The T3 Coaches have selected Joe Blakistone as Athlete of the Month in January. Not only is Joe one of the most consistent athletes in T3, but he is active in every aspect of the program (swim, bike, run, core, yoga, social, forums, and more). His dedication to the team and to his training has led him to become a respected leader among the T3 Team -- leading by example while encouraging other athletes to reach the next level. In addition, Joe is also very supportive husband. Training side by side, Joe and his wife Blythe are able to hold each other accountable to their training and help each other stay motivated. |
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Joe's Background
 "Post-college I topped out at 220 lbs and did more than my fair share of unhealthy living. I did not come from an athletic family and never played any sports in high school or college. Around 2002 I moved to Austin and picked up running as a way to lose weight but was never really competitive. It wasn't until I joined T3 that I really found an overall fitness level that enables me to do amazing things." |
How Joe Got Started in Triathlon
"I never really got started on my own - Blythe and Liz talked me into doing the T3 Swim Clinic and for some reason I signed up. My first race was Jack's Generic Tri in 2006 while I was taking the T3 Swim Clinic but I never really trained for it other than running (my finishing time that year was 1:22:45).
I didn't do anything after that race until Blythe got deployed to Iraq in January of 2007, at which time Chrissie and Mo convinced me that I was capable of training for and completing a Half Ironman. I signed up for the LoneStar Half Ironman in April 2007 and began my first formal coached workout training plan. After completing LoneStar, I was "hooked" on triathlons. From there I raced Buffalo Springs (despite being sidelined for a few weeks after getting hit by a semi truck on my bike) and a few other local triathlons in 2007 (my Jack's Generic time that year was 1:14:13 - eight minutes faster than the year before).
I also signed up for Ironman Arizona that year and finished the race the following April in 12:09:59 - never in my life did I think that I would be an IRONMAN. Since then I have done a few sprints, again doing Jack's Generic but this time completing it in 1:08:02 and placing 3rd in my age group. That is the first time I have ever won any sort of athletic award." |
Joe's Training Goals in 2009
 "I am signed up for Ironman Coeur d'Alene this year and my main goal is to get to the starting line injury free with a smile on my face. I want to enjoy every second of the journey - the long rides, the long runs, everything about it. I wouldn't be able to do that unless I was surrounded by such a group of inspiring and driven athletes. I am already realizing how precious my time with T3 is now that Blythe and I will be moving late this summer to Blythe's next duty station. Part of me wondered if spending my last months in Austin training for an Ironman would be a good idea; however the more I thought about it the more I realized that the process of training for CDA would give me the best farewell tour of Austin a person could ever have. There is no other group of people or place I would rather spend my time than training with T3." |
