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Aaron Shapley

Austin, Texas

Triathlon has become a lifestyle over the past 3-4 years. I'm an ex-collegiate swimmer and have always been physically competitive and enjoyed pushing myself. I'm asked why I continue to do it by co-workers, family, and friends all the time, and if I'm honest I ask myself that at times too. I certainly do it for the typical reasons - stay in shape, be an example for my kids, offset my bad habits. But a big "why" is that I know I can do better (and as an aging athlete the opportunities to say that grow fewer each year). Triathlon is a 3-D puzzle that can change shape as you race. Results are a culmination of the training, the nutrition, the recovery, the taper, the course - water chop and temp, pavement, hills, shade, the elements, the fueling, the gear, the chafing, the pacing, the cadence, the watts, and the mental toughness to adapt and push across the line. No such thing as a "perfect" race, but the pursuit of it keeps me going.