Triathlon
How One Athlete Is Making Triathlon Fun Again
During the longest day of the year, Eric Lagerstrom finds joy throughout his run/bike/swim from Oregon to Washington.
4 min
Eric Lagerstrom Makes Triathlon Fun Again
For triathlete Eric Lagerstrom, his aim is to enjoy every gritty minute of the hard yards that go into being a successful multi-sport athlete.
“No pain, no gain.” That’s what the coaches tell you, right? And it makes sense … training, practice, discipline; it can be grueling. But who the hell said you can’t have fun along the way?
“Training hard and having fun — they’re not two mutually exclusive concepts,” said Eric Lagerstrom, professional triathlete. “There’s enjoyment in the process. I think if I go over a week where I don’t have a moment where I realize on my bike or out running how cool this is, then I probably should reevaluate why I do it in the first place.”
It doesn't hurt to look cool while having fun
© Aaron Rogosin
This is a very "Lagerstrom" sentiment. The 27-year-old champion triathlete from Oregon is not only good at swimming, cycling and running, he’s good at finding the bright side. The kind of guy who wears a perpetual smile. Watching Lagerstrom do his thing, you can practically feel his enthusiasm as he barrels down a hill at 48 mph. Even listening to him talk is inspiring. The guy’s deliberate, articulate and just plain loves what he does.
No need to stop for a water break on this route
© Aaron Rogosin
Intentional spray or not, Lagerstrom is hydrated
© Aaron Rogosin
A triathlete since he was 12 years old and currently in Europe training for the World Triathlon series in Germany, Lagerstrom’s goal is to make the top 10 in the world. Certainly, that level of ability requires constant, rigorous training, but through the grind, he’s made a few short films celebrating this process.
Lagerstrom running past a scenic overlook
© Aaron Rogosin
“I started making videos because I felt like the professional side of our sport was floundering a little on the personality side of things,” Lagerstrom said. “I mean, there are personalities, but it wasn’t displayed well. So I was trying to get some attention and build some better content for the sport. There just wasn’t much to watch to motivate us, and I found myself just watching mountain bike videos. I really wanted something for us to share the stoke and get that ball rolling. This video [above] is a bigger, better extension of that. Mainly, I think the stuff that I put out shows that you can enjoy the process.”
Halfway through a swim from Oregon to Washington
© Aaron Rogosin
Lagerstrom cliff dives in for his second swim
© Aaron Rogosin
The video above is a cinematic love letter to his passion for the sport and his home where he trains. Shot during summer solstice on Wednesday, June 21 (the longest day of the year), in the Columbia River Gorge region during 16 hours of daylight, Lagerstrom swam from Hood River, Oregon, to White Salmon, Washington (across the Columbia River), biked in both states (from Gresham to Hood River, OR then White Salmon to Maryhill, WA), and ran trails on both Hospital Hill and the Syncline trail, right outside of Bingen, WA.
And, naturally, he looked like he was having a friggin’ blast the entire time.
It never hurts to nail a selfie for Instagram
© Aaron Rogosin
“I think this video is kind of a throwback to a feeling,” Lagerstrom said. “To just take a moment every once in a while to remember why it is you do this sport in the first place. I think for a lot of people like myself, we didn’t start with the ambitions of making a bunch of money. I think people ended up in the sport because the energy and vibe and the culture that a local race has. There’s a camaraderie and family and enjoyment you get in triathlon. So that feeling is what I want to remember and keep in mind.”
So, hop onboard with Lagerstrom and enjoy the ride. Clearly “playing triathlon” is a lot more fun than anyone could’ve imagined.
Lagerstrom running in the shadow of Mount Hood
© Aaron Rogosin