Kirk Nelson

HOME:	Originally from Hettinger, ND – currently Longmont, CO
NICKNAME:	K-Dawg
MUSIC:	Random with the exception that Country is NEVER involved.
FAVORITE FOOD:	Solid = Wahoo's Banzai Burrito w/ Blackened Fish, brown rice, Cajun Beans, make it wet with green sauce. Liquid = Organic Valley Chocolate Soy Milk
HOW YOU RELAX:	Seinfeld/Office Re-runs, naps, turning cell phone off
HOW YOU PREPARE FOR AN EVENT:	For my best result to date, show up to transition 15 minutes before the gun, scramble to get bike and T1 set, cut to front of Port-o-John line, put on top half of wetsuit, cap, and goggles while running to start line leaving 30 seconds to spare. Trust me, it works........every time (the first time anyway).
RECENT ACHIEVEMENT:	2009: Calgary IM 70.3 -- 4th, Longhorn IM 70.3 -- 7th and PR 3:53:23
FAVORITE QUOTE:	"You only live once"
WHAT'S IN YOUR TRANSITION BAG YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT:	GU Espresso Love (2x caffeine), and in the last place I usually look, my timing chip. oh, and gloves for putting my wetsuit on.
WHERE YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS:	Turning 40?????? Still living the dream and defying age like friend and 40-something legendary pro triathlete Brad Seng. With the help of well-placed support in the ISM saddles I ride, I will also be married with kids!
YOUR WEBSITE:	www.trikirk.com

ABOUT YOU

I've always loved playing sports, just not swimming, biking, or running, until my junior year of college. After just a few weeks of running I realized I had wasted 15+ years playing team sports not well-suited for a 5'10" 140-pounder with chicken legs. Following 2 1/2 years of grad school and training wit the CU Triathlon Team, I quit school and turned pro in the same month. After some very humbling results in my first pro season, 2006, I realized that I would first have to learn to swim to be even remotely competitive. A swim coach (Lance Panigutti) and hundreds of thousands of yards were the answer. I started to get some consistent results beginning in 2008 and have improved on those in 2009. I love the sport of triathlon and have come to realize, only after making several mistakes, that my fitness levels are at their highest when my #1 priority is to enjoy training everyday. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that very few of us will ever have and my goal is to share that optimism with others by not taking life too seriously and making people smile.

Outside of training and racing, I have a coaching business, TriKirk Coaching, that keeps me pretty busy with client training schedules, camps, and clinics.

When I'm not doing something triathlon related, I am usually eating a good home-cooked meal, watching The Office re-runs, playing with my dog Sushi, reading, spending time with friends, or taking a nap. Sometimes I get out for Snowshoeing, XC Skiing, hiking, frisbee golf, real golf, or riding my motorcycle.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2009 season highlights:
Calgary IM 70.3 -- 4th Pro, 4th Overall, 3rd American
Muskoka IM 70.3 -- 7th Pro, 7th Overall, 1st American
Longhorn IM 70.3 -- 7th Pro, 7th Overall, 2nd American, PR time 3:53:23
Boulder Peak -- 9th Pro, 9th Overall

Overall Wins at:
Toyota Desert International
Oktoberfest Sprint, Course Record
Castaic Lake Sprint, Course Record
Magic Mountain Man, Course Record

2008 season highlights:
Kansas IM 70.3 -- 5th Pro, 5th Overall, 2nd American
Wildflower Half Iron -- 10th Pro, 10th Overall, 2nd American
Pacific Crest Half Iron -- 2nd Pro, 2nd Overall, 2nd American
Soma Half Iron -- 7th Pro, 7th Overall, 3rd American

Overall Wins at:
Xterra Iron Creek, Course Record
Lake Havasu Olympic
Tuscaloosa Sprint, Course Record
Terre Haute Tri
Triple T Sprint Tri
Triple T Olympic

2007 season highlights:
Lake Stevens IM 70.3 -- 7th Pro, 3rd American
Cancun IM 70.3 -- 8th Pro, 2nd American
Boulder 5430 Half Iron Triathlon -- 9th Pro, 6th American
American Triple T -- 1st Pro, 1st American, Course Record