Overcoming Dwarfism in Triathlon with Zach Josie - Successful Athletes Podcast 007

TL;DR

Triathlete Zach Josie shares his journey of overcoming obstacles, including dwarfism, to excel in the sport of triathlon.

Transcript

welcome to the successful athletes podcast where we interview successful athletes in an effort to make you faster we learn from them and everything that they do so then hopefully all of us can be a bit more successful on the bike whether that's in mountain biking Road Cycling triathlon everything else and we have a triathlete with us today Zach Jos... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Stubbornness and a belief in one's abilities are vital in overcoming obstacles and achieving success in triathlon.
• 🚲 Proper bike fit is crucial for triathletes, especially those with unique proportions, like Zach Josie, to ensure optimal comfort and performance.
• 💯 Swimming improvement can be achieved by focusing on core and hip engagement, regardless of physical limitations.
• 💦 Early morning training can be challenging but is necessary for athletes with busy schedules to fit in their workouts.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Zach Josie balance physical labor with triathlon training?

Josie wakes up at 3 am to complete his hardest workouts before work and tries to fit in easier workouts after work. He made this arrangement with his wife to ensure he could still spend quality time with her in the evenings.

Q: How has Zach Josie overcome the challenges of swimming with dwarfism?

Josie took swimming lessons to learn proper technique and breathing. He focused on using his core and hips to generate power, as his shorter limbs would not provide as much propulsion.

Q: How has Zach Josie improved in triathlon since his first race?

Josie's swimming speed has improved significantly, going from struggling to finish a 100-meter swim to completing 100 meters in 1 minute and 30 seconds. His cycling FTP has also increased by 15-20 watts, leading to faster bike splits.

Q: What are Zach Josie's future goals in triathlon?

Josie aims to complete a full Ironman triathlon, with Coeur d'Alene being his target race. He looks forward to the challenge of a longer bike ride and continuing to push his limits.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Zach Josie, a triathlete with dwarfism, shares his experiences with getting into triathlon and refining his skills in all three disciplines.

• Despite working in physical labor and having a demanding schedule, Josie fits in his training by waking up at 3 am to complete his workouts before work.

• Josie explains the modifications he has made to his bike, including adjusting the seat and stem length, to accommodate his shorter limbs.