Today’s Athlete Spotlight is an inspiring one : meet Chris Heise!
WHEN DID YOU JOIN VALHALLA + VALKYRIE RACE TEAM? Dec 28, 2018 was my welcome email from Mr. Hardy himself welcoming me to the team for 2019.
WHEN DID YOU START TRIATHLON? My first triathlon was 2009 in North Carolina.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR TRIATHLON JOURNEY: Growing up I was always the overweight and awkward kid. That continued into my college years and early adulthood. In the spring of 2007 I made up an excuse to skip out on a 5k with my manager in Charlotte, NC due to being so out of shape. That June while on vacation in Myrtle Beach, I decided enough was enough. I had just turned 30 years old and had 2 sons (5 and 2 at the time). I went to the Nike outlet, bought some running shoes then measured out 1.55 miles from the condo were I was staying. The next morning I went for my first ever voluntary run…I made it about a block before I wanted to die! Even though that didn’t work, I walked to that damn stop sign 1.55 miles out and walked back. My first 5k. I was sore for days but the fire was lit. After that, I dropped some weight and learned a little about running. My dad was a big supporter of mine but wasn’t a runner. He suggested we try biking so he went and bought us 2 road bikes. I still remember them, Giant OCR 1 and a Giant OCR 2.
I ended up doing my first official race around 2008?, Lake Murray Damn 10k. At the time I had already signed up for a half-marathon. The 10k was a point to point across the Lake Murray Dam in SC. I remember finishing those 6.2 miles and thinking there is no f’n way I could run BACK to the start! Needless to say, I was worried about running a half. I ended up running a lot back then. Did that first half in under 2 hours, a huge accomplishment for someone like me! At the time of the half marathon, my longest run was 10 miles. I still recall hitting mile marker 10 and thinking “New PR”. I repeated this to myself every mile until I finished. Next to the birth of my 2 boys, that was the biggest accomplishment of my life. I went on to run multiple half-marathons over the next few years.
Along the way a friend of my dad had a daughter who was a triathlete. Since I was biking a little (5-10 miles!!) she convinced me to sign up for a triathlon. To do this, I needed to learn how to swim. I went to a local outdoor lap pool in Columbia. My memory says it was a 50m pool but I think it was actually a 25y pool, lol. First time I pushed off the wall, I went as hard as I could but didn’t even make one length without stopping to stand. This tri thing was going to be hard. I kept going back. Never got “good”, but I managed to not drown. I picked a hilly Olympic in North Carolina in a state park. My dad and I rented a cabin in the park for the race. It was wetsuit legal. First time swimming in a wetsuit was race day!! That was some race. The hills were tough. Running off the bike was harder then I imagined. The entire race was brutal but somehow I loved it.
Shortly after this, my work career picked up steam. I ended up taking on a few promotions and moved in 2009, 2010 then again in 2011 (this one to TX). The tri and run bug still alive inside me but competing priorities kept me from pursuing much. My 2nd ever tri was Oilman 2012. More work stuff after that then 2016 tried New Orleans 70.3. DNF’d the swim. 2017 Galveston 70.3 was the next restart. Since then, Triathlon, running and cycling has been a major part of who I am.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RACE? Favorite race overall would be Galveston. Favorite single race experience would be 2018 Augusta 70.3.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IN THIS SPORT? Other then not drowning? I’d say sticking with it. I’ve had setbacks from competing priorities. I’ve broken my hip and separated my shoulder (both bicycle accidents that were 100% my fault). I’ve had amazing training builds that I could not transfer into race day performances but yet I keep showing back up. My biggest accomplishment isn’t a particular time or race, instead it’s my determination.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? Tying it all together. Individually I’ve executed strong run performances and strong cycling performances but putting it all together has been the biggest challenge. Part of it was poor nutrition. With the help of Jana we cracked that nut for the race but my non-racing nutrition was still poor. This has been my focus since June 2024 so I look forward to seeing what 2025 and beyond has to offer.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE POST RACE FOOD? After I get home and shower? A waffle and chocolate milk!! Hashbrowns to round it out. Yes, that means Waffle House. I’m from South Carolina, we have a Waffle House at every exit of the interstate.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY. I have 2 sons, Cam (23) and Jake (19). Cam works as a NDT Inspector and lives with his fiancé a few miles from me in Kemah/Seabrook and Jake is going to school at Dallas College to be a mechanic and lives with his girlfriend in Dallas. My mom and older sister still live outside of Columbia, SC where I was raised. The boy’s mom (my ex-wife) lives with their step-dad about 4 miles from me. We all get along really well.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL/PERSONAL LIFE. I’m an electrical engineer by schooling but run a plumbing construction company. I work in the private equity world so I’ve moved around to different companies as they get bought, grow and sold. Currently I’m the President of Power Plumbing. We are the largest multi-family contractor in Texas.
WHAT IS SOMETHING NO ONE WOULD EVER GUESS/KNOW ABOUT YOU? I love to teach. When I retire, I’d love to either teach college level math at a community college (or trade school) or maybe coach.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS TEAM? The race day support and atmosphere. Being so far south it’s hard to make a lot of events but when I do I always feel welcomed.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE AUTHOR? Most of my reading is business journals these days. I’ve never really had a favorite author.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT? Maggiano’s
WHO IS YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION? My dad. He got his GED before joining the Marines. Nothing was ever handed to him yet he worked his way into a great career, ultimately owning his own electrical contracting company. My mom taught me compassion, my dad taught me work ethic.
WHAT EXCITING PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE NEXT YEAR? To find a way to race BOTH 70.3 and Hyrox events without giving Jana a heart attack!
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? I love pugs! Unfortunately living alone and with my schedule, having a dog isn’t in the cards for now but if I could, I’d have 2 pugs.
