Erin Brennan: "No Junk Miles"

Erin Brennan leads the Tri-Maine race series women's competition. Interestingly, the former runner turned triathlete also leads the Maine Time Trial Series women's bicycle race.

“I tried to be a runner, but I was not very good,” says the humble Brennan, who recently completed the Urban Epic 10K in a speedy 43:20, only 15 seconds slower than her nemesis and Urban Epic winner, Katie Payson. “I got injured running so I started riding the bike. A couple of friends convinced me to try triathlon, but I really sucked, so I started working harder.”

Hard work, a supportive family and a focused training program are the keys to Brennan’s remarkable success as a triathlete and a cyclist. Brennan trains and races only eight hours each week. “People told me I could do a lot better than I was doing. So, I began to do more focused workouts. I established goals for myself and developed a plan. I did more speed work. Every workout now has a goal. I don’t have much time, so I do a lot of hard efforts. There are no junk miles.”

Erin’s real breakthrough came in 2000 when preparing for her first Ironman. Her goal at the time was simply to finish the race. Her coach told her that if she focused, she could break 11 hours. “Steve helped me take my training to the next level and to believe in myself,” says Brennan referring to Cumberland-based coach Steve Fluet. “I learned that every workout has a purpose. There is no time to waste.”

Brennan continues to perfect her workouts and tests her skills almost weekly in bicycle time trial events and triathlons. “You don't have to over train. In fact, it’s pretty much impossible with a family relationship,” say Brennan who at 42 is married with two children and holds down a full-time job. “You have to know what training is really important and what races are really important.”

The feisty Tri-Maine race leader offers four tips for aspiring triathletes: “(1) Marry a supportive spouse. Successful racing is all about family support. If I did not have it, I could not win. (2) Eat well by taking in proper nutrition. The old adage ‘garbage in, garbage out’ applies here. (3) Make the workouts count. And (4) know when to be selfish - be disciplined and stick to your training regimen.”

As OA spoke to Brennan, she had her sights set squarely on the Camden Maine Sports Triathlon. In Camden Brennan would once again compete against Katie Payson, a former World Champion triathlete. At the Urban Epic, the race was won in the swim, where Katie put just over five minutes into Erin, who came roaring back on the bike gaining back almost four minutes on her rival. “The swim in Camden is very short (.5 miles). If I can stay with her in the water, there is a chance I can win on the bike. To catch Katie is one thing, to pass her is quite another.”

Race results from the Camden Maine Sports Triathlon show that Brennan almost achieved her objective. She finished the race second among women at 2:16:55, losing just 56 seconds to her rival, Katie Payson. Erin will get another chance at Katie in the upcoming Lobsterman Triathlon, but not before she defends her lead in the Maine Time Trial Series in Camden again next weekend!