Congratulations to Steve Becker for his selection as the T3 April Athlete of the Month. Recently, Steve completed the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Dallas-Little Elm alongside his daughter, Bryn. Steve crushed it, finishing in 4th in his AG, and claiming a spot to the 70.3 World Championships in Nice, France, where he will race with Bryn as well! Beyond this race, Steve has been an integral part to the T3 community for years...bringing a charisma and humor that can have all of us laughing for hours. He continues to show consistency in his training, and equally important does it with enjoyment! Congratulations Steve!

A:   Steve Becker, Niskayuna, NY

A:   59

A:   Living every child’s dream of one day having their own insurance & financial services business…Living every child’s dream of one day having their own insurance & financial services business...

A:    25 years 😲

A:    On & off by Kevin as he’s able to tolerate me since 2009 (he turned me down in 2008 – the wound still runs deep ☹)

A:   Impossible to answer. So many emotions, so many highs (not too many lows). Best outcomes not always the best memories and best memories not always the best outcomes. BUT, if I had to list:

1st IMLP 2008 – that first time feeling coming back to town off Mirror Lake Drive and entering the Olympic Circle… mind blown!

IMAZ 2009 – best outcome 10:11 and most perfectly executed (better lucky than good they say) and best post-race french-fries!

IMLP 2024 – most emotional doing together with Christina after her 5-year long journey of leg reconstruction surgeries.

IM 70.3 Dallas/Little Elm 2026 – proudest moment racing it with our daughter Bryn whom has come so far in such a short time. From watching her as a proud 10-year old sitting on the same boulder ALL race long in

Lake Placid in 2009 to now watching her in her element living in Dallas and the friends she’s helped & encouraged many, many of which competed that day in their first 70.3.

IMLP ANYTIME we are “funning,” not running – definitely my personal FAVORITE race whilst NOT participating!

A:   Bike, it’s always the bike – closest thing to flying.

A:   Chronologically I would say:

2008 NYC Marathon 3:00:31 @ 42 years young… so close (cramped in Central Park 😊)

2009 IMAZ best of 10:11. If only Kevin could teach me to swim faster than a Manatee, I could have gone under 10-hours… 😉

2026 IM 70.3 Dallas/Little Elm. The “Changing of the Guard” – the day our daughter Bryn's performance eclipsed mine! One of my proudest moments as a parent!

A:   Qualify for the 26’ IM 70.3 WC in Nice to race alongside Bryn – check! Family trip coming up! As Instagram reminds me daily – "Every trip can be all-inclusive... just invite your parents!"

Qualify for the 26’ XTERRA WC in New Mexico – first XTERRA race of the season coming up in NJ in a few weeks. We’ll see – haven’t raced an off-road triathlon since 2011.

A:   For sport in general – let ending it one day be my choice, no my body or my health’s choice. Like Christina always says… "Motion is Lotion!"

A:   Natural Peanut Butter, Italian/French red wine, Coffee beans

A:   So varied from the 1600’s to current day’ish BUT I’m a kid of the 80’s...with the head-shaved mohawk in my college senior yearbook to prove it (oh boy, was my mom pissed at me 😲)

A:   When life gets in the way, let it. If you take care of your body & mind, it will take care of you – you’ve got DECADES to enjoy yourself.

A:   Always keep em’ guessing (that is why I never write post-workout notes/comments in Training Peaks – Kevin just loves it... 😊). But seriously, just do it – you will never (nearly ever) regret the workout you did do when you didn’t "feel like it" but you’ll (almost) always regret the one you didn’t. (PSA: if physically tired/fatigues or injured, listen to your body).

A:   Love/hate – intense brick in extreme heat. Also anything involving the freedom of trail running – 2nd closest thing to the feeling of flying.

A:   A note for race day: Always be kind, always offer assistance, and always smile BUT when you are out there racing, everyone ahead is a fish & YOU hold the fishing rod. Also, in the infamous words of Kevin Crossman – never waste "free-air," 10-seconds is 10-seconds...

Beyond all though, remember life’s funny – don’t forget to laugh at it!