A Memoir of Steve Taylor, the UI Triathlon Team, and the UI Triathlon Training Camp

By Dan Koos (October 21, 2002)

My earliest recollection of Steve Taylor was at the Cornman Triathlon, July 15, 2001. I was struggling through the challenging 14-mile bike leg, approaching the loop through the town of Gladbrook (Happycreek to the locals), when flying around the corner comes the pace car followed by some guy down on his aerobars sporting an eagle tattoo on his left shoulder. My first thought was ‘damn, that’s a fn huge tattoo’, then I thought man that guy is hauling some serious ass. For the next few miles, I pondered my future in the sport of triathlon. How do I get to be as fast as the guy with the tat? More immediately, though, I wondered how I was going to make it through the run. I finished the day, exhausted, but happy with my performance. I stuck around for the awards ceremony, even though I had finish well out of the top 3 in my age group. I was taking in the whole experience, the post-race atmosphere, and wondering what triathlete studs looked like, waiting to catch a glimpse of the tattooed fellow, who had inflicted pain on his competition and scorched the course. I never did get to record a mental image of Steve Taylor, as I later learned his name. In fact, he seemed to elude me for the next year and a half. Always seeing his name in the race results, but never getting to steal a look at the elite triathlete.

After finishing my first summer season, bagging four races and achieving moderate success, I was in love with the sport. I wanted to explore my potential, but wondered how to reach a high level of success. The first step was for my friend, Sara Hill, with whom I had shared the race season and training sessions, and I to found the UI Triathlon Team, hoping that training partners would push us to new levels and that team unity would make the practice sessions more enjoyable and fun. I was a former all-state swimmer and Sara was a Boston-level marathoner. We approached coaching the team from the standpoint of working hard in the pool and hitting the pavement for long runs. The team made it through the first season, collecting about 12 members, learning much about the odds-and-ins of running a club. Although I had not trained with the frequency or intensity that I had intended, I approached the 2002 summer season with optimism.

Again, I found moderate success in my summer races, but was disappointed with my level of improvement. I knew that I had not done the training to warranted podium performances and felt like I was wasting my potential. I knew that something had to change. How do I improve in the sport of triathlon? The generalized training knowledge that I possessed from the one-dimensional sport of swimming was not enough to make gains in the sport of triathlon. Re-enter Steve Taylor.

While surfing the web, looking at race results and setting goal times, I stumbled across an online coaching service, run by none-other-than Steve Taylor. I immediately sent out an email, inquiring about his services. Over the next month-and-a-half, Steve and I communicated over the phone and via email to devise a weekend training clinic. With the team and public excited about the proposal, the clinic took place at the UI Fieldhouse on the weekend of October 18-19, 2002.

The clinic began Friday night. I stood near the front entrance of the Fieldhouse keeping an eye out for Steve, not really knowing what to look for. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a guy cruising by in a yellow US Postal baseball cap, ala Lance Armstrong. Steve once again eluded my full line of sight. I could not just yet leave my post, as I had to usher in the other team members and the public participants. As the last people rolled in, I head up to the classroom to finally meet Steve Taylor. Steve is tall, thin (obviously fit and cut from his years of triathlon training), with blond hair peaking out from his tour de France hat, Ironman Wisconsin inspired toenails, a chiseled-face, and a huge smile.

The first thing that struck me as the weekend clinic began was Steve's modest summary of his triathlon resume. You would think that someone with his success would possess a level of arrogance. After all, he did win the collegiate division of Ironman Wisconsin, qualifying for Hawaii. After a brief overview of the weekend itinerary, we began the with some fun icebreaker activities. We got well acquainted with each other, taking turns introducing each other's bios, sharing funny stories, and working in large groups to simultaneously stand-up without the use of our hands.

Then it was on to the first mini-lecture/discussion, Bringing Out Your Best. Steve queried us for our goals for the clinic, for the sport of triathlon, and for life in general. We were taken through a session of relaxation, hypnosis, and visualization. Perhaps the greatest technique was to image looking at ourself in a mirror, accepting the way that we are now, yet seeing our future self in the mirror. Next was to place a single string between the two likenesses and to focus on them combining into one. The key to joining the two images is to set goals and take the appropriate measures to achieve them.

After Steve used his psychology background to pick our brains, we hit the pool. Coming from an extensive swimming background, I did not really have high expectations for learning much in the pool. I had spent years honing my swimming technique and approached the sessions as an opportunity to get in a good work. I quickly learned a valuable lesson, though, never underestimate Steve's knowledge of the sport or ability to teach athletes of all levels. The advanced swimmers were taught the skill of drafting. While I had been exposed to drafting by virtue of swimming in lanes 5-6 people deep, I had never really thought about the drafting strategy as it applies to triathlon and open water swimming. I was awakened to the concept of using other swimmers to pull you along so that your energy can be saved for the bike and run. We were introduced to what Steve calls the chaos swim. The concept was simple, yet innovative. All participants started in one corner of the 50-yd pool, to simulate a race start, and swam along the perimeter of the pool, using drafting techniques and experienced the true chaos of a triathlon start. To say the least, I learned valuable insight about drafting and using my swimming talents to my advantage. The beginner swimmers were given instruction on proper swim technique, body position, body roll, proper arm entry, kick, breathing, stroke recovery, etc. All in all it was a fun pool session with much learned by all.

As a nightcap, Steve, Sara, TJ (Leroy), and myself hit up Ponchero's for some late night nourishment and to hear about Steve's triathlon and life experiences. Many stories to be saved for the bike ride.

The next morning started at 8:00am with a stretching and posture session. We were taken through an extensive stretching lesson, of which I highly enjoyed. I had forgotten about the importance of flexibility as it relates to injury prevention and technique improvement in all three disciplines. Steve's background in yoga and weight training served us well as we did some posture exercises; a bit more invasive than the parental units telling us to stand up straight. I was definitely inspired to strive for flexibility and maintenance of such gains.

The warm-up allowed us to transition into the running workout. We went for a nice easy jog to the sight of our deaths; 8-10 killer hill repeats on Mt. Everest. Actually, the hill was perfect for such a workout, about 1:30 to the top at a hard pace. It was a reality check for many of us about the level of our fitness. Steve provided comments on running technique and words of encouragement. A well-appreciated cool down jog was had by all on the way back.

The next mini-lecture was Training Planning and Periodization. Steve used the systematic training approach in order to gain maximum fitness and minimize injury. I had long anticipated a session on how to train. The concepts of periodization were presented in both a generalized season long form and in weekly specific scheduling. An effective and much appreciated reoccurring approach with Steve's teaching style is making the information useful to both beginners, who aspire to complete a triathlon, and to those aspiring to dominate at local races or complete an Ironman. Although I could easily use the information provided in this session to make my own season long training plan, I will seek out Steve's professional touch into drafting an individually tailored schedule. Plus, the added input of Steve experiences are priceless.

Moving on, we made a stop at Baldy's (highly recommended if you ever make a trip the UI) in downtown Iowa City for lunch. In talking to Steve about nutrition and training, I was told about food comas. A food coma is achieved after a long hard day of intensive training followed by a session of heavy food intake, in which the combination of the two leads to a deep state of indifference and drowsiness (more later).

The final session, Essential Triathlon Equipment, detailed how to shop for tri equipment; everything from bike components, to wetsuits, to aerobars, to running shoes. You name it, Steve covered it. We even set up TJ on the bike trainer and collectively analyzed his aerodynamic riding posture and pedaling technique. Part way through the lecture, I hit the food coma. I was not at all disinterested in the topics, just dazed from the killer running workout. By then things were winding down, for we had taken up enough of Steve's valuable time. We would have held him hostage, but alas we digressed.

What impressed me the most about the weekend clinic was the quantity and quality of information covered, although I was not surprised, considering Steve's success in the sport. Not only was it valuable and educational on a personal level, the clinic really inspired the entire team and improved the team unity. We have since established UI Tri Team goals and plan to share individual goals at a future date. Steve possesses an abundance of energy and enthusiasm for teaching triathlon and we were fortunate to obtain his time and services. We thank Steve and hold him with the utmost regards. His character and integrity are unmatched. I highly recommend seeking out Steve's advice, as it will be the most important investment that you will ever make in the sport of triathlon.

***The UI Triathlon Team is planning to collaborate with Steve Taylor in the Spring of 2003 to provide the Iowa City and surrounding communities with a weekend triathlon training clinic. This clinic will serve as nice springboard into the summer race season, especially the Race for Sight Triathlon on May 4, 2003 in Columbia, MO (www.raceforsight.org) and/or the Pigman Sprint Triathlon on June 1, 2003 in Palo, IA (www.pigmantri.com). Check out www.triathletepro.com and/or www.uiowa.edu/~triteam for future details.