Meet… Site Director Mike Waataja!! Foss Swim School – Blaine

October 22nd, 2009 § 3

FOSS: What book(s) are you reading right now?

Mike W.: Vince Flynn- Protect and Defend (Vince is a fellow Tommy whose house I lived in after college!)

FOSS: What did you like about the book?

Mike W.: I like the patriotic, tough American, Ironman connection. Makes you feel good about America! My own connection is very interesting also. Eric Rapp (Mitch in the book) is the total reason I got into triathlon. Of course Eric is a St. Paul native who ended up marring one of my ex-girlfriends. They now have 3 kids and have swam at Foss Swim School.

FOSS: Speaking of Ironman, how did your racing season end up? Are you training for anything now?

Mike W.: Not a very good season. Didn’t want to suffer during training and racing. Made for sub-par performances. I am starting

FOSS: What is your recovery time like after doing these intense physical challenges? Do you need to practice Tai Chi, special stretching like Dara Torres, or does R & R do the trick?

How long does it take for you to prepare for these races?

Mike W.: Ironman will be a 36 week training program. This assumes high fitness going into it. It usually take 1 month to fully recover from Ironman. I am actually less sore after an Ironman than a marathon due to how much you get to warm up for the marathon in Ironman. By that time your body is pretty loosey goosey and you can’t really hurt anything. Whereas in marathon, you usually aren’t warmed up until a couple miles in and if you push too hard, you hurt cold muscles, tendons and ligaments.

FOSS: Tell me about the P.F. Changs Marathon, Jan 17th and going to Madison September 12? Are you fund raising or is this a pure punishment event?

P.F. Changs Rock’N'Roll Arizona Marathon

Ironman Wisconsin

I’ll bookmark my calendar to cheer you on and send good thoughts your way. In other words I won’t be signing up to join you.

Mike W.: Yes, I believe those are the dates. No fundraising, I pay to punish myself.

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