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.

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.nnWolfgang knows how to go fast. He also knows that the fundamentals to getting good at triathlon are mastering the swim.nnI 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.nnYou’ll want to listen to this interview if you are struggling with your swimming or you just want to improve your swim times.

“It is better to be pissed off than to be pissed on,” John Blaze (AKA Blazeman) likes to say. You may recall the Blazeman’s valiant race from last year’s Ironman world championships where John raced with ALS to raise money and awareness for his disease. It has been almost one year since the Blazeman log-rolled across the finish line in Kona and I recently had the chance to catch up with him.

“It is better to be pissed off than to be pissed on,” John Blaze (AKA Blazeman) likes to say.nnYou may recall the Blazeman’s valiant race from last year’s Ironman world championships where John raced with ALS to raise money and awareness for his disease.nnIt has been almost one year since the Blazeman log-rolled across the finish line in Kona and I recently had the chance to catch up with him.

It’s all about the Athlete, or so Barry Siff believes. Barry is the founder of 5430 Sports the company that puts on the Boulder Peak Triathlon as well as several other large races in Boulder, Colorado. Barry has completed over 30 marathons, 3 Ironman triathlons, and virtually every major adventure race in the world since 1998 as Captain of Team Salomon North America. I recently sat down with Barry to discuss what it takes to put on a successful race. I asked him, how do you deal with tragedy when it strikes like last year at the Peak Triathlon when one person died and another ended up under a car? And what do you do when a bear happens to enter the race at he last minute?

It’s being called “The World’s First Team Relay & Solo 24 Hour Triathlon!” Ian Adamson wants you to be part of sporting history and be one of the first to compete in this hybrid new sports event. Think of it as a cross between adventure racing and triathlon. You can learn more about this exciting new event by visiting the web site, http://24hoursoftriathlon.com/. Ian Adamson is a legend among adventure racers. He’s won about every adventure race that counts. He just recently returned from Utah where his team won the Primal Quest. So now he’s very busy putting on something that’s completely different for both the worlds of adventure racing and triathlon. Have I made you curious about the 24 hours of Triathlon? I know Ian answered all of my questions when I sat down with him and him about his long career and how he came up with the concept for his new race.

It’s being called “The World’s First Team Relay & Solo 24 Hour Triathlon!”nnIan Adamson wants you to be part of sporting history and be one of the first to compete in this hybrid new sports event. Think of it as a cross between adventure racing and triathlon.nnYou can learn more about this exciting new event by visiting the web site, http://24hoursoftriathlon.com/.nnIan Adamson is a legend among adventure racers. He’s won about every adventure race that counts. He just recently returned from Utah where his team won the Primal Quest.nnSo now he’s very busy putting on something that’s completely different for both the worlds of adventure racing and triathlon. nnHave I made you curious about the 24 hours of Triathlon? I know Ian answered all of my questions when I sat down with him and him about his long career and how he came up with the concept for his new race.

What would it be like to have started your triathlon career at the age of 13 in the sun-trenched country of Australia and spent your entire life traveling around the world racing? Every summer some of the best Australian triathletes come to Boulder to train and race here in the Mecca of triathlon. They come here because the weather is good, the company is better, and there is triathlon in the water. Recently I had a chance to sit down with two of the best Australian triathletes along with my friend Michael Stone and discuss what’s it’s like to spend you entire life traveling the world and racing on the professional triathlon circuit. Courtney Ogden most recently won Ironman Malaysia and is in Boulder training and getting reading for his next race the 5430 long course half Iron distance race next week. Brad Beven was one of the most successful triathletes in Australia, as well as the world, before a terrible car accident right before the 2000 summer Olympics. He won three consecutive World Cup Series and got well-deserved nickname the Croc. You name the short course race and he’s probably won it. He's in Boulder training, racing and starting a coaching business. Michael Stone is training for Kona, and besides kicking my butt in every one of three disciplines of triathlon, he’s also raising money for the Foundation Fight Blindness. Check out his personal story by listening to the show.

What would it be like to have started your triathlon career at the age of 13 in the sun-trenched country of Australia and spent your entire life traveling around the world racing?nnEvery summer some of the best Australian triathletes come to Boulder to train and race here in the Mecca of triathlon. They come here because the weather is good, the company is better, and there is triathlon in the water.nnRecently I had a chance to sit down with two of the best Australian triathletes along with my friend Michael Stone and discuss what’s it’s like to spend you entire life traveling the world and racing on the professional triathlon circuit.nnCourtney Ogden most recently won Ironman Malaysia and is in Boulder training and getting reading for his next race the 5430 long course half Iron distance race next week.nnBrad Beven was one of the most successful triathletes in Australia, as well as the world, before a terrible car accident right before the 2000 summer Olympics. He won three consecutive World Cup Series and got well-deserved nickname the Croc. You name the short course race and he’s probably won it.nnHe's in Boulder training, racing and starting a coaching business.nnMichael Stone is training for Kona, and besides kicking my butt in every one of three disciplines of triathlon, he’s also raising money for the Foundation Fight Blindness. Check out his personal story by listening to the show.

What do you do after you reach the highest step of the triathlon ladder? That’s a question that Nicole DeBoom successfully answered a few years ago when she went from professional triathlete to successful entrepreneur. Here’s how she describes her motivation for starting her active apparel business on her company’s web site skirtsports.com: "Guess what? Even pro athletes have body issues. On a training run in 2003, Ironman Champion Nicole DeBoom spotted her reflection in a store window. "Damn, I look like a boy again," she groaned, followed by one of her almost daily laments. "Why can't I look sexy when I work out? Why can't I feel like an athlete and a woman?" Even as a buff triathlete, DeBoom still finds herself cruelly at odds with her behind (too big, she frets) and her upper thighs (way too big, she worries). That reflection was the springboard for a fashion inspiration. DeBoom, winner of the 2004 Ironman Wisconsin and a former Yale University swimmer, envisioned a skirt for running, workouts, and playing afterward. The revelation spawned the founding of her company, SkirtSports, Inc., and its first clothing line, TRIKS, launched in 2005. The pink-based skirts are feminine and sassy, slimming and flattering, a combination that is missing from the fitness apparel market.” I recently had a chance to sit down with Nicole and ask her about her company, her professional career and life after triathlon.

What do you do after you reach the highest step of the triathlon ladder?nnThat’s a question that Nicole DeBoom successfully answered a few years ago when she went from professional triathlete to successful entrepreneur. Here’s how she describes her motivation for starting her active apparel business on her company’s web site skirtsports.com:nn"Guess what? Even pro athletes have body issues.nnOn a training run in 2003, Ironman Champion Nicole DeBoom spotted her reflection in a store window. "Damn, I look like a boy again," she groaned, followed by one of her almost daily laments. "Why can't I look sexy when I work out? Why can't I feel like an athlete and a woman?"nnEven as a buff triathlete, DeBoom still finds herself cruelly at odds with her behind (too big, she frets) and her upper thighs (way too big, she worries).nnThat reflection was the springboard for a fashion inspiration. DeBoom, winner of the 2004 Ironman Wisconsin and a former Yale University swimmer, envisioned a skirt for running, workouts, and playing afterward.nnThe revelation spawned the founding of her company, SkirtSports, Inc., and its first clothing line, TRIKS, launched in 2005. The pink-based skirts are feminine and sassy, slimming and flattering, a combination that is missing from the fitness apparel market.”nnI recently had a chance to sit down with Nicole and ask her about her company, her professional career and life after triathlon.

If you are like me you probably have a favorite loop that you like to run around in your neighborhood. This loop is usually between 3 to 5 miles long and you probably feel pretty comfortable running it. When you are not sure of what workout to do, or you are short on time you most likely run that loop. And that’s fine. But as Scott Fliegelman explained when I recently had a chance to sit down and talk with him it’s probably not the best way to break that personal best in your next race. Scott should know. He is the Head Coach and Executive Director of Fast Forward Sports and he’s helped thousands of athletes break their personal best times. How? Just listen to this interesting interview.

If you are like me you probably have a favorite loop that you like to run around in your neighborhood. This loop is usually between 3 to 5 miles long and you probably feel pretty comfortable running it.nnWhen you are not sure of what workout to do, or you are short on time you most likely run that loop.nnAnd that’s fine.nnBut as Scott Fliegelman explained when I recently had a chance to sit down and talk with him it’s probably not the best way to break that personal best in your next race.nnScott should know. He is the Head Coach and Executive Director of Fast Forward Sports and he’s helped thousands of athletes break their personal best times.nnHow?nnJust listen to this interesting interview.

The world of triathlon is pretty small. But sometimes, if you are hard-working and a little lucky, you can turn your passion into a career. That’s what Darrin Eisman has done. He’s taken his love of both Du and Triathlon and adventure racing and turned it into a business. Darrin puts on about 30 races each year in Colorado. And I have yet to hear a bad word about any of his races. He’s built his business the hard way…one race at a time. Recently I had the chance to sit down with Darrin and discuss what it takes to be a great race director. He gave me a peak behind the curtain of what it takes to put on a complicated race. You’ll be surprised at how much has to come together to create successful and safe day for all of us athletes.

The world of triathlon is pretty small. But sometimes, if you are hard-working and a little lucky, you can turn your passion into a career.nnThat’s what Darrin Eisman has done. He’s taken his love of both Du and Triathlon and adventure racing and turned it into a business.nnDarrin puts on about 30 races each year in Colorado. And I have yet to hear a bad word about any of his races. He’s built his business the hard way…one race at a time.nnRecently I had the chance to sit down with Darrin and discuss what it takes to be a great race director. He gave me a peak behind the curtain of what it takes to put on a complicated race.nnYou’ll be surprised at how much has to come together to create successful and safe day for all of us athletes.

Have you ever had a really great masters swim class where you really pushed yourself and perhaps swam 2000 to 3000 yards? For Carina Bruwer that would we a very short warm-up swim indeed. Carina is one of South Africa’s top professional open water swimmers who crossed the 36K English Channel last year in a time of just over 12 hours. I recently had a chance to interview her about what it is like to swim so far in such cold water under such difficult conditions. I mean what how and what do you eat when you are swimming for half a day? She was in the US competing in a 20-Kilometer race around Key West Florida…which she won by the way. You will also want to listen to this fascinating interview with her about how she manages to swim such long distances and still have time to be a professional musician.

Have you ever had a really great masters swim class where you really pushed yourself and perhaps swam 2000 to 3000 yards?nnFor Carina Bruwer that would we a very short warm-up swim indeed. Carina is one of South Africa’s top professional open water swimmers who crossed the 36K English Channel last year in a time of just over 12 hours.nnI recently had a chance to interview her about what it is like to swim so far in such cold water under such difficult conditions. I mean what how and what do you eat when you are swimming for half a day? She was in the US competing in a 20-Kilometer race around Key West Florida…which she won by the way.nnYou will also want to listen to this fascinating interview with her about how she manages to swim such long distances and still have time to be a professional musician.

When it all goes well, Graham Frazer is one of the most popular people at the Ironman. In fact he's at almost every Ironman race, but unless you know him, you'd probably think he’s just another age grouper getting ready to run the race of his life. In fact he's one of the most influential people at the race and in the sport of Triathlon. He's the President of Ironman North America and he's taken what was once a one-race franchise and spread it to every corner of North America. He's the man in the eye of the Hurricane. When it all goes well, you'll never know he was at the race. But when something goes wrong, like it did a few years ago in Utah, he's the man the boys and gals over at slowtwitch.com love to hate. I recently had a chance to sit down with Graham and ask him what's it is like to be in the eye of the hurricane, how he started and where's he’s going. If you've ever done an Ironman race or have consider going long you'll want to listen to this interview.

When it all goes well, Graham Frazer is one of the most popular people at the Ironman. In fact he's at almost every Ironman race, but unless you know him, you'd probably think he’s just another age grouper getting ready to run the race of his life.nnIn fact he's one of the most influential people at the race and in the sport of Triathlon. He's the President of Ironman North America and he's taken what was once a one-race franchise and spread it to every corner of North America.nnHe's the man in the eye of the Hurricane. When it all goes well, you'll never know he was at the race. But when something goes wrong, like it did a few years ago in Utah, he's the man the boys and gals over at slowtwitch.com love to hate.nnI recently had a chance to sit down with Graham and ask him what's it is like to be in the eye of the hurricane, how he started and where's he’s going. If you've ever done an Ironman race or have consider going long you'll want to listen to this interview.

When it all goes well, Graham Frazer is one of the most popular people at the Ironman. In fact he's at almost every Ironman race, but unless you know him, you'd probably think he’s just another age grouper getting ready to run the race of his life. In fact he's one of the most influential people at the race and in the sport of Triathlon. He's the President of Ironman North America and he's taken what was once a one-race franchise and spread it to every corner of North America. He's the man in the eye of the Hurricane. When it all goes well, you'll never know he was at the race. But when something goes wrong, like it did a few years ago in Utah, he's the man the boys and gals over at slowtwitch.com love to hate. I recently had a chance to sit down with Graham and ask him what's it is like to be in the eye of the hurricane, how he started and where's he’s going. If you've ever done an Ironman race or have consider going long you'll want to listen to this interview.

Perhaps one of the best know and most popular triathlons in the world is the accenture Escape from Alcatraz triathlon in San Francisco. There is something about a triathlon that starts out from an old Prison with a long swim across a cold and perhaps shark infested bay that spurs the imagination. This year the race was handily won by Matt Reed in a tight field of some of the best triathletes in the world. Matt has been knocking on the door of top success for the last few years and this week he knocked and the door opened. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be the first to cross the finish line at one of the worlds most well known races? What does it feels like to push so hard that you leave the best in the world behind? You don't need to wonder any longer. Just listen to my interview with Matt.