Team
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This weekend we are fan girling for professional triathlete Alyssa Godesky as she gears up for the Wildflower Triathlon on May 2nd! Alyssa has been a Oiselle ambassador since 2009, is a 2 x Ironman World Championship finisher and has a lengthy list of racing accomplishment to go along with it (view them all on Alyssa's blog). Check out her latest below!
Take us back, when did you begin triathaloning? Triathlete racing?…what do you call it?!
Triathloning works for me! I started this sport in 2006 when I was looking for a way to spice up all the running I was doing while training for ultramarathons. After a couple races, I was hooked! It wasn’t until 2010 that I decided to get a coach and get serious to see where it would take me.
How many tri’s have you competed in? Do you have a favorite course?
I’ve finished 10 Iron-distance events, but honestly I’ve lost count of all of the others! I love the Ironman Louisville course. Maybe because it was my first Ironman that it will always have a special place in my heart, but I think that finish line rivals the one in Kona any day.
Where do you train?
At the start of 2014 I made the move to Charlottesville, Virginia. I live just a couple miles off of the UVA Campus, so I use the pool and gym facilities at the university. I run all over Charlottesville, and can bike easily onto rolling country roads or up into the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Do you have a training posse or are you a lone wolf?
Usually a lone wolf. I actually really like getting out there and training solo, especially in the morning. However, I’m always up for a training friend to keep things interesting, and there’s nothing better than a tough weekend with friends getting the training done! I also coach the club UVA Triathlon Team so I have plenty of people around and ready to hop into workouts with me.
How many hours per day do you spend training? Do you take rest days?
Typically I do a “swim-only” day instead of a total rest day. I’ve found that works best for me through most of my training cycle with triathlon, but there are certainly times when I take a full day off. I train anywhere from 20-30 hours a week, about 3-4 hours a day and then longer days on Saturday and Sunday.
Walk us through an average day in your peak training season.
I will usually wake up around 6am, get some coffee and breakfast #1 in me. Then I’d head to the gym for workout #1, let’s say it’s a treadmill session. From there I’d walk to the coffee shop for breakfast #2, and sit with my computer to work on athlete plans or answer some emails. Then it’s back to the gym for workout #2, probably a swim.
Around noon I’ll make lunch and begin to focus on my marketing job – this can be anything from meeting with city officials or sponsors about races, packing trucks for an upcoming event, or getting word out about what we are doing on social media! I love that it’s never the same, and that it gives me time to work with my feet up many days. The recovery portion of the day is huge, and something that I wasn’t able to get when I worked in the corporate setting.
After a few hours I’ll eat (again!) and get set up for a third workout session of the day, maybe a trainer ride or a riding a couple hours outside. Then it’s dinner, make sure my athletes are set for the next day, and bedtime!
If you could live and train anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Right now, I can honestly say I’m right where I want to be! I know, who picks Virginia over Australia, or Boulder, or wherever? But, I’m lucky that my job as a professional triathlete allows me time to travel to some great places for training – I spent a few weeks in Tucson this winter, and I’ll be in Colorado for much of the summer. Still, I want to spend the majority of time here on the east coast. Family and friends play a huge support role, and one that shouldn’t be overlooked. Even the best training grounds don’t mean much when there’s no support nearby from people who care about you.
Does your bike have a name?
Only if you call “in need of a bike sponsor” a name. No, seriously, I’ve tried a few different names but nothing ever seems to stick.
When you’re not running, biking, swimming, weight training (or sleeping)… where would we find you? Probably working! I am the Director of Marketing for Bad to the Bone Endurance Sports – we put on several road and trail races both in Virginia and Colorado. I’m also coaching athletes which is something I’ve really found that I have a passion for. And, I’m a professional babysitter as well here in town. When work is done though, I love going to the movies, seeing live music, or just sitting down with a good book and a glass of wine.
Best movie you’ve seen this year?
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. It got pretty terrible reviews, but I loved it. And I’m not usually a Ben Stiller fan!
Do you have a favorite blogger/person you follow on Twitter?
Hillary Clinton! And, Grumpy Cat.
Who inspires you to race your best?
My coach, Hillary Biscay, and her BFF and Ironman Champion, Meredith Kessler. These two women have proven that hard work pays off in this sport, and they have the biggest hearts of any women in triathlon.
The question we all want to know…which leg is your favorite: running, biking, or swimming?
The bike! People usually expect me to say the run because I came from a background in ultrarunning, but it’s definitely the bike. There is just something amazing to me about using your body to power a simple machine and make it go 20+ miles per hour for 5-6 hours (well, on a good day!).
What is your race day mantra?
Everything’s exciting, and everything is fun!
Most embarrassing race day moment?
Luckily not many. I have been caught bare-bummed a few times during bathroom breaks at trail races in the past, but so far I’ve stayed pretty embarrassment free in triathlon!
Most awesome race day moment?
Finishing my first pro race in March in Mexico! My whole family was there to support me, and I had a really good race. I’ve worked so hard for many years to get to that point, and it was awesome to be able to take in those moments running down the finishing chute!
In your season where does Wildflower fall? Is this peak A-game?
It’s still early season for me! I am focusing a lot on Challenge Atlantic City in late June, so Wildflower is the start of a few races I’m using to get some speed in me for that one.
What races are coming up next?
After Wildflower, I’ll head to Knoxville for the Rev3 Series Championship. Then Eagleman 70.3, and Challenge Atlantic City! Fall races are still being ironed out (no pun intended) but Ironman Boulder and Ironman Louisville look likely.
LIGHTNING ROUND
Early bird or night owl? Early Bird – I am rarely up past 10:30!
Coffee or tea? Both!!
Call or text? Call please!
Fiction or non-fiction? Non-Fiction
Open spaces or concrete jungle? Wide open spaces!
Boots or flip flops? FLOPS!
Smile or gameface? Smile!!
