This is The Do It For Yourself Podcast.  Each week I sit down with someone who is doing it for themselves and chasing a dream they just couldn’t suppress.  This is often speakers, entrepreneurs, or athletes.  They all share one thing in common, they are overcoming challenges and never giving up.  Someone who is Doing It For Themselves is not selfish in their pursuit, they are simply chasing a dream or working towards a goal because it is something THEY want to do.  They are not forging down a path because society or someone is telling them it’s what they should be doing.

My guests this week are John and Laura Torres.  Yes, that is right, my first couples interview!  This was so much fun and I can't wait to share it with you.  

John and Laura both have very different avenues that they took to get into triathlon.  John was an elite level swimmer while he was living in Puerto Rico.  He began swimming young and found success in Puerto Rico.  John was afforded the opportunity to come to the U.S. and continue his swimming here at Rutgers University.  After discovering that the English barrier coupled with the course load was a bit too much he walked away from swimming and his education.  This is when John began to put on some weight.  Given John's background in swimming though he always wanted to do a triathlon.  He discovered the NBC broadcast of the Ironman and he knew he wanted to do a triathlon.  After meeting a friend at a social gathering, John learned that she was doing a triathlon and this sparked his interest, he knew it was time.  

John completed his training cycling and it was time for his first race.  He was so nervous at the start of the race and he can remember complaining about even being there.  After the race John recalls saying to his friend that he would never do one again.  After a few post race beers however, John's attitude seemed to change and he found himself on the start line again.  

Laura on the other hand comes from a running background.  Laura began running as a form of therapy when she was going through some tough times and she learned that running was something that she could always turn to.  This therapy however grew into that of an obsession, Laura couldn't go a day without running and she began to pay the price.  While Laura was training for her goal to compete in the Boston marathon she had a labral tear in her hip and it got to the point where it was painful to even walk.  

Laura remembered that she was cycling during some of her run training so she began to go back to that.  She also began to add in some swimming along the way and before long and maybe a little peer pressure from friends, Laura too found herself on the start line of her first triathlon.

Laura and John now work together not only as a couple but as a team with John coaching Laura and helping to keep her grounded yet push her to perform at her best.  They balance each other out when it comes to training and Laura is thankful to have that.  They also enjoy racing together though, Laura loves to see John on the course.  Although John swear that she just loves to pass him. 

This conversation winds through both journey’s of Laura and John but we also touch on some of the training tips John uses when coaching Laura and structuring his own training schedule.  I hope that you enjoy this conversation and the laughs we share but I also hope you can pick up something for your training as well. 

 

Here is my interview with Laura and John!

 

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Laura's Instagram

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