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| October 21, 2008 |
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A Day in the Life of a Triathlete
by Marie Anderson
Photo courtesy of Aaron Kamnetz
At 8:00 a.m. Aaron Kamnetz gets up and runs for one hour. Then he attends three lectures and a discussion class. He gets on his bike around 6:00 p.m. and rides for two hours. On days he doesn't bike, he dives into the pool for a 6,000 meter swim. On the weekend, he does all three and repeatedly practices transitioning between the activities. Typical days in the life of a college student? Not quite. But Kamnetz, 21, triathlete and a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, thrives in the world of professional athletics.
Kamnetz first got a taste for swimming and running long distances in high school. He grew to love triathlons after his high school coach encouraged him to compete. He didn't make any of the UW sports teams after high school, but continued competing in triathlons as a way to stay in shape. Only one year after he started competing, Kamnetz turned professional — and now spends every moment involved with the sport.
"I basically don't have time to go out or watch TV or get hooked on certain shows like a lot of students are able to do," explains Kamnetz. "My social life really takes a beating, but I'm okay with that."
Running-Biking-Swimming Machine
Kamnetz received his pro card when he raced in Ann Arbor, Mich. on July 12, 2007. He competes in Olympic distance triathlons — a 1.5 km swim, followed by a 40 km bike race, and finally a 10 km run — and in the International Triathlon Union (ITU) conference, which races strictly on the professional circuit. An ITU conference is the only triathlon conference that allows athletes to draft during the bike race (this occurs when competitors ride directly behind another biker to break free from the wind). Participating in an average of 14 triathlons each year, his sport has taken him across the country — and world — most recently to Carlsbad, Calif. and Wales, United Kingdom.
A typical race day is one of the rare occasions where Kamnetz sleeps in, since ITU races begin at 2:30 p.m."I get up at 9 or 10, eat breakfast, check the weather, check transitions, and of course I have to have my coffee," says Kamnetz. "Then I do a warm up run, with some sprint work, and then I do some stretch cords, where I mimic swimming movements. I don't like getting in the water for a warm up because I don't like the cold," he laughs. "And then before I know, it the gun goes off and pretty soon the race is over as well."
Basic Training
Kamnetz spends between 30 and 35 hours training each week during the first portion of the season — even more than a typical student spends working at a part-time job. Once the racing part of the season begins, Kamnetz reduces his training hours to 20 to 25 hours each week, but at a much higher intensity.
Kamnetz balances his intense physical lifestyle with an eye toward the future as he begins preparing for life after graduation. He interned in the marketing department of Zoot Sports, an athletic company, has coached other triathletes, and currently helps the triathlon team at the UW. He is also the founder of the Midwest Collegiate Triathlon Conference, now in its second season with over 40 teams participating. His hard work — both on and off the track — has paid off with sponsorships from local and national companies including Zoot Sports, Speedo and Machinery Row Bicycles.
And, yes, Kamnetz has missed classes regularly to compete and train, especially during the racing portion of the season. He's certainly not falling behind, though. He is majoring in four areas of study: History, History of Science, Economics and European Studies.
Olympic Hopeful
For now, Kamnetz will continue training and coaching until he graduates in May 2009. He hopes his hard work will result in an even bigger payoff: the 2012 summer Olympic Games in London.
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