Olympic Triathlon Preview - Matt Reed

Boulder Triathlete Matt Reed will be competing at the Beijing Olympics in a two weeks. Below, you can get to Boulder and what makes him tick.

Courtesy of USA Triathlon

Full Name: Matthew John Reed
Hometown: Boulder, Colo.
Resides: Boulder, Colo.
Height: 6-5
Weight: 180
Birthdate: 11/8/75
Birth Place: Palmerstown North, New Zealand

Years Elite: 10
Final 2007 ITU Rank: 21
Final 2007 USAT Rank: 1
Website: www.mattyreed.com

How Matt Qualified: Matt became the second member of the U.S. Team by winning the U.S. Olympic Trials in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on April 19.

Quick Fact: At 6-foot-5, Matt is the tallest professional triathlete in the world.
Personal: Matthew John Reed… Born Nov. 8, 1975 in Palmerstown North, New Zealand… Married to Kelly Rees, a U.S. elite triathlete… Before they were married, Reed helped Rees through her recovery after she was run over by a 15-ton construction truck on Oct. 7, 2002 in Boulder, Colo…. Has a son named Lachlan James and daughter named Peyton Grace... Proudly became a U.S. Citizen in 2007… Favorite coffee drink is a skinny latte, extra hot… His nickname is Boom Boom… At 6-foot-5, he is that tallest professional triathlete in the world… Favorite colors are red and black ("red looks fast and black looks dangerous")… Likes triathlon because "it is a challenge and you can never get bored"… Matt has two weimaraners named Storm and Ashton.

Elite Triathlon Career: Raced for New Zealand until 2004, when he switched his affiliation to the United States… In his first year racing for the United States, won the U.S. Elite National Championship title by finishing second to Australian Craig Alexander at the Monster Challenge in Boston… Finished second at the Richards Bay World Cup in 2008… Finished fifth at 2008 ITU World Championship in Vancouver… Finished 2007 as top-ranked American male… Finished third at 2007 ITU Vancouver World Cup… 2007 season featured eight other top-10 finishers, including wins at St. Anthony’s Triathlon and Boulder Peak, fourth at Escape from Alcatraz, and third at the London Triathlon… 2006 Accenture Escape from Alcatraz champion... Teamed with Andy Potts and Brian Fleischmann to claim ITU Team Triathlon World title in Cancun in 2006... Third at U.S. Nationals in 2005 and 2006...

Athletic Background: Played basketball, rugby and cricket in his native New Zealand.

Getting to Know Matt
Describe a little of your athletic background.
Began triathlon at age 15 and been a triathlete ever since. Ran and swam with a club when I was little

Did you always see yourself being involved in sport in some way?
Yes

Do you come from a big family?
3 kids. Shane is oldest, then my sister Nicky and then me

When and how did you first get involved in triathlon?
Did a race when I was 15, I won and was hooked and knew that is what I wanted to be when I grew up

Describe your first race.
I won. I was 15 and it was my birthday. It was a national race in Australia. I nearly puked. I loved it.

What was it that was first appealing to you about the sport?
How you feel when you have to bike after a swim and run after a bike. I was hooked

What were your goals when you first got involved in the sport?
To win races and make money, not much has changed, eh?

When did the Olympics become a goal?
When I was 18

Did you ever think you could make a living by being a professional triathlete?
Yes, I knew I had to. Then I got married and had a family and that made me realize that I was going to have to really set up my goals so I could succeed

What has been the most difficult time in your career?
2006, when I got sick with CMV virus

Was there ever a time when you felt like getting out of triathlon?
No, the challenge of it has always kept me doing it

What has been the most rewarding/memorable time in your career?
Living it now.... Oh and when I was in my 20’s and finally made some money in Europe and went home for Aussie summer with some cash in my pocket, rather than just breaking even and going home with nothing but memories and hard work in my pocket.

What keeps you involved in the sport?
The challenge of it, That I am doing what I love and still going after 17 years.

What do you enjoy most about training?
I love to train hard and race a lot.

What do not enjoy about training?
Cold and windy bike rides

What do you tell yourself when you don’t feel like training?
I tell myself that I will win more races! I will make more money. Usually the money part makes me do that session I don’t want to do. I am very motivated by winning which usually brings some money. Also I tell myself that I could get beaten if I don’t do that extra session.

What do you enjoy most about races?
Feeling unbeatable, super fit and winning

What do you enjoy/dislike about the international travel associated with the sport?
Sitting in a seat not big enough for me with my knees jammed into the back of the seat in front.

What role has your spouse played in your development as a triathlete?
She is a part of my training, my recovery and my daily life. She guides me and does all the little stuff so I can concentrate on the training. She coordinates the overall training plan and has taught me to listen to my body.

Why is qualifying for the Olympics important to you?
The Olympics is the ultimate sporting stage the best most competitive race and it’s once every four years.

Describe your feelings when you realized you were going to Beijing?
Which time? April or June? Ha ha.
April power, excitement, accomplishment. Then 72 hours later, like a knife went in my chest.
June happiness, relief, the reality that I am really going...

What are most looking forward to about the Olympic Games?
Representing this country and going big in the race. I worked too hard to get to the starting line, so I am going to give it every thing I have.

In general, describe the feeling you get when you win a race?
Accomplishment and thrill

How many hours do you typically train during a week?
40-45

Who do you train with and why?
A few swimmers, ride with myself or cyclists, and run with a few runners

How long do you see yourself competing?
At least 6 more years

What do you see yourself doing after triathlon?
Opening a coffee shop with Kelly

What do your friends and family think about your triathlon life?
They love it! Some of them live through me, as they head to their day jobs. And that is fine. All I know is I have the greatest support from my close friends and family

How do you spend your time when you aren’t training/racing?
Kids! Or sleeping if I can.

What advice would you give someone with an Olympic dream?
Master the sport of learning so you can figure out how to train hard and train smart. There is no scientific short cut or way around hard work. You have to work hard.

Quick Hits with Matt
Are you a morning or night person?
morning

What’s your favorite room in the house and why?
Living room. Large sofa to sit on.

If you get a day off training (not because you’re sick), what do you do?
Garden, wash my car and try answer emails like this

What's the weirdest thing you eat at home?
Don’t eat weird

What's the weirdest thing you've eaten outside of home?
Pigs hooves in Ishigaki, Japan

What did you want to be when you grew up?
triathlete

What was your favorite subject in school?
Art/drawing

After an argument, who in the family is most likely to apologize first – if at all?
Lachey (son Lachlan)

What does someone in your family do for you that helps you most?
Love me... That is what helps me the most.

Who has been the most inspiring person in your life and why?
My mum, she has always been there for us and also my wife, cause well, she is crazy Kelly and keeps my world going.

Describe yourself in three words?
Determined, laid-back, good looking (I had to say it!- you asked)

Share a time when someone in your family did something that made you proud.
Kelly overcoming some really hard times and also Shane making the NZ Olympic Team

Name one of your favorite things about your mom or dad.
My mum, she is soft spoken but has always been able to show me she loves me in her quiet way.

Share a quirky habit you have. How long have you had it?
I look up when I am lying... Kelly says I am the world’s worst liar.

Would you rather dress casual or dress up when you go out with friends or family?
Casual... I don’t own a suit.

If someone made a movie of your life would it be a comedy, a romantic comedy, a drama, action, or science fiction?
With our daily chaos, and Kelly in it, a comedy.

Have you ever been told you look like someone famous & who?
Michael Phelps... In August 2004 in Chicago a woman came up and asked for my autograph... I looked a little stumped.... She then said you are Michael Phelps right? And I said, well no my ears aren’t that big and honey he is at the Olympics right now.

What's the worst thing you did as a little kid?
Can’t say, as well, us kiwi boys were a little naughty.

What is the greatest song ever written, and by whom?
Too many good ones to pick one....

What makes you different?
Other than being tall, dark skin, larger ears, funny accent... Can’t think of anything, really.

If you could travel back in time and witness any one event, which one would it be?
Watching John Walker run

What would your dream vacation be?
Lying on the beach with Kelly... And some how Lachey is not running around like a crazy and trying to swim in 8 foot waves, but just lying there, relaxing.

If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Prefontaine

What is your most valued possession and why?
My kids..... I do “own” them right?!?

What are you most proud of?
The last 8 weeks of racing consistent. Oh, and learning how to tie my shoelaces....

What would you say is man's greatest accomplishment?
Hum......

Tell us something difficult and something good that you experienced recently.
Difficult- winning the Olympic Trials and then maybe not going to the Olympics.
Good- outsprinting Simon Whitfield for 5th at World Champs

Share one food item that best describes the last year of your life.
That sour patch licorice stuff... You think it is sweet so you eat it, then sour, sour, sour and then it ends up really, really, really, sweet.

What’s your favorite concert you’ve ever attended?
Never been to one

If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be?
South of France

Complete the statement “I recommend…”
Everyone should get up early and go for a run... That perspective is a fabulous way to start a day.

If you knew you could you try anything and not fail (and money was no object), what dream would you attempt?
Doing it now... Going to the Olympics and working for gold!

What super-power would you most like to have, and why?
Speed.... Of course!

If you had $5 million to spend in 5 days, but couldn’t spend any of it on yourself or your family, what would you do with it?
Find a cure for ALS or try to come close....

What’s in your CD player/iPod?
Rage Against the Machine, linkin park, Maroon 5, some rap, some more hard rock and for some reason, a Norah Jones song... Kelly

What’s the last good book you’ve read?
Uhm.......

What’s your favorite restaurant?
Walnut Café in Boulder and Coffee House in Christchurch, NZ

What's the last thing you saw live in a theater?
Okay, we have a 4 month old and a 2.5 year old.... Can’t even remember!!!!

Do you give money to panhandlers?
No, if they want to do a track session with me... I would be happy to hand them a dollar. I am working too hard for my money now. I walk away and Kelly gives it to them of course!

How often do you prepare your own meals?
Never. Wait I made a sandwich last week....

What's hanging above your sofa?
A 7 foot painting of a weimaraner

How much is too much to spend on a haircut?
Free.... Self styled and cut

When's bedtime?
9:30 to 10 pm

What time’s the alarm set for?
Alarm???? What alarm???? I don’t use an alarm. I sleep til I wake up. Then I know I am rested for the day.