Name: Stephen O'Connor

Town: Jasper, IN

Age: 48

Occupation: Full Time Parent, Part Time Emergency Physician.

HOW DID YOU DISCOVER MULTISPORT?: I got into multisport in 1991 when a

friend needed another warm body in a canoe for a "canoe, run, and bike" adventure Triathlon. I had the weekend off, borrowed a bike, and off we went. I fell into the river, ran into the bank on several occasions, didn't know how to shift the front chainring, and had stomach cramps from laughing so severe that I had to walk on the run section. Thirteen months later I ran Ironman Kona.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR MULTISPORT BACKGROUND:

I have participated in triathlons, marathons, and adventure races

for 17 years. My most rewarding experiences were in 1992 crossing the line in

Kona with my then 18 month old daughter, Maggie, and 10 years later (and

much heavier) carrying her across the finish at Ironman Wisconsin. I also

finished 1st in my age group at the Laguna Phuket Triathlon, Thailand

(Kona slot, yessss!), and 16th overall in a Tri from Alcatraz, Is. My

motivation is to hold off aging and stay in good health - being a positive role model to my children.

HOW DO YOU STRIKE A BALANCE?: I balance family, work, and training

through a precarious dance of sleep deprivation and schedule juggling. Training and racing has fallen down the priority list each year. BDF (Be a Dad First) is most important in my life. A trophy will not visit you when you are old and sick...(but, your kids will pick your nursing home!!!).

WHAT ARE SOME WORDS OF ADVISE THAT YOU CAN OFFER A TRI NEWBIE:

• Remember that Triathlon is inherently selfish, therefore, spend

  quality time with those that love you (20 min throwing a ball to your

  child is more important than 20 mi on the bike).

• Don't pick a career that you work 65-80 hr/wk.

• Don't do rotating shifts (I'll sleep when I am dead is not a

  viable option).

• Don't sweat the small stuff in life or racing. If something

  unexpected happens, laugh it off and go on. If a day is bad for you,

  it is probably worse for someone else.

• Don't take training/racing too seriously, there are far more

  important things in life to worry about and focus your energy.

• There will always be people faster than you, but (thankfully)

  there will be people slower, too!

• In years of doing this I have noticed that it is the athlete

  with family support, heart, and drive, not necessarily the one with the

  coolest, lightest, most expensive stuff, that smiles more at the end of the day.

• Pay tribute to the guys in the early days of Tri that did this

  stuff without all the bells and whistles...what studs and studettes!