Eric Lagerstrom's "Ask me Anything" from Escape From Alcatraz Win

Triathlon Forum
21

Eric my man!!! Great job brother!!! Viking Power!! No real question, just wanted to say congrats to you and Magali.

I take that back. I do have a question. what was going through your mind when you passed Potts? were you certain on your line? did you feel you “saved” energy for that?

Super stoked for you brother. Can’t wait to come out and celebrate.

KIRK! Thanks a million buddy, we appreciate it!

When I passed him, I was thinking and combination of “Hell yeah” and absolutely nothing. I was pretty deep in the zone and it’s sort of just you watching your body do its thing… Along with occasional commentary.

I had dosed my energy pretty well throughout the run because of the stories of it’s grandeur, so I would say yes, I saved some for the sprint. I didn’t think it would be intelligent to put a move on a multiple time 70.3 champ and Alcatraz champ with several miles to go…

22

Congrats Eric, it was a cool sprint finish!

I’m pretty sure sure mind was blank at the moment, but looking back at the sprint when you’re trying to pass Potts you were in a very tight place. How close where you to being squeezed out or just pretty much giving it up?

Cheers from Mexico!

We definitely got pretty close there in the chute. I ended up having just enough space to squeeze by, albeit with a little contact. If anything, being crowded like that flicked the anger switch right at the right moment and I was able to punch that last gear. It also is responsible for the intensity of the finish line photo… a lot of emotions flying in that one :slight_smile:

23

did you ever consider a career in pro cycling?

24

did you ever consider a career in pro cycling?

Every time I have to jump in the swimming pool!

But honestly, I’ve always thought it would be awesome, but I felt triathlon was my best shot at leaving a real mark on endurance sport, and I’m totally in love with it. There are so many things to work on, so many nice people, and just limitless possibilities for growth I feel.

The whole doping era and Lance, Floyd, etc really hurt me as a young cycling fan as well. If ever I had it in my heart to go that direction, I think that probably ruined it for me. Basically,you pour your life and soul into a sport, and if you manage to beat people who are cheating, you’ll be assumed a cheater as well. That’s pretty sad. I absolutely love bike racing though and I don’t think I’ll ever give that up.

25

Any last questions while we’ve got Eric on the hook?

He’ll be circling back to ST periodically during his time back home in Portland so toss him any further questions on this thread.

26

when did you know you were going to win?

did you do any specific preparation for this course? Hilly technical bike rides? Stairs for the run? Sprints in case you needed to outkick Potts at the line?

what bike did you ride? details on basic setup - wheels, bars, tires, gearing, etc?

did you get your hug from Paulo yet?

Just realized I forgot the most important part of this question… the race prep part. I’m still figuring out the best way to reply to things in a forum. I think the quote is a good way to go, yeah?

Specific race prep: I jumped in a couple of hill repeat sessions on the bike with the crew that is headed to Huatulco World Cup this weekend, which has a 1/2 mile hill @23% that you go up four times, so that session pretty much made the Alcatraz hills feel like no big deal. On the run, I did a couple hill repeat workouts with my teammate Jason Pedersen (RUNPD) who is an Alcatraz finisher and a god on the hills. He smashed me and I’m better for it.

27

did you have a strategy on how to tackle the sand ladder?

28

did you have a strategy on how to tackle the sand ladder?

I chatted with Jason the week before the race and he said the way to go was slow and rhythmic running. I just focused on the steps, took them one at a time and kept my turnover as high as I could. A couple times I got greedy and took a couple doubles, but I was honestly thinking about chasing Andy down at the end and wanted to save my legs for the flats where I knew I could bring some speed.

29

So, in the spirit of asking anything… Who were the hotties holding the finish tape?

30

Eric,

We walked by and high fived you but then realized you might have been inconspicuously in the middle of an interview so apologies if we interrupted something.

Two questions:

  1. You and almost all the pros used a TT bike, but I’ve heard Potts used to use a road bike with clip ons. Furthermore, Ashleigh used what looks like her ITU race bike with clip ons and took the win. I talked my whole crew from Portland into taking road bikes due to the technical nature and the climbing and I think we were all happy for that decision, however lacking any other experience on this course its hard to know if it is a faster decision. How did you make the decision to ride the P3 and how would you advise age groupers to make that call, now that you have experienced the course?

  2. What kind of approach do you take to utilizing power on a course like that? It’s tough to know where to aim with so much variability.

Thanks man and so awesome to see you and Potts head to head out on the run course - freaking awesome to see our hometown boy take that win.

31

So, in the spirit of asking anything… Who were the hotties holding the finish tape?

I’m really not sure… the only hotty I was thinking about crossed the finish line in 5th. She’s a stud.

32

Eric,

We walked by and high fived you but then realized you might have been inconspicuously in the middle of an interview so apologies if we interrupted something.

Two questions:

  1. You and almost all the pros used a TT bike, but I’ve heard Potts used to use a road bike with clip ons. Furthermore, Ashleigh used what looks like her ITU race bike with clip ons and took the win. I talked my whole crew from Portland into taking road bikes due to the technical nature and the climbing and I think we were all happy for that decision, however lacking any other experience on this course its hard to know if it is a faster decision. How did you make the decision to ride the P3 and how would you advise age groupers to make that call, now that you have experienced the course?

  2. What kind of approach do you take to utilizing power on a course like that? It’s tough to know where to aim with so much variability.

Thanks man and so awesome to see you and Potts head to head out on the run course - freaking awesome to see our hometown boy take that win.

Hi! No worries at all about the interview, it probably made it look more legit!

  1. I a very happy that I went with a TT bike. Best choice for me 100% However, I’m extremely comfortable descending on my TT bike, and I like climbing on it (especially in the saddle, which was 99% of the climbing on this course) For someone not comfortable descending in aero or just on a TT bike in general, then a road bike would have been the better call. Also, if they can’t stay seated or in aero for the whole Golden Gate park Section, then a road bike would again be the right choice.

  2. On a course like this, I use the power meter as a ceiling and as one part of a feedback system. I check in on that, other athletes, how my body is feeling, and just what is required to stay near the front. I kept my power from spiking up over 450 watts as much as possible and I think it saved my legs for later. My coach, Paulo Sousa, will also go over the data to see where improvements could be made, how my fitness is progressing, and to build workouts in the future.

Thanks for the Northwest love! Will you be at Athletes Lounge on the 16th for my hangout? Bring your crew out!

33

So, in the spirit of asking anything… Who were the hotties holding the finish tape?

I’m really not sure… the only hotty I was thinking about crossed the finish line in 5th. She’s a stud.

Having said that, how much have you outkicked your coverage with her as your girlfriend?

34

Congratulations
You won the viking way, fearless attack in the end :slight_smile:

Have you been contacted by any of the team in the French Grand Prix racing series, if so is that something you want to do?
Do people ask you about when you will start to do “real” triathlon, 70.3 and Ironman?
Why do you think many long course triathlon fans think ITU racers are bed cyclists?
Will you ever do the a swim-run competition like O till O, or Rockman?
When will Lars take you to Trollveggen Triathlon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3MIpGroNFk

Looking forward to see you on WTS races soon.

35

Looks like Norway did it again – they are winning in the category of most offerings of unique multi sport events. Putting to good use the terrain surrounding them! However, NOTHING compares to OTILLO in the Stockholm archipelago! Like the original San Diego track club members, those guys were trailblazers. FWIW, I’d love to team up with Eric at OTILLO but not sure it would be wise for him seeing how he’s in the sweet spot of his racing career. It would be a sick deal for me though having him tow me over hill and dale!

36

eric - i saw you at the pacific grove tri 2014! that water was cold!

i dont think you won but do you prefer drafting legal tri’s over non-drafting?

37

Congratulations
You won the viking way, fearless attack in the end :slight_smile:

Have you been contacted by any of the team in the French Grand Prix racing series, if so is that something you want to do?
Do people ask you about when you will start to do “real” triathlon, 70.3 and Ironman?
Why do you think many long course triathlon fans think ITU racers are bed cyclists?
Will you ever do the a swim-run competition like O till O, or Rockman?
When will Lars take you to Trollveggen Triathlon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3MIpGroNFk

Looking forward to see you on WTS races soon.

I am definitely digging the whole viking connection, so thanks for that! I was actually called “the little viking” by the nurses at the hospital when I was born. I guess it was some sort of sign.

FrenchGP- No I haven’t been contacted. I thought about reaching out to them a couple years ago, but I didn’t have the results, and training here in Poway with the Triathlon Squad is what has gotten me to where I’m at. I don’t think a huge block of time away would be the best for my long-term development. That being said, if we could somehow get Joe, Greg, Jason, and I (and Magali!) all over there together, I’d jump on it. It looks to be the most exciting racing I’ve seen and everyone is crazy fast. I’m hoping at some point Lars and I can bring something like it to the states. Maybe an early season series in Florida with consecutive weeks of racing and teams just like FrenchGP??

“Do you think you could do the whole triathlon?” Is a pretty common question we short course guys get… It doesn’t really bug me anymore, and I try to make the a track connection by comparing Usain Bolt to Marathoners. I think short course has the most exciting thing going and has the potential for TV shows, so people will slowly get that it’s not just a stepping stone to “the big one in Hawaii”. I’ll definitely be starting to dabble in 70.3 in not too long, but Ironman still hasn’t stoked the fire for me. Someday…

I hadn’t heard that most long course fans think ITU athletes are bad cyclists, but if I had to venture a guess, I would say that it is because you actually NEED bike handling skills for ITU and they are put on display with the WTS race coverage. When you are used to watching pro cyclists on TV, pretty much anything else is going to be a bit of a let down. Long course athletes have the advantage of riding in a straight line for several hours on the Kona broadcast in ultra slow motion, so they’re going to look like gods :slight_smile:

The swim-run thing is very intriguing and I’ve watched some race coverage! I’ll get around to it once I retire from triathlon. Lars and I will grow our beards out or something and go do battle.

Awesome questions, thanks for asking. I’ve put in for the end of season WTS races, so we’ll see if I make the cut. Or maybe the mixed team relay in Hamburg!

38

eric - i saw you at the pacific grove tri 2014! that water was cold!

i dont think you won but do you prefer drafting legal tri’s over non-drafting?

Hi! Yep that was definitely some cold water… but at least the kelp was non-existant! I had so much fun at that race, I’d love to do it every year.

Nope I didn’t win, I was third behind my teammate Joe Maloy, and great friend, Tommy Zaferes. Joe and I chased Tommy on the swim and for the first bit of the bike, then we all rode together and I fell back on the run. Everyone should go do that race; the RD is the coolest guy and just wants to give pros opportunities to race and make a living.

39

No hug from Paulo yet… I actually haven’t collected my last two hugs either. I’m waiting for him to ask me :wink:

Isn’t that like waiting for a girl to call you who says “I’ve got your number, I’ll call you.”?

40
  1. You and almost all the pros used a TT bike, but I’ve heard Potts used to use a road bike with clip ons.

Just a note…Potts normally does this, but this year (for the first time) he rode his TT bike. He stated a few times pre-race that he was more comfortable on the TT bike right now as he has spent less training time on the road bike this year, compared to other years.