training profile
CreaTing a Champion
By Holden Comeau
T
he 2009 triathlon season was
monumental for Joe Maloy. Like every
motivated triathlete, the expectations
he set for himself were ambitious. Because
he was so new to the sport, he had a number
of important decisions to make regarding
his approach at the start of the year. One
decision proved to be most influential. He
found the right coach, and their success
together culminated with Joe winning the
2009 USA Triathlon Age Group National
Championship.
After spending four successful years as a
collegiate swimmer at Boston College, Joe’s
intuition was that he would need to be more
well-rounded in order to be successful in the
sport of triathlon. Unlike many of his NCAA
peers, Joe was not content to resign from
the daily demands of his swimming career.
He was one of the rare few who came out
the other side of a Division I athletic program
hungry for more. He entered the triathlon
world as an eager recruit.
In late 2008, Joe was introduced to
the man who would become his coach,
Brian Walton. The pair spoke about Joe’s
immediate capability and training regime.
Brian was hesitant to prescribe much training
or a specific direction, choosing instead to let
Joe demonstrate his own capacities.
Joe’s reaction was similar to many of
Brian’s new athletes, who are typically
surprised at how his reserved persona and
coaching style mask his prestigious athletic
past. Instead of speaking directly about his
athletic success, he wears his knowledge so
lightly that many athletes begin to question
exactly where he’s coming from. He doesn’t
speak in absolutes, choosing instead to stand
back and watch a new athlete.
Like every new coaching relationship, the
pair moved cautiously while Joe, like every
new athlete, was waiting to hear the magic
“secret” to success. Very soon Joe realized
that the only thing Brian seemed to keep
secret was what was just around the corner.
He was always a step ahead and would lay
out a course of training knowing exactly
where it would lead. As their expectations of
each other became clear, Joe’s confidence in
his coach grew. It didn’t take long for Brian to
find his faith in Joe, either.
“Joe’s got it,” Brian told me one day.
As much as I wanted clarification on the
mythical athletic “it” Joe encompassed, we
didn’t get into any specific details. Instead,
we started planning a training strategy. He
asked me to have a look at Joe’s recent swim
log and make some comments.
photo courtesy of Dan Ellis
Brian didn’t speak of any long-term plans,
64 USA TriAThlon winter 10
USATTriWinter10pgs50-90.indd 64 12/9/09 3:04:02 PM
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