Jarrod Shoemaker
Jarrod swam and ran track at Lincoln Sudbury High School and was a standout on the track team at Dartmouth. Biking, however, is fairly new on his list of accomplishments, and is an activity he took up seriously in just the last few months.
Dedication and determination are what have allowed Jarrod to succeed, despite choosing to compete in triathlons less than a year ago. He trains 18-20 hours/week, swimming approximately 20,000 yards, biking 6-10 hours and running 30-40 miles each week. Fortunately, he had always lifted weights and swam to train for running, and the aerobic training needed for each of the three sports crosses over well to support each area.
Although he was engrossed by Olympic athletes as a child, Jarrod didn't always know he would be one of them. Despite being at the top of his game in running, he didn't feel he was quite good enough to cross into the elite group of runners that make it to the Olympics. "Elite or not, I was up there in running," Jarrod said. "But I felt I needed a bigde jump in running to get to the top than I do to compete well in a triathlon."
Jarrod relies on sponsorship to achieve his hopes and dreams for Olympic glory. With his training schedule, and travels around the world to race, finding a full-time job is nearly impossible. He does coach swimming, as well as teach swimming lessons and lifeguard, and he is taking graduate classes at Boston College so he ca become a high school history teacher. He is also working toward a training certificate in strength and conditioning.
With the 2008 Olympics some distance away, his focus is currently on the World Championships slated for September 11, 2005, in Japan. Medaling in the under-23 category is important to him, as it will get his name out there and put him in a position to compete in other important races.
Conversa com os atletas
What is your Triathlon background, when and why did you start?
I officially started triathlon in 2004; however, I always was playing as many sports as I could. I grew up playing baseball and soccer, swimming, running, ice hockey on the pond in my backyard and even played lacrosse and wrestled for a year. In high school I ran cross country and swam and once at Dartmouth College I ran all three seasons but lifeguarded on the beach in the summer. I had success in running, but knew I was never going to run sub 13 minutes for 5k, so I decided to give triathlon a shot and I focused on it immediately after graduation in 2004.
What was your reason for picking Triathlon?
My uncle raced triathlons for a while in the 90s and he told me that having my running and swimming background I could do well. I kept it in the back of my mind through college and finally did my first triathlon just before my senior year started in 2003 and did pretty well.
What’s your favorite part about riding for SCOTT?
Over the years I have ridden on quite a few brands, but I have fell in love with my SCOTT bikes. I started on the Addict and from my first ride I just loved the way the bike felt. Once the Foil came out I switched to it and I really love the stiffness of the bike plus the added aero benefits. I also have a Plasma TT bike and Addict CX bike. Funny thing is I think I love riding my CX bike more than anything else, but only get a few chances a year!
What are your future goals?
I hope I have another 10 years in triathlon and after that will probably get into coaching or race production. I believe there is a lot that can be done to promote our sport still and while I would love to start work on that now, I have some goals in triathlon still to achieve, making the Olympics again in 2016 and then making the move to longer course racing and eventually I will race in Kona.
What keeps you going during the off season, if you ever have an off season?
During my off seasons I try to keep active, I do a few local CX races and XC races I can find and occasionally go rock climbing (indoors in Florida of course!).
What are your favorite Triathlons - where are we going to find you training most often?
I have raced all over the world, but racing in the US in ITU races still is my favorite. The crowds in Hamburg are amazing. The beauty of racing in the Swiss Alps or in front of the Sydney Opera House or Buckingham Palace is quite amazing as well and life experiences that few people will ever get. Training wise, I love training outside of Boston where I grew up and in Clermont, Florida where I live know.
What inspires you to keep going each season?
My inspiration is all about being the best I can be, finding a way to improve myself and make myself faster. Each year comes with different scenarios but in the end I want to look back and know I gave it everything I could.
What music do you listen to when training or before a race?
I am actually not a big music person at all. I will listen to it in the car, but I only really use music when I ride indoors for hard sessions. My real pump up songs would have to be a couple songs by State Radio (Knights of Bostonia, Evolution, Gang of Thieves) and Drop Kick Murphys (State of Massachusetts, I’m Shipping up to Boston). Yes, I am a Boston boy!
Do you have a favorite pre-race food?
I gave up most of my superstitions once I stopped playing baseball and I am happy I did so because with the amount of travel and the places we end up finding a food you like or need is sometimes impossible. I try to keep my nutrition pretty simple leading into a race, but when you are in rural China that can be quite difficult.
Do you have any funny habits that you have to do before you race?
Nope, normally it is rushing around a bit because check in can take WAY too long and the ITU can be a bit disorganized.
When your season is over what is the food you have to have?
I think you mean when my workouts are over? I eat ice cream almost every night. I like carrot cake and I like an occasional hot dog. Honestly though I am really looking forward to the end of the year as Alicia, my massage therapist Emily, her husband and I will head to Albert's Queen Victoria Room for dinner, the best food I have ever had – a 10 course meal - just amazing.