TCSD TriNews December 2014 12 2014 | Page 7

TCSD CONVERSATION WITH: By Craig Zelent Kyle Hummel “ ” I got to talk triathlon with TCSD’s most recent World Champion Kyle Hummel. It will blow your mind to hear what Kyle has gone through just to be able to walk around like a normal guy. He has come so far to become the Ironman 70.3 World Champion for the men’s 30-34 age group. He is an awesome athlete who really appreciates the gifts he has been blessed with. I know you will enjoy getting to know Kyle. Craig: What was your athletic background before you started racing triathlons? Kyle: I grew up competing in every sport my parents would let me be in. The one sport I never had enough time for was swim team, which would have paid off big time now, but that is all good. Basketball has always been a love of mine, I never have enough time to get on the court anymore but hoops is definitely a sport that I love. I always kinda knew growing up that running was going to be my best sport. My family moved into Yakima, Kyle hanging w ith his pa rents afte WA, when I entered high school, r a 70.3. and was blessed by being able to run cross country and track for one of the best coaches in the and I was all loopy country. I was able to earn a scholarship as an coming out of the water. I thought running 800 meter runner for Eastern Washington shorts and especially spandex were very un-cool, so as I entered T1 I stripped my board shorts off University. (now completely naked), threw on underwear, What was your first triathlon experience like bike shorts, and then basketball shorts over the for you…and the spectators? bike shorts. I tossed on a cut off sleeve shirt, Kyle: My first tri was a sprint tri during my jun- bike gloves, helmet, my sister’s sunglasses, ior year of high school. For some reason I socks, running shoes and hopped on my dad’s thought some good cross training (swim, bike, old school yellow 10-speed bike where you had and run) would be good for my cross country to shift down on the frame; it was awesome. I summer training. I never swam before the race. came into T2 for another complete change of I rode a couple of times, but was running every clothes and then ran my guts out for the 5K. No day for cross. I swam in board shorts and no continued on page 8 goggles. My contact came off my eye mid swim, SPONSORS OF TCSD Moment Cycle Sport Contact: JT Lyons 2816 Historic Decatur Rd., Ste. 135 San Diego, CA 92106 (619) 523-BIKE www.momentcyclesport.com Discount: 10% off product, labor excluded. Nytro Multisport 940 S. Coast Highway 101 Encinitas, CA 92024 (800) 697-8007 www.Nytro.com Discount: 10% everything but service. Revolution Bike Shop 235 S Hig