Welcome to Episode #33 of the Mile High Endurance podcast, I'm your host Rich Soares. Mile High Endurance connecting you weekly with coaches and experts to help you reach your endurance and triathlon goals.
I have a content-packed show for you today. There is a ton going on in the Triathlon and Endurance world right now and a very timely interview. As you know it is the opening weekend of the Rio Olympic games. It also happens to be the weekend prior to USAT Nationals. When you think of Triathlon in the Olympics and USAT Nationals, who is the one person who you would want to talk to? Barry Siff, of course. Barry serves in leadership roles of both USAT and ITU and has an insider’s view of both events. He is a busy man, but I was able to catch him prior to all of the traveling he will be doing over the next couple of weeks to Omaha and Rio.
Also on the show this week, Will Kelsey of Dirt Tri Magazine joins us to talk about the state and statistics around Off Road Triathlon. I have been meaning to get into the topic of Off Road Triathlon for some time and this is our first foray into that topic. As you will hear, road triathlon’s dirtier cousin, “Dirt (or “off road”) Tri” is a little more laid back and fun, and really opens up a lot of new races and experiences.
Before we get into the interviews, I’d like to give a couple of updates .
First – Ironman Boulder competitors: To Bill Plock from 303 Triathlon and Guy Sigley from the Colorado Triathlon Company team. Good luck this weekend and hope you get your Kona slots. I would also like to acknowledge a good friend of mine Jamie Twedt who unfortunately had a bike wreck a week ago that has precluded her ability to race. Jamie has such a great attitude and has managed to get herself on the finisher medal team. Jamie, it’s going to be a long and fun night!
Second – Ironman Boulder underwear run: I just did the Underwear Run last night and it was really a lot of fun. The way it went down, I did see Bill at the UPR but after. His schedule got wonky and he couldn't get there on time, but I did see him after and he looks good and ready for Sunday. Back to the UPR. After talking to Bill about he and his daughter Riley doing it, I offered it to my girls who are both runners and we did it.
We arrive and Michael had the gathering place in this small corner of a park across from the museum of contemporary art. Michael had the crowd going with updates on the order of events, collecting donations, etc. After a quick hello and picture (one my wife won't let me post on Facebook), we got under way. The run was a mile through the busiest blocks of Boulder through the Pearl Street Mall, down past where the Ironman finish line will be on Sunday, into the Ironman Village, down the Bike Path (Run Course) and back to the Ironman Finish area and ultimately where we started. There were maybe 50-75, maybe more people who participated.
Sunday of course is the big race. Again, good luck to everyone racing, volunteering and spectating. The forecast looks good in the low 80s. I'll be up there Sunday at 5am for the volunteer briefing for the water safety crew. I'll be out there at the Boulder Res most of the morning. I come home for a bit and then head back up by 5pm to try and catch Bill and my other fast friends finish. I hope to catch up with Dave Christen and report about the race a bit in next week's episode.
Okay, the other big thing that is going on this weekend is the Olympics. We also have USAT Nationals to look forward to next week. This seems like a perfect time for this interview.