December 18, 2025 • 53 mins
What does the future of triathlon really look like? Coach Chris Newport talks with Justin Boyer of Set Up Events about the evolution of triathlon, the resurgence of short-course racing, and why community—not distance—is what keeps athletes in the sport.
We discuss:
- The legacy of Set Up Events, Bill Scott and White Lake
- Why sprint racing is growing again
- The role of volunteers and race culture
- Burnout, longevity, and accessibility in endurance sports
- How local races shape the future of triathlon
- Plus a little challenge for everyone listening at the end :)
A must-listen for athletes, coaches, and anyone who loves the sport.
Read more and get in touch here: https://www.theenduranceedge.com/the-future-of-triathlon-with-set-up-events-why-racing-local-matters/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Coach Carlie (02:00):
All right, welcome back to the Find Your Edge
podcast.
I am so excited, as I was justtelling Justin Boyer here from
Setup Events to record thisbecause I have so much faith and
I have so much love for thissport.
And I just I want everyone inour area and everyone in the
sport to do well.
So welcome to the show, Justin.
I'm so glad you're here.
SPEAKER_00 (02:21):
Awesome.
It's great to be here, Chris.
And uh I finally get to tell alittle bit of the side of the
story from setup uh that Billnever wanted to tell over the
last 35 years.
Coach Carlie (02:29):
Oh my goodness.
Okay, yes.
So I was digging around andfound that setup events started
in 1994.
SPEAKER_00 (02:38):
Yes, 1990.
Yep.
Coach Carlie (02:41):
That so he was really like the OG.
And when I got into the sport in2003, and he uh I went my first
race was White Lake.
So it was a setup events race,and I absolutely adored it.
I can definitely credit him topart of the reason why I'm in
the sport and doing this as acareer is because I loved it so
(03:04):
much.
So I remember then that he wasprobably maybe the second
largest race directing company,and that was in 2003.
So, where are you guys at now?
Tell us about Bill.
How is this getting shifted overto you?
We got to learn all about youbecause you have a really cool
background.
So I'm gonna let you take itaway.
SPEAKER_00 (03:24):
Awesome.
Yeah, thank you.
Um, so I was not around at thebeginning stages.
I'm a I'm a West Coast uh babythat turned into a military kid.
I call myself a kid.
I'm one year away from retiringfrom the Marine Corps, but um so
I've been fortunate to travelaround the country and even the
world.
And um I landed over here on theEast Coast uh 2018, found set up
(03:46):
events.
They were doing some races inSouth Carolina and North
Carolina, and uh, and then I wasable to start working for Bill,
you know, after the pandemic,Bill was really firing things
back up.
So I was able to uh come in as astaff, and then things just
lined up to where I was able tobecome Bill and Linda's
right-hand man, you know, theirrace director, their guy that
(04:07):
hauls the trailer out, the guythat hauls the staff.
And um, I know we're gonna sayBill a lot, but but we cannot
forget Bill and Linda.
Linda has been there the wholetime.
Um, she is really uh the the thepuppeteer behind the curtains
because she handles all thetiming for all of setup events
as well, too.
So I got my White Lake shirt onbecause I'm excited for White
(04:30):
Lake.
This year's it it really is oneof my favorite races as well.
I'm sure that's what keeps a lotof people coming back, is is
going to the White Lake races,which is why we go twice a year.
Coach Carlie (04:40):
Yes, it is such a great event, and I love that
it's so it's so beginnerfriendly and then also so
friendly to those who reallywant to take it to the next
level and really go super.
SPEAKER_00 (04:54):
When you have a super shallow lake, it's it's a
lot less intimidating.
When you have a very flat bikecourse, it's less intimidating.
And and the run, you know, inthe summer, the run can get a
little warmer, especially forour half, but for our our short
distance.
SPEAKER_01 (05:09):
I mean, hot is actually the term perhaps we
should use.
But like you're in NorthCarolina, right?
SPEAKER_00 (05:15):
Like yeah, if you've been training, it's just another
day in North Carolina.
Coach Carlie (05:20):
It is, yes, yeah, and it's so nice that that water
is um like you can see.
SPEAKER_00 (05:26):
Yes, you can see things.
Yeah, uh compared to a lot ofother races around this area,
um, it's it's it's really abeautiful destination and it's
it's really spectator friendly.
It's it's just a great race.
And if if you haven't been toone of those uh White Lake
races, we do it in May and we doit in September.
We do halves, we dointernationals, and we do short
(05:46):
course as well, too.
So it's it's it's really whatkeeps people coming back into
the sport.
And we, as the production side,really try to make it great for
the spectators and the athletescoming out to where they have a
great race and they go homethinking about man, that was
that was probably one of my bestraces.
I probably PR'd something, youknow.
Coach Carlie (06:08):
Yeah, oh for sure.
And the distance between thewater and transition is like not
far.
So you're not doing this likemassive, you know, transition
time.
So that cuts back on overalltime, too.
And I know you mentioned thatyou have a half, you have
Olympic, and you have sprint,but you also have some like
unique formats.
SPEAKER_00 (06:28):
Yeah, yeah.
So in the fall, uh we do thedouble sprint down there.
So the double sprint started in1997.
Bill was the first person to dothe double sprint.
SPEAKER_01 (06:38):
Um, good on him.
Was that at Carolina Beach?
SPEAKER_00 (06:41):
It was originally at Carolina Beach, right?
So it's the swim, run, bike,run, swim, finish on the beach
format.
He moved it down to Curry Beach,where he actually they live down
there, so they loved doing itthere because they just got to
wake up and walk out to thetransition area.
And and we've just struggled.
I'm gonna try and do this, uh,say this gently.
(07:04):
Um, we've struggled with thearea because tourist season and
just the area, they they reallycater towards the tourism in
that area.
And and I don't think the cityreally sees uh our race
production, or at least at ourlevel, supporting their mission.
So so we had to move the race toWhite Lake.
(07:24):
So now we do the double sprintin September.
Um, and we've had a lot of a lotof people asking for it to come
back.
Um, so we just started it in2024, brought it back um after a
two-year hiatus, and I thinkit's picking momentum back up.
People are talking about it.
Coach Carlie (07:40):
That's so cool.
I I think, and you can certainlyuh chime in on this, I feel like
that is part of the future ofthe sport is not just being swim
bike run, but being something alittle interesting, something a
little different, something kindof fun and challenging,
especially for anyone who makestheir way into long course and
(08:02):
then maybe is sort ofboomeranging back because
historically and statistically,people who go long course, and
I'm talking like half and fullIron Man, tend to have a higher
burnout rate.
And then in our minds, andactually, our sports
psychologist, uh Coach Carly, isliterally doing this as her
dissertation of how there's thisalmost like level of blue,
(08:25):
blueness after long courseracing.
You sort of get used to thislike hefty training load, and
you're just like, oh my gosh, itfeels so heavy.
And to me, a double sprint isjust freaking fun.
SPEAKER_00 (08:37):
Yeah, it's it's a quick race and you're done in an
hour and seven minutes, an hourand 29 minutes, you know,
something around there.
unknown (08:44):
Yeah.
Coach Carlie (08:45):
Yeah, yeah, totally.
Okay, so I know you mentionedthe the town of Curie Beach,
which is fine.
There are always going to belittle nuances to every city,
I'm sure.
So talk a little bit about howyou're choosing some of these
events, what are some of thepotential challenges, whether it
be, you know, whether the townaccepts you or permitting or
cops or I don't know, anythingmaybe that I'm missing.
(09:08):
Like what do you feel likepeople do?
SPEAKER_00 (09:09):
You just listed uh a handful of our nuances.
Thankfully, setup events hasbeen rooted for so long, and our
race series is is verypredictable, right?
We we haven't really added awhole lot of races over the
years.
Uh, we may have lost a couple.
You know, Lake Lure right now.
I I don't want to say we lostLake Lure, but we are waiting
(09:30):
for Lake Lure to rebuild rightnow after after that devastating
hurricane um last year.
Lake Logan, right?
Lake Logan was a race we lost.
Uh they had a they had a half aswell, too.
Um and and I think that tiesinto a lot of the challenges
that we face on a day-to-daybasis, right?
Getting a location, gettingapproval from whether it's the
(09:52):
state, whether it's you know,UNCW, the campus, these private
areas that we go into, likePinehurst, getting the buy-in
from these people to approve us.
And I don't think they're justgonna recognize anybody that
wants to come in and be like,oh, I want to put a race on.
They know that we've been doingthis for 30 plus years, and
we're gonna put on a good eventand we're gonna respect their
(10:14):
area.
So that's probably one of thebiggest challenges is just
really maintaining thatcommunication and that great
relationship with the peoplethat allow us to put on these
sites, whether it's a statepark, anywhere.
Um, the second thing youmentioned was police, right?
We we struggle with police.
We compete with uh other events,especially when we go up to the
Raleigh Durham area and we'retrying to put on a race and
(10:37):
we're requesting overtime.
These cops are getting offeredovertime from many concerts,
college football games, thingslike that.
Um those are just some of thecompeting events.
We we have found an alternativesolution to getting police on
overtime.
Uh, we use a third-party programthat provides people that are
(10:58):
certified to assist withtraffic.
Uh, they're not authorized, likea law enforcement official, to
stop traffic, but they areauthorized almost like a road
crossing guard, right?
You know, near an elementaryschool.
So we have some of those peoplethat come out from this third
party program.
They've been super supportive.
They they don't know anythingabout triathlon, but they come
(11:20):
out and they're rooting onpeople as they're doing their
job.
So we're thankful for them aswell.
And then I think some of theother pieces is just weather,
you know, Mother Nature is oneof those challenges that we face
as a race production company.
I can't control what the watertemp's gonna be.
I can't control if there was astorm a few weeks ago and it
(11:41):
blew debris into the water,right?
I can't control, I can go outthere with my leaf blower the
day before and blow every sharpcorner on the bike course and
praying to give uh uh a cyclistthe most prestige corner.
And one rain, one truck can messthat all up, and then there's
(12:01):
gravel and rocks on that corner.
So we try our best to put on thebest race, and sometimes Mother
Nature uh has other plans andand makes it a little
challenging for people, right?
Uh, you know, you want to beable to uh have your best race,
but sometimes you have toovercome those challenges.
That's why triathletes are thebest, because you they are
always thrown differentchallenges, and and that's part
(12:23):
of racing is overcoming thosechallenges.
Coach Carlie (12:25):
Yes, I think that's a great point because so
many of us train in what wewould otherwise think of as
maybe pristine conditions.
SPEAKER_01 (12:33):
Right.
Coach Carlie (12:34):
You know, like you're training in the pool and
you're on your trainer andyou're you know running on a
treadmill or just running aroundyour neighborhood or whatever.
And then lo and behold, race daycomes.
Um, maybe the transition area ismuddy, and now you've got this
extra.
I to me, that is not aninconvenience, it's an added
(12:55):
opportunity to challengeyourself.
Now, obviously, if you don'tfeel safe, then that's a
different story.
But it sounds like most peoplethat you've had exposure to have
a pretty good attitude about itwhen they show it.
SPEAKER_00 (13:10):
Yeah, there.
I mean, I I've been reading someof the posts and comments on
social media about uh what youwere talking about earlier, just
kind of that burnout, that blue.
And I will I'll thank people inthe comments who praise your
more local races and yourshorter distances because I
truly believe the culture at ourraces and and even some of our
(13:35):
competitive race productioncompanies in North Carolina, who
we're all friends with, anyways,um the the culture that the
races that we put on are justdifferent than when you go to
this more, I guess, you can callit more elite a level.
I I I'll argue that withanybody.
I think we have some of the bestathletes in the hemisphere, you
(13:55):
know, in the uh mid-Atlanticregion that are coming to our
races that are some of the bestracers in the in the country,
you know, and we see that.
So, yes, they always come with agood attitude.
And then the ones that have ahard attitude, look, listen, I'm
a two-time drill instructor.
I've got I've got word voodoo.
I can, I can, I can changesomeone's attitude real quick.
Coach Carlie (14:17):
You have word voodoo.
That is amazing.
SPEAKER_00 (14:20):
So I'll go over there and uh there's a lot of
different approaches I'll take.
I'm usually I usually have asmile.
People people don't know thatI'm a two-time drill instructor
in the Marine Corps unlesssomething chaotic's happening.
Then then you hear me from abouta mile away.
But uh I can really read peoplewell.
You know, I also have a lawenforcement background, so I'm
(14:41):
really good at reading people.
And so if somebody's not havingthe best day, I can see that, I
can read it, and I I'm reallygood at kind of changing the
tone.
Bill, Bill's the master at thistoo.
I I've picked up a lot of thisfrom Bill because he'll have
somebody screaming in his face,and Bill will just be like,
Look, well, this is what we'lldo, you know.
Let me let me help you.
And I'm just like, Bill, how didyou handle that?
(15:02):
You know?
He's that's yeah, I guess itcomes with the experience.
I'm learning, I'm trying to pickup as much as I can, uh
shadowing him for the last fewyears.
Coach Carlie (15:13):
Yeah.
So it almost sounds like youhave to have a little bit of
thick skin to be in thisbusiness, but maybe not as much
as perhaps some other sports.
I know we were tight, like youcome from a motocross
background, and you were beforewe started recording, talking a
little bit about that.
And that's not to throw a sportunder the bus, but maybe just a
(15:34):
different, a different energy,maybe a different expectation.
And really how Trathlon is shshould and hopefully is fun for
most people.
SPEAKER_00 (15:45):
Yeah, I mean, that's that's why we're here, is is
because it's a hobby.
No, there's very few of us thatare doing this at the at the
elite level, and even theprofessionals aren't waking up
training, training, racing onSaturday.
There, there's five people, tenpeople in the world that are
doing it at that level.
And they and that it they're notdoing it for long either,
(16:07):
because the the toll that ittakes.
So at the end of the day, thisis a hobby for all of us.
It's something that that keepsus around.
And and I will say, one of thethings that really kept me
around the triathlon sport wasyou when you're at an award
ceremony and and you're creepingup in the age brackets, right?
And then you get to the the60-year-olds and the
(16:29):
70-year-olds, and then youthere's two 80-year-olds out
there, and you're just like, ohmy goodness, these people are in
in so alert, they're in suchincredible shape, and and that's
what kept me in the sport, iswhen I'm a grandfather one day,
um, I want to be like that.
I want to be able to show mygrandkids uh how great it is to
(16:53):
be alive and the things that youcan do and be able to pick up
grandkids, things like that.
So um those those are some ofthe aspects that keep me around.
Thick skin, yeah, you gotta havethick skin if you if especially
if you're working for me, ifyou're part of my crew, um,
because while I'm racedirecting, I got my race
directing hat, I'm walkingaround the transition area,
(17:14):
people are like, hey Justin.
But if you're you're my crewknows this, and I love my crew.
They're they're we're sosynchronized.
But the day before setup, I'mout there, let's do this, let's
do this.
You know, it's it's it's quickand to the point, but they know
that that's my I guess myleadership style is is I'm not
gonna ask twice for that.
So yes, my crew has very thickskin, but if it us as a
(17:38):
production side, we have to havethick skin because you never
know what somebody's gonna uhcomplain about, right?
Coach Carlie (17:45):
But it sounds like that's generally few and far
between.
SPEAKER_00 (17:48):
Sure, yeah.
I mean, uh one uh instance,maybe a race, every other race.
Um, and we usually we we sendpeople back in their car, send
them home, and you know, we wewe make them happy.
We our goal is to just put on agreat race and and bring you
into the sport and thiscommunity.
(18:09):
Um, that's why you're here,right?
You you love this community somuch that you've decided to find
a home in the community, andthat's what we really want to
show a lot of these people thatmaybe just have a bad day or a
bad race.
That today wasn't a clearexample of what we're all about.
Coach Carlie (18:25):
Yeah, definitely.
And I I think so much of thatrare experience is maybe an
opportunity for somebody togrow.
SPEAKER_01 (18:35):
Sure.
Coach Carlie (18:35):
You know, they just so happen to uh complain a
little bit, right?
So uh again, that's why I lovethis sport is it's like, okay, I
may have had a bad day.
I may have had a really bad day.
Um, did me yelling in the racedirector's face, was that
warranted?
Probably not.
So I can go home, cool off alittle bit, and maybe reflect on
(18:57):
that and like how can how can Itake this opportunity to be a
better human, be a better racer,be a better community member to
lift others up and the racedirectors, because you know, we
want to keep you guys.
SPEAKER_00 (19:11):
I can say I've never gotten to a screening match with
anybody.
Um, I'll I'll win, I know that,but that's that's not what I'm
here to prove.
I'm here to make everybodyhappy.
And you gotta understand, wehave children athletes.
So uh there's so many childrencoming up in the athlete form
right now.
Um, children spectators, familyspectators.
(19:31):
We're not trying to ruin the dayfor everybody just because you
had a bad day.
Let's go over into the corner,let's talk about this.
If you want to beat me upverbally, you know, I'll I'll
take the words and and uh youknow there's just too much good
going on at a race to mess upeverybody's day, right?
Coach Carlie (19:50):
Yeah, yeah.
Talk a little bit about the costof the sport because I feel like
you guys have a because you'vebeen around so long, I feel like
you guys do a really great jobat keeping things affordable.
You know, how do you feel likethat ties into maybe the future
of the sport?
Are there certain challengesthat go along with various
(20:10):
aspects of the cost of thesport?
SPEAKER_00 (20:13):
Yeah, the the putting on a race is not cheap,
especially if if you're puttingon a a smaller race, right?
We're not Iron Man, we're notgetting 3,000, 3,500 athletes
showing up.
Um you know, our races rangefrom uh a slow or a rainy day is
is 200 racers to you know ourmore average, which is you know,
(20:39):
three to five hundred, and thensome of our bigger races, you
know, like Wrightsville Beach,uh, we're we're cracking over a
thousand.
So things got more expensivefrom my understanding.
I'm I'm not the accounting guru,but Bill and I communicate a lot
about the expenses, and I cantell you after COVID, a lot of
(21:01):
things went up.
And and and kudos to Bill andLinda because that was one of
their main points was justbecause the expenses are going
up, we're not gonna jack up theprices.
You can go to everybody else'srace site in the area and look
at the cost of a triathlon.
And then go look at setupevents.com and look at the cost
(21:21):
of our races.
And and you might think, oh,this is a a low pro, a a low
production race.
No, I promise you, ourproduction is gonna be more
elite than the a lot of thoseother races, a lot of our
competitors, even though we'reall we're a lot buddies.
But um internally, and that'sone of the as a marine very
(21:42):
competitive nature.
I want to see this companysucceed.
I want to I want Bill's name tobe a greater legacy than it
already is right now, which iswhich is hard to beat because
you can go anywhere andeverybody knows Bill Scott.
If if you've raced White Lakeand 2003 or 2005, uh, and you've
(22:04):
even left the sport, you knowBill Scott.
So I'm I'm with a competitivenature, I really want to make
the races just better than thelast race.
And how do we do that?
Um, and how do we do that withnot gouging the customers, you
know, with with an overheadcost?
So Bill's really been creativeover the years in managing the
(22:26):
budgets.
And at the end of the day, a atriathlon company or a race
production company owner, we'renot we're not driving Bentleys
and we're not, you know, we'rewe're here because we love the
sport.
We're not here to to make abazillion dollars off of
athletes.
Coach Carlie (22:44):
Well, I have a great appreciation for what you
guys do, not only because youwere my first race, and you
know, because we send athletesthere all the time, but as a
race production companyourselves, now granted, we put
on one race, and because we puton one race, we can't make it as
cheap as you can.
SPEAKER_01 (23:00):
Right.
Coach Carlie (23:01):
Right?
Like that's just it's just notit's just not possible, right?
So going with a company likeyours, who does it all the time,
who has the timing equipment,who has you guys have all the
stuff.
We don't have all the stuff,right?
So that makes it more costly forus.
So that I I feel like that'sit's it's not a low production
(23:24):
opportunity.
It's like, oh, these this isaffordable because they do it
all the time and they're reallygood at it.
SPEAKER_00 (23:29):
It's a lot easier when we've we've got two
trailers full of equipment,we've got two storage facilities
full of equipment that has beenso some of the stuff's been
gathered over the 30 years.
Bill and I we're gonna go to therecycling center here shortly,
but um, but we have all theequipment, right?
So it's it's easy for us to showup.
And when we do so many races ayear, we go on autopilot, you
(23:52):
know, when we go to set up,whether it's a Viking Dash race,
right, which is coming up, orit's our triathlons or the even
the swim races that we put on.
We're all just so autopilot, wego and set it up, and it's it I
think that's what also keepscost down, right?
Time equals money, right?
So if you're able to go outthere and set up a race and your
hours are shorter for everybodyand you have all the equipment,
(24:14):
you don't have to outsourceanything.
That's that's I think what'skept us stable versus a lot of
these other people that try toput on races.
And and if you're trying to, ifyou're coming into the sport
trying to put on a race just tomake money, you're not gonna
last.
Because one, uh, you know, youif you're gonna do it, you gotta
do it right.
And it takes time.
This isn't a I'm gonna put onone big race and I'm gonna just
(24:36):
step away from the sport.
Like it takes time to reallyinvest yourself into this
community.
And there's some other greatpeople that there's some other
great people that are doing itreally well, and I look up to a
lot of these people, you know.
Um, I'm not sure if you'refamiliar with Tom Clifford.
SPEAKER_01 (24:50):
Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (24:51):
So Tom, Tom, well, we we partner the out of
Wilmington, right?
Yeah, so Tom Clifford's been agreat help.
Um, he actually partners with uswith the White Lake half, the
pro am that we put on.
So he he's been an another guy.
I I don't look at him as acompetitor, I look at him as as
a friend in the sport that iswilling to help us put on races
(25:13):
to help the community becausehe's another guy like you and
like me that just love thepeople.
Coach Carlie (25:18):
Yeah, so fun.
I will have to say, andhopefully this makes it to him.
I am so impressed that he canput on a race and do the race.
That's next level.
Like, I that doesn't evencompute in my brain.
I could not put on a race andthen also have like my race face
on.
Like that just so kudos to you,Tom.
SPEAKER_00 (25:36):
Yeah, there's there's a couple of I have not
at that level yet.
I I think I get I get a littleupset when I see people doing
that.
I'm like, wow, you have time toput on a race and go race.
Like, who's who's watching theeight stations?
But he's got people covered forthat.
Me, I like to sit from thebird's nest or the sniper post
(25:56):
and just make sure everything'sgood.
I I I I'm not at that level.
Coach Carlie (26:01):
I I I call mine the mom nest.
I like how you have like themilitary version.
Mine is the mom.
I'm like, oh my gosh, iseverybody okay?
Are my staff okay?
Are the athletes okay?
Like, are my volunteers okay?
Is everybody good?
So it's yeah, that's it's nextlevel.
It's it's a lot of work.
But yeah, having the right staffin place is massive.
SPEAKER_01 (26:20):
Yes.
Coach Carlie (26:21):
You know, and volunteers, talk about that.
Like, is it hard for you guys tovolunteer find volunteers?
Like, what's what's that looklike over the years?
SPEAKER_00 (26:30):
You know, I've seen a roller coaster of certain
areas, certain races, certaintimes of the year.
Um, yes.
Volunteers are hard to comeacross, and you know, we try to
incentivize our volunteers withwith you know uh something,
whether it's a discounted racein the future, whether it's some
(26:52):
swag or something like that, um,because we are very appreciative
of anybody that volunteers tocome out and and support a race.
Now, if you've never volunteeredbefore, like that should be on
your 2026 challenge list rightthere, is just go volunteer for
a race because you see so muchof the inside of the production
(27:15):
of the race by justvolunteering, whether you're
working in aid station, whetheryou're supporting in the
transition area, um, you're atthe finish line, you know,
anything.
There's so many volunteer spotsat any race that you will learn.
And as an as a as an athletemyself, I took that as an
advantage point that I waslearning some inside of the
(27:37):
sport that I could take to mynext race.
You know, I know that the peoplehanding me water are probably
volunteers, and they probablydon't know how to hand me a
water bottle, you know, andthat's just something super
basic.
But when you're in need of waterat an aid station, and we see
the pros do this all the time,they think they're getting a
(27:58):
water bottle handed by thiselite water bottle hander
person, and you see the prosdrop water bottle, water bottle,
water bottle, water bottle.
Well, guess what?
You didn't get any water.
So um, but when you know theseare volunteers and you've done
it yourself and and you've satthere and handed people water
cups, you learn so much.
So, yes, volunteers are hard tocome across.
(28:19):
That's my my selling point.
Please volunteer for a race.
The ones that come out, they'reusually affiliated with the race
in some capacity.
Whether, you know, we get a lotof National Honor Society high
school kids that need somehours.
And so those kids are greatbecause I mean, where they are
in their academic career,they're already ahead of their
peers just being a part of anorganization like that.
(28:42):
And so when they come out,they're super helpful, super
friendly.
Then we get family members,right?
Uh, a wife, a husband, somekids.
And those are motivating,especially when you get a bunch
of kids out there that are justwaiting for dad, but they're
yelling at everybody, or they'rewaiting for mom to come by and
they're just screaming atanybody that looks like her.
So um that that's another sideof the volunteers.
(29:04):
And then the third piece that weutilize, and and hopefully I'm
not selling Bill's big secretout, but we get a lot of the
local J Rotc programs.
SPEAKER_01 (29:13):
Um at a oh, that's a great idea.
SPEAKER_00 (29:16):
Oh man, I probably just blew it then.
SPEAKER_01 (29:17):
So um, but we have a good Well, I mean, they get but
they like you mentioned, theyget ours.
SPEAKER_00 (29:23):
And and when you're part of a J R O T C program,
you're you're part of either aNavy, Marine Corps, uh, Air
Force, or an Army J R O T Cwhich has some discipline and
some structure.
And so when these kids come out,um, they they're a lot more
discipline and and obedience toobedient to orders uh than most
(29:47):
of your 14, 15, 16-year-oldkids.
Um and and they also have a bossthere, right?
It's some sort of militaryofficial, typically a retired
one, that heads that wholeprogram.
So those those groups have beengreat.
I will give a huge shout out uhup in uh up in Troutman
Mooresville area, uh the SouthIridel uh high school, Marine
(30:10):
Corps J R O T C.
Not to put them at the top, butman, those kids it go out to the
Lake Normans uh sprint and orthe the the Charlotte Viking
Dash and you'll see these kidsout there.
And man, that that retiredLieutenant Colonel and the
retired Mass Art, they've gotthose kids like I I want to put
(30:31):
my kid and kids in their programbecause they've got those kids
just on it.
Coach Carlie (30:35):
That's so cool.
Um yeah, Justin, you may havejust created a challenge because
my kid is in Navy.
SPEAKER_00 (30:41):
Oh no, I love it.
Coach Carlie (30:43):
And so I might I might have to challenge their
group to come volunteer for ourrace or any of y'all's races and
see uh and see who shows up alittle bit better, the Navy or
the Marines.
SPEAKER_00 (30:54):
Oh, all right, all right, I see what you did there.
Coach Carlie (30:57):
Yeah, they're they're also this is coming from
an Air Force brat.
So, and uh anytime I tellanybody that, they're like,
especially in the Army, they'relike, Oh, you were just in the
Air Force.
No, I wasn't personally in theAir Force.
I just followed me.
SPEAKER_00 (31:10):
Traveled around.
Coach Carlie (31:11):
But just short.
SPEAKER_00 (31:13):
Uh let me give you a 10 second.
I was actually trying to jointhe Air Force, but I went on the
day after Thanksgiving, known asBlack Friday, uh, to the
recruiting station.
And the Air Force recruitingstation was closed.
Oh, I should have taken that asa sign that life probably would
have been a little easier in theAir Force because the only one
open was the Marine Corps.
Coach Carlie (31:32):
So uh Justin, I respect what you do.
Thank you for your service.
I I don't even, I don't even Iyeah, following my dad around
was enough.
Uh that's yeah, I could notimagine.
SPEAKER_00 (31:46):
Bless bless the kids that that that do it, you know,
and try to be in sports.
I got a 15-year-old daughterthat's had to pack up and move a
handful of times.
And and um we're thankful forthe children of service members
because they they go through alot.
Coach Carlie (32:02):
Yeah.
But I mean, at least from myexperience, I felt like, and uh,
I know it might sound a bit of ashock, but I am definitely an
introvert.
And that was a way for me to belike, okay, starting all over,
gotta meet new friends, gottaget in the community, gotta, you
know, show up and do your thing.
And yeah, I mean, I've met somereally great people where
(32:25):
otherwise I think if I lived inthe same place, I don't, I think
life would be better.
SPEAKER_00 (32:29):
Yeah, you get exposed to so many different
things and and sports, right?
Like, so in certain areas you docertain sports.
Um, one of my friends just camefrom six years or five years in
Japan.
He played his son played a lotof baseball.
Um, you know.
Um just where you're at, justgeographically changes.
So the kids get an they I thinkthey get an opportunity as as
(32:52):
much of a challenge they facegrowing up and on all the hard
stuff.
I think uh military kids get alot of different opportunities
that you know, somebody thatjust grew up in small town USA
all the way to high school oreven college doesn't get.
Coach Carlie (33:07):
Yeah, a little different.
So where do you think, based onyour experience thus far in the
sport, where do you think thesport is headed?
SPEAKER_00 (33:18):
You know, I think I I I'm a stats nerd.
So I'm constantly looking at thedemographics of what age groups
are looking at our races.
Just just on the internet.
I'm looking at who's showing upand racing.
I'm seeing which classes arestacked.
(33:39):
And then I you turn the wholepersonal side to it, you know.
Somebody my age who's gotchildren, I don't have time to
train this and that um as muchas I probably did back in the
day.
Um, or that I might have inabout 10 or 15, 10 years when
all the kids are gone.
I'm gonna I'm gonna have a lotof time to train, you know.
Coach Carlie (34:01):
And I know, because Justin, you have you got
a I know you mentioned your15-year-old, but you also have a
one year home.
SPEAKER_00 (34:07):
Yeah.
You're busy.
I love we love kids, and I Ilove girls.
I got three girls, so um, that'sawesome.
I think that's what really meltsmy heart.
But you know, we have such awide range of of demographics of
of ages, you know.
We've got kids that are nineyears old that want to race, and
(34:28):
we've got people in their mid80s racing.
And I think that the generationright now that is, you know, I
don't want to I don't want tosay any offensive words, but the
50 plus generation, uh 60 plusgeneration, I I feel like uh
they have done such a great jobat making the sport fun and
(34:53):
being able to show people, youknow.
And I I can recall someinstances at races where I'm an
athlete and some guy just startstalking to me, you know?
And um it just it I was nervous,I didn't know anybody at the
race, right?
So um you're not gonna see thatfrom a 20 or a 30-year-old
person.
It's it's the more experienced,more knowledgeable, more wisdom,
(35:15):
uh, people that and I don't evenknow if they're doing it, but
they're they're they're breakingthe ice for me in in something
that maybe I was uncomfortablewith.
So I think those people, theyhave a huge responsibility
still, um, even though they'rejust showing up for a race, to
really continue to show thisnewer generation of the
(35:38):
teenagers, the 20-year-olds, andeven some of the 30-year-olds
that are just getting introducedto the sport, how important it
is that our culture, triathlonculture, is is the most
important thing.
Um, I think they they they owethat.
And I don't want to demand onthat from them, but I think I
think that's where we're gonnahead is as long as those people
(36:00):
can continue to show the peopleshow the younger generations how
great this is, we're gonnaproduce great people in society.
The more triathletes we havebecause of our culture.
Um I think a lot of people aregonna start coming back to
shorter course races.
Right?
I think that a lot of people putit on their their cork board or
(36:27):
put it on their calendar thatthey want to go do a long
distance race, whether it's ahalf or a full.
And they start putting the moneyout for it, which is it's
expensive, right?
They get a trainer, they entryfees, hotels, flights, bike
carriers, everything involvedwith the expenses of this race.
(36:51):
And then once they financiallyget committed to it, then they
have to mentally get committedto it, right?
I have to train.
I'm my alarm's going off at 5 30in the morning, I'm putting my
running shoes on, and I'm goingrunning.
And I think that's why we see somuch burnout, is because that
lifestyle is not sustainable forfor long.
(37:11):
And especially if you got aone-year-old like me.
Like, you think I'm telling mywife, all right, babe, I'm going
for a 75-mile bike ride afterwork today.
I'll see it, make sure dinner'sready.
No, I'm getting my head choppedoff.
So, um Yeah.
Coach Carlie (37:25):
And I I also love how this uh population tends to
underinflate what they're gonnado.
They'll be like, see you in twohours.
And like four hours, yeah.
Oh, that's me.
SPEAKER_00 (37:35):
Yeah, that's my signature move.
That is my signature move.
So where where I see is with theshorter distance racing, I I see
a lot of people coming back, youknow.
Uh, we we really saw the longdistance racing get very
popular, and I think I stillhold it to a high pedestal.
Uh, on Sunday race on Sundaymornings, I'm watching live
(37:56):
timing or I'm watching the videofootage of races because I enjoy
it.
I'm just I'm into that.
Um yeah, but I I think somepeople leave, you know, and they
don't want to come back afterthey they got that medal or they
achieved that race.
And I think that's where ourstyle racing, uh the shorter
(38:18):
style racing, is gonna keeppeople with the longevity.
Why?
Because how much training do youdo you really need to do to do a
sprint triathlon?
You know?
Coach Carlie (38:28):
Uh I I'll go and it's health, it's healthier in
my persp in my uh perspective.
SPEAKER_00 (38:34):
Yes, yeah.
Coach Carlie (38:35):
You know, you're socially, mentally, physically
um healthier to be training, notas many quantity.
Um and you and I know somepeople just love training.
SPEAKER_00 (38:49):
Yes.
Coach Carlie (38:50):
And that's fine.
But um, from my perspective,from a longevity perspective, I
think short course is uh aneasier way to sustain the sport
for longer.
SPEAKER_00 (39:04):
Yeah.
Coach Carlie (39:05):
So yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (39:07):
I I enjoy I I enjoy it.
I I like it.
I like doing I'm the sprintking, right?
We have Olympics, but I'm thesprint king.
Why?
Because I could ride my biketwice in the month, go on a
couple, go on a couple runs, anduh maybe get in the pool a
month, you know, sometime in themonth before a race, and I can
show up and I can race, youknow.
(39:28):
That's that's what I love aboutit.
And then I'm agreed.
Coach Carlie (39:33):
I always sort of joke that I like to be home by
breakfast.
SPEAKER_00 (39:35):
Yeah.
Coach Carlie (39:35):
So, you know, just like get out, get her done, come
back and have me an egg safe.
Exactly.
SPEAKER_00 (39:40):
Yeah, we that's we have a we have an athlete.
Um the great thing about ourracing too is I know so many
people that have become myfriends, right?
Um, just our regulars.
But we have a guy, um, hisname's Adam, and he is fast.
All right.
I'm not gonna throw his lastname out because I don't want
him to take offense to this, butI it's a sign of appreciation.
(40:02):
He's he wins his age group.
Sometimes he wins races overall.
But he is known for getting inthe car and going home right
after he comes across the finishline.
He might shake a couple hands,whatever, but he he's here to
for business, finish the race,and then probably mow in the
lawn before we're even takingthe finish line inflatable down.
Coach Carlie (40:24):
Yeah, yeah.
I mean, yeah, I guess you canyou can uh you know, speaking of
like introverts, like that justmight be his jam, right?
Get done, maybe get back to thefamily, or maybe he's people
out.
SPEAKER_00 (40:35):
If he sticks around for uh if he sticks around for
an award ceremony, I like tomake a big deal out of it, you
know.
I'm like, look, everybody, Adamstayed for awards, you know.
So I love I love him though.
And he's he's he's such atremendous athlete, too.
If you if you watch him, um hishis form is just phenomenal in
every aspect, and you can tellthat he takes the time to really
(40:58):
train.
But at the same time, he'smanaging life, right?
I'm here to race, but I gottaget back home because I got
something else to do, too.
Coach Carlie (41:06):
Yeah.
I mean, who's not, right?
Like we all have we all havethings.
Um that reminded me again whatyou were talking about with some
of the uh I don't want to saythe word OLD, the more mature
generation experienced of trash.
Yes.
So I know you were like, I'm notgonna put that expectation uh on
(41:27):
them.
I kind of am.
I think that they have anobligation to keep the sport
around.
And in my mind, that's just likegenerally chatting with you
know, just like makingconversation.
I remember um it was probably atWhite Lake, you know, because
you're standing in the watergetting ready to race, and men
and women are a little differentin the water.
(41:50):
Um, but you know, you but likethe men are just like all over
each other and they're just likeso aggressive and you know,
doing their thing.
And all of us women are standingaround like, I'm so sorry.
If I hit you, my bad.
I'm not intending to, you know,just like, oh ha, you know, just
it's just like a lighter energy,a lighter mood.
But maybe it's just talking toyour other, you know, to some of
(42:12):
the younger generation.
What do you think, if you wereto set an expectation for some
of the more mature traffics,what would that be to you to
getting to making some of thenewer generation feel welcome?
SPEAKER_00 (42:25):
I everybody's personality is different, right?
Introvert, extrovert, thingslike that.
But I I think if if you know,for for our crowd that is
experienced with the wisdom thathave been around the racing, I
think just being friendly andand being able to recognize that
you were in those their shoesonce too.
You you were you showed up toyour first half or your you
(42:47):
know, maybe people sign up foran Iron Man.
Hey, this is my first Iron Man,and I'm nervous as as can be.
And if you see those people,really just just being friendly.
You don't have to go above andbeyond.
Just hey, how's it going?
You know, I mean, and and inNorth Carolina, we have no
problem talking with everybodyout here, but uh, but we get a
lot of athletes from otherstates as well, too, you know,
and or or transplants that justmoved to North Carolina.
(43:11):
So um, and I say that as a guythat grew up in California, Los
Angeles, but I I I call myself achameleon.
I like blending in wherever Igo, pick up a little a little
accent, you know.
And um the North Carolinans,they're they're they're they're
great.
Um, and I can say that aboutSouth Carolina, that's where I'm
currently residing too, is we'rejust friendly people, but
(43:31):
remember to bring that to bringthat with you to the races too.
Um, because that's how it shouldbe.
I mean, if if if that's what'sreally happening on the women's
starting line, I might startputting myself in a couple
brackets back because that'swhat I want to race with, you
know.
Coach Carlie (43:47):
I know you should, I mean, you should mic us all
up.
It's next level.
It's so funny.
Um, and I think some of thatjust makes you feel more
comfortable in the moment.
Like, you know, we're all outhere, we're all nervous, we all
want to do the best we possiblycan, which is why, you know, I'm
gonna crack a joke or um, youknow, talk about the wedgie I
have this morning putting on mywetsuit.
(44:07):
Like, you know, like it's it'sfunny you say that too.
You know, here we are dressed inrubber in these little tight
suits, and you know, you can'thelp but be a little vulnerable
about out there.
SPEAKER_00 (44:17):
Just being a normal person.
And and and you brought up agreat point.
I try to do that on racemornings because usually I have
the microphone in my hand beforethe race, right?
I'm I'm doing a little bit ofeverything, but one of the
things I really enjoy is havinga mic in my hand and and really
sometimes I'm cracking a joke,right?
Sometimes I'm I'm I'm gettinghard on people because they're
(44:38):
not following directions, andthen I crack a joke, and maybe
the people that I was correctingdidn't like the joke, but
everybody else thought it wasfunny, and and it kind of
lightens the moods.
And I love talking aboutspecifically when the females
are on the start line.
When we're doing like a beachstart and and the men are
creeping their toes in thewater, you know, and I'm like,
all right, gents, back up.
(44:58):
We'll we'll wait another minute,you know, until we can all
follow directions, and then theygo.
And then the women get on theline, and I'm just like, well, I
know I don't have to say thistwice because the women listen
and they know how to followdirections.
And that's just me lighteningthe mood and and trying to get
everybody to relax before therace day.
And and I feel like I I don't Ihave that power, so why not
(45:20):
share that with everybody tojust kind of help start the race
a little bit better?
Coach Carlie (45:26):
That's awesome.
Well, Justin, I think Bill madea really great decision uh
handing the reins gradually intoyour hands because it sounds
like you're making setup eventsa very welcoming place.
And I think that that's what oursport needs to be.
Because if you ever think ofTrathon, like, oh my gosh, I
could never do a Traton,absolutely you can.
(45:47):
You can learn how to swim, youcan learn how to ride a bike,
you can learn how to loverunning.
And and then get into all thefun stuff, like the transitions
and eating gels with one hand,and you know, like all the weird
tricks that you would neverthink to ever say that you've
done, but then you're like, wow,I did that.
SPEAKER_00 (46:07):
That's really stealing my daughter's hair tie
to put it on my pedal to hold mypedals.
Yeah, you got a hair tie?
I need that hair tie.
Coach Carlie (46:15):
Uh-huh.
Yeah.
And she's like, Yes, dad, let'sgo.
That's so cool.
So, how, Justin, how can wesupport setup?
Yeah.
What does that look like?
SPEAKER_00 (46:24):
Um, we're we're putting on, I don't want to call
this like Bill's final tour, butyeah, Bill's getting ready to
retire.
He wants to enjoy time with hisgrandkids, and um, so he's put a
lot more responsibility on me,and I love it because he's
treated me so well.
And so he's gonna be at a lot ofour races this year, but but
(46:47):
less frequently from here onout, probably after 2026 series.
So our 2026 series starts withthe Viking dashes, right?
They're there are 5K's and 10K'sum trail runs and you can dress
Viking themed.
Uh and and they're really cool,and and we do them all over.
I think there's five differentraces, and they're all over the
state.
(47:07):
So um, if you haven't been toone, and and and what people go
out there for is the finishermedal.
Every okay, is this is thisyeah, you're gonna have to take
a uh take a look at it, or ifyou're listening, take a look at
it.
But this year it's this it'sthis huge Viking boat, right?
Um they did they did a a Thorhammer, they did um they did an
(47:32):
axe.
They they've had a few differentcool medals over the years, and
that's what a lot of people comeout for is the new medal.
So you have to check out the newmedal, it's posted on our on our
social and on the race websites.
And then in March, we kick offthe triathlon series, North
Carolina triathlon series, uh,South Carolina triathlon series.
Um Jeremy Davis manages all theSouth Carolina races, and I go
(47:56):
up and and put on all the NorthCarolina races.
Um but yeah, we're we'restarting off in in March, and we
go, we take a break in thesummer usually because it gets
pretty warm, and then uh we wepick it back up.
So if if you are interested,setup events.com or you can go
on our socials, you know, setupevents or at nc tri series at
(48:18):
setupies, um, and you can findanything there.
We we've got a race foreverybody.
Coach Carlie (48:25):
Yeah, you guys really do.
Um, we're gonna have to likecreate some sort of code word,
Justin, that if people havelistened to this and they go up
to you and they say something,because I did another uh podcast
with the race director of IronMan North Carolina.
SPEAKER_00 (48:38):
I listened to that too.
Coach Carlie (48:39):
They start they were recognizing, they were
recognizing her and they werelike, oh my gosh, I don't want
to say something to her becauseI'm afraid that I'll get a DMF
because she it means business.
And Sammy does mean business.
SPEAKER_00 (48:49):
I've never personally met Sammy.
I I listened to that podcast aswell, too.
And and I've only heard greatthings about Sammy.
Sammy and I we're gonna, we'regonna we're gonna come together
at some point, but um, yeah, Ithink that's a good thing.
Coach Carlie (49:00):
Oh, you absolutely will.
She's a little spitfire.
I yeah, and I'm I'm so glad thatshe's got uh that North Carolina
race because it's um again, justyou know, sort of keeping the
community together.
She does great things in thatrespect.
So so yeah, what should whatshould people come up to you and
say?
Like there's gotta, you know,there's gotta be something good
(49:20):
that they can certainly.
SPEAKER_00 (49:22):
What is this design on the on this wall?
Coach Carlie (49:26):
I is this like a I was just thinking when you were
saying that you lived in SouthCarolina, I was like, is that
like the it's a wallpaper mywife decided on, but um I don't
know if you if you know whattype of uh shape or design this
is, you could just say thatshape or design or or weird
wallpaper or something likethat.
Yeah, I know.
Like maybe it's like a lychee onthe I relate everything to food
(49:48):
as a dietitian.
So maybe that's what it I don'tknow.
Yeah, if you guys can uh seethis on YouTube and see what
that is, then you can uh say,hey Justin, or Adam.
SPEAKER_00 (49:58):
Yeah, green wallpaper.
Coach Carlie (50:00):
So yeah.
So hopefully, uh hopefully uhpeople are out there listening
and getting excited about yourevents and we'll go race andor
volunteer, I would assume.
SPEAKER_00 (50:11):
Yeah.
Coach Carlie (50:12):
Yeah, you gotta compete with the Navy and the
Marines here.
SPEAKER_00 (50:15):
Yeah, it's those kids those kids move.
So if you're gonna volunteer, umno, it's it's it's great.
Yeah, come race, come volunteer,even just come out, take
pictures.
If you just if you're gettinginto photography, you know, we
have a couple photographers thatcome to the races, but if you
wanted to mess around with acamera, athletes love pictures
of themselves.
So um we try to getphotographers out as much as
(50:38):
possible.
But I've seen just some randompeople come out and just taking
pictures and taking video andsharing them with the athletes
after.
And you know, we're uh usathletes, we love a good picture
of ourselves, you know.
Coach Carlie (50:47):
We to yes, you gotta, yeah, you put on the race
face and then you see the cameraand you're like instantly like,
oh, I gotta, you know, you'relike, are you really having that
much fun?
Hopefully you are, but also, youknow, game face to silly face or
yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (51:01):
Or or if you're a vendor and you want to come out,
we've had vendors coming out tothe races.
I mean, we're we're small, butwe've had several vendors come
out.
If you um I was I had anotherone that was that was good.
Vendors, volunteers, staff.
Coach Carlie (51:14):
Vendors, volunteers.
SPEAKER_00 (51:15):
If you're a seasoned tray athlete and you think
you've got what it takes to bepart of my staff, um, keep up
with with the people that workwith me.
I'm always I'm always interestedin bringing some extra people
out to to work.
You know, you're part of you'repart of our team.
We're a family, we go to dinnerbefore the races.
Um we but we we run.
(51:38):
It's you know, we are allathletes and as it is, and then
when we are working, we're we'repushing each other as well, too.
So but if you if you you thinkyou want to um come in out and
staff a race too, I'll I'll putyou through the little ringer
and see if you see if you passthe first test.
Coach Carlie (51:56):
So I feel like that was another child right
now.
Yes, totally.
So good, awesome.
All right, Justin.
Thank you so much for coming onfrom setup events.
I wish you guys the best andtell Bill Scott all the love for
2026.
It's gonna be an amazing year.
(52:17):
And however, we can support you,which um now I'm feeling this
volunteer challenge.
SPEAKER_00 (52:21):
Yeah, that's that's I might make a post about it on
our social.
The 2026 challenge is tovolunteer for a race.
Coach Carlie (52:29):
And for anybody who is an experienced athlete,
you guys, you are honestly, Iwould say, some of the most
valuable folks, becauseespecially in like key areas
like bike dismount mountainlines, when you kind of gotta
like you gotta know a little bitof what's happening so that you
can bark the right orders.
I mean that in the kindest andjust no, and that's what you're
(52:50):
doing.
SPEAKER_00 (52:50):
You you you gotta be short, crisp, get get it a point
because that person's only got afew seconds and that they're
listening to to hearinstructions.
So yeah.
Coach Carlie (52:58):
Yeah, race brain is a real thing, y'all.
Like you might have, I mean, andthese are smart people.
Triathles are smart, but you putthem in a race, you know, we're
gonna have a little bit of youknow, our brains gonna fall out
a little bit.
So you have to, you know, keepthem going in the right
direction.
SPEAKER_00 (53:18):
Yeah, you've never so you haven't seen a volunteer
lose their mind about people notdismounting at the red line.
That's that's something to be apart of right there, you know.
An athlete not understanding whyevery person's not dismounting
at this line, you know.
Coach Carlie (53:32):
Yeah, it's yeah, it's hard when you're a coming
in hot and somebody's screamingat you.
Yeah, you gotta be you gotta beon point.
You gotta be on point.
SPEAKER_00 (53:41):
So challenge to all those athletes come out and
volunteer for at least one race.
Coach Carlie (53:45):
That's right.
Let's go, y'all.
Let's let's uh let's pack setupsraces in 2026 by either the
Viking Dashes or their SouthCarolina races, North Carolina
races.
So so great.
Justin, thank you so much fromsetup events, and we appreciate
you and look forward to seeingyou out on the race.
SPEAKER_00 (54:01):
Yeah, thanks, Chris.
Appreciate it.
All right, welcome back to the Find Your Edge
podcast.
I am so excited, as I was justtelling Justin Boyer here from
Setup Events to record thisbecause I have so much faith and
I have so much love for thissport.
And I just I want everyone inour area and everyone in the
sport to do well.
So welcome to the show, Justin.
I'm so glad you're here.
SPEAKER_00 (02:21):
Awesome.
It's great to be here, Chris.
And uh I finally get to tell alittle bit of the side of the
story from setup uh that Billnever wanted to tell over the
last 35 years.
Coach Carlie (02:29):
Oh my goodness.
Okay, yes.
So I was digging around andfound that setup events started
in 1994.
SPEAKER_00 (02:38):
Yes, 1990.
Yep.
Coach Carlie (02:41):
That so he was really like the OG.
And when I got into the sport in2003, and he uh I went my first
race was White Lake.
So it was a setup events race,and I absolutely adored it.
I can definitely credit him topart of the reason why I'm in
the sport and doing this as acareer is because I loved it so
(03:04):
much.
So I remember then that he wasprobably maybe the second
largest race directing company,and that was in 2003.
So, where are you guys at now?
Tell us about Bill.
How is this getting shifted overto you?
We got to learn all about youbecause you have a really cool
background.
So I'm gonna let you take itaway.
SPEAKER_00 (03:24):
Awesome.
Yeah, thank you.
Um, so I was not around at thebeginning stages.
I'm a I'm a West Coast uh babythat turned into a military kid.
I call myself a kid.
I'm one year away from retiringfrom the Marine Corps, but um so
I've been fortunate to travelaround the country and even the
world.
And um I landed over here on theEast Coast uh 2018, found set up
(03:46):
events.
They were doing some races inSouth Carolina and North
Carolina, and uh, and then I wasable to start working for Bill,
you know, after the pandemic,Bill was really firing things
back up.
So I was able to uh come in as astaff, and then things just
lined up to where I was able tobecome Bill and Linda's
right-hand man, you know, theirrace director, their guy that
(04:07):
hauls the trailer out, the guythat hauls the staff.
And um, I know we're gonna sayBill a lot, but but we cannot
forget Bill and Linda.
Linda has been there the wholetime.
Um, she is really uh the the thepuppeteer behind the curtains
because she handles all thetiming for all of setup events
as well, too.
So I got my White Lake shirt onbecause I'm excited for White
(04:30):
Lake.
This year's it it really is oneof my favorite races as well.
I'm sure that's what keeps a lotof people coming back, is is
going to the White Lake races,which is why we go twice a year.
Coach Carlie (04:40):
Yes, it is such a great event, and I love that
it's so it's so beginnerfriendly and then also so
friendly to those who reallywant to take it to the next
level and really go super.
SPEAKER_00 (04:54):
When you have a super shallow lake, it's it's a
lot less intimidating.
When you have a very flat bikecourse, it's less intimidating.
And and the run, you know, inthe summer, the run can get a
little warmer, especially forour half, but for our our short
distance.
SPEAKER_01 (05:09):
I mean, hot is actually the term perhaps we
should use.
But like you're in NorthCarolina, right?
SPEAKER_00 (05:15):
Like yeah, if you've been training, it's just another
day in North Carolina.
Coach Carlie (05:20):
It is, yes, yeah, and it's so nice that that water
is um like you can see.
SPEAKER_00 (05:26):
Yes, you can see things.
Yeah, uh compared to a lot ofother races around this area,
um, it's it's it's really abeautiful destination and it's
it's really spectator friendly.
It's it's just a great race.
And if if you haven't been toone of those uh White Lake
races, we do it in May and we doit in September.
We do halves, we dointernationals, and we do short
(05:46):
course as well, too.
So it's it's it's really whatkeeps people coming back into
the sport.
And we, as the production side,really try to make it great for
the spectators and the athletescoming out to where they have a
great race and they go homethinking about man, that was
that was probably one of my bestraces.
I probably PR'd something, youknow.
Coach Carlie (06:08):
Yeah, oh for sure.
And the distance between thewater and transition is like not
far.
So you're not doing this likemassive, you know, transition
time.
So that cuts back on overalltime, too.
And I know you mentioned thatyou have a half, you have
Olympic, and you have sprint,but you also have some like
unique formats.
SPEAKER_00 (06:28):
Yeah, yeah.
So in the fall, uh we do thedouble sprint down there.
So the double sprint started in1997.
Bill was the first person to dothe double sprint.
SPEAKER_01 (06:38):
Um, good on him.
Was that at Carolina Beach?
SPEAKER_00 (06:41):
It was originally at Carolina Beach, right?
So it's the swim, run, bike,run, swim, finish on the beach
format.
He moved it down to Curry Beach,where he actually they live down
there, so they loved doing itthere because they just got to
wake up and walk out to thetransition area.
And and we've just struggled.
I'm gonna try and do this, uh,say this gently.
(07:04):
Um, we've struggled with thearea because tourist season and
just the area, they they reallycater towards the tourism in
that area.
And and I don't think the cityreally sees uh our race
production, or at least at ourlevel, supporting their mission.
So so we had to move the race toWhite Lake.
(07:24):
So now we do the double sprintin September.
Um, and we've had a lot of a lotof people asking for it to come
back.
Um, so we just started it in2024, brought it back um after a
two-year hiatus, and I thinkit's picking momentum back up.
People are talking about it.
Coach Carlie (07:40):
That's so cool.
I I think, and you can certainlyuh chime in on this, I feel like
that is part of the future ofthe sport is not just being swim
bike run, but being something alittle interesting, something a
little different, something kindof fun and challenging,
especially for anyone who makestheir way into long course and
(08:02):
then maybe is sort ofboomeranging back because
historically and statistically,people who go long course, and
I'm talking like half and fullIron Man, tend to have a higher
burnout rate.
And then in our minds, andactually, our sports
psychologist, uh Coach Carly, isliterally doing this as her
dissertation of how there's thisalmost like level of blue,
(08:25):
blueness after long courseracing.
You sort of get used to thislike hefty training load, and
you're just like, oh my gosh, itfeels so heavy.
And to me, a double sprint isjust freaking fun.
SPEAKER_00 (08:37):
Yeah, it's it's a quick race and you're done in an
hour and seven minutes, an hourand 29 minutes, you know,
something around there.
unknown (08:44):
Yeah.
Coach Carlie (08:45):
Yeah, yeah, totally.
Okay, so I know you mentionedthe the town of Curie Beach,
which is fine.
There are always going to belittle nuances to every city,
I'm sure.
So talk a little bit about howyou're choosing some of these
events, what are some of thepotential challenges, whether it
be, you know, whether the townaccepts you or permitting or
cops or I don't know, anythingmaybe that I'm missing.
(09:08):
Like what do you feel likepeople do?
SPEAKER_00 (09:09):
You just listed uh a handful of our nuances.
Thankfully, setup events hasbeen rooted for so long, and our
race series is is verypredictable, right?
We we haven't really added awhole lot of races over the
years.
Uh, we may have lost a couple.
You know, Lake Lure right now.
I I don't want to say we lostLake Lure, but we are waiting
(09:30):
for Lake Lure to rebuild rightnow after after that devastating
hurricane um last year.
Lake Logan, right?
Lake Logan was a race we lost.
Uh they had a they had a half aswell, too.
Um and and I think that tiesinto a lot of the challenges
that we face on a day-to-daybasis, right?
Getting a location, gettingapproval from whether it's the
(09:52):
state, whether it's you know,UNCW, the campus, these private
areas that we go into, likePinehurst, getting the buy-in
from these people to approve us.
And I don't think they're justgonna recognize anybody that
wants to come in and be like,oh, I want to put a race on.
They know that we've been doingthis for 30 plus years, and
we're gonna put on a good eventand we're gonna respect their
(10:14):
area.
So that's probably one of thebiggest challenges is just
really maintaining thatcommunication and that great
relationship with the peoplethat allow us to put on these
sites, whether it's a statepark, anywhere.
Um, the second thing youmentioned was police, right?
We we struggle with police.
We compete with uh other events,especially when we go up to the
Raleigh Durham area and we'retrying to put on a race and
(10:37):
we're requesting overtime.
These cops are getting offeredovertime from many concerts,
college football games, thingslike that.
Um those are just some of thecompeting events.
We we have found an alternativesolution to getting police on
overtime.
Uh, we use a third-party programthat provides people that are
(10:58):
certified to assist withtraffic.
Uh, they're not authorized, likea law enforcement official, to
stop traffic, but they areauthorized almost like a road
crossing guard, right?
You know, near an elementaryschool.
So we have some of those peoplethat come out from this third
party program.
They've been super supportive.
They they don't know anythingabout triathlon, but they come
(11:20):
out and they're rooting onpeople as they're doing their
job.
So we're thankful for them aswell.
And then I think some of theother pieces is just weather,
you know, Mother Nature is oneof those challenges that we face
as a race production company.
I can't control what the watertemp's gonna be.
I can't control if there was astorm a few weeks ago and it
(11:41):
blew debris into the water,right?
I can't control, I can go outthere with my leaf blower the
day before and blow every sharpcorner on the bike course and
praying to give uh uh a cyclistthe most prestige corner.
And one rain, one truck can messthat all up, and then there's
(12:01):
gravel and rocks on that corner.
So we try our best to put on thebest race, and sometimes Mother
Nature uh has other plans andand makes it a little
challenging for people, right?
Uh, you know, you want to beable to uh have your best race,
but sometimes you have toovercome those challenges.
That's why triathletes are thebest, because you they are
always thrown differentchallenges, and and that's part
(12:23):
of racing is overcoming thosechallenges.
Coach Carlie (12:25):
Yes, I think that's a great point because so
many of us train in what wewould otherwise think of as
maybe pristine conditions.
SPEAKER_01 (12:33):
Right.
Coach Carlie (12:34):
You know, like you're training in the pool and
you're on your trainer andyou're you know running on a
treadmill or just running aroundyour neighborhood or whatever.
And then lo and behold, race daycomes.
Um, maybe the transition area ismuddy, and now you've got this
extra.
I to me, that is not aninconvenience, it's an added
(12:55):
opportunity to challengeyourself.
Now, obviously, if you don'tfeel safe, then that's a
different story.
But it sounds like most peoplethat you've had exposure to have
a pretty good attitude about itwhen they show it.
SPEAKER_00 (13:10):
Yeah, there.
I mean, I I've been reading someof the posts and comments on
social media about uh what youwere talking about earlier, just
kind of that burnout, that blue.
And I will I'll thank people inthe comments who praise your
more local races and yourshorter distances because I
truly believe the culture at ourraces and and even some of our
(13:35):
competitive race productioncompanies in North Carolina, who
we're all friends with, anyways,um the the culture that the
races that we put on are justdifferent than when you go to
this more, I guess, you can callit more elite a level.
I I I'll argue that withanybody.
I think we have some of the bestathletes in the hemisphere, you
(13:55):
know, in the uh mid-Atlanticregion that are coming to our
races that are some of the bestracers in the in the country,
you know, and we see that.
So, yes, they always come with agood attitude.
And then the ones that have ahard attitude, look, listen, I'm
a two-time drill instructor.
I've got I've got word voodoo.
I can, I can, I can changesomeone's attitude real quick.
Coach Carlie (14:17):
You have word voodoo.
That is amazing.
SPEAKER_00 (14:20):
So I'll go over there and uh there's a lot of
different approaches I'll take.
I'm usually I usually have asmile.
People people don't know thatI'm a two-time drill instructor
in the Marine Corps unlesssomething chaotic's happening.
Then then you hear me from abouta mile away.
But uh I can really read peoplewell.
You know, I also have a lawenforcement background, so I'm
(14:41):
really good at reading people.
And so if somebody's not havingthe best day, I can see that, I
can read it, and I I'm reallygood at kind of changing the
tone.
Bill, Bill's the master at thistoo.
I I've picked up a lot of thisfrom Bill because he'll have
somebody screaming in his face,and Bill will just be like,
Look, well, this is what we'lldo, you know.
Let me let me help you.
And I'm just like, Bill, how didyou handle that?
(15:02):
You know?
He's that's yeah, I guess itcomes with the experience.
I'm learning, I'm trying to pickup as much as I can, uh
shadowing him for the last fewyears.
Coach Carlie (15:13):
Yeah.
So it almost sounds like youhave to have a little bit of
thick skin to be in thisbusiness, but maybe not as much
as perhaps some other sports.
I know we were tight, like youcome from a motocross
background, and you were beforewe started recording, talking a
little bit about that.
And that's not to throw a sportunder the bus, but maybe just a
(15:34):
different, a different energy,maybe a different expectation.
And really how Trathlon is shshould and hopefully is fun for
most people.
SPEAKER_00 (15:45):
Yeah, I mean, that's that's why we're here, is is
because it's a hobby.
No, there's very few of us thatare doing this at the at the
elite level, and even theprofessionals aren't waking up
training, training, racing onSaturday.
There, there's five people, tenpeople in the world that are
doing it at that level.
And they and that it they're notdoing it for long either,
(16:07):
because the the toll that ittakes.
So at the end of the day, thisis a hobby for all of us.
It's something that that keepsus around.
And and I will say, one of thethings that really kept me
around the triathlon sport wasyou when you're at an award
ceremony and and you're creepingup in the age brackets, right?
And then you get to the the60-year-olds and the
(16:29):
70-year-olds, and then youthere's two 80-year-olds out
there, and you're just like, ohmy goodness, these people are in
in so alert, they're in suchincredible shape, and and that's
what kept me in the sport, iswhen I'm a grandfather one day,
um, I want to be like that.
I want to be able to show mygrandkids uh how great it is to
(16:53):
be alive and the things that youcan do and be able to pick up
grandkids, things like that.
So um those those are some ofthe aspects that keep me around.
Thick skin, yeah, you gotta havethick skin if you if especially
if you're working for me, ifyou're part of my crew, um,
because while I'm racedirecting, I got my race
directing hat, I'm walkingaround the transition area,
(17:14):
people are like, hey Justin.
But if you're you're my crewknows this, and I love my crew.
They're they're we're sosynchronized.
But the day before setup, I'mout there, let's do this, let's
do this.
You know, it's it's it's quickand to the point, but they know
that that's my I guess myleadership style is is I'm not
gonna ask twice for that.
So yes, my crew has very thickskin, but if it us as a
(17:38):
production side, we have to havethick skin because you never
know what somebody's gonna uhcomplain about, right?
Coach Carlie (17:45):
But it sounds like that's generally few and far
between.
SPEAKER_00 (17:48):
Sure, yeah.
I mean, uh one uh instance,maybe a race, every other race.
Um, and we usually we we sendpeople back in their car, send
them home, and you know, we wewe make them happy.
We our goal is to just put on agreat race and and bring you
into the sport and thiscommunity.
(18:09):
Um, that's why you're here,right?
You you love this community somuch that you've decided to find
a home in the community, andthat's what we really want to
show a lot of these people thatmaybe just have a bad day or a
bad race.
That today wasn't a clearexample of what we're all about.
Coach Carlie (18:25):
Yeah, definitely.
And I I think so much of thatrare experience is maybe an
opportunity for somebody togrow.
SPEAKER_01 (18:35):
Sure.
Coach Carlie (18:35):
You know, they just so happen to uh complain a
little bit, right?
So uh again, that's why I lovethis sport is it's like, okay, I
may have had a bad day.
I may have had a really bad day.
Um, did me yelling in the racedirector's face, was that
warranted?
Probably not.
So I can go home, cool off alittle bit, and maybe reflect on
(18:57):
that and like how can how can Itake this opportunity to be a
better human, be a better racer,be a better community member to
lift others up and the racedirectors, because you know, we
want to keep you guys.
SPEAKER_00 (19:11):
I can say I've never gotten to a screening match with
anybody.
Um, I'll I'll win, I know that,but that's that's not what I'm
here to prove.
I'm here to make everybodyhappy.
And you gotta understand, wehave children athletes.
So uh there's so many childrencoming up in the athlete form
right now.
Um, children spectators, familyspectators.
(19:31):
We're not trying to ruin the dayfor everybody just because you
had a bad day.
Let's go over into the corner,let's talk about this.
If you want to beat me upverbally, you know, I'll I'll
take the words and and uh youknow there's just too much good
going on at a race to mess upeverybody's day, right?
Coach Carlie (19:50):
Yeah, yeah.
Talk a little bit about the costof the sport because I feel like
you guys have a because you'vebeen around so long, I feel like
you guys do a really great jobat keeping things affordable.
You know, how do you feel likethat ties into maybe the future
of the sport?
Are there certain challengesthat go along with various
(20:10):
aspects of the cost of thesport?
SPEAKER_00 (20:13):
Yeah, the the putting on a race is not cheap,
especially if if you're puttingon a a smaller race, right?
We're not Iron Man, we're notgetting 3,000, 3,500 athletes
showing up.
Um you know, our races rangefrom uh a slow or a rainy day is
is 200 racers to you know ourmore average, which is you know,
(20:39):
three to five hundred, and thensome of our bigger races, you
know, like Wrightsville Beach,uh, we're we're cracking over a
thousand.
So things got more expensivefrom my understanding.
I'm I'm not the accounting guru,but Bill and I communicate a lot
about the expenses, and I cantell you after COVID, a lot of
(21:01):
things went up.
And and and kudos to Bill andLinda because that was one of
their main points was justbecause the expenses are going
up, we're not gonna jack up theprices.
You can go to everybody else'srace site in the area and look
at the cost of a triathlon.
And then go look at setupevents.com and look at the cost
(21:21):
of our races.
And and you might think, oh,this is a a low pro, a a low
production race.
No, I promise you, ourproduction is gonna be more
elite than the a lot of thoseother races, a lot of our
competitors, even though we'reall we're a lot buddies.
But um internally, and that'sone of the as a marine very
(21:42):
competitive nature.
I want to see this companysucceed.
I want to I want Bill's name tobe a greater legacy than it
already is right now, which iswhich is hard to beat because
you can go anywhere andeverybody knows Bill Scott.
If if you've raced White Lakeand 2003 or 2005, uh, and you've
(22:04):
even left the sport, you knowBill Scott.
So I'm I'm with a competitivenature, I really want to make
the races just better than thelast race.
And how do we do that?
Um, and how do we do that withnot gouging the customers, you
know, with with an overheadcost?
So Bill's really been creativeover the years in managing the
(22:26):
budgets.
And at the end of the day, a atriathlon company or a race
production company owner, we'renot we're not driving Bentleys
and we're not, you know, we'rewe're here because we love the
sport.
We're not here to to make abazillion dollars off of
athletes.
Coach Carlie (22:44):
Well, I have a great appreciation for what you
guys do, not only because youwere my first race, and you
know, because we send athletesthere all the time, but as a
race production companyourselves, now granted, we put
on one race, and because we puton one race, we can't make it as
cheap as you can.
SPEAKER_01 (23:00):
Right.
Coach Carlie (23:01):
Right?
Like that's just it's just notit's just not possible, right?
So going with a company likeyours, who does it all the time,
who has the timing equipment,who has you guys have all the
stuff.
We don't have all the stuff,right?
So that makes it more costly forus.
So that I I feel like that'sit's it's not a low production
(23:24):
opportunity.
It's like, oh, these this isaffordable because they do it
all the time and they're reallygood at it.
SPEAKER_00 (23:29):
It's a lot easier when we've we've got two
trailers full of equipment,we've got two storage facilities
full of equipment that has beenso some of the stuff's been
gathered over the 30 years.
Bill and I we're gonna go to therecycling center here shortly,
but um, but we have all theequipment, right?
So it's it's easy for us to showup.
And when we do so many races ayear, we go on autopilot, you
(23:52):
know, when we go to set up,whether it's a Viking Dash race,
right, which is coming up, orit's our triathlons or the even
the swim races that we put on.
We're all just so autopilot, wego and set it up, and it's it I
think that's what also keepscost down, right?
Time equals money, right?
So if you're able to go outthere and set up a race and your
hours are shorter for everybodyand you have all the equipment,
(24:14):
you don't have to outsourceanything.
That's that's I think what'skept us stable versus a lot of
these other people that try toput on races.
And and if you're trying to, ifyou're coming into the sport
trying to put on a race just tomake money, you're not gonna
last.
Because one, uh, you know, youif you're gonna do it, you gotta
do it right.
And it takes time.
This isn't a I'm gonna put onone big race and I'm gonna just
(24:36):
step away from the sport.
Like it takes time to reallyinvest yourself into this
community.
And there's some other greatpeople that there's some other
great people that are doing itreally well, and I look up to a
lot of these people, you know.
Um, I'm not sure if you'refamiliar with Tom Clifford.
SPEAKER_01 (24:50):
Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (24:51):
So Tom, Tom, well, we we partner the out of
Wilmington, right?
Yeah, so Tom Clifford's been agreat help.
Um, he actually partners with uswith the White Lake half, the
pro am that we put on.
So he he's been an another guy.
I I don't look at him as acompetitor, I look at him as as
a friend in the sport that iswilling to help us put on races
(25:13):
to help the community becausehe's another guy like you and
like me that just love thepeople.
Coach Carlie (25:18):
Yeah, so fun.
I will have to say, andhopefully this makes it to him.
I am so impressed that he canput on a race and do the race.
That's next level.
Like, I that doesn't evencompute in my brain.
I could not put on a race andthen also have like my race face
on.
Like that just so kudos to you,Tom.
SPEAKER_00 (25:36):
Yeah, there's there's a couple of I have not
at that level yet.
I I think I get I get a littleupset when I see people doing
that.
I'm like, wow, you have time toput on a race and go race.
Like, who's who's watching theeight stations?
But he's got people covered forthat.
Me, I like to sit from thebird's nest or the sniper post
(25:56):
and just make sure everything'sgood.
I I I I'm not at that level.
Coach Carlie (26:01):
I I I call mine the mom nest.
I like how you have like themilitary version.
Mine is the mom.
I'm like, oh my gosh, iseverybody okay?
Are my staff okay?
Are the athletes okay?
Like, are my volunteers okay?
Is everybody good?
So it's yeah, that's it's nextlevel.
It's it's a lot of work.
But yeah, having the right staffin place is massive.
SPEAKER_01 (26:20):
Yes.
Coach Carlie (26:21):
You know, and volunteers, talk about that.
Like, is it hard for you guys tovolunteer find volunteers?
Like, what's what's that looklike over the years?
SPEAKER_00 (26:30):
You know, I've seen a roller coaster of certain
areas, certain races, certaintimes of the year.
Um, yes.
Volunteers are hard to comeacross, and you know, we try to
incentivize our volunteers withwith you know uh something,
whether it's a discounted racein the future, whether it's some
(26:52):
swag or something like that, um,because we are very appreciative
of anybody that volunteers tocome out and and support a race.
Now, if you've never volunteeredbefore, like that should be on
your 2026 challenge list rightthere, is just go volunteer for
a race because you see so muchof the inside of the production
(27:15):
of the race by justvolunteering, whether you're
working in aid station, whetheryou're supporting in the
transition area, um, you're atthe finish line, you know,
anything.
There's so many volunteer spotsat any race that you will learn.
And as an as a as an athletemyself, I took that as an
advantage point that I waslearning some inside of the
(27:37):
sport that I could take to mynext race.
You know, I know that the peoplehanding me water are probably
volunteers, and they probablydon't know how to hand me a
water bottle, you know, andthat's just something super
basic.
But when you're in need of waterat an aid station, and we see
the pros do this all the time,they think they're getting a
(27:58):
water bottle handed by thiselite water bottle hander
person, and you see the prosdrop water bottle, water bottle,
water bottle, water bottle.
Well, guess what?
You didn't get any water.
So um, but when you know theseare volunteers and you've done
it yourself and and you've satthere and handed people water
cups, you learn so much.
So, yes, volunteers are hard tocome across.
(28:19):
That's my my selling point.
Please volunteer for a race.
The ones that come out, they'reusually affiliated with the race
in some capacity.
Whether, you know, we get a lotof National Honor Society high
school kids that need somehours.
And so those kids are greatbecause I mean, where they are
in their academic career,they're already ahead of their
peers just being a part of anorganization like that.
(28:42):
And so when they come out,they're super helpful, super
friendly.
Then we get family members,right?
Uh, a wife, a husband, somekids.
And those are motivating,especially when you get a bunch
of kids out there that are justwaiting for dad, but they're
yelling at everybody, or they'rewaiting for mom to come by and
they're just screaming atanybody that looks like her.
So um that that's another sideof the volunteers.
(29:04):
And then the third piece that weutilize, and and hopefully I'm
not selling Bill's big secretout, but we get a lot of the
local J Rotc programs.
SPEAKER_01 (29:13):
Um at a oh, that's a great idea.
SPEAKER_00 (29:16):
Oh man, I probably just blew it then.
SPEAKER_01 (29:17):
So um, but we have a good Well, I mean, they get but
they like you mentioned, theyget ours.
SPEAKER_00 (29:23):
And and when you're part of a J R O T C program,
you're you're part of either aNavy, Marine Corps, uh, Air
Force, or an Army J R O T Cwhich has some discipline and
some structure.
And so when these kids come out,um, they they're a lot more
discipline and and obedience toobedient to orders uh than most
(29:47):
of your 14, 15, 16-year-oldkids.
Um and and they also have a bossthere, right?
It's some sort of militaryofficial, typically a retired
one, that heads that wholeprogram.
So those those groups have beengreat.
I will give a huge shout out uhup in uh up in Troutman
Mooresville area, uh the SouthIridel uh high school, Marine
(30:10):
Corps J R O T C.
Not to put them at the top, butman, those kids it go out to the
Lake Normans uh sprint and orthe the the Charlotte Viking
Dash and you'll see these kidsout there.
And man, that that retiredLieutenant Colonel and the
retired Mass Art, they've gotthose kids like I I want to put
(30:31):
my kid and kids in their programbecause they've got those kids
just on it.
Coach Carlie (30:35):
That's so cool.
Um yeah, Justin, you may havejust created a challenge because
my kid is in Navy.
SPEAKER_00 (30:41):
Oh no, I love it.
Coach Carlie (30:43):
And so I might I might have to challenge their
group to come volunteer for ourrace or any of y'all's races and
see uh and see who shows up alittle bit better, the Navy or
the Marines.
SPEAKER_00 (30:54):
Oh, all right, all right, I see what you did there.
Coach Carlie (30:57):
Yeah, they're they're also this is coming from
an Air Force brat.
So, and uh anytime I tellanybody that, they're like,
especially in the Army, they'relike, Oh, you were just in the
Air Force.
No, I wasn't personally in theAir Force.
I just followed me.
SPEAKER_00 (31:10):
Traveled around.
Coach Carlie (31:11):
But just short.
SPEAKER_00 (31:13):
Uh let me give you a 10 second.
I was actually trying to jointhe Air Force, but I went on the
day after Thanksgiving, known asBlack Friday, uh, to the
recruiting station.
And the Air Force recruitingstation was closed.
Oh, I should have taken that asa sign that life probably would
have been a little easier in theAir Force because the only one
open was the Marine Corps.
Coach Carlie (31:32):
So uh Justin, I respect what you do.
Thank you for your service.
I I don't even, I don't even Iyeah, following my dad around
was enough.
Uh that's yeah, I could notimagine.
SPEAKER_00 (31:46):
Bless bless the kids that that that do it, you know,
and try to be in sports.
I got a 15-year-old daughterthat's had to pack up and move a
handful of times.
And and um we're thankful forthe children of service members
because they they go through alot.
Coach Carlie (32:02):
Yeah.
But I mean, at least from myexperience, I felt like, and uh,
I know it might sound a bit of ashock, but I am definitely an
introvert.
And that was a way for me to belike, okay, starting all over,
gotta meet new friends, gottaget in the community, gotta, you
know, show up and do your thing.
And yeah, I mean, I've met somereally great people where
(32:25):
otherwise I think if I lived inthe same place, I don't, I think
life would be better.
SPEAKER_00 (32:29):
Yeah, you get exposed to so many different
things and and sports, right?
Like, so in certain areas you docertain sports.
Um, one of my friends just camefrom six years or five years in
Japan.
He played his son played a lotof baseball.
Um, you know.
Um just where you're at, justgeographically changes.
So the kids get an they I thinkthey get an opportunity as as
(32:52):
much of a challenge they facegrowing up and on all the hard
stuff.
I think uh military kids get alot of different opportunities
that you know, somebody thatjust grew up in small town USA
all the way to high school oreven college doesn't get.
Coach Carlie (33:07):
Yeah, a little different.
So where do you think, based onyour experience thus far in the
sport, where do you think thesport is headed?
SPEAKER_00 (33:18):
You know, I think I I I'm a stats nerd.
So I'm constantly looking at thedemographics of what age groups
are looking at our races.
Just just on the internet.
I'm looking at who's showing upand racing.
I'm seeing which classes arestacked.
(33:39):
And then I you turn the wholepersonal side to it, you know.
Somebody my age who's gotchildren, I don't have time to
train this and that um as muchas I probably did back in the
day.
Um, or that I might have inabout 10 or 15, 10 years when
all the kids are gone.
I'm gonna I'm gonna have a lotof time to train, you know.
Coach Carlie (34:01):
And I know, because Justin, you have you got
a I know you mentioned your15-year-old, but you also have a
one year home.
SPEAKER_00 (34:07):
Yeah.
You're busy.
I love we love kids, and I Ilove girls.
I got three girls, so um, that'sawesome.
I think that's what really meltsmy heart.
But you know, we have such awide range of of demographics of
of ages, you know.
We've got kids that are nineyears old that want to race, and
(34:28):
we've got people in their mid80s racing.
And I think that the generationright now that is, you know, I
don't want to I don't want tosay any offensive words, but the
50 plus generation, uh 60 plusgeneration, I I feel like uh
they have done such a great jobat making the sport fun and
(34:53):
being able to show people, youknow.
And I I can recall someinstances at races where I'm an
athlete and some guy just startstalking to me, you know?
And um it just it I was nervous,I didn't know anybody at the
race, right?
So um you're not gonna see thatfrom a 20 or a 30-year-old
person.
It's it's the more experienced,more knowledgeable, more wisdom,
(35:15):
uh, people that and I don't evenknow if they're doing it, but
they're they're they're breakingthe ice for me in in something
that maybe I was uncomfortablewith.
So I think those people, theyhave a huge responsibility
still, um, even though they'rejust showing up for a race, to
really continue to show thisnewer generation of the
(35:38):
teenagers, the 20-year-olds, andeven some of the 30-year-olds
that are just getting introducedto the sport, how important it
is that our culture, triathlonculture, is is the most
important thing.
Um, I think they they they owethat.
And I don't want to demand onthat from them, but I think I
think that's where we're gonnahead is as long as those people
(36:00):
can continue to show the peopleshow the younger generations how
great this is, we're gonnaproduce great people in society.
The more triathletes we havebecause of our culture.
Um I think a lot of people aregonna start coming back to
shorter course races.
Right?
I think that a lot of people putit on their their cork board or
(36:27):
put it on their calendar thatthey want to go do a long
distance race, whether it's ahalf or a full.
And they start putting the moneyout for it, which is it's
expensive, right?
They get a trainer, they entryfees, hotels, flights, bike
carriers, everything involvedwith the expenses of this race.
(36:51):
And then once they financiallyget committed to it, then they
have to mentally get committedto it, right?
I have to train.
I'm my alarm's going off at 5 30in the morning, I'm putting my
running shoes on, and I'm goingrunning.
And I think that's why we see somuch burnout, is because that
lifestyle is not sustainable forfor long.
(37:11):
And especially if you got aone-year-old like me.
Like, you think I'm telling mywife, all right, babe, I'm going
for a 75-mile bike ride afterwork today.
I'll see it, make sure dinner'sready.
No, I'm getting my head choppedoff.
So, um Yeah.
Coach Carlie (37:25):
And I I also love how this uh population tends to
underinflate what they're gonnado.
They'll be like, see you in twohours.
And like four hours, yeah.
Oh, that's me.
SPEAKER_00 (37:35):
Yeah, that's my signature move.
That is my signature move.
So where where I see is with theshorter distance racing, I I see
a lot of people coming back, youknow.
Uh, we we really saw the longdistance racing get very
popular, and I think I stillhold it to a high pedestal.
Uh, on Sunday race on Sundaymornings, I'm watching live
(37:56):
timing or I'm watching the videofootage of races because I enjoy
it.
I'm just I'm into that.
Um yeah, but I I think somepeople leave, you know, and they
don't want to come back afterthey they got that medal or they
achieved that race.
And I think that's where ourstyle racing, uh the shorter
(38:18):
style racing, is gonna keeppeople with the longevity.
Why?
Because how much training do youdo you really need to do to do a
sprint triathlon?
You know?
Coach Carlie (38:28):
Uh I I'll go and it's health, it's healthier in
my persp in my uh perspective.
SPEAKER_00 (38:34):
Yes, yeah.
Coach Carlie (38:35):
You know, you're socially, mentally, physically
um healthier to be training, notas many quantity.
Um and you and I know somepeople just love training.
SPEAKER_00 (38:49):
Yes.
Coach Carlie (38:50):
And that's fine.
But um, from my perspective,from a longevity perspective, I
think short course is uh aneasier way to sustain the sport
for longer.
SPEAKER_00 (39:04):
Yeah.
Coach Carlie (39:05):
So yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (39:07):
I I enjoy I I enjoy it.
I I like it.
I like doing I'm the sprintking, right?
We have Olympics, but I'm thesprint king.
Why?
Because I could ride my biketwice in the month, go on a
couple, go on a couple runs, anduh maybe get in the pool a
month, you know, sometime in themonth before a race, and I can
show up and I can race, youknow.
(39:28):
That's that's what I love aboutit.
And then I'm agreed.
Coach Carlie (39:33):
I always sort of joke that I like to be home by
breakfast.
SPEAKER_00 (39:35):
Yeah.
Coach Carlie (39:35):
So, you know, just like get out, get her done, come
back and have me an egg safe.
Exactly.
SPEAKER_00 (39:40):
Yeah, we that's we have a we have an athlete.
Um the great thing about ourracing too is I know so many
people that have become myfriends, right?
Um, just our regulars.
But we have a guy, um, hisname's Adam, and he is fast.
All right.
I'm not gonna throw his lastname out because I don't want
him to take offense to this, butI it's a sign of appreciation.
(40:02):
He's he wins his age group.
Sometimes he wins races overall.
But he is known for getting inthe car and going home right
after he comes across the finishline.
He might shake a couple hands,whatever, but he he's here to
for business, finish the race,and then probably mow in the
lawn before we're even takingthe finish line inflatable down.
Coach Carlie (40:24):
Yeah, yeah.
I mean, yeah, I guess you canyou can uh you know, speaking of
like introverts, like that justmight be his jam, right?
Get done, maybe get back to thefamily, or maybe he's people
out.
SPEAKER_00 (40:35):
If he sticks around for uh if he sticks around for
an award ceremony, I like tomake a big deal out of it, you
know.
I'm like, look, everybody, Adamstayed for awards, you know.
So I love I love him though.
And he's he's he's such atremendous athlete, too.
If you if you watch him, um hishis form is just phenomenal in
every aspect, and you can tellthat he takes the time to really
(40:58):
train.
But at the same time, he'smanaging life, right?
I'm here to race, but I gottaget back home because I got
something else to do, too.
Coach Carlie (41:06):
Yeah.
I mean, who's not, right?
Like we all have we all havethings.
Um that reminded me again whatyou were talking about with some
of the uh I don't want to saythe word OLD, the more mature
generation experienced of trash.
Yes.
So I know you were like, I'm notgonna put that expectation uh on
(41:27):
them.
I kind of am.
I think that they have anobligation to keep the sport
around.
And in my mind, that's just likegenerally chatting with you
know, just like makingconversation.
I remember um it was probably atWhite Lake, you know, because
you're standing in the watergetting ready to race, and men
and women are a little differentin the water.
(41:50):
Um, but you know, you but likethe men are just like all over
each other and they're just likeso aggressive and you know,
doing their thing.
And all of us women are standingaround like, I'm so sorry.
If I hit you, my bad.
I'm not intending to, you know,just like, oh ha, you know, just
it's just like a lighter energy,a lighter mood.
But maybe it's just talking toyour other, you know, to some of
(42:12):
the younger generation.
What do you think, if you wereto set an expectation for some
of the more mature traffics,what would that be to you to
getting to making some of thenewer generation feel welcome?
SPEAKER_00 (42:25):
I everybody's personality is different, right?
Introvert, extrovert, thingslike that.
But I I think if if you know,for for our crowd that is
experienced with the wisdom thathave been around the racing, I
think just being friendly andand being able to recognize that
you were in those their shoesonce too.
You you were you showed up toyour first half or your you
(42:47):
know, maybe people sign up foran Iron Man.
Hey, this is my first Iron Man,and I'm nervous as as can be.
And if you see those people,really just just being friendly.
You don't have to go above andbeyond.
Just hey, how's it going?
You know, I mean, and and inNorth Carolina, we have no
problem talking with everybodyout here, but uh, but we get a
lot of athletes from otherstates as well, too, you know,
and or or transplants that justmoved to North Carolina.
(43:11):
So um, and I say that as a guythat grew up in California, Los
Angeles, but I I I call myself achameleon.
I like blending in wherever Igo, pick up a little a little
accent, you know.
And um the North Carolinans,they're they're they're they're
great.
Um, and I can say that aboutSouth Carolina, that's where I'm
currently residing too, is we'rejust friendly people, but
(43:31):
remember to bring that to bringthat with you to the races too.
Um, because that's how it shouldbe.
I mean, if if if that's what'sreally happening on the women's
starting line, I might startputting myself in a couple
brackets back because that'swhat I want to race with, you
know.
Coach Carlie (43:47):
I know you should, I mean, you should mic us all
up.
It's next level.
It's so funny.
Um, and I think some of thatjust makes you feel more
comfortable in the moment.
Like, you know, we're all outhere, we're all nervous, we all
want to do the best we possiblycan, which is why, you know, I'm
gonna crack a joke or um, youknow, talk about the wedgie I
have this morning putting on mywetsuit.
(44:07):
Like, you know, like it's it'sfunny you say that too.
You know, here we are dressed inrubber in these little tight
suits, and you know, you can'thelp but be a little vulnerable
about out there.
SPEAKER_00 (44:17):
Just being a normal person.
And and and you brought up agreat point.
I try to do that on racemornings because usually I have
the microphone in my hand beforethe race, right?
I'm I'm doing a little bit ofeverything, but one of the
things I really enjoy is havinga mic in my hand and and really
sometimes I'm cracking a joke,right?
Sometimes I'm I'm I'm gettinghard on people because they're
(44:38):
not following directions, andthen I crack a joke, and maybe
the people that I was correctingdidn't like the joke, but
everybody else thought it wasfunny, and and it kind of
lightens the moods.
And I love talking aboutspecifically when the females
are on the start line.
When we're doing like a beachstart and and the men are
creeping their toes in thewater, you know, and I'm like,
all right, gents, back up.
(44:58):
We'll we'll wait another minute,you know, until we can all
follow directions, and then theygo.
And then the women get on theline, and I'm just like, well, I
know I don't have to say thistwice because the women listen
and they know how to followdirections.
And that's just me lighteningthe mood and and trying to get
everybody to relax before therace day.
And and I feel like I I don't Ihave that power, so why not
(45:20):
share that with everybody tojust kind of help start the race
a little bit better?
Coach Carlie (45:26):
That's awesome.
Well, Justin, I think Bill madea really great decision uh
handing the reins gradually intoyour hands because it sounds
like you're making setup eventsa very welcoming place.
And I think that that's what oursport needs to be.
Because if you ever think ofTrathon, like, oh my gosh, I
could never do a Traton,absolutely you can.
(45:47):
You can learn how to swim, youcan learn how to ride a bike,
you can learn how to loverunning.
And and then get into all thefun stuff, like the transitions
and eating gels with one hand,and you know, like all the weird
tricks that you would neverthink to ever say that you've
done, but then you're like, wow,I did that.
SPEAKER_00 (46:07):
That's really stealing my daughter's hair tie
to put it on my pedal to hold mypedals.
Yeah, you got a hair tie?
I need that hair tie.
Coach Carlie (46:15):
Uh-huh.
Yeah.
And she's like, Yes, dad, let'sgo.
That's so cool.
So, how, Justin, how can wesupport setup?
Yeah.
What does that look like?
SPEAKER_00 (46:24):
Um, we're we're putting on, I don't want to call
this like Bill's final tour, butyeah, Bill's getting ready to
retire.
He wants to enjoy time with hisgrandkids, and um, so he's put a
lot more responsibility on me,and I love it because he's
treated me so well.
And so he's gonna be at a lot ofour races this year, but but
(46:47):
less frequently from here onout, probably after 2026 series.
So our 2026 series starts withthe Viking dashes, right?
They're there are 5K's and 10K'sum trail runs and you can dress
Viking themed.
Uh and and they're really cool,and and we do them all over.
I think there's five differentraces, and they're all over the
state.
(47:07):
So um, if you haven't been toone, and and and what people go
out there for is the finishermedal.
Every okay, is this is thisyeah, you're gonna have to take
a uh take a look at it, or ifyou're listening, take a look at
it.
But this year it's this it'sthis huge Viking boat, right?
Um they did they did a a Thorhammer, they did um they did an
(47:32):
axe.
They they've had a few differentcool medals over the years, and
that's what a lot of people comeout for is the new medal.
So you have to check out the newmedal, it's posted on our on our
social and on the race websites.
And then in March, we kick offthe triathlon series, North
Carolina triathlon series, uh,South Carolina triathlon series.
Um Jeremy Davis manages all theSouth Carolina races, and I go
(47:56):
up and and put on all the NorthCarolina races.
Um but yeah, we're we'restarting off in in March, and we
go, we take a break in thesummer usually because it gets
pretty warm, and then uh we wepick it back up.
So if if you are interested,setup events.com or you can go
on our socials, you know, setupevents or at nc tri series at
(48:18):
setupies, um, and you can findanything there.
We we've got a race foreverybody.
Coach Carlie (48:25):
Yeah, you guys really do.
Um, we're gonna have to likecreate some sort of code word,
Justin, that if people havelistened to this and they go up
to you and they say something,because I did another uh podcast
with the race director of IronMan North Carolina.
SPEAKER_00 (48:38):
I listened to that too.
Coach Carlie (48:39):
They start they were recognizing, they were
recognizing her and they werelike, oh my gosh, I don't want
to say something to her becauseI'm afraid that I'll get a DMF
because she it means business.
And Sammy does mean business.
SPEAKER_00 (48:49):
I've never personally met Sammy.
I I listened to that podcast aswell, too.
And and I've only heard greatthings about Sammy.
Sammy and I we're gonna, we'regonna we're gonna come together
at some point, but um, yeah, Ithink that's a good thing.
Coach Carlie (49:00):
Oh, you absolutely will.
She's a little spitfire.
I yeah, and I'm I'm so glad thatshe's got uh that North Carolina
race because it's um again, justyou know, sort of keeping the
community together.
She does great things in thatrespect.
So so yeah, what should whatshould people come up to you and
say?
Like there's gotta, you know,there's gotta be something good
(49:20):
that they can certainly.
SPEAKER_00 (49:22):
What is this design on the on this wall?
Coach Carlie (49:26):
I is this like a I was just thinking when you were
saying that you lived in SouthCarolina, I was like, is that
like the it's a wallpaper mywife decided on, but um I don't
know if you if you know whattype of uh shape or design this
is, you could just say thatshape or design or or weird
wallpaper or something likethat.
Yeah, I know.
Like maybe it's like a lychee onthe I relate everything to food
(49:48):
as a dietitian.
So maybe that's what it I don'tknow.
Yeah, if you guys can uh seethis on YouTube and see what
that is, then you can uh say,hey Justin, or Adam.
SPEAKER_00 (49:58):
Yeah, green wallpaper.
Coach Carlie (50:00):
So yeah.
So hopefully, uh hopefully uhpeople are out there listening
and getting excited about yourevents and we'll go race andor
volunteer, I would assume.
SPEAKER_00 (50:11):
Yeah.
Coach Carlie (50:12):
Yeah, you gotta compete with the Navy and the
Marines here.
SPEAKER_00 (50:15):
Yeah, it's those kids those kids move.
So if you're gonna volunteer, umno, it's it's it's great.
Yeah, come race, come volunteer,even just come out, take
pictures.
If you just if you're gettinginto photography, you know, we
have a couple photographers thatcome to the races, but if you
wanted to mess around with acamera, athletes love pictures
of themselves.
So um we try to getphotographers out as much as
(50:38):
possible.
But I've seen just some randompeople come out and just taking
pictures and taking video andsharing them with the athletes
after.
And you know, we're uh usathletes, we love a good picture
of ourselves, you know.
Coach Carlie (50:47):
We to yes, you gotta, yeah, you put on the race
face and then you see the cameraand you're like instantly like,
oh, I gotta, you know, you'relike, are you really having that
much fun?
Hopefully you are, but also, youknow, game face to silly face or
yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (51:01):
Or or if you're a vendor and you want to come out,
we've had vendors coming out tothe races.
I mean, we're we're small, butwe've had several vendors come
out.
If you um I was I had anotherone that was that was good.
Vendors, volunteers, staff.
Coach Carlie (51:14):
Vendors, volunteers.
SPEAKER_00 (51:15):
If you're a seasoned tray athlete and you think
you've got what it takes to bepart of my staff, um, keep up
with with the people that workwith me.
I'm always I'm always interestedin bringing some extra people
out to to work.
You know, you're part of you'repart of our team.
We're a family, we go to dinnerbefore the races.
Um we but we we run.
(51:38):
It's you know, we are allathletes and as it is, and then
when we are working, we're we'repushing each other as well, too.
So but if you if you you thinkyou want to um come in out and
staff a race too, I'll I'll putyou through the little ringer
and see if you see if you passthe first test.
Coach Carlie (51:56):
So I feel like that was another child right
now.
Yes, totally.
So good, awesome.
All right, Justin.
Thank you so much for coming onfrom setup events.
I wish you guys the best andtell Bill Scott all the love for
2026.
It's gonna be an amazing year.
(52:17):
And however, we can support you,which um now I'm feeling this
volunteer challenge.
SPEAKER_00 (52:21):
Yeah, that's that's I might make a post about it on
our social.
The 2026 challenge is tovolunteer for a race.
Coach Carlie (52:29):
And for anybody who is an experienced athlete,
you guys, you are honestly, Iwould say, some of the most
valuable folks, becauseespecially in like key areas
like bike dismount mountainlines, when you kind of gotta
like you gotta know a little bitof what's happening so that you
can bark the right orders.
I mean that in the kindest andjust no, and that's what you're
(52:50):
doing.
SPEAKER_00 (52:50):
You you you gotta be short, crisp, get get it a point
because that person's only got afew seconds and that they're
listening to to hearinstructions.
So yeah.
Coach Carlie (52:58):
Yeah, race brain is a real thing, y'all.
Like you might have, I mean, andthese are smart people.
Triathles are smart, but you putthem in a race, you know, we're
gonna have a little bit of youknow, our brains gonna fall out
a little bit.
So you have to, you know, keepthem going in the right
direction.
SPEAKER_00 (53:18):
Yeah, you've never so you haven't seen a volunteer
lose their mind about people notdismounting at the red line.
That's that's something to be apart of right there, you know.
An athlete not understanding whyevery person's not dismounting
at this line, you know.
Coach Carlie (53:32):
Yeah, it's yeah, it's hard when you're a coming
in hot and somebody's screamingat you.
Yeah, you gotta be you gotta beon point.
You gotta be on point.
SPEAKER_00 (53:41):
So challenge to all those athletes come out and
volunteer for at least one race.
Coach Carlie (53:45):
That's right.
Let's go, y'all.
Let's let's uh let's pack setupsraces in 2026 by either the
Viking Dashes or their SouthCarolina races, North Carolina
races.
So so great.
Justin, thank you so much fromsetup events, and we appreciate
you and look forward to seeingyou out on the race.
SPEAKER_00 (54:01):
Yeah, thanks, Chris.
Appreciate it.
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