“ZENMAN”

Over 30 years ago, Shane Eversfield began his formal study of human kinetics through modern dance and Tai-chi, earning a B.A. in Modern Dance from University of Maryland in 1980.  Concurrently with these studies, he also began to run recreationally and discovered the spiritual satisfaction of endurance training.  His passion and capacity for human kinetics has remained healthy and strong in the interim.  (He also earned an A.A.S. in Forestry at Paul Smiths College in 1987)

Shane moved to Hawaii early in 1992 with his wife, Fatima, to continue their partnership of spiritual quest.  Late in 1997, he ran his first marathon and, in October of 1998 (after living in Kona for 6 ½ years), “dared” to witness his first Ironman by volunteering at an aid station.  That day he became “convert” to the “Church of Triathlon”, competing in his first tri a month later.  Eleven months after that first triathlon, he finished Hawaii Ironman in October of 1999, at age 42.

The greatest lesson he learned from this challenging endeavor came during the 5 weeks before the race.  With just 34 days left, he awoke on a Sunday morning feeling as though he was 80 years old – the result of severe over-training.  On that day, he vividly experienced what it is to “train yourself right out of a life”.  He clearly realized that he had to be an ordinary human being before he could be a glorious athlete.

After completing Ironman for the first time, he was compelled to address the significant gap between his artistic and athletic endeavors and his health and well being as a human.  This “discrepancy” is common to many inspired and driven athletes and artists.  The commitment to examine and resolve this discrepancy inspired Shane to write “Zendurance, A Spiritual Fitness Guide for Endurance Athletes ”.

Over the past two decades, Eversfield has gained experience as a teacher in the areas of modern dance, aerobics, Tai-chi, Yoga and Pilates.  He has blended his experiences in these various fields with his extensive experience as an endurance athlete to develop the material he offers through “Triathlon Secrets of Effortless Power Workshops” and “Zendurance Cycling Technique Clinics”.  His focus as a teacher is to facilitate an experience of energetic intelligence through movement and exercise.  “Mind IN Matter”  (See the included description on Effortless Power Workshops.)

After 13 years in Hawaii, Fatima and Shane resolved their marriage, their spiritual work together complete.  Shane relocated to Lake Placid, NY in 2004 to get more involved in the triathlon industry.  Since then he has been certified as a USAT Level I Coach and as a Serotta Bike Fit Technician.  He has extensive experience bike-fitting both triathletes and road cyclists, both for existing bikes and for custom builds.  While he shies away from coaching athletes, he has provided counseling and guidance for hundreds of athletes to reach their training and racing goals.  He has been teaching T’ai Chi at the Lake Placid Health and Fitness Center for 3 years.

Since 2006, he has written several articles for industry publications, including Inside Triathlon, Triathlete and USA Triathlon Life.  (Reproductions included.)  He also maintains a website, www.zendurance.net, offering provocative blogs and educational essays.

“Zenman’s” endurance athletic experience since 1998 includes multiple iron-distance tri’s (as well as many shorter triathlons), marathons and ultra-marathons up to 100 kilometers, off-road triathlons up to half-iron distance and long distance open-ocean swims.  In November 2006, he gracefully completed the 3-day UltraMan Hawaii World Championship (6.2-mile swim, 261.4-mile bike, 52.4-mile run), with an elapsed time of 29:19:37.  He has also competed in long distance nordic ski races, notably the 50-kilometer Lake Placid Loppett.  In September 2007, he placed 5^th at 24 Hours of Triathlon, swimming 8 miles, biking 141 miles and running 42 miles.  A month later, he completed the Virginia Double Iron Triathlon in 32:11:12, placing 6^th.  (See the blogs he has posted about these last two events.)