After failed diets and exercise routines, he decided to have bariatric surgery to help lose the weight. “When he makes a decision, he com-


mits 100 percent,” Dani said. “He de- cided he didn’t want to be in his mid- 20s and on blood pressure medications, and within one year, he had lost 100 pounds.” It was Dani who inspired Brier to get


involved with triathlon. He watched her go through her weekly routine of swim- ming, biking, running and cross training and wanted to join in on the fun. One year after surgery, he competed in his first triathlon. He quickly fell in love with multisport


and decided to do an ultra-distance tri- athlon the following year. Within nine months of making that decision, he tackled Ironman Lake Placid. Dani, who was seven months pregnant with their son Soren, cheered him on. “Our son was born on Oct. 1, 2011,


and my wife went back to work seven weeks later. I was home with him, and it was an exhausting blast,” Brier said. “My only real fitness activity that first winter was an Itsy Bitsy Yoga class — I was the only dad. I counted down the days until he was old enough and strong enough to join me for runs in a jogging stroller.” Brier ventured into fatherhood the


same way he jumped into triathlon: with dedication, passion and patience. From the beginning, Soren was his No. 1 priority. “From choosing the jogging stroller


G


to figuring out how to work the Moby Wrap, he took initiative on a daily ba- sis,” Dani said. “And as painful as it is when Soren refuses to let me read him a book because daddy has to be the one to read it — I wouldn’t want it any other way.” Brier and Dani share roles to balance


family life and financial stability. Brier worked from home when their son was young, and now they take turns with drop-off and pickup from Soren’s day- care to be flexible with their careers. On top of being a devoted father,


Brier is a full-time studio manager at a software and technology development firm, a member of numerous boards and committees and the driving force behind LIFEcycle, a nonprofit organiza- tion Brier and Dani founded in 2008 to promote healthy, active living and sup- port local cancer treatment. At the end of each day, he’s home in time to run out to the car just to get Soren out of his car seat. Brier is also the cook in the family. “How does he manage it all? I’m


fairly certain he doesn’t sleep,” Dani joked. Giving back to the community has


always been central to Brier’s life, and through LIFEcycle’s annual bike-a-thon, they’ve raised more than $250,000 for cancer treatment in their home state of Rhode Island. Brier credits his parents for rais-


ing him to be mindful of his impact on neighbors and the greater community. He’s also thankful for the healthy exam- ple they set for him as a child, running and participating in sprint triathlons themselves. These days, Soren is already show-


ing interest in his parents’ hobby. They have two bikes for him: one with a handle on the back so he can practice pedaling and a balance bike so he can learn to stay upright while still keeping his feet on the ground. “Getting into and out of the house


through our garage is difficult, because whenever he sees the bike he wants to ride to the park,” Brier said. Soren also finds joy running around


the island in the kitchen and has recent- ly started attending a swimming class. “He’s happy in most situations,


which makes life really easy to adjust to,” Brier said. “But no matter how easy it is, it’s still a huge change. No matter what we do or where we’re going, he’s always front and center in every deci- sion. … I’m working to make sure he has everything he needs to be happy, to learn, to grow, to thrive. It would be a lie to say it’s not exhausting most days, but it’s very well worth it.” Fitting triathlon in on top of so


many commitments might seem crazy to non-triathletes. But the Briers, like other young, busy multisport fami- lies, willingly wake up before 4 a.m. to workout, include registration fees in their family budget and own four times as many bikes as cars because triathlon is more than a way of life for them — it’s a culture. “It’s made us happier. It’s made us


work harder. It’s made us better par- ents. And it’s bonded us in a way we never could have imagined,” Dani said. It’s not always easy to be a multitask-


ing, multisport family with a toddler, and the Briers admit to feeling over- scheduled and burnt out at times, but they wouldn’t trade it for the world. “My wife and I wouldn’t be able


to handle being good parents, good employees and good partners to each other if we weren’t able to always stay on the same page and make sure we’re both meeting each other’s needs,” Brier said. “It’s about teamwork.”


MEET THE SUPER DADS


The multitasking, multisport life is one


many parents find fulfilling. From staying active to setting a good example for their children, these triathletes have found a way to balance family, work, training and much more.


Kristin Goett and her dad, Robert.


THE ENCOURAGER Kristin Goett, 17, says her dad, Robert


Goett, of South Salem, N.Y., is her biggest inspiration and credits him as the reason she competes in triathlons today. He’s always insisted on driving her to races, even at 4 a.m. and in spite of bad weather conditions or lack of sleep. After competing for more than 25 years himself, Robert had to take a break to receive treatment for a heart con- dition — but at 62 years old, he’s back on the race course.


THE CARETAKER Tom Mangia of Bloomington, Ind., can


be found cycling in the basement while his daughter Aubrey, age 2, sleeps, and when she’s awake, he’s there to do her hair and nails, cook meals and spend quality time with his family: from game night to books before bed. On top of balancing training, family, work and school, Tom had surgery a year ago to remove a tumor from his knee. Triathlon has helped him recover, and he looks forward to competing in the Carmel Marathon and Ironman 70.3 Muncie in 2014.


THE COACH For John Slyer of Averill Park, N.Y., mul-


tisport is a family affair. John and his wife Kathy have involved their three daughters (ages 10, 15 and 17) in triathlon from a young age. John is the founder of Skyhigh Multi-Sport Life Triathlon Club, and for the past nine years, he’s run a children’s summer camp to teach kids about the multisport life. In the home and on the trails, John is recog- nized as a leader, motivator and mentor.


Read about more age-group super dads at usatriathlon.org/magazine.


USATRIATHLON.ORG USA TRIATHLON 41


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