2002 Barb Lindquist Interview

SBRStL – Barb, we appreciate your taking time out from your schedule to do this for us.  First of all, even though you are already well underway in your 2003 season, a belated congratulations on a simply fantastic season last year.  I imagine 2002 must have seemed like a dizzying, whirlwind at times?

Barb – "Yeah, I think I was away from home 230 days last year, a lot of that in Australia. I race about twice a month and there is a lot of road time. Loren travels with me and that really helps to keep things a bit more comfortable.  2002 was my best year yet.  It is fun and exciting to keep improving.  I don’t feel like I have reached my fullest potential yet, so watch out in 2003!"

SBRStL – We’ve had an opportunity to chat with a few of the elite women’s iron-distance triathletes and they’ve echoed the theme that they sort of naturally gravitated towards that distance because it best suited their body type and ability.   The sprints seem to really work well for you.

Barb –"The speed aspect of Olympic distance racing hasn’t come naturally.  Coming from a distance swimming background, I actually quite enjoy the long slow miles.  Speedwork is something I’ve had to work on and has been the main benefit from doing the Australian summer sprint races for the past 6 winters.  I enjoy doing all styles of triathlon racing, but I do love the short speed events. There is no room for error and you have to be thinking all the time. There are a lot of tactics and strategy that goes along with draft racing.  I do like all distances but it is more a practical choice to concentrate on Olympic distance. It doesn’t take the toll on the body as an Ironman and I’m able to race more often."

SBRStL – I imagine this is a little bit of a bittersweet year in the sense that with Siri Lindley’s retirement, you’ll miss her as a friend but she was such a tough competitor.

Barb –"Siri and I were rookies together in 1996 so we have been through a lot. We will always be friends. I think we both made each other better athletes.  We had a great rivalry on the course, but it was grounded in respect and love.  She definitely raised the level of the game. She was tough and worked hard and you always knew there would be a chase on."

SBRStL – I think we can safely assume the Life Time Fitness Triathlon is circled on your 2003 calendar.  The so called battle of the sexes format and big money are equally intriguing aspects of that event, but I’m curious if last year at times it may have felt a little like a ”Billie Jean King-Bobby Riggs sideshow?”

Barb – "Well the main thing that was different about the race was the attitude.  Usually at the pre-race briefing it’s easier to joke around with the guys because you don’t compete against them. But last year at the race I found myself subconsciously holding my cards closer to my chest with the guys.  The guys themselves I think also took the women more seriously.  And if they didn’t last year, they will this year!  I’m sure it will be more so this year- everyone is your competition. With the large prize money the game faces will be on for six months."

SBRStL – You’re off to a flying start this season down in Australia.  Can you explain how do you manage to turn your nights into days, winter to summer, and still perform so well?  Is it not a difficult adaptation for you?

Barb – "I have been coming to Australia for the last 6 winters.  That doesn’t mean I haven’t had a winter in 6 years!  Living in Victor, Idaho (just outside Jackson Hole, Wyoming), I get plenty of winter in November/December before I come out here and plenty of winter in May and even June when I return.  Racing year round has really worked for me.  Getting out of shape stinks.  Or I should say, getting back into shape stinks, so I try and stay pretty fit all year round.  As far as living in Australia, they sort of speak the same language as we Americans, so that makes adapting here a bit easier.  I’m quite savvy now at driving on the left and can even shift a car with my left hand."

SBRStL – Barb, you had an impressive swim resume long before triathlon.  For the age groupers reading this, could you offer a few keys to successful open water swimming?

Barb – "Like everything in triathlon…practice! You should be able to site buoys, be comfortable in a wetsuit, and be able to bilateral breath. It is good to get a couple people in a lane and do some fast 50’s to get use to the thrashing that takes place at an event.  The most important thing to remember in open water swimming if you are a newbie is to relax.  Stress takes your breath away."

SBRStL – Given the all out nature of the sprint series you do, I imagine your training days follow a similar course with intensity foremost and duration second.  Maybe you could give us the blow by blow of a mid-season session when you’re feeling strong.

Barb – "Speed is important, but being able to hold that speed (speed endurance) without your technique falling apart is more important.  There is really no typical mid-season session.  On a quality day I might run 90 minutes total of hills or track, bike 2 hours with some short sprints (30 seconds) or longer efforts (5 min-20min).  However there is always a balance in training. Loren sorts out the overall plan and adjust workouts that compliment the race schedule. At this time I am using the sprint races here as a quality session for the week.  They fit into the scheme and play a part in the overall plan for the Olympic distance training."

SBRStL – You have somewhat of a reputation for racing a lot.  How do you dodge burn-out and get to the swim start fresh and ready to go?

Barb - "It’s all about attitude.  I love to race.  Ironically, I stopped swimming in 1991 because I hated racing.  I had actually qualified for the 1992 Olympic Trials (as I did in 1988) in swimming but opted not to train for 6 more months.  I just didn’t like to race, and if you don’t like to race, why train for the biggest race of all?  At that time I was a Christian, but my identity was still wrapped up in how I raced.  If I raced well I felt good about myself, but if I raced poorly, I felt bad about myself.   It’s quiet a human and common reaction.  I started to race with the fear of failure looming over me.  Two years after I retired from swimming, God brought me to a breaking point when He showed me that I needed to get my identity from Him and not from the things that I did.  For a Stanford graduate, honor roll gal, world ranked swimmer, this was a huge deal.   This was an amazing freedom and it gave me back the desire to race.  Now when I toe the line in a triathlon, I am excited to see what God will do through me on race day.  I have no fear of failure as win, lose, or crash, God loves me no matter what.  With this attitude, how can I not be fresh and ready to go on the startline?"

SBRStL – Barb, is Greece 2004 calling your name?

Barb –"Yes, Athens is definitely the goal."

SBRStL – Do you want to talk a bit about your involvement, along with Amy Van Dyken and Summer Sanders, in Speedo’s anti-drug campaign?

Barb – "A couple of years ago SPEEDO was involved in this program and used a number of us as role models.  I was very honored to be chosen with Amy and Summer.  Racing and living clean are of the highest priority for me and I hope to share that with kids."

SBRStL – Any of our readers wishing to subscribe to an individualized training program from your coach and husband Loren, can email him for more information?

Barb – "You bet. Loren only takes a limited number of people and really likes to spend quality time with the clients. He is always happy to answer questions and help out.  Contact him at    loren@barblindquist.com "

SBRStL – Barb, we and our readers in St Louis want to thank you again for setting some of your time aside for us and we wish you well.