Introducing Brian Lamar
In just his third year as a pro, Brian Lamar has leapfrogged his way through the ITU point list and is positioning himself to become a prominent racer. Largely unnoticed in prior years, Brian won the Panama City Continental Cup in a 2 man bike breakaway. But he’s not a star just yet, the Los Angeles suburbanite funds his high performance ambitions with his earnings from his day job teaching High School English. Here Brian opens up to talk about his background, racing, and future plans.
Slowtwitch: First off, congrats on your recent string of strong performances, you’re the 9th ranked American racing ITU right now.
Brian Lamar: Thanks. I’ve made some huge strides in the past few months. I think some of the changes I’ve made to my training are starting to pay off.
ST: You come from a swimming background, yes?
Brian: Yes. I’ve been swimming club year-round for the last twenty years. Yikes! That sounds like a long time. And I was splashing around in my grandmother’s pool for years before I ever joined a team.
ST: How did you do as an individual and on a team swimming at college?
Brian: As an individual I faired well at UOP. I went to the finals in all my events at our conference championships every year I competed. I swam the mile and 1000 free, as well as the 200 butterfly. As a team, we were great! My first year at Pacific, we broke UC Santa Barbara’s 23-year streak of conference victories. At the time it was the longest conference winning streak in NCAA athletics. In was incredible. We went on to win two more conference titles while I was there. Swimming Div. 1 at UOP was an irreplaceable experience.
ST: So after graduation, triathlon seemed like the next step test your competitiveness?
Brian: Unless your name is Michael Phelps or Ryan Lochte, there isn’t much opportunity for professional swimming after college. I had friend who had made the transition into triathlons while in college. It looked fun and seemed like a great way to stay involved in competitive sports. I need a competitive outlet or else I get restless.
ST: When did you realize you could be really good at multisport?
Brian: I’m not sure if it was any one particular moment. I had high expectations of myself from the start. I had just come off of my collegiate career when I did my first triathlon, so I knew what it was like to compete at a high level and I brought those expectations with me into triathlon. In my first triathlon I remember crushing the swim and completing the first bike lap solo. Then riders began flying by me; it was infuriating. Getting to where I am now has been a gradual process.
ST: How do you finance all the travel and equipment you need?
Brian: I work to fund my habit. I’m a full-time high school English teacher.
ST: So you spend 40 hours a week at school, and I’d wager you spend another 5 bringing work home and about another 25 hours training. You must be a man of limited free time.
Brian: Haha, I pretty much have no life. My week is pretty well scripted.
ST: Are your students and administration supportive of you moonlighting as a professional triathlete?
Brian: My administration has been very encouraging and supportive. They think it’s great for the students to see a teacher who is being successful in areas outside of the classroom. However, many don’t grasp the level that I am competing at and I don’t spend a whole lot of time talking about it. I like to keep my work and hobbies separate as best as I can.
ST: So are you breaking even as a pro or does your real job fund your fun job?
Brian: I’m not breaking even yet. Teaching pays the bills right now.
ST: Do you get any support from USAT?
Brian: Not at all. They paid for my travel expenses when I won ITU Panama, but that’s the limit of their support as of now.
ST: Do you have a coach?
Brian: Yes, I am coached by Victor Plata. Victor has been coaching me since the end of the summer and I have seen some big improvements in that time. In less than three months with Victor as my coach I earned my 1st ITU victory. Having been an Olympic triathlete and world champion, Victor brings a lot of experience with him. His race experience and knowledge of triathlon’s inner workings have helped me become a smarter athlete.
ST: What are some of Victor’s philosophies that you’ve adopted?
Brian: Victor has a great way putting things in perspective. He has this analogy that he uses when discussing training. He likens training to Aesop’s fable of “The Crow and the Pitcher.” In the fable a thirsty crow comes upon a pitcher that has water at the bottom, beyond its reach. The bird then drops pebbles in the pitcher until the water rises to the point where it is able to drink. Training, he says, is like dropping a pebble into the pitcher: the change is imperceptible. But gradually you are building strength and endurance, and one day you will reach down and the speed you’ve been looking for will be there. This mindset helps take some of the stress off of workouts. If I have an off day or I don’t think I quite nailed it like I’d hoped, he’ll say, “just another pebble in the jar.”
ST: Looking at your season, you were 1st at Panama, 16th at La Paz and 10th at Bridgetown. What about your win at Panama stands out to you?
Brian: Panama was great. It was a break through performance and an incredible experience. I knew going into it that I would be one of the stronger swimmers there. I had scouted the field and had gone over the various scenarios with Victor. And luck seems to favor those who are prepared, because it played out almost exactly like I had hoped. I was in a two-man break out of the water and I made it stick. In fact we put time on the chase group who were having trouble working together. Off of the bike, I struck off like a madman even though I had put about two minutes on the rest of the field. By the end of the first lap I knew the race was mine and I eased up.
I was able to soak up crossing the finish line with everyone cheering; it was incredible. The pinnacle of the entire experience was standing on the podium, having the American anthem played, and then showering my fellow competitors and myself with champagne. By the way, champagne stings if it gets in your eyes.
ST: On paper you won Panama by 3 seconds, but it really wasn’t that close was it?
Brian: No, not at all. I trotted the last half-lap of the run. I smiled and waved to all of the volunteers, and when I reached the finish line I stopped before the tape and waited for the next athlete to get in. I knew if I had just finished, many of my fellow competitors wouldn’t have finished within the 5% necessary for them to earn any ITU points. A lot of people in the crowd had no idea what I was doing. They were yelling and gesturing at me to cross the line. They must have thought that I was confused or something.
ST: That is a really hilarious story. What do you think you need to do to get you consistently compete at the next level?
Brian: Just more pebbles in the jar. I think I’m on the right track now and if I keep training like I have, I will continue to improve.
ST: Are you working with any sponsors currently?
Brian: I have worked with XTERRA wetsuits the last few years. Currently I have no formal ties with a sponsor, however, I am looking to work with any sponsors who share the same core values as me: consistency, integrity, and loyalty.
I would like to be able to contribute my other talents to the world of triathlon as well, particularly my writing background. Being on the inside of this rapidly growing sport, I have a unique perspective that I would like to share with others. This is a skill I’d be interested in utilizing in partnership with sponsors.
ST: Are you hoping to earn at start at the Olympic Trials in May at Sand Diego?
Brian: That is the end game right now. There are, however, plenty of obstacles in my path.
ST: What will it take to get there?
Brian: Some stellar performances and maybe a little luck. I’m in sight of my goal, but I might be a little late to the table. Several guys in front of me have amassed more Olympic points than me, and even if I continue to rise in the overall ITU rankings, that doesn’t guarantee me a spot in San Diego.
ST: We wish you the best of luck.
Brian: Thanks, I’ll need it.
Brian maintains his own personal website here: brianlamar.net
