Ed Baker

Ben Baker is getting pumped for the @ironmantri #imwc this weekend. He will be 10 days old on the day of the race! #ironmantri #roadtokona #ironmantraining #triathlontraining #swimbikerun #eatsleepworkoutrepeat (at Kona, Big island) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bow0MJclavr/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=gais4iryj0px

Yesterday, I competed in IRONMAN Copenhagen (my second Ironman so far) and was excited to PR by 51 minutes, for a final time of 8:27:10. With this time, I was the first amateur to cross the finish line, and 10th overall (behind 9 of the 21 pros who finished). It was a beautiful course ending with a four lap marathon run through downtown Copenhagen, and the energy from the crowds is what pulled me through the final lap to (just barely) break 3 hours in the marathon for the first time. It was also the first time I was asked to take an anti-doping drug test after the race. :) I once again must thank my coach Matt Dixon @purplepatchfitness for taking me on this exciting Ironman journey (which is still just beginning), and my wife @sarahbbaker for taking care of the family and not going into labor (yet!) while I’ve been in Europe. I also want to thank my amazing support crew — @csbaker80 @thetraug @alasdairmcleanforeman — who went shopping for a rice cooker and ingredients to help me make rice cakes for the race, and then cheered me on for over 8 hours after pulling all-nighters in Copenhagen the night before. And finally, thanks to all of the other people who helped make this wonderful race happen flawlessly, including Ironman staff, volunteers, and Ironman XC! Kona is now less than two months away. While I’m looking forward to it, I’m also a bit nervous about the extreme heat, wind, and competition that I will be faced with on race day. It will be an adventure and a learning experience for sure! . . . @kmdironmandenmark #kmdironmancopenhagen #imcopenhagen #ironmancopenhagen #cphironman #copenhagenironman #ironman #ironmanxc #triathlon #tri #trilife #swimbikerun #finishline #roadtokona Also thank you to: @swimsmooth @charlesrivermasters @fitwerx @trekbikes @wahoofitnessofficial @woodwaytreadmills @iamspecialized_tri @girocycling @asics @gozwift @a2windtunnel (at Ironman Copenhagen) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmtAFv6lyIK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=fipc9hed4mzu

Had breakfast with @tri_thedon this morning. He set the Ironman world record in Brazil last year with a time of 7:40:23 (!), and he is now competing strongly again after recovering from a broken neck. He and I will both be racing #imcopenhagen on Sunday, so I look forward to seeing him when he laps me on the run course! :) . . . #ironmantri #ironman #triathlon #ironmanxc #swimbikerun #racedayprep #triathlontraining #ironmantraining #roadtokona #manwiththehalo (at Copenhagen) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmk2_D1FPBK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=33nie0dv0t24

Was great to grab lunch with my coach Matt Dixon @purplepatchfitness just now. Since I live in Boston and he lives in SF, most of our interactions are via phone, email, and #trainingpeaks, so it was a special treat to be able to catch up with him in person about everything from preparing for Kona to 2019 goals to all of my annoying emails asking for more training hours and all of his prudent responses, which are usually “No,” or at least “Not yet.” . . . #triathlon #ironman #triathlontraining #ironmantraining #ironmantri #roadtokona #tri #trilife #swimbikerun #purplepatchfitness (at Noe Valley, San Francisco)

Yesterday, I completed my first full IRONMAN in 9:18:28, which (to my surprise) ended up being fast enough to win the entire race. At 6:40am, I hopped into the water with over two thousand other people, and I was pretty nervous because I just kept thinking about all of the things that could go wrong over the next 9+ hours. My coach told me to just treat it like a long day of training, which is exactly what I did. The course was beautiful (and challenging!), and the energy from the spectators, volunteers, and other athletes was amazing. There were several times in the last 10 miles when I questioned whether I would be able to finish, but I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t push through to the end. So I just kept telling myself, “I can at least make it one more mile.” I couldn’t have done this without my coach @purplepatchfitness Matt Dixon, my wonderful and supportive (and pregnant) wife @sarahbbaker who takes care of everything with our family while I’m off racing and/or training, my parents who came to cheer me on and support me this weekend, and all of my other family and friends who keep me going with their words of encouragement. I’m now looking forward to going to Kona in October, one month after baby #4 is due! . . . #ironman #imlakeplacid #raceday #triathlon #tri #trilife #swimbikerun #swim #bike #run #finishingline #goingtokona #zwift #swimsmooth #purplepatchfitness #fitwerx #woodwaytreadmill #trek #trekbikes #trekspeedconcept #whitefacelodge #asicsrunning #giroaerohead #specializedsworks #harvardtrack #franksoldboys (at IRONMAN Lake Placid)

Coach Paul Newsome @swimsmooth gave me some super helpful pointers at a swim clinic in Montreal today. My biggest takeaways were: 1) Don’t let my arm cross over when I take a breath, 2) Spear the water so that I don’t overextend and end up pushing down when my hand enters the water, and 3) It’s okay to look ahead slightly rather than straight down when I swim (if my head is down *too* much, it can actually create drag). He also taught me how to use a tempo trainer, which I’m excited to try as soon as I get back home. . . . #triathlontraining #ironmantraining #swimbikerun #triathlon #tri #trilife #swim #swimtechnique #swimsmooth #purplepatchfitness @purplepatchfitness (at Olympic Stadium (Montreal))

I won the Malden 10k Road Race this morning in 34:25. My coach @purplepatchfitness let me do this race as my last “tempo run” before Ironman Lake Placid, which is one week from today. Starting to get a bit nervous about doing my first full Ironman... . . . #ironmantraining #triathlontraining #tri #trilife #roadrace #malden10k #swimbikerun #run #running #purplepatchfitness (at Malden, Massachusetts)

Just spent a couple of hours in a wind tunnel in North Carolina to improve my aerodynamics on the bike. After changing my helmet, moving the position of my water bottles, slightly adjusting my hand position on the aerobars, and a few other small tweaks, I was able to save about 25 watts, which should (hopefully) equate to ~5 minutes on a half ironman course and ~10 minutes over the full Ironman. I’m excited to give it a try in less than 2 weeks at IM Lake Placid. . . . #triathlon #ironman #tri #trilife #triathlontraining #swimbikerun #windtunnel #imlakeplacid #purplepatchfitness #ironmanxc #trek #trekbikes #trekspeedconcept (at A2 Wind Tunnel)

Excited to continue supporting @LimeBike: a company revolutionizing the way our cities move! #LimeNation https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-09/uber-will-rent-scooters-through-its-app-in-partnership-with-lime

Completed the Ironman 70.3 Mont Tremblant yesterday (my second half ironman) in 4:09:00. I won my age group and finish 13th overall, coming in behind 11 pros and 1 other amateur. It was a beautiful course, amazing crowd, and awesome to have the support of 20 friends and family up here! . . . #im703tremblant #ironmantremblant #ironman703 #ironman #swimbikerun #triathlon #tri #trilife #raceday @immonttremblant (at Mont-Tremblant, Quebec)

Had breakfast with @tc_reid this morning. Looking forward to seeing him crush it in the #703monttremblant tomorrow! I’m just hoping I can finish the race tomorrow without any bike issues... 🤞🏼 #ironman703 #swimbikerun #tri #trilife (at Mont-Tremblant, Quebec)

Raced 2 miles this morning in Lake Gardner at the #LandSharkSwim. Got 6th place with a time of 47:54. It was nice swimming with you, @guy.davis1! (at Amesbury, Massachusetts)

Zwift Coast Ride - Day 4: Went 70 miles from Santa Barbara to Malibu. A great way to end this epic four day ride from Sausalito to Malibu. Now it’s time to give the legs some rest. (at Malibu, California)

Zwift Coast Ride Day 3: Went 128 miles from Morro Bay to Santa Barbara, including a pretty massive climb (and descent) at the end. #triathlontraining #swimbikerun #trilife #tri #zwift (at Santa Barbara, California)

Zwift Coast Ride Day 2 (of 4). Went 156 miles today from Carmel to Morro Bay. Legs are starting to feel tired, but the beautiful scenery and good company made up for it. #triathlontraining #swimbikerun #tri #trilife #zwift #zwiftcoastride (at Morro Bay, California)

Just completed Day 1 (of 4) of the Zwift Coast Ride. We went 135 miles from Sausalito to Carmel. By Wednesday we’ll be in Malibu. #triathlontraining #tri #trilife #swimbikerun #zwift (at L'Auberge Carmel)

Just finished a 1 mile swim in the Charles River in 21:55 (5th place, 1:15 pace). Back when I was in college, I don’t think it was safe to swim in this river... #triathlontraining #swimbikerun #tri #trilife #openwaterswimming (at Charles River Esplanade)