MEET our T3 May ATHLETE of the MONTH, Dean Haspela!

 Congratulations to Dean Haspela on his Athlete of the Month recognition. Not only does Dean excel as an athlete (having already qualified for this year’s World Championships in Kona), but also as a T3 Coach. He provides a very thorough and caring approach with his athletes. As you will read, Dean has learned a lot about himself through his coaching, and is continually improving all aspects of his triathlon career. Congratulations to Dean


Q:  What is your name and where do you live?

A:   I’m Dean Haspela. I grew up in the Lake George area but now split my time between Boston, MA and Sebago, ME


Q:  What is your age?

A:   My race age is 48 - but technically won’t be 48 until October.


Q:  What is your occupation?

A:   I am a RN and Clinical Nurse Specialist. I work at a hospital in the Boston area. I’ve worked in many Nursing roles over the past 20 years.


Q:  When did you start participating in triathlons? What motivated you to participate?

A:   My very first triathlon was the Bud Light Triathlon. I was in one of the summers before 1991 - but honestly I have no idea what year it was. I swam in the pool at the Ramada that used to be off of Aviation Road in Queensbury - I could swim but never did competitively. And I borrowed a bike what was way too big for me.


Q:  What are some of your career highlights as an athlete (not necessarily triathlon)?

A:  Through High School and College I raced Cross Country Skiing. That is where I really got the competitive bug and learned that individual endurance sports were what I really enjoyed. The racing was fun but I just loved being outside running on trails in the woods, hiking mountains in Lake Placid, and enjoying the winter months in the snow. In college I ended up with a back injury that took me away from athletics for quite some time. So I refocus on my education and career. I graduated from The University of NH - twice. First with my BS as a Clinical Exercise Specialist - then back to get my BS in Nursing. I started working at Mass General Hospital on a Cardiac unit and then returned to school at University of Massachusetts for my MSN - Clinical Nurse Specialist. I then began working at South Shore Hospital in Orthopedics. I’m still there today.

Triathlon has been a wonderful way to travel and see many places in the US. I’ve enjoyed travel to train and race.

I was never an overnight success - I learned - like with most things in my life - with consistency, persistence, and positivity - you can get far. I qualified for 70.3 Worlds and raced in Nevada and also qualified to race out in Kona twice - once in the past and heading there again this October.

Racing has been a wonderful part of my life that has given me a structure and rhythm that keeps me happy. Now coaching with T3 is a chance for me to help others with some of the things that I’ve learned along the way. It’s an honor to be a part of other individuals lives.


Q:  You recently started coaching, what has been your favorite part of it?

A:   The most rewarding part of coaching has come from hearing athletes recognize their own improvement. At first it is a challenge - but when sticking to it - benefits come. I like long range plans. They are like a road map that gets us from one place to another. Much like driving from one destination to another - having a ‘route’ in mind is key - but we also know that the route my vary or change along the way. But the same destination is always in mind.


Q:  What is a strategy you use to balance your time between your own training and coaching your athletes?

A:   Coaching, training, working, and home life has been a lot to juggle. Each week I spend time planning out the week on paper so that I can figure how to make things fit in well. I make time to plan priorities and time for all important things in my life - and I put it down on paper. There are so many apps and electronic ways to keep organize - but for me - I just start with a notebook of unlined paper. It’s clean - simple - and flexible. When I plan out the day - I also schedule things with times so that I know I am on track as the day unfolds. And - as with all of us - crazy days happen. It’s important to be patient and kind with yourself and not take things too seriously.


Q:  Have you written a great workout that you want to try yourself? If so, what is it?

A:   What I have really liked is a Balance Drill progression that a few athletes are using. It’s not one workout - but a series of drills that progress from very basic to more and more like swimming. The progression is pretty slow - but really helps you to solidify the drills into the subconscious while swimming - helping create muscle memory. I actually have done this progression myself and really feel that it has impacted my swimming. Each workout includes some drills from the last workout but will drop one drill and add a new one…always slowly progressing the drills from very basic to more swim-like. I highly recommend this work as it is free speed for us. Most triathletes have the fitness - but the drills help us with efficiency. This way we can put the fitness to work in the water.


Q:  Has becoming a coach made you more in tune with your own training?

A:   Coaching has made me more aware of how one workout can affect the days later. In scheduling workouts it’s important to create a cadence that will maximize the key sessions. I’ve noticed this more and more in my own training.


Q:  What are 3 foods someone would always find in your refrigerator/cupboards?

A:   For me - it’s more about what I can’t keep in the fridge or cupboards. Keeping my body composition in check has never been easy for me. If there is candy, chips, or ice cream in the house I just can’t control myself. So, I really like to follow simple plans and guidelines that can keep me on track. I am a big fan of food prep ahead of time so that when the hunger hits - there are good choices int he fridge. A few things that I like to prep ahead of time is overnight oats and vegetable soup. The vegetable soup is great as you can easily fix it up by adding a little cheese or diced chicken. Now that the summer is here I love to grill vegetables and chicken and have extra chopped up for an easy left-over meal. When it’s colder out - a go-to meal is a sheet-pan dinner. Chop up vegetables and some chicken sausage - toss with a little olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper - and roast in the oven. So tasty!


Q:  What advice would you give to a 'newbie' in the sport?

A:   Above all - keep it fun and ask lots of questions. Above all else - consistency in training is king. This means being conservative but sticking with things over the long haul. Be patient with yourself - and sometimes it’s good to have a laugh at yourself.


Q:  Any thoughts you want to share?

A:   Involve your family, friends, and pets as much a you can. Endurance sports are so individual that they can become isolating. Can your spouse ride with you while you run? Can your dog go with you on your recovery run? Can the kids do some stretching and foam rolling with you? If you’re creative - you can make a lot work so that you’re sharing the good times together and making memories. When it feels like ‘it’s all about us’ - everything just seems to come together better.




Previous Athlete's of the Month ::

November 2023:  Kerri Thomas
October 2023:  Matt Dowling
September 2023:  Nolan Hogan
August 2023:  Gil Silvestre
July 2023:  John Reid
June 2023:  Tyler Lingel
May 2023:  Julia Slyer
April 2023:  Kevin Crossman
March 2023:  Carl Regenauer
February 2023:  Amy Farrell
January 2023:  Tim Russell
December 2022:  Rachel Waller
November 2022:  Bobby Thorborg
October 2022:  Jeremey Frye
September 2022:  Jillian Richards
August 2022:  Rebecca Miller
July 2022:  Jason Hare
June 2022:  Julie Scherer
May 2022:  Martyna Brooks
April 2022:  Derek Demeter
January 2022:  Kaitlyn Hansen
October 2021:  Chris McNally
September 2021:  Jack Putnam
August 2021:  Sarah Adelson
July 2021:  Niki Kellogg
June 2021:  Jack Bordeau
May 2021:  Dean Haspela
April 2021:  Dina StClaire
March 2021:  Jamie Hoyt
January 2021:  Paige Montanye
December 2020:  Lara Vivolo
November 2020:  Erika Eckrote
October 2020:  Heidi Underwood
September 2020:  Tom Williams
July 2020:  Christian Weber
June 2020:  Mara Fronhofer
May 2020:  T3 Medical Professionals
April 2020:  Steve Vnuk
March 2020:  Luis A Castro
February 2020:  John MacDonald
December 2019:  Steciuk Family
November 2019:  Nathan Rieger
October 2019:  Jess Corwin
September 2019:  Amanda Williams
August 2019:  Chris Erwin
July 2019:  Deborah Curtis
June 2019:  Rachel Waller
May 2019:  Ariel Dickson
April 2019:  Jonathan Demers
February 2019:  Laurie Scheuing
January 2019:  Alexandra Besso
December 2018:  Kim Kilby
November 2018:  Jessica Cronin
October 2018:  Kerri Thomas
August 2018:  John Evansky
July 2018:  Lonnie Halusic
June 2018:  Chris McNally
May 2018:  Dan Finnin
April 2018:  Terry Spooner
March 2018:  Ann Crossman
October 2017:  Isabelle Dickens
September 2017:  Ivy Kasallis
August 2017:  Michael Robinson
July 2017:  Chuck Lester
June 2017:  Colleen Dolan-VanZandt
May 2017:  Nick Marcantonio
April 2017:  Ryan Keller
March 2017:  Bobby Thorborg
September 2016:  Vinny Cooper
August 2016:  Jane Mastaitis
July 2016:  Jamie Hoyt
June 2016:  Jeff Halusic
May 2016:  Sibyl Jacobson
July 2014:  Christine McKnight
June 2014:  Sereena Coombes
August 2012:  Kim Didrich
July 2012:  Michael Jordan & Barbara Jordan
June 2012:  Ray Liuzzo
October 2011:  Joe Hall
September 2011:  Carl Regenauer
August 2011:  Timothy Healey
July 2011:  Jason Gardner
June 2011:  David Cann
May 2011:  Fran Vincent
August 2010:  Jim Fox
July 2010:  Mike Jaworski
June 2010:  Carla Burhoe
May 2010:  Christine McKnight
April 2010:  Dean Haspela
September 2009:  Rebecca Pedersen
August 2009:  Michael Winston
July 2009:  Paul Fronhofer
June 2009:  Heidi Underwood
May 2009:  Johan Bosman
April 2009:  Mike Sorrentino
August 2008:  Patrick O'Keeffe
July 2008:  Jason Chlopecki
June 2008:  Mara Fronhofer
May 2008:  Pat Grasso
April 2008:  Tami Olheiser
March 2008:  Michael Robinson
February 2008:  Bob Stocks