How old are you?
58
Where do you live?
Bradenton, Florida USA
Website
What’s your history with sports and athletics?
Born to a sports loving father and mother, I was raised playing every stick and ball sport, but was best at swimming. I played all the way through High School, but soon after I gave up sports for racing. First, motocross and then a 15 year career in drag racing where I, again, was good, but not the top tier. After that, I played competitive softball all the way up to National Championship tournament level.
Injury and family sidelined me. I went stagnant and got up to 240 lbs and knew I had to do something or waste away. Enter the Biggest Loser Triathlon (BLTri) Special. You see, I knew about Ironman, but thought I could never do it. 140.6 miles of swimming, biking and running…and I hated running.
The “BLTri” was an Olympic distance…I didn’t know there were shorter distances. I called a friend that raced Ironman and she told me about a beginner mini sprint that was 3 months away, how it worked and what I needed. I borrowed a bike, bought some goggles and running shoes and started training with no clue for what I was doing.
Well by the race I had swam 400 yards (twice), biked the 12 miles (1 time) and barely could run the 2.2 miles. The race was 104 beginners and and off I went. I had to stop in the swim to catch my breath, blacked out in the 1st transition, got my bearings and hit the bike, then the super slow run.
I finished 54th but the point in my life I knew I wanted to do this sport is when at the finish line they announced “John Slocum you are a triathlete.” That was 11 years, 85 triathlons, 8 half marathons, dozens of century rides, endurance swims and 2 full 140.6 Ironman and 9 half ironman races later.
Oh and that mini sprint that I finished 51st in? 3 years later I came back and won it.
What do you enjoy most about being an athlete?
I enjoy being healthy, helping new athletes through my coaching company and the occasional winning effort. I have 10 wins in 85 races.
Have you experienced any challenges or obstacles?
In racing the biggest obstacles was before I hired a coach and learned how to swim, bike and run. I bought the wrong equipment, trained with incorrect form and didn’t understand the importance of a training plan. This is why I became a USAT Level 1 Certified Coach to help others avoid these pitfalls
What is you “Why?”
My why is because I love the energy at the start of a race and the challenge that I know I will be experiencing when I’m racing or coaching at a race.
What is your favorite gear or training equipment?
Great question. My Felt iA custom build Tri bike named Ignatshia Anastasia (IggiAnn for short). Alto Cycling wheels and Garmin 935 triathlon watch.
What’s next?
On December 5th, I will be competing in my 10th 70.3 distance race at Daytona Speedway, where I hope to again qualify for the Challenge World Championships.
Any fun facts about yourself?
- I was born on April 1st
- I enjoy streaming movies as much as racing.
- I love to cook.
- I have qualified for 4 World Championships and 8 strait National Championships, but have not been financially able to attend any of them. I’m a working class athlete.
Do you have any advice for someone interested in getting started?
Seek out a qualified coach, if not for full time coaching at least for consultation and some lessons. I didn’t do this and spent a summer off with a bum knee.
Any other comments or stories you’d like to share?
I once exited transition from swim to bike in an ITU World Cup race (the company that puts on the Olympic Triathlon) and had a flat tire. I borrowed a wheel off a display bike at the expo and continued with a mission to show how fast one can ride the course. Finishing the bike after passing dozens of competitors, I thought I was spent, but after taking a few steps of running knew I had “it” that day and ran all the way to the win in the 55 to 59 age group…and qualify for the world championships.