Patrick Davis of Ankeny, Iowa
The 2010 season has been a breakthrough year for Patrick. He started off with an overall win at Miami International Triathlon clocking a 1:56 finishing time. From there, he went on to place 6th overall at USA Triathlon’s Collegiate National Championship. Next up, he took 3rd overall at Pigman Sprint Triathlon. As the first finisher from Iowa, he also secured the slot to represent his home state at the Best of the US amateur triathlon competition. Pat continued on to place 2nd overall at the HyVee Triathlon. A few weeks later, he followed up with an overall elite amateur win at Lifetime Fitness Triathlon in a finishing time of 1:58. But the big breakthrough came at Steelhead 70.3 Not only did Pat complete his first half-Ironman, he did so in 4:06:59, good enough for placing first overall amateur and qualifying for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship.
I caught up with Pat during his “mid-season break” before taking on the next set of racing challenges, asking him a few questions about his background in sport, the current season and looking ahead.
How did you get started in triathlon?
The thought of doing a triathlon had been tossed around a little bit in high school but never took the dive and bought a bike. I was always in a sport so it didn't seem like another one would be a good idea. After a semester at college I became really bored of doing random workouts and needed to set a goal for myself. A guy who lived on my floor in the dorms always talked about doing them and thought it would be a good time to try one. He was not my favorite guy either, so I really just wanted to say I had beat him at something. Just like most people getting started in the sport I had never ridden a road bike before and the thought of being clipped onto my bike was a little freaky. A few months later I completed the Hy-Vee triathlon and have been hooked ever since.
Which performance have you been most proud of from your 2010 season so far?
This has been hands down the best racing season I have had so far. My results have been better that I could have expected and have reached almost all of my goals set at the beginning of the year. The one performance that sticks out above all the others is the Pigman sprint triathlon. It had been on the calendar but due to my lack of planning I signed up late and was on the waiting list. The Tuesday before the race the race director called and asked if I wanted in and after consulting with Coach Liz I decided to go for it. The next day I was out finishing up a ride and about 5 miles from home a dog bolted out of his yard and T-boned me. This was my first encounter with pavement and road rash. Luckily my bike only came away with one dent from the dog and me with some road rash on my butt. Now I was stuck paying for this race that I might not be able to complete in. After a few days of moping around and not being able to sit correctly my mind was made up. If I could cover it well enough to keep from getting infected I would do it. Race morning came, I was bandaged up and the gun went off. Being able to mentally get on the starting line that morning was a big victory for me. I could have made all kinds of excuses not to race that day but I did it and have no regrets about it. At the end of the day I placed 3rd overall and qualified for another race!
How has working with a coach helped you to reach your goals this season?
Without a coach who is a great fit I would have been miles away from reaching my goals this season. I had been with a coach before and it was not a good fit. I knew I had bigger goals that I could achieve so I found someone who I thought could get me there and this year I feel that I have definitely gotten "there." Having a coach takes out a lot of the guess work in training and preparing for racing my best. I have learned to put all of my trust into "the plan" and just go with it. Sometimes I become a workout addict and feel that I do not need as much rest as prescribed, but during that next big training block I find myself wishing for those rest days again. A coach is also a great resource for those odd questions that sometimes pop up.
Can you share any pre-race ritual you have that you cannot let go of?
This is not so much a ritual but a pre race necessity. If I have a good pee at the swim start I know its going to be a good race. These are the last few moments you have to be relaxed enough and it feels great. Whether it is wetsuit legal or not this just has to happen.
What are you looking forward to in future triathlon seasons?
I am looking forward to finding out where the sport is going to take me in life. As an architecture student it might be hard to find a path where that field and triathlon cross but if it exists I hope to find it someday. At the moment the sport is a huge part of my life and I love every moment of it.
As Pat’s coach, I appreciate all of his talent yet more importantly his determination, work ethic and trust. All of the talent in the world is meaningless if an athlete does not believe in himself and the work he is doing. Pat is also one of the most balanced athletes I know – he puts his time into the sport yet also can separate himself from it, maintaining perspective and keeping his drive for the sport high. He doesn’t overthink workouts, doubt himself or get bogged down in the details. Above all, he does the work I prescribe while also listening to himself and his body. This has been critical for allowing him to improve steadily and stay injury-free.
The 2010 season has been bright for Pat, but it’s not over yet. We’re excited to watch Pat continue to grow and reach his goals!
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