While his work in sales often takes him on the road, we caught up with Barney for this spotlight interview.

Barney O'Connell

Your job involves quite a bit of travel. How do you fit in training time?
"As a natinal sales account manager [for Heineken] I travel quite a bit so that makes it tough sometimes, but you just have to suck it up and say what the f--k. You can't take this s--t too seriously."

Folks have seen and heard the banter between you and Justin. What's up with that?
"It's all in fun. But I often wonder exactly when did justin get run over by the bus and suffer the brain damage that got his thinking so completely ridiculous?"

Does the back and forth with Justin, motivate you in triathlons at all?
"Two things about triathlons motivate me. One, it balances out my crazy beer-consuming life. Two, TO KICK JUSTIN'S LITTLE SILLY KILT-WEARIN' ASS."

What's on your race calendar this season?
"KICKIN JUSTIN'S LITTLE SORRY KILT-WEARIN' ASS. Some ridiculous 3 day triathlon thing [Triple-T Challenge], Alcatraz, IM MOO [Wisonsin]."

Any secret training weapons this year?
"I finally got a Computrainer and it is a fun toy to play with. I will be using it year-round, just like Uncle Chuck."

From present, to the past. What was your athletic background before triathlons?
"Gymnastics. Swimming in high school. Ran marathons, then ultra marathons until relentless injuries put an end to that. "

Do you recall when you did your first triathlon?
"It was 1987, the Chicago triathlon. I saw it on TV the prior year and told myself the next year I would do it. Besides, living in Chicago, the start was just down the street from me so I had no excuse not to. This was back before aero bars, clipless pedles, index shifting etc. As a matter of fact, I believe a few of our crew weren't even born yet at the time "

You eventually moved from Chicago to this area. How'd you find out about the crew?
"Through the Internet. I met Rich Izzo in the Little Boy Chat Room, . . . err . . . ooops. . ., I mean the Ironman USA Lake Placid Comments page. I told him I was moving to Westchester and he brought me up to speed on the club. "