PB: How did you first get involved in the sport in which you compete?
CS: I have been fortunate enough to be introduced to triathlon through my family's passion for endurance sports. My parents instilled in me the same passion that they have, and I have fond memories of swimming, biking, running, and skiing in the mountains from an early age. I grew up training with mom and cheering her on at many different endurance events. My mom never took sport super seriously, because her main goal was to give my sister and I opportunities to find our own passions and ways we could challenge ourselves.
PB: At what point did you realize that you could compete at a professional level? Was there a specific race or moment that stood out to you as a watershed
CS: I have always harbored a dream of becoming a professional triathlete, and it was secretly a deep desire of mine while running collegiately. In 2021, after a series of running injuries, I started swimming and biking as much as I possibly could. After a few months of cross-training, I wanted to test myself in a triathlon. At that time, I only had a mountain bike, so I participated in the local Xterra Beaver Creek. I finished fifth in that race and qualified for my professional license. I saw how strong competitors like Sam Long were and what was required to be competitive in this sport. After that race, I was very driven to see what I can achieve in this sport.
PB: What was the transition from amateur to professional like?
CS: Before becoming a professional, I trained at a similar level, but I was balancing university, a job, collegiate running, and triathlon training. It was stressful, but I am thankful for that period of my life because it taught me many life skills. I still train the same way, but I now have more time and much better equipment.
PB: Professional athletes are known for their intensive training regimens. What does a typical week of training look like for you during the season?
CS: This season, I am training between 30-34 hours per week. Here is my training schedule for this week, which is a pretty typical week to prepare for the
Monday:
- 3k recovery swim
- 1-hour recovery ride
- Easy 10km run
Tuesday:
- 75-minute swim with GRA squad
- 70.3 specific bike session
- Light track session (10km of work @ threshold)
Wednesday:
- 75-minute swim with GRA squad
- 4-hour aerobic ride on tt bike 130km
- Easy 10km run
Thursday:
- 75-minute swim with GRA squad
- Easy 90-minute ride
- Easy 10km run
Friday:
- 3k aerobic swim
- 3hr bike session (5x20min @ 330w with 1min spin between intervals)
- Endurance track session (16x1km @ 3:15per km with 100m jog between intervals)
Saturday:
- Hard swim
- 70-minute aerobic run
- 2-hour easy ride (depending on fatigue level)
Sunday:
- Easy 3k swim
- 5-hour endurance ride (or more if I feel good)
PB: Many recreational athletes see being a professional as a "dream job." However, even the best jobs in the world have their drawbacks. From your experiences, what do you see as the most challenging aspect of being a professional athlete?
CS: Being a professional athlete is my dream job, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to train and race at the level that I do. As a new professional, I know there are no guarantees, and this can add a lot of pressure to athletes. Learning how to deal with this pressure is something that I really enjoy.
PB: Having good nutrition practices is a critical part of performing at your best as an athlete. How do you approach fueling yourself inside and outside of training?
CS: Proper fueling is paramount to my training regimen. Ensuring that I consume enough food is one of my top priorities. I am fortunate to have a passion for food, and the cuisine in Spain never fails to disappoint. I make sure to maintain my weight in season, it is really easy to create a caloric deficit with high volume training. While training, I make sure to consume 90g of carbohydrates using a variety of PowerBar products. Right now my favorite is the Cola flavored PowerBar shot energy chews.
PB: Balance is an important term to consider in all aspects of a professional athlete's life. How do you approach maintaining balance between the sport and non-sport aspects of your life?
CS: Maintaining balance is challenging, but it is a vital aspect of being a professional athlete. Although my focus is primarily on training, eating, and sleeping, I try to find time for activities that help me unwind and relax. I am grateful to share this experience with other triathletes and cyclists in the Girona Racing Academy who live a similar lifestyle. We approach our training seriously but also enjoy the process.
PB: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received, and from whom, that you feel is worth passing on?
CS: The best piece of advice I have received is to seize every day and make the most of it. This advice came from a mentor who inspired me to pursue my passion and strive to be my best self.