If you raced earlier this season you might have run into Francois Modave. Recently arrived from Australia, Modave was tuning up at some local races..........using them as speedwork. Modave grabbed the 3rd pro spot at Buffalo Springs (a finish he was disappointed with) and has raced several IM's this season. We caught up with the "Wizard of Oz" for 10 questions about life, triathlon......and the benefits of a pre race beer.

               May Lise and Francois Modave

TT...Hi Francois, thanks for the interview. You’re one of the few pros living in our region. What brought you to El Paso? 

FM: I have finished my PhD in theoretical computer science in march 1999. After that, my wife May-Lise and I moved to the Gold Coast in Australia where we stayed for 2 years. Though, for research, that was not really interesting for me. Besides, drivers were pretty bad. I had an offer from UTEP as a visiting professor at the CS department as some faculty had similar research interest. We gave it a try and just loved it. Eventually, for training, it is really good. Altitude, sun, basically no rain, hills, mountains, flat…everything you need! 

 

TT...You were training in Australia with Craig Walton and friends……have you had any challenges training here without a large group of pros? 

 

FM: Well, the only training sessions where I was not alone were the swim sessions in Oz…and I can’t really say I swam with Waldo! We were just in the same pool…At the Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre, we had Michael Klim, Alex Popov too…I didn’t swim with them…just watched them in awe…Anyway, I really don’t mind training alone. I rode a bit with Bobby Gonzales here, which is fun…Bobby already has good stories!!! I also ride sometimes with Team Sol as I am a team member, but don’t do so much road racing during the triathlon season. 

 

TT...Thanks for staying on the course at Buffalo Springs long enough for me to get a glimpse on the way out as you finished. You got the 3^rd pro spot in that race but it seems you’ve had problems at the IM distance. If you can put it all together on race day are you a serious threat to win an IM? 

 

FM: Staying that long was not deliberate! I was probably thinking too much about getting closer to the lead (got as close as 2’ to Bonney) at the last turn around, but basically forgot to drink and eat. I did the whole race on half a bottle of water…not anywhere near enough in Lubbock…so 3^rd pro does not mean much (translates to 23^rd overall, although as I said before, the AG race was not draft free…but that’s an other story).

For the Ironman, it is also an other story…I had some bad luck (two flats at IM Asia 01 while second, lost 1h10’ but has fun by finishing with my wife, 3 flats at IM Holland in 98 while 1^st en route to a 4h15’ bike split), hit by a car just before IM Oz, but also some pacing mistakes…like riding 4h30’ at IM Europe and going 1h16’ for the first half marathon!!! Maybe in triathlon, I just learn much slower. For an IM win, maybe. If you think you can’t, then you can’t. But I guess, I’ll take baby steps (remember Bill Murray in What About Bob?). I will shoot for a top-10, then a top-5 etc…I’ll see where I stop. 

 

TT...What’s in store for you next season? 

 

I haven’t finished this one yet. I will be racing IM Florida next November. Hopefully, I will get a slot for Kona in the pro field. As for next year, I will probably race Ironman Brazil, Ironman Austria, and hopefully Hawaii, the Wildflower, Lubbock and some others. I want to run again a marathon (San Diego in January). 

 

TT...In what discipline do you need to make your biggest improvement? 

 

FM: Mental. I guess that’s the key for me at this stage. My wife thinks I should see a shaman or someone to break the curse! I also have trouble swimming in open water. I can easily swim 49’ for 2.4mi in a 50m pool, but I get slower with a wetsuit! 

 

TT...Your wife is also a triathlete…….is there any chance that she will follow you to the pro ranks? 

 

FM: I don’t think she wants to do that. I can’t say she could not. Lori Bowden started as a 12h IM! So, you just never know, I don’t think that’s what she wants. Although she definitely wants to race in Kona at least once! 

 

TT...What would you like to change about our local racing scene? 

 

FM: Tough to say. I raced twice in the SW. I guess more Olympic distance tris would be nice. Like the one in Las Vegas (I could not go unfortunately), instead of too many duathlons in WSMR. I’d be in favor of less races, more participation. 

 

TT...Would you support an IM (or IM distance) race in NM or West Texas? 

 

FM: Where do I sign? 

 

TT...Once you leave the pro ranks what shape will your triathlon career take? Would you like to coach or promote races? 

 

FM: I don’t know. My university career takes already a bit of time! But I am fairly sure I will race at least as long as Bill Bell! Maybe at 75, I’d be still trying to put a good IM! J

Coaching is fun though. I coach my wife. I coach a friend back in France, who did IM Roth in 9h45’ (I had predicted between 9h40 and 9h50 for him, so I was really proud!) So maybe, I’ll do some coaching for fun. I have also written some training articles, posted on some of the tri websites and had quite a few emails asking if I coached, but at this stage, I am way too busy to do it on a regular basis, although I am glad to give training tips to anyone emailing me. 

 

TT...When you’re racing locally are you always worrying about how close I am on the course? How many races do you think I’ll beat you in next season?? 

 

FM: Not anymore! I am more scared by coyotes now! About 2 months ago, 2 of these guys chased me for about a mile on Columbus drive! Do you know how fast these guys run?! Get me a pre race beer before each race next season, and I guarantee, you will beat me at every race!