Paul Martinis very successful triathlete, runner, cyclist and now father. nnHe's raced most of the races that many of us dream of racing and his done it by overcoming a huge hurdle. But I'll let him explain in his own words:nn"Like many of you, I was not always so sure of how I would live my life, how I would pay the bills, what type of occupation I would have. I’ve been on many courses, the latest of which brings contentment and comfort. Which is a real degree of success no matter how you slice it.nnOn December 12, 1992, I survived a car accident of my own creation: I had a couple of beers at dinner and fell asleep at the wheel on the way home. This changed my life, quite unexpectedly, for the better. I’m an athlete again; better than I used to be. I have been given the opportunity to share my story and motivate others.nnI’d like you all to know why it is I do what I do. I compete in triathlon, cycling and running events for two very simple reasons: I enjoy it and because the opportunity is there. I speak to groups of all sorts and sizes across the country because I truly believe that what I have to say needs to be heard, and - with honesty as a platform in my life - because speaking has become a wonderful occupation!nnThis platform I refer to is itself quite simple. I believe in and live by the motto “do what you love, love what you do.”

This is a follow-up interview with Adventure racer Ian Adamson about the first 24-hours of Triathlon. We discuss how the race went as well as upcoming plans for this year's race.nnI also run a song contest for some great hydration.

Did you know that there is only one slot for a paraplegic athlete to compete at the Ironman World Championships in Kona?nnThis year Trishia Downing earned that slot and raced with only one goal…to finish. If you watched the NBC coverage of the race you’ll know that she had to stop at mile 92 on the bike leg of the race because she missed the bike cut off time.nnBut she vows to be back next year.nnTrish Downing, a paraplegic athlete, is the second female wheelchair racer (first female paraplegic) to complete an Iron distance triathlon (Redman Triathlon 2005...finishing time 18:03). She is a member of the physically challenged National Triathlon Team and a pioneer in women’s wheelchair triathlon. nnShe was a competitive cyclist from 1997-2000, but her career was cut short when she was hit head-on by a car while on a training ride in the fall of 2000 (September 17th) in Golden, Colo.nnBut I’ll let her tell you the rest of the story.

This spring I interviewed Rob Putnam who has spent the last 10 years coaching all levels of swimmers from the very youngest to some of the most experienced masters swimmers in Colorado. He holds both collegiate and masters championship titles in a number of different events.nnHe's just added another a totally different distinction. He hiked over 1800 miles this summer of the Pacific Crest Trail.nnWhat's it like to hike from the bottom of the USA to almost the very top? You'll have to listen to find out.

What's more important the man or the machine, that's an often debated question among cyclist? In other words, is your bike or your fitness more important? The answer could possible be neither. What really counts is how the athlete interacts with the bike. Tim Troha of Colorado Multisport would probably agree with this as he's professionally fitted hundred of athletes to their bikes. Recently I had a chance to see him in action as he fitted my friend Greg of great Blog Bolder in Boulder for our team's new BMC bike. For those of you not in the loop, the core of the sponsored team raceAthlete is currently made up of myself and five other Bloggers and Podcasters. They are: Iron Wi Tri Geek Dreams Zen and the Art of Triathlon SimplyStu Triathlon Podcast Bolder in Boulder We're still seeking two additional age-group athletes to fully sponsor and several others to partially sponsor. In fact we'll be announcing the first raceAthlete partially sponsored athlete today on the Team's web site: www.raceAthlete.com If you have not yet joined the team I encourage you to do so as all team members have exclusive access to a great coach and bike mechanic plus many other benefits.

What's more important the man or the machine, that's an often debated question among cyclist?nnIn other words, is your bike or your fitness more important?nnThe answer could possible be neither. What really counts is how the athlete interacts with the bike.nnTim Troha of Colorado Multisport would probably agree with this as he's professionally fitted hundred of athletes to their bikes.nnRecently I had a chance to see him in action as he fitted my friend Greg of great Blog Bolder in Boulder for our team's new BMC bike.nFor those of you not in the loop, the core of the sponsored team raceAthlete is currently made up of myself and five other Bloggers and Podcasters.nnThey are:nnIron WinTri Geek DreamsnZen and the Art of TriathlonnSimplyStu Triathlon PodcastnBolder in BouldernnnWe're still seeking two additional age-group athletes to fully sponsor and several others to partially sponsor.nnIn fact we'll be announcing the first raceAthlete partially sponsored athlete today on the Team's web site: www.raceAthlete.comnnIf you have not yet joined the team I encourage you to do so as all team members have exclusive access to a great coach and bike mechanic plus many other benefits.

What's more important the man or the machine, that's an often debated question among cyclist? In other words, is your bike or your fitness more important? The answer could possible be neither. What really counts is how the athlete interacts with the bike. Tim Troha of Colorado Multisport would probably agree with this as he's professionally fitted hundred of athletes to their bikes. Recently I had a chance to see him in action as he fitted my friend Greg of great Blog Bolder in Boulder for our team's new BMC bike. For those of you not in the loop, the core of the sponsored team raceAthlete is currently made up of myself and five other Bloggers and Podcasters. They are: Iron Wi Tri Geek Dreams Zen and the Art of Triathlon SimplyStu Triathlon Podcast Bolder in Boulder We're still seeking two additional age-group athletes to fully sponsor and several others to partially sponsor. In fact we'll be announcing the first raceAthlete partially sponsored athlete today on the Team's web site: www.raceAthlete.com If you have not yet joined the team I encourage you to do so as all team members have exclusive access to a great coach and bike mechanic plus many other benefits.

Shannan Garcia just completed her first marathon and iron distance triathlon. This in itself is a great accomplishment, but consider that she had never done a triathlon of any distance before and you get the idea that she’s jumped into endurance sports with both feet. Why? Because she loves going long, and she’s raising money for Team in Training. Her coach also loves the long races. Karl W. Keltner, or Koach Karl as he’s known, has completed 37 marathons, 16 ultras and 3 Ironman triathlons. He has also been the Head Coach for the Mid-America Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program since 1999 and has coached over 1400 walkers and runners successfully to the marathon finish line. I recently had a chance to talk with both of them about Team in Training and what it is like to go the ultra distance. Koach Karl will soon be competing in a double iron distance race and he’s done the 135 Badwater race (donned the World’s Toughest Footrace) in death valley twice.

Shannan Garcia just completed her first marathon and iron distance triathlon. This in itself is a great accomplishment, but consider that she had never done a triathlon of any distance before and you get the idea that she’s jumped into endurance sports with both feet.nnWhy? Because she loves going long, and she’s raising money for Team in Training. nnHer coach also loves the long races. Karl W. Keltner, or Koach Karl as he’s known, has completed 37 marathons, 16 ultras and 3 Ironman triathlons. He has also been the Head Coach for the Mid-America Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program since 1999 and has coached over 1400 walkers and runners successfully to the marathon finish line.nnI recently had a chance to talk with both of them about Team in Training and what it is like to go the ultra distance. Koach Karl will soon be competing in a double iron distance race and he’s done the 135 Badwater race (donned the World’s Toughest Footrace) in death valley twice.

Today Wolfgang Dittrich coaches triathletes and swimmers. But it wasn’t all that long ago that this former German national swim team member came in 3rd in Hawaii at the Ironman world championships in under eight and a half hours. Wolfgang knows how to go fast. He also knows that the fundamentals to getting good at triathlon are mastering the swim. I recently had a chance to ask him about how his experience swimming for Germany has helped him to teach the younger generations of aspiring triathletes. You’ll want to listen to this interview if you are struggling with your swimming or you just want to improve your swim times.