Ricky James

Profession: Triathlete

Questionnaire

What does your standard training week involve? Right now my training is just about building a good base to work off of for the rest of the year. I try to get about 3 bike rides a week in from 40-60 miles each and watch my average speed each ride, so I can steadily improve over time. Also, swim 2-3 times a week in between 2000m- 3000m each and throw in a few racing chair pushes around 10 miles each. I am focused on 70.3 distance right now, so if I make it to Kona, these distances will soon go up!

Where is your favorite place to train? Camp Pendelton. Spend majority of the time on the bike, good mix between flat, hills, stop lights, bike lane, and fewer cars. 

What is your favorite race? Kona! Atmosphere is amazing.

What is your favorite 2XU garment? When do you use it and why? Still testing what works best for me, but so far I like the Compression TriSuit during competition. V:2 wetsuit is the best wetsuit I have been in so far as well.

What is your favorite training accessory? (heart rate monitor, power meter, pool buoy, etc...) My music! Cell phone mp3 player and waterproof mp3 player for the pool. Gotta have me my music!

What has been the toughest experience in your career and what did you learn from it? My first triathlon, Honu 70.3 in 2008. I thought I was prepared but wasn't. My equipment and training weren't up to par. I learned that if you want to do this sport, it takes more commitment than I was giving. I flew home thinking that was my first and last triathlon. Got home and actually liked that it was harder than I thought and have since been better prepared before each race, for the most part.

What is the most common training mistake you see? Doing more miles than what is needed and not intensity for the actual distance. Race day comes and it’s cool you can go twice the distance, but you get smoked!

What motivates you to train and race harder? Where I have been, what I have done, and what I want to do. My family, my friends, my believers, and really my sponsors that support me. It is a gamble to help me out at times and I like to show that there was a reason why they got behind me.

Describe your diet/ meal plan leading up to a big race? Water! No fast food, fried food, or frozen meals. Haha. Pretty much it. I start loading up on CarboPro and try to eat more pasta, meats, fruit, veggies, fish - all the good stuff!

How do you balance your training and racing life with life outside the sport? I actually like going to school this time around, so it's nice to learn on my rest days. Take the train to school, cruise around campus in between class and be outside. Lucky to live close to my best buddy so go bowling and try to holler at chicks on the beach! Haha!

What type of nutritional supplement do you find most helpful? Everything CarboPro makes! Amazing product. Vo2, Recovery, Protein, Motivator.

What is the best thing about being a professional athlete? Being able to travel around and being your own boss. If you don't put the work in, you can't expect to get good results.

What is the worst thing about being a professional athlete? Being your own boss, coz he can be an ass sometimes!

In five years I will be..... An Ironman World Champion, a college graduate, and a good dude!