My last two Half Iron events were done in 5 hours and 45 minutes. It was nice to finally break free of the time. I improved by finishing in 5 hours and 20 minutes (25 minute difference). The improvement was a result of several things— the biggest being consistency. I also added a healthy dose of intensity into my running program and nutrition was the icing on the cake. I thought of nutrition as “taking care of myself.” I knew that if I took care of myself and kept my body in balance, I’d be strong throughout the race. It worked!

I have to admit that as I entered race week, my motivation to suffer through a half was low. The pain of Vikingman was still fresh on my mind. It seemed to soon to revisit the brutality. Race week progressed and I started to come around.

Race Morning

I ate one yogurt and two pieces of toast before we left the house. Everything went smooth at packet pickup. My bike was racked and gear was laid out. I gulped two bottles of Ensure Plus (700 Calories) about 15 minutes before the gun went off.

Swim

I initially seeded myself off to one of the sides and in the middle of the pack. This would keep away from the aggressive swimmers. However, I found my friend Matt Marriott front and center and I thought it would be fun to join him. There were only 150 or swimmers. “I won’t be that bad,” is what I thought. It turned into the craziest swim start I’ve ever experienced. It was violent until we turned at the first buoy. Things started to spread out and I forced myself to take it easy and get in a rhythm.

It turned out to be one of my best open water swims to date. My swim fitness is improving and it was definitely a strong point today.

Swim Time = 36 min 39 secs

T1

I felt rushed but forced myself to remember that an extra minute in transition will not likely change my place in the standings. A Half is a long day. So, I took my time and took care of business.

T1 Time = 1 min 44 secs

Bike

I went out feeling great and flying. On the bike, I had one bottle of Ensure Plus (1050 calories), a bottle of Gatorade and a bottle of water. It seems like a lot, but I feel it’s better to be safe then sorry.
The first half of the bike was pretty smooth. I hit the turnaround in 1 hour 15 minutes. “Perfect,” I thought. A PR was on the horizon and I knew that if I could maintain my pace I’d ride a 2 hr 30 min bike. It wasn’t to be. I faded incredibly badly early on the second half. This lasted throughout the second half. In training my bike was the most neglected discipline. This was revealed during the race. I was able to ride, but I wasn’t able to get the volume in that I would have liked and it showed. So I conceded my 2 hr 30 min bike split and took it easy as I headed back to the transition area. There was a solid female rider playing “cat and mouse” with me. I needed her help to LEGALLY pace back to T2.

As I finished my ride, my Ensure bottle was nearly empty. I couldn’t finish the whole thing. My stomach was pretty full. I drank approximately 2.5 bottles of fluid (excluding the Ensure).

My split was not nearly as bad as I thought, considering the suffering I went through on the second half. I managed to get off the bike with PR bike split for the distance.

Bike Time = 2 hours 38 Min 34 Secs (21.2 mph)

T2

Pretty standard T2. I decided to bring my Amphipod hydration belt with me during this race. I am planning on using it during Ironman Florida in November, so this would be good practice. The belt had 4 bottles of Gatorade (32 ounces total). I also packed four gels with me for the run too. It is also important to mention that I had a lot of Thermolyte salt tabs with me. The heat is tough on me and I thought I focus on keeping my sodium levels in balance.

T2 Time = 1 min 9 secs

Run

For me, nutrition is everything on a Half Iron run. I took four Thermolyte tablets chased by an eight oz. bottle of Gatorade every three miles (just under 30 minutes). At the aid stations I would take two water cups—one to drink and one thrown over my head. I never worried about dehydration. It was great and I’ve never felt so good during a Half Iron run. I managed to keep this up throughout the whole run. My nutrition on the bike kept me fueled for the whole run. I never came close to bonking. I did take some soda from the last two aid stations.

My pace on heading out on the first section was solid. I felt fine but looked forward to the turnaround. Heading back from this section was tough, because it was getting hot. I was working hard to get back towards the shade. The suffering was starting to set in as I passed the transition area to get to the second stretch of the run. But eventually everything clicked. I was pushing my pace, but could sense when I was crossing into the “red zone.” It was nice because I would do interval work to catch the person ahead of me.

Getting to the back end of the final out-and-back was tough. It took forever, but once I made it I tried to push it back hard (5k). Things didn’t quite workout like I had hoped. I could only keep the pace I had been running. I thought that I had easily broken the 2 hour run mark. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to pull it off. But, it’s a PR run split for the Half distance so I can’t complain.

Run Time = 2hr 2 min 31 secs

Finishing Time = 5 hours 20 minutes 19 seconds

Huge PR for me. I secretly wished that I could get to the five hour mark. That will come with time but a 25 minute PR will do. I figure that ten minutes off of the bike, ten minutes off of the run and a few minutes off of the swim will put me there. I think that is a conservative goal and achievable considering I’m still pretty slow compared to the top guys and gals. They run soooo fast!

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Popularity: 23% [?]

Editor’s Note from the June issue.

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It has been long over due for us to have a Half Iron event back in Utah. Two years have passed since the last Half, TriUtah’s Echo Challenge Half came and went. TriUtah has unsuccessfully tried to keep the distance in town for several years, beginning with the Kokopelli Half. The events never had the athlete attendance needed to keep a race of its magnitude in town. Half’s require more volunteers to stand in the sun for hours on end, more roads to navigate athletes through and a lot of time, especially on race day. Some would say that there are not enough long-course-minded athletes in Utah to support the events. Maybe TriUtah was ahead of their time. At least they tried.

Fast forward to 2007 and we welcome the VikingMan and Utah Half. While not in Utah, the VikingMan is now the closest regional Half for Utahn’s to attend. Plus, if you are not a strong swimmer you know that nothing beats swimming down the fast moving current of the Snake River. Burley, Idaho is officially a triathlon town. 350 athletes signed up for the inaugural VikingMan event, forcing the race director to close registration well before race day. Burley’s Spudman Tri, a favorite for Utahn’s sold out in a day (over 1,000 athletes). VikingMan’s inaugural event went off without a hitch, and has momentum heading into 2008. I wouldn’t be surprised if they doubled their attendance next year.

The Utah Half has been looked at with some doubts. As the raced was announced last winter, many wondered if organizers had permits and/or the support of the city. And, athletes have to ask, “what makes Utah Lake safe to swim in now?” Ironman Utah and Half Ironman Utah failed due to two consecutive canceled swims in Utah Lake. As it turns out, co-race director Travis Snyder has assured TriHive that a recently built jetty will protect swimmers from the waves that caused Ironman to pack its bags in 2002.

Interestingly enough, TriUtah announced a Half Iron distance event for August of 2008. The race was announced when their 2007 triathlon schedule was unveiled this past winter. It seems race directors are noticing that Utah athletes are ready to take on new challenges. Maybe we’ve always been ready, if the venue and time was right.

Now, if all three of the Half’s stick around for 2008, we’d be approaching the saturation point. One Half is great. Two is a luxury. Three are more then enough. Recent rumors state that two more Half Iron distance events may pop up in 2008. Yes, there MAY be five Half’s in our area in 2008. When it rains it pours. Better late then never, I guess. Where was the enthusiasm to put on a Half last year? Does my bitterness show? In my ideal world, these race directors would work together and produce one amazing event, attracting a national audience. Ego and money won’t allow such a thing to happen.

Let’s hope that one of these Half’s will survive the competition, and give long course triathletes a race to look forward to year-after-year. It would be a tragedy if they end up sinking each other. VikingMan looks to be the one that could survive the flood. They’ve already beat everyone to the punch and hit a home run in its first year. Also, land lovers looking to jump up to a longer event will appreciate the Snake’s current. Can the Utah Half generate similar enthusiasm? Will we see three more Half’s in 2008? Time will tell. Just keep one going!

Alex McKinley

Popularity: 32% [?]

Some of you may have seen my post on the local forums about the first annual Vikingman. So, you may know that I thought the event went off well, especially considering it was a first time event. I’ll be back in 08. Below is a brief race report, which will also give you a feel of the course.

Pre Race.

The night before I noticed that my rear seat bottle holder was loose. Upon further inspection it was revealed that a bolt was busted. I was a bit shocked and distressed. What was I going to do? It was getting late and I didn’t want to waste energy trying to make it work. So, I studied the layout of the bike aid stations. There were four, and I know I can get through 56 miles with three bottles. This could work out.

I decided to keep a bottle of Ensure on the bike (700 calories) and finish it off by the first aid station. Then, the plan was to get a bottle of Heed at every aid station and a water for a quick swig/wash-down.

Race Morning

Fireman John and I dropped off our gear super early in the morning (5 am-ish). Plenty of time to kill from here on out. The race has two transitions, which is a bit frightening. The bikes are racked far from the main event area, so there is no checking, and re-checking, and re-checking (times 10) before the gun goes off. You’re just hoping that you didn’t forget anything.

Things were organized and I jumped onto the appropriate bus, which took us to the swim start. I jumped into the water about 15 minutes early. Water wasn’t to bad, considering the air was pretty chilly. There was a a bunch of the blue turf (fake plastic grass) laid out so racers didn’t get all muddy. This was very good!!! Anywho, a lane line kept swimmers from crossing the start line early. If you’ve done the Spudman, you know of the strong current pulling you downstream. You could feel it pull you here, too. The VikingMan swim begins where the Spudman swim ends, but across the river.

The horn sounds and we’re off. Things spread out quickly and I couldn’t help but wonder if I was the last guy in my wave. I’d see an occasional swim cap here and there, and everyone started to bunch up as we made our way to the swim exit. Regarding the swim exit–it didn’t come quick enough. I expected to get out of the in around 20 minutes. In 06 I exited the Spudman swim in 17 minutes, so 20 minutes seemed reasonable. 33 minutes later, I free myself of the water. Blah!

Quick transition and off on the bike. The first half of the bike was hauling. I knocked down the Ensure and followed by hydration plan to a “T.” It went so well that I’m considering the one bottle method for IMF in November. I loved the simplicity of this route.

Back to the course. Very fast and the wind seemed fair. I thought I’d be just as fast the second half. Mile 28 or so rolls around…fast decent, slow climb out and we’re off on the return trip. Wind felt more sketchy heading back but not a big headwind or anything. Definitely slowed me down a bit. On top of this was the gradual climbing. Just slightly above false flat and eventually took you up to a roller. This was the case, over and over for the second 28 miles. My speed dropped considerably.

Bike ends–quick transition and I’m off for the run.

My heart rate was pretty high and I took it easy to get into a flow. Man, was it hot at 11am. We ran around fields surrounding the airport. There were patches of water all over the area. It’s always nice to be by water! Legs felt good and hung with the lead woman for a bit, until her steady pace was too much.

The second half of the run was super tough. Legs were beat but I refused to walk, although my 2:14 run split looks liked I walked. They need more run aid stations. Maybe plant some trees to shade the runners!

So, I happily finish my journey, we pack up and head home.

Love the event. They have something special on their hands and hope they stick with it.

Popularity: 19% [?]

The only thing I knew about this years St. George Triathlon is that I’d likely be around the same time as last year. Three weeks off in the middle of training didn’t help my preparation, and I think my swimming suffered the most. However, I still managed to PR in the water. Last year I swam almost 33 minutes — this years was 31 and change. I can’t complain about improving.

I thought my bike would be the same. It wasn’t. I was about four minutes slower this year. The course felt way tougher but it was the same beast. I guess everything feels slow when your not in great shape. I pushed just about as hard as I could but never felt great. I did drink a large bike bottle of gatorade. I’ve never drunk this much in an Oly. The big bummer of the bike was to see my friend Tom T. walking his sweet Felt DA. He was cruising along and got a flat. There were several with flats this year.

I almost wanted to quit when I got off of the bike. I’ve tried to remember hard why I would want to quit. My thought is that I remembered how much I suffered during last years run. The course is hilly and it was very hot. I barely made it in. It was tough to think about digging deep when you’ve already given everything to the bike. I thought I’d give myself a chance by running the first mile. Eventually the bad thoughts disappeared and I moved along. Tons of sand was on the course, making it even more difficult. The hill was so hard, but I forced my self to keep running. When I neared the end of the first loop I felt like the course was short. It went by pretty quick and I was excited for the next loop. I ran pretty comfortably preparing for the hill again, but after the hill I pushed it home.

Good day. I really love this sport and the people it surrounds me with.

Popularity: 21% [?]

Peter Reid
(World Champion Triathlete)
vs.
Rod Wayman
(Viewmont High School Band Director/Formerly of Roy High)

Seems like an unfair match, doesn’t it? My hypothetical scenario puts them neck-and-neck through the lava fields of Kona. However, Rod Wayman chose music education as his path, but I’d like to think that he would put “the hurt” on the three-time Ironman World Champion if he had focused his efforts on athletics. At the very least, he’d crush the best of the Utah triathlon scene. This is because Rod Wayman has the “commitment factor.”

I entered Roy High School in 1990, where Rod Wayman, a motivated rookie educator took the helm of the school’s musicians. Mr. Wayman was committed to creating great music and great musicians. He had no problem with asking students to come to school early or to stay late for rehearsals. Mr. Wayman expected his students to go beyond their limits and be their best. There were times when this caused tension with the students (and even some parents), and it became obvious that few were as dedicated as Mr. Wayman in excellence. Some students seemed programmed to “walk through” band, expecting to receive an easy “A.”

Mr. Wayman has what I call the “commitment factor.” He pushed his students all year long, understanding that each performance represented the school and reflected the school’s commitment to education. And, with performances lined up for 11 months out of the year, there was always something to prepare for. Three years of Mr. Wayman’s band classes were my “commitment boot camp.”

Long-term focus is not something that has been natural for me. Throughout my life, I have often jumped from one hobby or idea to the next. Yes, there have been a few things that I’ve clung on to, like when I obsessed over replacing Tommy Lee in Motley Crue. This dream went on for years and years, and my poor parents had to suffer through it. I’m sure the constant banging to Dr. Feelgood grew tiresome. For me, it came easy. But, what about the things that I knew I should give long term commitment to, like my fitness? Throughout my endurance athletics life I have often started a workout program enthusiastically but would frequently fade in and out of commitment as the year progressed. I’ve seen improvement over the years, but I wanted to be on a different level. Getting to another level may take years of commitment.

I have begun a new triathlon journey in 2007. There are no excuses and my lovely wife, Glenna, has given me her support. It’s nice to know that she will push me out the door when my motivation is low. And thank goodness for the baby jogger. I think our little girl, Kennedy, enjoys our running excursions just as much as I do. My commitment to triathlon has become a family goal. It’s amazing to see what a support system will do. They understand where I want to be, and are probably just as eager as I am to get there. It’s just as much of a journey for them as it is for me.

Discovery can be a lot of fun, especially as I finally learn to link my past commitment experiences with the present. It has made the journey more rewarding and has given me a lot of confidence as I head into new territory. I know I’m on my way to a personal best in many areas in my life as I focus on commitment. My “commitment factor” is there, and I’m ready for the triathlon season.

Commitment – Peter Reid’s got it. Rod Wayman’s got it. Do you?

Alex McKinley
Managing Editor
editor@trihive.com

Popularity: 13% [?]

Athletes often give me hard time because they think I put unflattering pictures of them in TriHive. Here you go. We’re even!

It’s the sports nut in me that refuses to miss the Jazz revival in the NBA playoffs. The spectator in me just cannot walk away from the drama of AK47’s mental breakdowns or Boozer’s power dunks over Yao Ming. Last nights game six victory worked out well because the game started so early. I snuck in an hour run right after the final buzzer sounded.

I want the Jazz to go far in the playoff’s, but a part of me doesn’t like the idea. Basket could derail my commitment to training and I’d personally benefit if they’d just lose! However, I think the root of the issue goes much deeper.

Since my return from a 2.5 week illness I’ve struggled to find my groove. It hasn’t helped to be swamped at my day job, Universal Accounting Center or that I’ve been scrambling to get the latest issue of TriHive to your house. The May issue is one of the toughest to date–mostly due to our feature on Richard Barnum-Reece. He’s a complex guy and I’ve been working with a friend of his, Lorraine Slattery, trying to nail down the most appropriate picture of him. Some of you dearly love Richard, and some of you spite him. I think we pulled it off.

Anyway, I’m going into SG Tri a little bit undercooked and I’ve got some work to do before Vikingman. My fitness is not a lost cause and I need to remember the season is just beginning. I need to find the enthusiasm again. It seems that my last bought with a cold wiped it out.

Popularity: 19% [?]

Have you ever waken up for an early morning swim, bike or run and wondered what you were doing? I had a moment like this on Monday. It actually felt like a race morning, when I sometimes am filled with anxiety and realize I’m about to punish myself. I got over it quickly and headed to the South Davis Rec. Center where coach Kris pumped me up for a solid swim session.

Change of topics……

The latest issue of TriHive finally made it to the printers and should be in your mailbox in the next day or two. In it is a feature about Utah triathlon pioneer Richard Barnum-Reece. Since I began triathlon in 2000, I’ve wondered why he doesn’t take his race series to another level. He seemed poised to expand with the Utah triathlon community. However, he chose to stick with his pool series and relatively small attendance. My research for the story showed me that Richard never cared to have big races. He was good with what he had going.

I also find it interesting to get so many emails from his loyalists. There are athletes out there that absolutly loved Richard. Why does this surprise me? Because, over the years I’ve heard far more complaints about Richard then praise. The praise that I have heard has come in his defense, when an occasional forum poster would “dis” his events. Some of these loyalists that I received emails from realize that he was a stubborn man, and wished his guard would have been let down for more people. I regret that I didn’t make more of an effort to know Richard. I could never complain about the man. He always treated me well.

One more note…….

If you are a Utah triathlete and would like to exchange blog links with me, just shoot me an email at editor@trihive.com.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Click HERE to read my review of the ‘07 Zipp 999 wheelset.

Since my inception into the sport in 2000, I’ve been on a budget. The strings to the wallet tightened up when I married Glenna in 2001. This was not (is not) a problem, and has been a huge positive in my life. However, I still lust over the bike gear catalogs that occasionally grace my mail box. I recently had a rare opportunity to pick up some new Zipp 999 wheels. Talk about a splurge. Thank you Glenna!!!

I was working my way through an illness when I picked them up and was hopeful that my health would turn around before the Buffalo Duathlon. Didn’t happen. My health is coming around and I put them on my bike last night. Above is the picture of the historic moment.

Glenna thought I’d bring them into bed with us or constantly caress them. This hasn’t been the case. The wheels are actually quite ordinary. They feel more like plastic then carbon, but maybe this is how carbon always feels. I’ve occasionally pull them out of storage to give stare. I’d spin them in my hands….yeup, they are wheels alright. These are worth thousands of dollars? If anything, the Zipps have passed the cosmetic test, but will the feel fast and be faster when I ride?

I’m going to test them out on Saturday and I’ll be sure to report how the ride went. I’ve ridden mid grade wheels my whole cycling life and have always wondered if these super charged carbon wonders would do me any good. We’ll see.

Click HERE to read my review of the ‘07 Zipp 999 wheelset.

Popularity: 14% [?]

I don’t want to say I’m sick, because it’s not that bad. But I’ve been worn down. Thank goodness it was right in time for the weekend. And my goal of hitting 12 weeks of nine hour training weeks still stands. However, I’ve got a canker in the back of my throat. I took off Saturday, Sunday and Monday (yesterday) but hit the pool again today. I took it easy and felt pretty good. My throat is still killing me though. It’s not the sickness kind of sore throat though. Maybe I’m just kidding myself.

Anyway, I’ve been pretty motivated to do well this year, so we’ll see how it goes. I’m a freak when it comes to reading training articles, however, I know that nothing will do me the good that working out day in and out will do. I am constantly pulling myself back into the “now” and focusing the energy in other places. Things will be okay as long as I knock the workouts out.

I’ve got to give some props to Rich at InternetContentDevelopers.com. His tips have taken TriHive from 60th place on the Google search engines to number 7. Whooohooo. Rich’s Web site has a lot of good stuff that you should check out, especially if your trying to do well on the Google or Yahoo rankings.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Proclaiming Ogden, Utah as an endurance sports haven would have been laughable five years ago. The former train station depot at the junction of the intercontinental railroad has struggled to establish a new identity as the era of the locomotive has dwindled. Weber State University brings a touch of collegiate athletics to the town and the Ogden Raptors, a Minor League baseball team arrived in 1994, giving Major League Baseball hopefuls a shot at the big leagues. However, it wasn’t until 2002, when the city became an Olympic venue city that the redefinition of Ogden began. The Olympic movement showcased Ogden’s close proximity to world-class ski venues and recreation – just a quick drive from the heart of the city. As expected, the Olympics came and went, leaving the city hungry for more and the community motivated. Being on a pedestal, in front of the world is exactly what Ogden wanted. This is when the Greater Ogden Athletic Legacy Foundation (GOAL) stepped in.

The GOAL Foundation, created to fund programs, events and activities that would feature the best of the Ogden area while enhancing the legacy of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games morphed to its current form shortly after the 2002 Olympic movement. Its concept originated two years prior to the Games with the financial contribution by Kimberly Clark whose CEO, Philip Senn, wanted his company to leave a mark that would commemorate the spirit, energy and opportunity of the Olympics in Weber County. Funded by Kimberly Clark’s benevolence, a sculpture of a male and female downhill skier was unveiled in January 2002 and the foundation seed was planted.

It was one of Weber County’s Commissioners, Camille Cain that recognized the potential of the infrastructure left by the Utah Olympic movement. She saw a well-trained group of law enforcement ready to serve and a community eager to volunteer and help strengthen the county; building the legacy Ogden had its eye on. Cain and Senn led other community stewards through the vision, inviting them to take part. Dave Holmstrom, Kym Buttschardt, Barbara Taylor and Scott Parkinson were just a few to recognize the potential and joined Foundation ranks. Today, GOAL’s board of 25 members focuses on re-branding the community into one of the world’s premier athletic destinations. Even though hundreds of counties in the western United States proclaim themselves as an outdoor destination, Foundation leaders have proven that the Ogden area can deliver.

Having observed that the Olympics lured people in with world-class athletics, then allowed the area to speak for itself, GOAL adopted the same strategy.

However bringing a world-class event to a community is no easy task, and this held true for members of GOAL as they sought a flagship event. Mike Caldwell and Guy Letendre, GOAL board members and athletes themselves asked, “What event can we bring in that highlights our best features?”

Caldwell has raced bicycles for years and saw XTERRA Triathlon as a potential opportunity. He had identified with the triathlon series through one of his cycling heroes, Ned Overand. Overand, a world champion mountain biker traded sports late in his career and became an XTERRA Triathlon world champion, helping to put the unique triathlon format on the map. At the same time, Guy knew his brother, Dev Letendre had been working for Team Unlimited, supporting the XTERRA Championship events across the country.

According to Caldwell, Team Unlimited was hesitant to bring in an XTERRA event into the area. Two other XTERRA points series events already took place in Utah (Yuba Triathlon and the Moab Steelbender), and for the time being, this seemed to be enough. Would three events in Utah saturate the product? Not to mention GOAL’s lack of experience in race production. The foundation had no track record of event management, so the question had to be asked, could they pull it off? After a year and a half of courting, several “Marketing Trips” and Dev’s support, GOAL received its first XTERRA points series event in 2004.

Ogden’s XTERRA hailed nearly 200 athletes in the inaugural year and followed up with 360 racers in 2005. Heads were turning quickly at Team Unlimited. Having 200 athletes participate in a first year XTERRA event was unheard of. According to Team Unlimited, the average number of participants in a point’s series race is 150.

“The Ogden Off-Road Triathlon was one of the most successful point series races we’d ever had. Everyone, including the guys on our staff that attended past races told us what a great event it was because of the epic venue, the massive volunteer base and tremendous community support,” said Trey Garmin, marketing director for Team Unlimited.

Unbeknownst to Team Unlimited, GOAL board members had a bigger vision for the event – to become the Mountain Regional Championship venue. Keystone had proven results as the Mountain Championship venue and Team Unlimited had no immediate plans to change locations.

“We were in Keystone for eight years and made a lot of friends,” said Garmin. “Plus, we have a big athlete base in the surrounding areas of Colorado.” Convincing Team Unlimited to move the event further west would prove to be a daunting task.

To GOAL board members, the XTERRA Mountain Championships would give the Ogden Valley an international presence. A beautiful reservoir for the swim, cycling trails webbing the mountain side and a tough trail run through Snowbasin ski resort, finishing at the lodge – all just minutes from downtown Ogden. The cards were stacked in favor of GOAL. The campaign to become the Mountain Championship venue began in 2005.
At the same time, Jeff Robbins of the Utah Sports Commission was getting involved to attract groups like Team Unlimited to Utah. Jeff and representatives from GOAL traveled to Hawaii for the 2005 XTERRA World Championships to show what they could offer Team Unlimited in terms of venue, local support and most importantly, thanks to Jeff, the potential of a larger partnership between Utah and Team Unlimited. They were awarded the Mountain Championship title in 2006.

Any thoughts of skepticism from athletes were quickly put to rest once the event was experienced. The field of international athletes put their stamp of approval on the new venue, exclaiming their approval.

“With the altitude here, how friendly the people are and the great facilities that exist here, this would be an incredible place for triathletes to train, so I can see as people become more aware of how great Utah is this could become the next Mecca for endurance sports…it’s gorgeous,” said Melanie McQuaid, current XTERRA World Champion.

The sentiments of the day were echoed by Team Unlimited in confirmation of their new choice of venue. Team Unlimited President, Tom Kiely rewarded the community effort at the Awards Ceremony when he stated, “Thank you for your great work and support of XTERRA, and the work of your entire team. It was absolutely our best XTERRA ever, and we can’t stop talking about it. GOAL is an incredible dynamic and we just can’t wait to return again and often.”

Momentum is on the GOAL Foundation’s side. Their “give to the community” philosophy has paid off, and a legacy of Olympic energy and spirit has settled in northern Utah. Other event’s are in the works for the Foundation, hinting at a possible winter event. However, board members remain cautious about revealing plans.

GOAL President, Kym Buttschardt stated, “What we do through these events is to promote a vibrant, active lifestyle.” Mission accomplished, Kym. Thanks to the help of the GOAL Foundation a new Ogden has begun to emerge.

Popularity: 12% [?]