A long-time competitive runner and cyclist when healthy, Joe Reis has unfortunately been plagued with nagging injuries. This spotlight is on Joe.

Joe Reis rolling along at IM Austria.

What's your occupation?, and what times do you like to train?
I'm a computer network engineer. Got into it about 8-10 years ago. I'm a real tech head. Drives my wife crazy with all the computers I have running at home. She says that with all the computers andbikes that we need to buy a warehouse to live in. Women just don't get it! Men need their toys! :-) I'm also an insomniac. So I don't need much sleep to go on. I usually get up and train at 5:00am (bike or run) and swim late at night (8-9) after work. This schedule worked for me last year while I was training for the Ironman."

Tell us a bit about your running background
"Since I was ten years old I have been competitive through running track. First through the PAL league, then HS, and then college. I love the training and especially the racing part of it. I'm not much for team sports. I love knowing that what I put into training is what I will get out of it in racing and I don't have to depend on someone else to win or reach my goals. I have ran track since I was ten except for a period of about seven years in the early 90's before and after my back surgery. I took second place in the 800 meters in the Junior Olympics, ran a 1:56 800m, a 4:02 mile, a 30:11 10K, etc... I have also done some speed skating on ice & on rollerblades."

Why did you get into triathlons?
"I don't know. I guess it seemed like the next thing to accomplish. I liked the idea of cross-training (swim-bike-run). Although I was a horrible swimmer . . .sorry - still am a horrible swimmer! As you get older you can't run twice a day like when I was in a HS & college. I guess my first triathlon was the Harriman sprint triathlon in June '99. The hardest thing I ever did. I swore never again..."

How did you hear about the club?
"I heard about the Westchester Tri Club at the Wednesday night Westchester Road Runner's practices. A few people there were part of a then group of ahtletes in the area that were into triathlons and it kind of caught my attention a little more. So I started to train with them and really just did bi-athlons for a while because that's what I excelled at. I think these are a great group of people (politically correct) to train with and be friends with. We have people from all different backgrounds and we all get along and have a great time training together."

What type of equipment do you use in your training?
"Well I purchased a new steel road bike for training but haven't been able to ride it. I do have a Computrainer which I love but again... no riding! And then comes my baby, the Litespeed Blade -- that I also can't ride! Do you see the pattern here?"

Unfortunately, yes. But if you weren't injured, what races would you like to do this year?
"If I was healthy I had wanted to do Eagleman Half-Ironman, a couple of biathlons, a couple of Olympic distance, and finally do Ironman Wisconsin. BUTnow I will have to see how my back comes around. I have a nagging/aching herniated disc! ...and then possibly do a marathon in the late fall!"

How has being injured, changed things for you?
"It's different. Considering that I'm not even training right now because of the back! But really I just want to be able to train healthy and reach my full potential. Last year with half the training that I should have done I finished my first Ironman. So I would like to see what I'm capable of doing when healthy. Waa waa waa..."