This month's Athlete of the Month (Presented by Mix 1) is Chris Masilon. Chris has been a D3 athlete for about a year and just recently qualified for the USA Triathlon World Long Course Championships. He's got an interesting career, good training partners, and a passion for triathlon. I know you’ll enjoy his interview.

D3: Can you tell us a little bit about your sports background? Which sports did you do as a kid and as you got older?

CM: I grew up playing team sports like most kids. I played baseball for 7 years, soccer for 10 years and basketball for 2 years. I also raced BMX when I was in grade school. In high school I played football, basketball and track & field. I played a year of football and track & field in college. When I was 21 I was introduced to mountain biking by a friend. I didn't stop mountain biking until I was 32. I raced up to the expert division. I even raced single speed for 2 seasons! During that time I also taught spin classes for 6 years. In my mid 30's I did some adventure racing, some as long as 3 straight day and nights.

D3: What was your motivation to get started in triathlon?

CM: I had been racing mountain bikes for about seven or eight years and was massively burnt out. I had always wanted to try triathlon; however I was terrified of the swim. Someone at work encouraged me to try one and gave me some swim lessons and let me borrow a wetsuit. That was in 2002. I did a few races in 2003 and 2004. I was still massively burnt out and stopped doing any endurance racing and training for about 5 years. In 2009 a friend of mine encouraged me to try triathlon again. I did a race and although it was a near death experience, I was HOOKED!!

D3: When and where was your first race?

CM: My first race was the Catalina Island Triathlon which is located on Catalina Island which is an hour boat ride of the coast of Orange County CA. That was in 2003.

D3: Favorite Distance?

CM: HIM

D3: Anything you want to say about any current or past training partners (good or bad)?

CM: Mundy and Browne s&*k ^$lls. Hahaha j/k. Honestly, one of the best things about this sport is sharing it with my friends who are my training partners. We talk A LOT of crap, but it's all in good fun and at the end of the day we all want to see each other succeed and get better.

D3: You have a very interesting job what is it? 

CM: I'm a homicide detective.

D3: What services have you used at D3 to help you with reaching your goals?

CM: One on one coaching, pre-made training plans and currently the 12 week custom planning with consultation.

D3; Have you done any races that you'd traveled for?

CM: Yes. Wildflower and the Myrtle Beach triathlon.

D3: Best Triathlon moment?

CM: Finishing my races with my 5 year old son!!! Haven't beat him yet!

D3: What is your favorite race and why? 

CM: Wildflower because of the festival environment, camping with my family and the challenges that the course presents.

D3: What are your long term goals in triathlon? 

To continue improving, having fun and being a good active role model for my son.

D3: If you could spend one day training with anyone, who would it be?

CM: My son. You should see him on the mountain bike tag-a-long!!!!!!

D3: What's in your race future?

CM: Oceanside 70.3, Leadman 250 (Ricci talked me into it and I'm not too happy about it), ITU Long Course World Championships in SPAIN!!!!!

D3: What's your favorite workout? 

CM: Long hard bike rides.

D3: What your least favorite workout:

CM: Anything with the word "run" in it! Haha!

D3: Tell us something interesting about you!

CM: I once at a dozen crispy cream donuts all by myself.