Jeff Reece - STRIC Member, Mountaineer and More

KP. What made you want to get into Triathlon?

JR. It is hard to pinpoint one thing. I get bored pretty easily so having three sports to train for keeps me really interested not to mention injury free. Also, I like the idea of a long-term challenge of preparing for such a grueling event months away. Additionally, I like the mental game and the technical aspect of technique over power. Finally, I love to research and buy gear:)

KP. How do you find the training here?

JR. The swimming is quite convenient as I have a great indoor pool where I live but I really wish there were more places for open water swims. I did some swims in the Philippines with a coach over the recent holiday and learned a lot and really enjoyed not having to do flip-turns every 25 meters. The cycling community is very friendly and open. I am still learning a lot about the sport. I do my rides early in the morning and am looking for some new routes if anybody has one, please share. The running is the most difficult for me due to the poor air quality here. I hate treadmills so I run outside a lot. Sometimes I will take a metro to the last stop, get out and run as far away from the city as I can. The general athletic community in Shanghai is fantastic - very open and encouraging. I have no problem with putting in the volume so I am looking forward to training camps on technique, scheduling, nutrition, etc...

KP. What races are you planning to do over the next year?

JR.I just did the Shanghai Duathlon (short distance) and had a great time. I am signed up for a number of races (Taicang road race, Hangzhou short marathon, Shanghai 1/2 marathon, Hong Kong Triathlon, Xiamen marathon, etc...) but they are all just training for the 70.3 in Hainan in April. I am very excited for that race and doing everything I can to prepare properly.

KP. Many Triathletes have some idea what they want to achieve. For some it is finishing or qualifying for the World Championships in Kona, for others it is doing a 70.3 or Olympic distance event. Do you have a Triathlon goal?

JR.The appeal of triathlon to me is the constant push for improvement and all the races in new and interesting places. I don't necessarily aspire to Kona, but after my 70.3 I just might get the itch for the full ironman :)

KP. I hear you are a Climber or do I say Rock or Mountain Climber?

JR. I have been climbing for 12 years; mountaineering in the Andes and Rockies, ice climbing in Utah and Colorado and rock climbing (sport and trad) all over the world. This summer I just climbed the Grand Teton in Wyoming on the hardest route possible - it was epic. The altitude is great for the heart and lungs, the scenery is breathtaking and I love the preparation and execution of long trips. This is also a great sport if you like gear :)

KP. There are those 2 scene I have watched over and over and everyone agrees they are awesome. The opening scene of Mission Impossible 2 where Tom Cruise is climbing on that huge face and of course the opening scene of Vertical Limits. They are serious scenes, mind blowing really and a completely different set of disciplines and strength needed to Climb like that right?

JR. And of course the Stallone scene in "Cliff Hanger!", right? I think the physical aspect of climbing is a bit different from tri (more aerobic) but the mental game is very similar. When you are sleeping on the edge of a cliff in Zion Park in Southern Utah (similar to the "Vertical Limit" scene) after climbing for two full days or placing your own protection on an ice climb at 7,000 meters in Peru your biggest potential failure is in your head not your body. I haven't been on the last K of a 70.3 yet, but I imagine keeping your head right is a lot harder than putting one foot in front of the other.

KP. Do you get to do much climbing here in China?

JR. Quite a bit. I don't enjoy indoor climbing but there are 2 gyms here in Shanghai that are great grounds for learning the sport. For outdoor climbing, Yangshuo (south of Guilin) is one of my most favorite places in the world to climb; beautiful scenery, excellent rock, great community and limitless climbs for people of all skill levels.

KP. Do they have events here like they do in the rest of the world?

JR. There is an event coming up in Yangshuo Climbfest October 31 - November 2. There are two competitions: the most points (based on the number of climbs and the level of difficulty) and the hardest climb. They will be having clinics, presentations, pro climbers, etc... over the weekend and I am also planning to take my bike. There is a great ride from Yangshuo to Xingping, where the picture on the back of the a 20 RMB bill was taken (see photo above). The roads are very good and there is very little traffic, so it is easy to get a long ride in early before the climbing starts.

KP. Good luck in the event and we'll see you on the bike soon.

JR. Thanks.

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