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Member Bio Questionnaire

Date: March 12, 2003
Name: Rusty DeBlassie
Occupation:  Engineer
Male/Female: Male
Age Group:  30-34
Years in Triathlon:  3+ more years bike racing prior to this
Single or Family, if Family, how large:  Married with kids, Wife Yvette, Jerry 18 stepson, Joseph 12 Stepson, Naomi 4 bio-kid.
Where do you live:  Albuquerque-westside

Short paragraph of Triathlon background to include, how long you have been doing Triathlons, maybe some names of races you’ve been in, any top finishes?

I did my first tri (Jay Benson) back in 1993 through the influence of Roger Wrolstad’s UNM class and finished 5^th in my age group I think.  Discovered that I hated running at the time and decided to start bike racing.  I raced for UNM from 94-96 (we won Team Time Trial Nat championship in 94).  I was UNM team prez in 1995.  Did a bunch of USCF races also during that time.  Started racing triathlons again in 2001 as a way to control my diet and weight after discovering that I have diabetes.  Most frustrating thing is that the age group that I am in now is way too competitive….I finished 8^th in my age group last year at Socorro and finished in the top 10% overall.

Top Finishes:  3^rd place Bottomless Lakes Tri 2002

Worst Finishes:  Buffalo Springs Lake ½ IM, my run was wayyyyyy slow.

Favorite Race(s):  Buffalo Springs Lake ½ IM-incredible atmosphere far out-weighs any performance difficulties.  Tour of the Gila (bike

Funniest thing that has happened to you during a race:  Snake (Mark) and I are kinda competitive toward each other, and at Jay Benson last year I was ahead of him the entire run just until the timing chute entering transition where he stepped in front of me at the very last second, then in socorro since it was a time trial format you did not really know exactly where you stood vs. your competition so on the run I ran all out.  It turns out that Snake and I had the exact same run time.

One piece of advice:  If you are sick or injured let yourself rest and recover.  Don’t risk your season (thus your motivation) just because you have to go out and train.

Big race(s) of the year:  Buff Springs 1/2IM

Favorite After Race recovery food:  After Buff Springs, almost anything, otherwise meat.

Best excuse for a bad performance:  Bad swim, bad water, too hot, too cold, I saw Michael going real slow and I wanted to stay back to encourage him along, or whatever suits me at the time.

Favorite Training routine:  Finger climbs along tramway and the road to La Luz Trail

Short paragraph about life outside of Triathlons:

Other than family there is life outside of triathlon?  I work as a Tool Design Engineer for Thomas and Betts Elastimold.  I love playing x-box (Halo and Gotham Racing are favorite games), and watching movies, and working in my yard.