Chapter 25: Case Studies of Athletic Development:

The Level 5 Athlete: The aspiring Pro - Elite Eric

So far, we've explored four case studies, each showcasing different stages of athletic development. We began with Metabolic Melvin, our "straight from the couch" athlete, who aimed to improve his metabolic health. Next, we followed Fiona Funrunner, an enthusiastic athlete chasing personal bests, and Ironman Ian, determined to complete his first full-distance Ironman (140.6 miles). Then, we introduced Kona Karen, an athlete striving for Kona qualification—the pinnacle of amateur long-distance triathlon.

Now, we take the next step up: an athlete who has already reached the pointy end of their age group and is ready to transition into the professional ranks—Elite Eric.

For this case study, I’ve chosen the example of a young male that I worked with whose aim was to achieve a number of amateur wins in Ironman and 70.3 races as a stepping stone to professional racing. However, the principles in this chapter apply equally to athletes who are consistently among the best in the world in their age-group across the amateur ranks. These are the athletes who are not just seeking to qualify for the World Championship, but those striving to become World Champions within their division.

At this level, the line between a top-tier age-grouper and a full-time professional is often blurred. Many athletes competing at this stage have unconventional work schedules that allow them to train at near-professional levels. This was also the case for Eric…

Eric’s life and background…

At 29 years old, Eric had already been training for close to a decade at the time we meet him in this chapter. His journey began in college, like many athletes, starting with sprint triathlons before steadily progressing to the 70.3 distance and eventually tackling full Ironman events. In the second half of that decade, Eric started to take the sport more seriously—hiring me to coach him and refine his training. Over the past five years of working together, he had developed the fitness to consistently place at or near the front of his age group in major events. Now, he was ready to take the next big step: competing in the Elite ranks.

Eric’s long-term goal was to race professionally on the international stage. While qualifying for Kona—one of the toughest age-group achievements—was a significant milestone, that we investigated in depth in the last chapter on Kona Karen, Eric saw it as just a stepping stone. His true aspiration was to earn his elite (pro) card and line up against the best in the world. The idea of racing head-to-head with top pros like Kristian Blummenfelt, Gustav Iden, and Lionel Sanders fueled his motivation. However, he understood that making the leap to professional racing would be a massive challenge.

He also knew that the time commitment would far exceed what was required to qualify for Kona. More than just turning pro, Eric aimed to develop the fitness necessary to compete at the front of the pro field—to travel the world, earn a living through racing and sponsorships, and build a sustainable career in the sport.

In Eric’s words:

“I can hold my own among amateurs, but racing as a pro is another level. I know it will push me to my limits, but I’m ready to find out just how good I can be.”