Every triathlete has a story - how he or she found the sport, what drives them, the challenges they have overcome, and unfinished business. Likewise, the members of the Endurance Films Racing Team each have a story too. Over time, we will highlight each of our members and show how diverse and varied their backgrounds are. We start with Nick Logan, who hails from Norwalk, Connecticut, but he’s originally a New Yorker. He’s 30 and has been a triathlete for seven years, working his way up to Team USA status, competing in ITU Long Course Worlds this year in Las Vegas. ------------------------------------------------- Nick, how did you get your start in triathlon? What was your athletic background growing up? It was the exact opposite of what it should have been for triathlon success. I played football in high school and Rugby for one semester of college. I hated running and spent most of my time working out in the gym lifting. In fact I was on a track team in junior high but was relegated to the “field” activities such as long jump because I was a terrible runner. I was a lifeguard when I was in high school, but my swim technique was so poor that during my initial certification test (500M) the instructors told me they thought I might need rescuing, and required me to come an hour early and stay one hour late to work on my swimming skills or they wouldn’t pass me. However, I do have to say I have always loved riding my bike. Ever since I was a little kid, I could always ride for countless hours, and sometimes I still do! 
You are a personal trainer, Crossfit Endurance and Crossfit Level 1 Trainer, and a USA Cycling Level 3 Coach. Recently, you earned the designation of a USA Triathlon Level 2 Coach. WOW! So are coaching and training your full-time job? As much as I wish it was it's simply not the case. I work at a hedge fund, putting 55+ hours in each week. I enjoy the stability of a day job and end up teaching mostly all of my classes early mornings or at nights after work. I coach and train people for the love of it more than anything else. In fact I get more excited when my athletes hit their goals than when I do. My biggest accomplishments for 2011 have more to do with my athletes meeting their goals than me meeting my own. I still have a few spots left for coaching for 2012. If anyone is interested they can contact me at PrimeEndurance@gmail.com Can you tell us a little bit about the process of becoming a USA Triathlon coach, through Level 1 and then Level 2? Absolutely. I first took my level 1 certification in 2007 and to be honest I was a little underwhelmed by the course and the materials. After doing a ton of research and learning since my first tri I felt that I knew about 99% of what they were teaching and the certification was just a validation of what I already knew. I understand the level 1 has come a long way since then. Level 2, however, was a ton of work. First you need to have 2 years coaching experience, annual service to sport experience, letters of recommendation from an athlete and a coach, and go through a phone interview. Then, IF, you are selected you have an intense 3.5 day seminar concluding with a presentation on how to train an athlete in a given scenario as well as coach a swim workout on the pool deck. USAT is now only selecting 10 coaches 2x a year going forward to keep the learning experience intimate and everyone engaged. I was really impressed with the level of detail and I’m excited to use the new techniques on my athletes as well as myself in 2012. 
What are your goals for your own racing and training? What will you be working on for 2012? At this point I haven’t really decided. I thought about going back to Ironman after racing long course worlds, but I don’t think I have the desire to do another one. I really like the half Iron distance and I feel it suits me well. I’ll likely race Long Course Nationals in OK City, OK and Olympic Nationals in Burlington, VT. I’d really like to break 4:30 in a half iron, and I’m pretty sure I would have gotten there this year if I didn’t ride 10 miles on a flat rear wheel. Shorter term goals are to improve my running, which I am currently working on. I’ll decide during the season if I want to give Ironman another go. In your Mightyman Half-Iron race report, you talk about seeking revenge on this race, where in 2004 you finished at the back of the pack. In 2011, you finished 7th overall, shaving an amazing two HOURS forty minutes off your time. How did you become the athlete you are today? Have you been primarily self-coached? 
When I finished in the bottom 10 in 2004 I was demoralized. I was 23 years old and I was getting beat by people in some cases 40 years older than me! I decided to read everything I could about the sport and focus on losing some of the muscle mass I accumulated over the years. I also talked to a lot of veterans on how to improve my two weakest areas (swim/run). When USAT decided to do a level 1 clinic a few hours from my house I signed up immediately to enhance my knowledge and in hopes of one day helping others. As far as the improvement process it wasn’t all gains. I made great progress and then I had a bike accident where I broke both elbows and was sidelined for about 6 months in 2006. After I made a complete recovery I was back it at once again and haven’t stopped since. You are also a new race director, and in fact, you had to dash immediately from Age Group Nationals to CT to fulfill your race director duties. What race do you run, how did you get involved in that, and is that something you would like to do more of? I am one of three race directors for Team Mossman Events. We put on several events every year throughout Fairfield county, CT. Believe it or not I am actually now one of the RD’s from the first race I ever did. I had gotten to know my two partners over the years after racing several of their races five years in a row. Last year they lost a partner and needed the help, at the time I was available so they asked me to join the team. We work together very well. As far as the dash from Nationals It’s funny, I wasn’t the only one who dashed home for that race. We had at least 15 athletes who competed in both Nationals on Saturday in VT and then our Race in Bridgeport, CT on Sunday. The only difference is I went straight to the race site and didn’t get much sleep! We currently are looking at putting more events on in 2012 so for those of you on the north east coast stay tuned!
You are the guy on the EFRT who stays on top of our race calendars and publishes results. You seem very organized. True? For the most part, but I do so much on a daily basis that some things tend to get missed if I don’t get them taken care of immediately. However, I make sure the important stuff always gets taken care of!
What are some of your favorite pieces of gear or training tools? I can’t live without Training Peaks, it’s where I download all my data and do my analysis for me and all of my athletes. Also this winter the Endurance Films RIDES dvd’s are going to be a huge help with having to stay on the trainer for a few months of winter. Currently I’m using a Garmin 310xt to pace most of my training, it’s a huge help and very valuable tool. You’ve been at this sport a long time and have made incredible gains. Who or what inspires you? I don’t like being told I can’t do something. I did my first Ironman because I was told I couldn’t. What originally turned out to be a “dare” after watching the NBC coverage has turned into a love for a sport I could have never imagined. What inspires me is continuously allowing me to better myself year after year. I worked my way up from the back of the pack, and I continue to help others do the same. 
Anything else you’d care to share? I’d like to thank Endurance Films for putting together this team. It’s been great being a part of what has bonded to become a family of athletes, I look forward to learning more about my teammates and cheering them on for years to come. Also I can’t forget our team sponsors Training Peaks, Kane Bikes, Champion Systems, and Eco sports bottles they have been great!
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Learn more about Nick Logan here!