wrap my brain around what was happening. I was really excited! The finish was a blur. I was ecstatic!
ST: Were you aware of Timothy Carlson’s predictions?
Chris: I think he had me at 3rd on the preview. I knew that I was in good shape. I thought that I could beat Kenny but I knew that Cedric was going to be a battle. I can’t blame Carlson. I hadn’t done anything to prove that I was in good form. Nationals is a tough race to call.
ST: Did you care?
Chris: No. Cedric had the target on his back. That’s a tough weight to carry. This let me focus on what I needed to do. I like being the dark horse.
ST: You have a pro card, correct?
Chris: Yes. I turned Pro the month after I turned 19. I was the youngest Pro in the country for a few years. This time was hard. I was the 2003 USA Junior Triathlete of the Year and then went to getting last in all my Pro races. It’s a hard reality to swallow when your 19 and have a big ego.
ST: Why did you turn Pro so young?
Chris: To be able to race U23 and qualify for the World Championships, you needed to race Pro. I had no other choice. It was a humbling experience.
ST: What is your best result to date?
Chris: The Tri Cal Races have been great for me to develop. I have been 12th two years at Escape from Alcatraz, and 4th at Scott Tinleys. A few years ago, I was 16th at Oceanside. It is hard racing Pro and going to school full time. I haven’t had the results I have wanted because I have reports to write and projects to complete. I’m ready to race now.
ST: What is your athletic background?
Chris: Everything. Swimmer when I was young. Ran and swam in High School and Junior College. Been racing Triathlon and Mountain Bikes since I was 15. This year I also competed in the Collegiate National Championships for Mountain Biking. Cal Poly was 4th as a team there as well. Now I race everything because I love it.
ST: Do you enjoy other sports?
Chris: I’m a Mountain Biker. Ultimate Frisbee rocks too. I’m a swim coach year around so I have a deep love for swimming.
ST: What about food?
Chris: That’s a great competitive sport as well.
ST: How about your favorite music?
Chris: Everything. I teach my High School swim team about music. Every day is different. Red Hot Chilli Peppers one day, then James Brown and Thievery Corporation the next.
ST: What was the last book you read?
Chris: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Fantastic read. Still haven’t read Twilight, maybe next year.
ST: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Chris: Yelling at swimmer kids and riding my bike.
ST: Is there anything else we should know about you?
Chris: I’m a Virgo and I like long walks on the beach.
I also like to enjoy life and training more then the average person. I also try and keep everything light hearted.
