May 19, 2025 • 63 mins
Colin Szuch joins the Stupid Questions Podcast just days after his breakout 3rd place finish at the St. George North American Championship—sharing the raw, real journey behind the result. From humble beginnings in Colorado and training solo in Spain, to toeing the line alongside idols like Lionel Sanders and Sam Long, Colin opens up about self-coaching, mental grit, nutrition failures, near-crashes, and what it really took to land on the podium.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
How's it going everybody? And welcome back to another
edition of Stupid Questions Podcast.
Today on the pod, we're going tobe talking with the one of the
newest installment members of the RTS team, Colin Zutch.
He just came off of a podium 3rdplace finish behind Lionel and
Sam at Saint George North American Champs.
And Needless to say, it's been abreakthrough race for him.
So it's fun getting to jump intoa bit of his back story and hear
(00:23):
about all of the things he has going on and floating around his
mind during this awesome and just crazy time.
So without further ado, I want to introduce you to my friend
Colin. I drove back yesterday.
How many hours? 8 hours or they got to stop in
Monument National Park which is pretty cool.
(00:43):
Oh yeah, first time. Yeah, yeah, it's amazing there
need. To go back, Yeah, that's
awesome, man. So where are you from?
Well, from Colorado initially. I'm.
Actually born and raised here and trained part time in Spain,
so not really from there but youknow the area.
Yeah, that's awesome. What?
(01:05):
And as far as going over to Spain, do you go there anymore
or was that just a phase that you kind of went over there to
train or? No, I still go back.
I have a place there so I like to go when I can.
The road cycling's incredible. And just.
The feet of the level of competition there.
Like the next level? Swimming pool alone is insane.
(01:26):
Like you're swimming to Vincent Louis and like, Oh my God, yeah.
It's insane. Yeah, humbling experience, I
bet. Well, cool, man.
Well, First things first, thank you so much for taking the time
and making this happen relatively short notice post St.
George. So really appreciate you making
it happen and for being on. Yeah, it's a pleasure to meet
you and looking forward to getting connect, getting to
(01:48):
connect with you. Thank you for having me.
Yeah, man. So first question, it's a, one
of my favorite questions to ask on this podcast is from your
perspective, who is Colin? Oh well, it's hard.
There's, it's hard to identify yourself as like one particular
(02:10):
thing, but I could probably identify myself as like what I
am. I'm an adventurous person and I
like to, I like to have a visionand follow it through like no
matter what it is, like a triathlon or whatever it is.
(02:31):
I like to like, even if everyonetells me you can't do it, I like
to go for it regardless. Yeah.
Sweet. So do you think that's more of
like a nature or a nurture characteristic about yourself,
that drive and passion and focus?
Probably a nature thing. You never know.
It's hard to identify. It's just always the way I've
(02:54):
been like, like overly ambitiousand kind of just go for it
regardless. Yeah.
What is like one of the earliestchildhood memories you have of
being that way and what was the thing you were going after?
Well, I've raced my entire life.My mom would always throw me in
whenever it raced since I was like 4 or five.
(03:17):
And my sister was really, reallyfast.
And she still is. She still.
Is. Not the.
Yeah. She would, she would beat me.
Like she's two years younger than me, my little sister, and
would race like these local 5 KSand she could run like a 17
minute 5K, eighteen minute 5K easy at 12:11.
(03:41):
Wow, that's really impressive. Yeah, but I couldn't do that.
So it's hard, like being two years older and seeing your
little sister just whoop your butt every other weekend.
So. It kind of taught me some
important lessons from a young age, like to, to race my own
race and like to be, you know, not so dependent on results,
(04:04):
maybe your own process. Yeah, that's amazing to have
those lessons that early on. I feel like a lot of even pros
who've been around quite a whilestill struggle with trying to
learn that lesson, like racing your own race.
It's becoming more common I would say, but definitely
something that takes a while to learn typically.
(04:27):
Yeah, yeah, especially in triathlon where, I mean, I
haven't had the best swims. So you come out of the water
sometimes and you're like 4 minutes down.
And like. It's, it's easy to think like,
OK, it's over. Like, but if you kind of have
the mindset of like, well, it there's still like a long day
(04:47):
ahead and like if you keep that optimistic mindset that it can
turn around, often times it does.
Yeah, yeah, for sure. It depends on, I guess, the day
you're having and how your mental preparation and how life
stress is going. Yeah, there's a lot of factors
that go into that kind of stuff for sure.
I've been on both sides. Sometimes race is going really
(05:10):
great, enjoy the day. Other times super hard and all
you want to do is quit, which I'm sure you've experienced some
of that as well. Oh.
Yeah, yeah, I walked quite a fewarm.
Yeah. I've.
Experienced. It Yeah.
So tell me a bit about your mom and your dad.
Would you say that you're more like your mom or more like your
dad? I'm more like my mom.
(05:32):
My mom's the same way. Just kind of like she'll, she'll
do whatever, whatever it takes like we're starting a business
or like she also did some pro mountain biking back in the day.
OK, so she's just ruthlessly competitive as well even.
With us. Really still now she competes
(05:55):
with my sister and yeah, but my dad's the more like level headed
calm, like has a plan. So when they work well together,
it's just maybe I have a little bit of both, but more my mom.
Yeah, yeah, for sure. So with your mom, you said
starting a business, entrepreneurial, your mother?
(06:16):
Yeah, yeah, I would say so. She she had like a personal
training business and then some other real estate stuff.
Yeah, she's always been like figuring out a new way to do
things, whether it could be in the business world or sports or
whatever. Yeah.
Do you find that you're similar in your interests outside of
(06:37):
triathlon? Yeah, I am.
I I liked my family's huge in sports, so that's a lot of what
we talked about. But yeah, we like to talk about
like, you know, world politics or whatever, just like debate
both sides of the issue, like just, yeah, that's kind of the
(06:59):
way the way our family works. Yeah, yeah.
Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty focused on being open minded
like that. You would say that's a quality
of the family. Yeah, yeah, exactly.
And even like with little debate, like training
philosophies or pretty much anything and there there isn't
like a set way to do something. Maybe there could be multiple
(07:23):
ways to skin a cat, if that's the analogy.
Yeah, So how old are you, Colin?I'm 23.
OK so zoom out a little bit. I'm trying to ask a question cuz
I know at 23 so I'm trying to think back when I was 23.
I'm going on 33 now. Seems like it was just
yesterday, but when I was 21, I think that's when I really
(07:44):
started to pick apart the, for lack of a better word, just
worldview that I had grown up with and then figured it out,
like how I would apply or changeor mold that worldview as I got
a little bit older. So I'm curious to hear for you
like zoom out a little bit for me, what are the things that
help create the filter or the way that you kind of perceive
(08:07):
and experience the world? You can we can go politics,
religion, training, philosophy, just your overall
characteristics of mindset around that.
You value perseverance and, you know, shooting big but staying
focused. Yeah, well, it's all my life.
I've had like similar similar things like I moved to Spain
(08:29):
when I was 19 and. It was kind.
Of hard, like it was a completely new world to me.
And. New language, new people, new
team then. So I got to meet tons of
interesting people that had likenew perspectives on the world.
Not that I'm like the most worldly person, but I got to see
(08:54):
a lot of interesting even ways of training and triathlon.
And yeah, just the different people you meet in Spain,
there's like people from all over Europe and so from Africa
and Asia. So that was a really neat
experience at that young age. Yeah, yeah.
(09:14):
So keep going for me, if you don't mind me prying a little
bit more. But like because you said like
your family, you like to straddle both sides of the aisle
and come to, I guess just kind of debating the issues.
Do you find that it's difficult for you to stand on one side of
the aisle and kind of like dig in or do you, what does it take
(09:35):
for you to solidify your stance and something you think?
I wouldn't say it's solidifying A stance.
I would say it's more just like having a conversation with
anyone, like about anything. Like, I think a lot of people
have different perspectives on things for, you know, certain
reasons, like they've had certain experiences in their
(09:56):
lives that make them have that perspective.
And it's always interesting to hear that, like just hearing it
from not like an emotional perspective, just hearing it
from like, like, why do you think that, you know, and then
what? What makes you think that?
Yeah, I've always found like some very interesting things
from that. Who do you think is the person
(10:22):
that in your world of influence right now?
I, I'm assuming it's going to bein triathlon.
Who pushes you to think a littlebit differently maybe than how
you're used to thinking? Do you have any of those kind of
people? I started triathlon when I was
like some professional triathlonwhen I was 19 and I started just
(10:44):
watching YouTube videos like I would watch Lionel Sanders and
Sam Long. Around.
That time frame and they were doing just insane training that
was kind of like it's different.It was really different.
Like I know like Lionel is doingthe intensity and Sam Long was
doing the crazy run volume closeto.
(11:05):
Where I'm at. And I found that so inspiring
both, both of them like just they kind of have a method like
their reasons and they're going for it regardless of like what,
you know, what media is telling them about like.
Is that what you share shouldn'tdo?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So that's kind of for my my
(11:30):
basis. And then the more experience
I've gotten, the more I've realized that like there isn't a
set model to anything. Racing, training, life.
Yeah, it really is all up for debate.
Yeah, yeah, I've definitely shared that thought because the
older I've gotten, yeah, it seems like the world is
(11:51):
definitely more Gray. And just because you mentioned
Lionel and Sam, I think this is an appropriate time to just ask
you this one question and then we will dive into the race that
recently happened. But I'm curious, you know, from
you starting in this profession at a young age on YouTube,
watching these guys and then finding yourself at the race
(12:11):
this past weekend where you're standing on the podium with
them, like you're in the mix forthat.
What was that? What was going through your mind
and how has that affected just the belief in yourself?
Well. I couldn't.
Like I couldn't. I, I knew it was possible.
Like from the training I've done, I knew it was a
(12:33):
possibility, but I never quite imagined being there until like,
like the final moment. I was like, this could happen.
Like there's a chance. Like don't, don't say.
It's going to happen. And then when I crossed the line
I like and it kind of set in like I was like, I've been
(12:56):
crying at the same time. Because it's.
Yeah. It's been, you know, four years
of like, just just dedication and then like finally achieving
that. And.
Like being literally standing onthe same podium with your idols,
(13:16):
it's, it was pretty surreal. Yeah.
Yeah, I can only imagine. So this is a where I want to
take a pause for a second and I want to rewind the clock.
Tell me about your first interaction with the sport of
triathlon and take me through the journey of how you came to a
place to realize, oh, like I can, I can be professional at
this. Oh, what's funny is I've always
(13:40):
thought it was a possibility andI could do it, but I didn't
really start until I was 19. I, I wanted to run in college
and I thought after college thenthen I could go after it.
But I came to the realization at19 that if you want to truly
(14:01):
have a chance in the sport, you have to start then.
Like it's really hard to start later.
And it's just because the sport takes so much experience,
whether it's gear, training, anything, it takes years to
finally, like, figure out how todo it.
So I was like, OK, I'm doing this.
(14:23):
And I only had a mountain bike at the time.
And so I was like, I'm signing out for the externa.
And I I've been following some other pros that were also going
to do it. I think Sam Long was also there.
Yeah. And Eric, Eric Longish.
Is this the one down in Georgia?No, no, this was about an hour
(14:44):
away from here in Beaver Creek. OK, Yeah.
And I did it when I was a kid aswell.
So I knew the course, which which made it pretty exciting.
Yeah. And then on that race, I, I
forget exactly what place I got,but I'd be in the some of the
top pros and I was like, OK, maybe, maybe I have a chance.
(15:06):
So after that I was just just full gas trap on.
Yeah. Who've been some of the, the key
mentors that have helped you like jump on that learning curve
from, I mean, the bike alone, just knowing how to get the
right bike, how to work on your own bike and then finding your
own bike and then the training surrounding that.
(15:27):
Like I figure there's so many things to learn who who have
been kind of the the key mentorsin your experience?
I was actually, I was on the mountain bike team, like a
mountain bike team when I was young in a Rd. cycling team as
well. But I mean, when, when you're
young, you kind of you don't really quite know exactly what
you're doing and why. You just kind of like learn the
(15:50):
basic techniques. And then when I started like
really going after triathlon, I knew it would be hard to do it
alone. Like training.
I trained in Evergreen Co and there aren't many triathletes
here. I think there's a couple.
And then on a pros and all the pros are in Boulder.
So I'll go down there when I could.
(16:11):
But I realized that like if I want to have a chance, I would
probably need to go to Europe orsomewhere like that because the
level of cycling there and the opportunities are pretty good.
And then I got an opportunity. I saw it that there was like a
Academy in Spain called the Drona Race Academy.
(16:32):
Oh yeah, and. It was a cycling and triathlon
team, so I'm like perfect and within, I think within a week I
was there after seeing the Academy.
So I was just like, whatever it takes, I'm going and I got
access to bikes, guys that wanted to turn pro and we're all
(16:54):
living in the same house with the same goals, talking cycling
non-stop for a year, year and a half year.
And. You learn so much in that time,
like how to handle your bike, how how to train appropriately,
like how cyclists train, and maybe how not to train as well.
(17:16):
I'll learn that. What'd you learn really quick?
Yeah, yeah. It also got access to some
really nice bikes and equipment.And in Girona there's like
there's a bike shop every like within that, every 20 meters
there's a new bike shop. And.
So I mean, it was the easiest cycling in the world.
(17:38):
You go from your front door and there's a climb 5 minutes away
with world tourist cyclist on itevery single day.
It was it was the best experience I could have asked
for there. Yeah, that's amazing.
So with the people that you weremeeting there, like, did you
real? Was it a humbling experience?
Did you suddenly realize, like, oh, I have a long way to go?
(18:01):
Or did it give you, I guess, more inspiration to realize
like, oh, I actually have this? Like, I think I can get where I
need to go a little. Bit of bowl I, I had like, that
was the first time I did like a training camp at sea level
because I was at 7000 feet the entire time.
So it's hard to see like what power numbers you could do.
(18:23):
And then when I got there, I like, it was like, oh, OK, like
I, I can push bigger numbers than I anticipated.
But then you would look at the segment for that climb and some
guy would have it at 7 watts perkilogram and they're like, yeah,
that's where the level is. Yeah, yeah, yeah, totally
different. So what you said earlier like
(18:44):
that, it was, it was good, but it was hard.
What was hard about the move andgetting there?
And there's just that whole thing A.
Little bit of homesickness to behonest.
Yeah. Like it's so far away, you leave
all your friends and of course there you make new friends
there, but you kind of wish you like like did I?
(19:07):
Am I sacrificing everything to do this?
And in a, in a way, you're sacrificing a lot.
But I mean, the experience. I mean, I don't know if I could
beat it. Yeah, yeah, for sure.
I mean, I can only imagine. So were your parents supportive
of this move? Because I would assume like you
(19:29):
took a sabbatical or kind of said no to college and decided
that this was the path you were going to take.
How did? How did the support come through
or not? Yeah, I was.
I was honestly surprised they were willing to support me on
this. With like.
Just I just had a belief in myself that was.
The. Only thing I could tell them was
(19:50):
I. I believe I can do this now.
Like I didn't have any other data to back it up.
Yeah, and just cold hard belief I'm.
On the bike, I'm OK, on the swimand I can run like that.
That's it. That's all I can say.
And I also had support from my college as well.
That was really critical, like. The.
(20:10):
Train for that externa. They let me take a semester off
Wow, didn't keep my financial aid and and I could just train
trap on and also do school and that really gave me the time to
like figure out that I wanted todo it.
Does that make sense? Yeah, yeah, for sure.
(20:31):
Did you ever struggle with the belief like in these past four
years that like you could do this?
Was there any ever a time when you thought maybe this isn't the
way I wanted to go? Not really.
I've always thought like yeah, Ican do this.
(20:53):
Like of course I got sick a few times and in Girona with those
guys I over trained and put myself into a hole for months.
You. Know you're, you're training
with these guys and everyone's like, oh, what'd you do today?
What'd you do today? She's like, oh, I'm gonna do an
hour or more, two hours more, 4 hours more.
(21:14):
Yeah, the competition, yeah. And then like a few months
later, you're just, you're done.Like there's no, there's nothing
left and you go show up to a race and like you're just sleepy
and tired. Yeah, for sure.
So for a lot of people, they're just now probably getting wind
of your name. Obviously you have a lot of
(21:34):
friends, you've been to the sport a while, so you know a lot
of people. But from like the outside
looking in, the people who maybefollow the sport from a more
recreational standpoint, they'rejust now kind of seeing you come
on the scene. Obviously you have beyond even
four years of experience in thissport.
And a lot has happened that havebeen stepping stones.
Like I imagine it didn't just happen overnight.
Like there's a lot of work that goes into this.
So what were some of the, in your mind, key step stepping
(21:56):
stones that led you to the result you were able to have on
Saturday? Well.
Really learning how to train andrace the way my body responds.
I had to go through every different model of training to
find the right one. Like I tried the the big volume
(22:21):
and that didn't work for me. I tried the Super high intensity
stuff and that didn't work for me.
And over the past, I would say maybe like 9 months, I've really
figured to use the middle ground, especially with
altitude. Like I, I train like not low
volume, but I can't train like 30 hours, 36 hours a week.
(22:45):
And I also need like the right blend of intensity or if it's
too much like my body starts to like breakdown physically.
And like I don't run that big a volume.
Like the key sessions are a longrun and a threshold run and then
just running and then cycling a lot more volume with like a key
(23:07):
to threshold sessions and endurance ride.
And I kind of figured the right balance between both.
So that's kind of been a major stepping stone.
And then also like getting nutrition rights a big been a
big one for me. When I first started the sport,
I was like, I was really, reallyskinny.
Like I was like 6-2 in 140 lbs a130.
(23:30):
Five. Holy smokes, yeah.
Yeah, because like running, I had this stupid philosophy that
like lighters better, which. Was not.
True, I'm running so much betternow and I weigh 25 lbs more.
Yeah. Yeah.
How are you able to put on weight?
Was this like very regimented? Because you I assume you have
pretty high metabolism, it was hard to put on weight.
(23:51):
Yeah. Actually I put it on in Girona.
Like just eating an insane amount of food.
There's a pastry shop like 100 meters to my house out.
There, put them out of business.Yeah, yeah.
She, she thought it was buying for other people.
Like she was just like, like, doyou have family here?
And I was like, no, no, it's just me.
(24:13):
And she's like, do you have friends that you're buying a
fund? No 7 crystals are for me.
Yeah, that's wild. So for the the pressure like
now, because you have this result and it seems to me from
the outside looking in and I've experienced this a little bit,
(24:35):
obviously not to your level, butwhen somebody gets on the scene,
you know, they get a level of notoriety.
There's a level of expectation externally that people start to
put on you, which can reflect internally for the amount of
pressure and expectations that one places on himself.
My question to you is like, whatdo you feel any of that yet?
(24:57):
And if you do, are you going to do anything to combat it, to try
to stay and keep it? We're like a similar mindset as
before, like try to be in the background and you know,
whatever happens, happens. Does that make sense?
It's kind of poorly phrased. No, no, I totally get that.
My philosophy is still the same.Like I probably had more
(25:17):
pressure 2-3 years ago when I had nothing, like nothing to
show for it because then it was really like, believe in me
please. Like I can do this.
And now I have something to be like OK, like maybe like this,
this could happen. And.
(25:38):
I mean, I, I like to race just like go for it no matter what.
Even like if they said I was 15 minutes down at a swim, I'm
still going to ride and bike as hard as hard as I can.
It doesn't matter. Like, and I saw it like the
great example of that was Christian in Oceanside.
(25:59):
Like I, he was so far behind. But when I could see him in the
laugh section and he would look at his watch when he was going
past me, even though I was like in 11th place at the time, like
I was having a great day. But he didn't care.
He was going for it no matter what.
Every second counted. Yeah.
And it's just kind of that fighter mentality, like it's
(26:21):
trained like if you quit the race, you'll quit in training
and. Then you'll quit.
Again in the next race. But if you fight through it and
kind of like keep going, I thinkat the next race when you're
having a good day, you can kind of put in that extra, like that
extra fight. That makes sense.
Yeah, Yeah. When when people get to know you
(26:43):
just in passing, when they don'tactually sit down, get to talk
with Colin, figure out a bit more of the depth of who you
are. What do you think?
Generally the by and large the impression is that people have
when they like, hear about you or or get to know you a little
bit. I don't know.
That's the thing. It's hard to say what other
people think of you. May maybe I I hope they think
(27:08):
like I'll fight for the the place no matter what.
Like when I show up to race, I'mthere.
I'll give it everything I got. That's that's what I hope people
think. But I would hope people also
think like I'm a relaxed guy. You know, I'm, I'm not like, I'm
(27:31):
not mean to anyone before a raceor like I don't have any like
particularly any rivalries or hatred towards anyone in the
sport. Sure.
Yeah, yeah, I hope that's what people think that like I'm here
to like give it my best effort and.
Yeah. Yeah, race.
I kind of race for myself and see what what I can do
(27:54):
regardless of like what any placement or numbers say.
Yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah.
My first impression, I would sayis definitely passionate,
driven. You want to make something
happen. Yeah, young.
And I say that with like the best in the best way because I
think being so young and being able to have some of the
(28:14):
success, I guess that you've seen from a racing perspective
so far just goes to show like you're not even near your
pinnacle yet and there's so muchleft to do.
So I think that that's that's super encouraging just from the
outside looking in like I'm I'm stoked to know you.
So I guess the next question I'dlove to ask is coaching like
we've talked about the philosophy a little bit, it
(28:36):
sounds like you're self coached is that is that the case?
Yeah, yeah, I've been self coached, I would say 95% of the
four years. So like, and I'm, I think I'm
able to do it because I'm able to like really separate myself
from the training and like the emotional side of it.
(28:58):
And. Like if, if things aren't going
well, I'm able to be like, OK, well, let's break this down.
Kind of like put on the coachinghat.
And and then I'm also willing tolike, you know, change things
quickly if things aren't working, which is hard to do
with the coach, because a lot ofcoaches have like a, a way they
(29:20):
do things and it's hard to breakthat.
Whereas if you're self coached, it gives you the ability to
really like look at everything. Like.
What what's worked for me in thepast, one feeling sickness, race
is coming up. There's so much to take into
account. Where?
(29:40):
And things change so quickly, atleast for me in the sport, like,
like a little niggle will come up and I'll be like, OK, this
session has to change for this session.
And I just, I don't like having to deal with like getting
permission to change that. Yeah, yeah, for sure.
(30:01):
So you think that you'll stay self coached for the foreseeable
future then? Well, funny, funny enough, I'm,
I'm working to change things, atleast on the swim front, because
after, after Saint George, I was, I was pretty disappointed
because my pool times are getting faster and faster and
faster. But yeah, it almost seems like
(30:23):
I've regressed in the open water.
So I got the there's experts in this world and I'd like to talk
with them. Yeah, for sure.
Well, now I'd love to if I don'tknow if you've done any sort of
like a race recap, if you're interested.
I would love to hear just from your perspective, if you don't
mind sharing that whole day, like what was going on in your
(30:45):
mind? How did it play out for you?
Kind of the step by step. We heard a little bit at the
end, like, you know, you got to the last mile and you weren't
even ready then to say like, Oh yeah, I got this to get on the
podium. Yeah, well, I'll, I'll start a
couple days before the race. Yeah, that's beautiful.
Like I had this like hamstring like just this leg issue.
(31:09):
It was just this. Tightness in the leg and I was
able to run, but it was just, itwas there the whole time.
And so I decided three days out from the race.
So I was like, OK, I'm just, I'mnot going to the fitness is
there. I'm just not going to run the
Tuesday, Friday or Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and I'll see
(31:31):
how it feels on the warm up for race day.
And then the travel there was super easy.
I live it was a 90 minute flight.
My dad drove so the bikes so it is already ready and I I like
the area. It was so fun and I went with my
sister. So it was, it was good to have
the whole family there. And I felt pretty calm, like I
(31:54):
knew the course would suit me and I kind of knew how I'd want
to play it. That like this is a bike heavy
course and I'm just going to bike it like there's no run
because I know my run fitness isthere and I know people are
going to try to like conserve a little bit.
So snow. Canyon.
(32:14):
At least I thought so. And so I was like, all right,
I'm going to I'm going to blitz,blitz the bike as well as I can.
And I had some good sessions that week on the bike where I
was like, OK, the fitness is there.
If the power meter is not broken, I'm really fit.
You know, sometimes it's like you have to wait till race day
to really see. And then when, like race
(32:38):
morning, I felt really calm. I was like, all right, we're
gonna do this. That was like the first time I
ever snoozed my alarm to get like an extra 20 minutes of
sleep. Yeah.
The show's kind of like I was relaxed.
And. Going in the water, actually, it
was like I'm gonna have a great sweat, like this is gonna be
easy. And the 1st 100 meters was just
(32:58):
like just fighting. Like, I was just like hitting
everyone that's hitting everyoneyou're trying.
To get through. Without like, you know, slowing
down, just having a random fightwith someone.
Yeah. So it the swim like you think, I
thought it was in a good place to go out of the water and.
(33:24):
Can you hear me? I think I may have lost you.
(33:48):
Can you hear me? So the last thing I heard was
(34:08):
you were getting in the swim, you were expecting it to be
easy, you were beaten, everybodywas beating each other up and
then that's kind of where it jumped out.
OK, well so I could see a coupleof swim caps and I thought I saw
a Cam Wharf swim cap, but I think it was Sam Long's.
(34:29):
And I thought because I, Sam or Cam Wharf had a great swim in
Oceanside. So I was like, OK, this I should
come out of the water, probably with Jackson Laundry should be
around here. There'll be.
Some good firepower and then I got another one there.
I heard 3 minutes and I ran the transition and I thought
Lionel's bike was gone and I waslike Oh no, that's that's not
(34:51):
good. That's really bad.
Yeah. I just grabbed my bike.
I looked over, I saw Sam Long was right there.
But OK, cool. Like at least there's someone to
work with here. And then Sam Long was going
pretty hard. From right, from right.
From the gun. In July, if I just kind of like
(35:12):
just hang back just outside the draft zone, like and just kind
of follow him all the way through, I should be OK.
But the legs were like feeling really, really good where I was
almost like, come on, Sam, like let's let's go faster, let's go
faster. And I was so far out of the
water, like there were so many guys.
So it felt really good, like just going around and then I
(35:35):
caught Sam or I caught a Cam Wharf and Trevor Foley and then
they they caught on the Sam as well.
And and then we kind of went through and there was some pack
dynamics. There was some there was some
yelling about like don't pass me.
And I was like, all right, I'm going to, I'm going to go
through. But I mean.
(35:57):
The F3 was right there and the racing was just like it was
really fast and there was a lot going on, so it's just like if I
saw the red light I was going through no matter what.
Yeah, hectic. Yeah, yeah.
And I wasn't going to risk a penalty, especially like with
that kind of bike. I was like, I have the fitness
where I'll just go around, it doesn't really matter.
(36:18):
And I kind of worked my way up like to the packs.
And I was getting like I saw like someone said, like 6th
place, 5th place, 4th place. And then at the at Snow Canyon,
I saw Sam Long really, really ramped it up.
Like that's where he started to,like, really put down some big
(36:38):
watts. I was.
Surprised because like on the other hills, he wasn't doing as
well. He had like a giant chain ring.
I don't know what it was. 6060 tooth.
Geez, yeah, there, that's that'spretty big.
I had a 58 and I thought that was like on the limit.
So we're going up Snow Canyon. He just like stepped on the gas
and must have been doing, I don't know, 440 watts or
(37:01):
something. This is this is not.
I didn't even have a power meteron because I didn't want to see
like I didn't. Want to mess with?
My head for the run, yeah. And I eventually caught I think
Seth Ryder right at the top of the hill.
And I was able to get a little bit of a gap on the descent.
But like going through town, I had a close call.
(37:22):
There was like, there was a guy who I don't know why he just
wasn't looking around. He was just looking straight
down and he was running across the road.
And I figured like, if I was fast enough and kind of like got
over to the side, I could get around them.
But. Oh my goodness it.
Was like, it was that close and then I looked at the speed
right, right afterwards and it was like 47 mph.
(37:43):
Oh my goodness. Like.
What a horrible crash. But.
I kill the dude. Happened in heaven and it kind
of like got me like a little startled and like re energized
for the run. I'm alive, yeah.
Yeah. And so I I had a good transition
and then I'm from from the firsthill up the diagonals like, OK,
(38:07):
this is there's going to be a lot of suffering.
The legs like they, they suffered a lot going up Snow
Canyon and now like this ride, it was hot, it was hilly, this
golf course. And so I was like, I'm going to
stay in 3rd place and just mile by mile.
I'm like next mile. I want to just stay in 3rd
(38:28):
place, stay in 3rd place, stay in 3rd place.
And I can hear the splits in like I knew on the second lap I
was like, I was really suffering.
I can feel like I lost the bottles on the bike.
So I could feel the dehydration coming a little bit.
And so I was like, all right, and the eight stations were hard
to get waters and I was just like a little tiny sip of water
(38:49):
and you're just grabbing as manycups as you can and just just
not enough. And so, like Kevin, I knew Kevin
McDowell was coming and I knew he was a fast ITU runner.
And. He probably would have some
wheels if it came down to a Sprint.
So it couldn't come down to a Sprint.
And like the final, there's this, there's a, there's two
(39:13):
laps and then kind of the beginning of the laps to climb.
And so I was just like, if I make it to the top of the hill
on the second lap, I think I cankeep it.
I can keep the gap. And so I was just like, I was
like almost like completely speed and I could hear the.
Splits. And even like I got some really
(39:36):
amazing support on course from like other pros like Jackie
Herring, right? Like the critical limit at the
critical point at the top of thesecond lap, Jackie was like,
come on, you're in this like, don't just don't like you.
This is the hardest part. Like just just get out of this
hill. And that was, that was a really
cool moment for me 'cause I mean, I've looked up to Jackie
(39:57):
for like a long time. And yeah, it was, it was cool to
have like, Sony look up to like.Had that belief in you, Yeah.
Get going and so like going downlike the final three or four
mile like I could feel that likethe bumpy like starting to like
(40:17):
closer and closer to the limit. The vision was going in like the
last mile like I heard a split that was like the biker behind
me. I don't know if she was supposed
to say anything, but she was like she kind of whispered.
She's like, he's half a block behind and I.
Was like, Oh my goodness. OK, yeah, I couldn't look back.
(40:38):
I knew if I looked back like. Over.
It's over. Yeah, it shows weakness.
And you can't stop at that loud aid station.
Like you just have to run through it and it's all
downhill. So yeah, the pace looks pretty
good, but you're just like suffering.
And I was like, I'm not looking back until that last turn
around, which is like 800 metersfrom the finish, because then
(40:59):
you can actually see him. And I saw him and I was like,
OK, there's enough of a gap. And it kind of gave me a bit of
a second wind and like, push, push, push.
And then like when I got to the line, I was like, Oh my, I made
it like, and I had, there was nothing left.
Like I was just begging for water.
And. Then it was it was really a real
(41:21):
difficult two hours after the race, which is like, I've never
quite gone that hard. Before like.
It's nice to know that's inside of you like.
There there. Is another.
Another. Few.
Percent, even though you're like, well, I went as hard as I
can. It's like, yeah, but I you
didn't have that. Yeah, you can keep pushing.
(41:42):
And I mean missing the nutritionobviously is a huge piece,
getting dehydrated and then likeyou said, the two hours
afterwards, I assume it was so bad just because you were
probably feeling nauseous tryingto get in anything.
But it's just a hassle. Like were you really in a bad
way of sodium wise as well? Yeah, I just, I just just
throwing out for a long time after the race.
Oh dude I hate that feeling. Yeah.
(42:04):
And then I was trying to also take in fluids because the you
have to go over to drug testing.Yeah.
And trying to pee. And then there's.
There's nothing there. Except like just just stomach
problems. And then there was like a bit of
a bit of blood, too much information.
But the medics came and then I was just like, because you're
(42:28):
drug testing, someone has to watch you the whole time in the
bathroom. And they're like, don't pee
because you you have to save it for the bottle.
Yeah. So I got to like, I got to chat
with Lionel Sanders and San Juan.
And that was really cool. That was a cool moment to see
both of those guys kind of like in their more natural element,
(42:50):
like just. Shooting it, yeah.
What did you talk about? Like what were you what, what
kind of questions did you ask? Or is it just painful listening?
I was asking the question. I was just asking Lionel about
like. Just.
Just kind of his training philosophy, like how he's doing
his own thing and and then just kind of asked him about like if
(43:15):
he's going to Europe at all and talked a little bit about that.
And like training for a course like Nice, which is so hard
technically. Like you need that experience on
the open road. And yeah, it was really cool
chat to Lionel. He's so much, he has so much
information in the sport and like you wish you could just
(43:37):
have dinner with him for a few hours and really, really learn.
Yeah, you should invite him out to dinner.
He mends him. I know, I know, I'd love to, but
yeah, I got to get down to Tucson. 1st or wherever.
You got well, that's where everybody is in the winter.
Have you ever considered going down there?
I have. I have.
I've just gotten to Drona. Previously, but yeah.
(43:57):
I need to check it out. You know, it's so funny, like
everyone goes to Tucson. I've gone there for the past
couple years just for a week to hang out with Mark Dobrick and
it's actually not even that great of a place to train, if
I'm being completely honest. Like the roads aren't that
great. I with the exception of Mount
Lemmon, Mount Lemmon's amazing. The swimming's nice because you
have like the big or valley Aquatic Center that's right
(44:20):
there at the base of Lemmon. But like, honestly, other than
the temperatures, it's really not that great.
But that's just, that's just my opinion.
If maybe they have to say something.
Yeah, yeah. And.
I think I'd rather train in Saint George.
The training there was incredible.
Those were nice. I would train in the the lakes
there were super clear and clean.
Gorgeous. Yeah.
(44:40):
Haven't been yet, but so. Well, Speaking of Saint George,
that leads me to my next question.
Mr. Nicholas Chase, the CEO of RTS, lives there.
Tell me how you first got in contact with Nick and RTS.
And yeah, just being on the team, like, what's the
experience been so far? Yeah, last year, I forget where
it was, I think it was like 70.3Michigan and most of the team
(45:06):
was there and I got to meet all of them and there was just, it
was just like a friendly, fun dynamic.
And you can tell kind of the vibe of a team based on like how
everyone's interacting with eachother and everyone there was
just like really relaxed and really fun and they were like
actually supportive of each other.
For some teams, it's like, you know, it's, it's kind of, it's
(45:29):
not really supportive. It's like I'd rather I'd rather
win and be. Yeah, like.
Be nice a. Little 2 facedness.
Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
And I just got a really good vibe from the RTS team.
And so I started to talk with Nick at the at the end of last
year and then just, I really, wehad like pretty similar partners
(45:53):
already. And I, I wanted to try like the
blue 70 wet suit and then the fast TT bars and zoo and all,
all those partners. And yeah, I figured it would
just be a really fun team to join.
And it has been, it's been, it'sbeen great.
Yeah. Did you go to the Cozumel camp
(46:13):
at the beginning of the year? No, I didn't.
I got a little sick at the beginning of the year.
Oh, shoot. Yeah.
Next year. Yeah, I was trying to get ready
for Airman New Zealand. So yeah, it was a little.
A little too close. Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure.
No, that makes sense. Well, assuming you're on the
team next year, are you probablygoing to go?
Yes, yeah, I'll be there. Yeah, I love Cosmo.
(46:35):
Yeah, yeah, I haven't been yet. I'm.
But. Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Oh, cool. Well, it'll be fun to hopefully
get to meet you in person there,if not before.
Actually, let me just ask, are you doing Santa Cruz 70.3 by
chance? I.
Was looking at it. I was making my schedule
actually this morning. OK it.
It really depends on I have a world championship slot for 70.3
(46:58):
worlds. Yeah, I just, I need one for
Nice and if I get one for Nice, then I think I'll stay in Europe
until 70.3 Worlds after Boulder.And just because it's I noticed
like guys that go over to Europefrom the US really struggle if
(47:21):
they like they go in race week. And the same thing for the
European guys coming here. And I've seen it play out too
many times and myself included, like going over there and trying
to race right after travel. You think you, you think you
fine until race day and then youjust, you're missing a few
percent. But it's really shows.
(47:44):
So I'd rather just be in Jonah. I love the area.
And yeah, and then really prepare well for nice and just
be on that course for the month beforehand.
Yeah, yeah, for sure. So let me ask you this question.
Now that you're here, like you have a plot to play in this
(48:06):
sport, what does in your mind, success look like for this
career? Like, what are you?
What are you shooting for? I want to be competitive with
the best in the world. Like I want to show up.
I, I don't really care what likeif, if I win little races, like
I want to win the biggest races possible when I'm at the best in
(48:31):
my career. And I think the way you do that
is by showing up two of the biggest races when you're young
in your career and constantly knowing where the level's at.
I think it's critical because I think you could fool yourself
and maybe show up to races wherethe top guys aren't there.
(48:52):
And, and then you could get thissmall sense of where the level's
AT and you have to show up to the top races where the guys are
ready as well, where they've spent like time preparing for
them. And that's kind of dictate my
philosophy a bit like, especially with making the
calendar for this year, like I want to show up to Frankfurt and
(49:16):
I want to show up to Lake Placidin the Ironman Pro Series races
where guys are really they've spent the time preparing and
they're ready for these races. Yeah.
What does that look like in terms of, you know, creating
your training plan? Like let's just say you go to
race like Saint George, obviously you get a sense for
where the level's at based on swim times, bike power and time
(49:39):
run times. Do you then go and create like a
new goal for a specific time period for a training block?
Like, OK, I'm going to work up to, you know, this many efforts
at this power or this or this run pace and you know, and then
I'll judge how I'm doing based on reaching that.
Or do you have like every year just a, a different number
(49:59):
you're shooting for? Like how does?
How does that practically look for you?
It's a bit of both. It's like it.
Of course you train to your ability.
You can't train for random numbers like like if for
example, I don't know, I heard on the podcast today that
(50:21):
someone did, I think 380 watts for a 70.3.
And like knowing myself, I'm like like if, if I went and
trained for that, I don't know if I would get the best results
or if I just train to my numbersand just train to progress the
most I can. If that makes sense.
(50:42):
Where you know, overtraining your training to your abilities.
And I think if you train to yourabilities and train like for
that constant improvement, then then eventually you can get to
the levels you want. But you have to first really
like know where you're at and kind of emotionally detach
(51:02):
yourself. Like I'm training here and here
and here and here and here and down the road, down the road,
I'll get there. Like right now I'm really
working on my bike endurance because I noticed Iron Man, the
fresher you come off the bike and in an Iron Man, the better
you'll do because you have a whole marathon to run guys down
(51:26):
and if. A long time.
Yeah. And if you can be like say 70%
of your FDP versus 80% of your FDPI feel like that makes?
A bigger difference for running.Huge difference.
Even if the bike splits the exact same, just that level of
freshness really, really plays abig factor.
(51:47):
Yeah, for sure. It's interesting because for
your specific training, because you're coaching yourself, if you
have something prescribed in theplan and you feel that day just
a little bit off, do you typically push through or do you
pause and maybe scratch it? Should scheduling change up for
another day or just skip it? Or what do you do typically?
(52:11):
I always usually start the session because I've had some of
my best days where like the first 5 minutes I'm like, oh
God, this is really bad. Yeah, yeah.
And then and then you get into it and then, you know, the blood
starts going and you're like, OK, all right, I'm ready.
Surprise yourself. Yeah, I've been there many times
for sure. Have you ever been in the middle
of a session, though, where it just feels really bad and you're
(52:32):
like, ah, this is not productive.
Like, you take another. Take a pause.
It's pretty rare now. Like back back before, yeah, I
would. That would happen quite a few
times a couple years ago. But now I would say like I
basically hit every session I prescribe.
(52:54):
The only things I'll cut are easy stuff like if I have an
easy form, I'll run. And I feel like it would be
better to like go to bed and maybe have like a big meal.
I feel like that then that wouldbe better to prepare for the
session. The following.
Day. So whenever you go out to maybe
(53:18):
it's before a big key session oreven before race, what do you do
to get in the zone? Music is kind of kind of an
essential. Yeah.
I also like to, I, I, I've kind of developed like little, little
ways to get my body ready for a big session.
Like for me, sometimes it's it'shard to eat enough.
(53:42):
I don't. Want to eat?
And you kind of have to be like,you know, you have to bake the
cookies and eat all the cookies.That's.
Crazy. Like having like that extra, I
don't know, 2 or 3000 calories on board.
Like it really does make a difference for the next day.
(54:03):
Like loading like it tomorrow isa race and kind of treating
every day. Like you show up and you're
ready for it. Like you're ready for a race.
Like I see some people that go into training and they kind of
treat it like a job they don't really care about.
I'm not to RIP on anyone, but like they just kind of show up
and maybe they're not fueled enough.
(54:24):
Well, they would never do that for a race.
Like, I feel like it's really essential to like think about
like your caffeine intake, what like treat it like a race,
these, these key sessions and then you kind of learn the
habits and then you also dial inyour race, your race methods.
(54:48):
Yeah, for sure, I used. To do that where I would just
put water in the bottles and be like I have my two hours.
Perfect. Like where it's like.
You have to have calories like you have to take in calories.
To be ready. For the swim in the evening or
the run. And it's kind of like just
(55:08):
really upping the level of like your training and nutrition and
like having a plan even for training days, like trying to
hit a certain amount of carbs and like having a cadence, right
and like close to race equipment.
And then you can really like, I've found myself to do like
(55:31):
really, really good sessions that way.
Whether it's like a one hour easy bike or hour and a half to
two hours or versus like a key threshold session or run easy
for an hour versus like an hour and a half threshold session.
Do you feel the same regardless of the session?
No, no, I don't. I think it it would be, I think
(55:54):
it would be unhealthy and probably like really hurt you in
the long run if you tried to take in like 120 grams on a one
hour easy ride. Yeah.
Your body's not using it so. Yeah, yeah.
But if you have like say 3 or 4 hours close to Iron Man pace,
like yeah. And that's when it's time to put
(56:16):
in the calories. Like literally just have your
exact race set up and then do itlike do that exact setup.
So. That's what I've been.
Working on for my Iron Man. Like, I'm really, really
focusing on Lake Placid. And.
That course, like it's a hilly, hard course.
(56:38):
So I just want to be like nailedin nutrition now.
And have. Have all that experience so when
it shows up to race day, taking in those calories are natural.
Having the bottles there, it's all like, yeah, you've done it,
you've already been in that. In that world.
Yeah, has anybody ever said, Colin, you're 23, why are you
(56:59):
trying to go after the Iron Man the big distances right now?
Yeah, yeah, all the time. Everyone, everyone said that
like ever since I was young, like I, I did my first Olympic
distance and I was like 98910 somewhere on there, 4 feet tall.
(57:19):
Then it. Was like it's it's too young to
do those kind of things. But I I don't feel like unless,
unless you're not if you're not getting injured and you stay
healthy, like I don't really seea problem with it.
And like guys have now are winning the tour at 21.
It's like the tour is. Yeah, it's it's.
(57:42):
That's another level of insanityfor in terms of volume, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, exactly. And if you're trained for it and
you're prepared, like I feel like it, it's, it's not going to
be that big of a problem. Like it's not going to kill your
speed if you have the the willingness to like get on the
track, you know, to get ready for a 70.3 year Olympic.
(58:06):
Player, yeah, for sure. So when you started this journey
back when you were 19, you know some odd 4 odd years ago, what
is something that you would tellyourself that you wish you had
known when you started this journey?
Stay the course and like, stay stubborn like.
Stay stubborn. Yeah, like, it's because
(58:27):
everyone has their opinion and like, some, some are right, of
course, but some people are like, you know, they might not
have the experience to really like, know exactly what's going
on. And so like, you kind of have to
like stay true to your heart andbe like this, this is what I
(58:50):
want to do. This is why I want to do it.
And like, even though someone might be older, more
experienced, like if you have your reasons and you feel like
they're valid, like do do whatever that is.
Like, say it's like big training, little training.
Like it could go both ways really.
(59:12):
Yeah, really, truly good. So for someone who is looking to
consider getting into being a professional triathlete from a
relatively young age, what kind of advice would you also give to
them? Would it be very similar?
Yeah, yeah. Well, it's hard because I've,
like I say, I've been self coached for these past four
(59:35):
years, but in the, I don't know,15 years before that I've had a
dozen coaches, you know. Where?
They've given me like years and years of experience and like,
like my college running coach ran professionally for years,
(59:56):
Amanda Rego and like. Learning those kind of things
from her were like undoubtedly help me throughout my career,
like injury prevention, how to actually do track workouts and
run properly, all those things. You, you have to have good
(01:00:19):
mentors. That's where like, like being
stubborn. Yeah.
It's a, it's also a balance withlike having having the right
mentors around you who you trust, because that, that goes a
long way. It the rare the rare people to
(01:00:41):
find but once you find them likemake sure make sure you get as
much from them as you can. How many key mentors do you have
right now? A lot.
Even even if say, like I might not be in contact with Lionel
(01:01:05):
Sanders, but he's still a mentorbecause of the way he does his
own thing. The same thing with Sam Long,
even though it's completely offset training methods.
And like there's other people like that.
(01:01:27):
I have closer relationships withother pros who have much, much
more experience than me that I'mable to like get little bits of
advice. Like Jackson Laundry comes to
mind. Like he, he's been around, he's
been around the block, he's he'sseen global championship fields
again and again. And so like, having these people
(01:01:50):
around really, really does make a big difference.
That's cool, man. Well, First off, or I guess not
First off because I've said a lot of questions, but lastly, I
should say thank you so much forsharing just so freely and how
you have. I'm really excited for your
future. It's I, I know Nick relatively
(01:02:10):
well. I think I've had almost
everybody from the RTS crew on the podcast once or twice.
So it's fun to have met you now officially and get to know
somebody else from that team. But I wish you all the best.
Looking forward to continuing tofollow you along.
I know you got Chattanooga coming up.
By the time this airs, it'll be already have passed.
(01:02:32):
So we'll look forward for peoplecan go check out and see how you
did. But I'm looking forward to
seeing how you continue to progress, man.
And whatever we can do to continue to support you, I will
make sure to do that. Cool.
Thank you so much for having. Me.
Yeah, man, thank you so much fortaking the time.
Yeah, awesome. Thanks.
Bye. Thank you so much to Colin for
(01:02:54):
jumping on the pod and allowing me to dive into his life and
hear about all of the many adventures he's been on across
the world. And the in depth dive for how he
was able to enjoy his breakthrough race at Saint
George was pretty cool as well. Wishing him all the best and the
whole RTS team. If you met to this point the
(01:03:14):
podcast just want to say thank you so much.
Really appreciate you being here.
Check out the show notes for anylengths links, any links in the
description for any of the sponsors and stuff that we may
have going on there. If you want to sign up for the
newsletter, you can do that alsoin the show notes at the stupid
questions dot show website. If you are watching or listening
on YouTube. Thanks for being here.
(01:03:35):
If you could like comment, subscribe, turn on the
notification bell. That really helps to continue to
grow this podcast. And if you are listening on any
of the podcast platforms, if youcould also like comment, review
and subscribe if that's what's called, give it a follow.
Really appreciate that helps continue to grow it.
As I've said, I love doing this guys.
Really thank you so much for listening and thanks again to
Colin and the RTS team for making this episode happen.
How's it going everybody? And welcome back to another
edition of Stupid Questions Podcast.
Today on the pod, we're going tobe talking with the one of the
newest installment members of the RTS team, Colin Zutch.
He just came off of a podium 3rdplace finish behind Lionel and
Sam at Saint George North American Champs.
And Needless to say, it's been abreakthrough race for him.
So it's fun getting to jump intoa bit of his back story and hear
(00:23):
about all of the things he has going on and floating around his
mind during this awesome and just crazy time.
So without further ado, I want to introduce you to my friend
Colin. I drove back yesterday.
How many hours? 8 hours or they got to stop in
Monument National Park which is pretty cool.
(00:43):
Oh yeah, first time. Yeah, yeah, it's amazing there
need. To go back, Yeah, that's
awesome, man. So where are you from?
Well, from Colorado initially. I'm.
Actually born and raised here and trained part time in Spain,
so not really from there but youknow the area.
Yeah, that's awesome. What?
(01:05):
And as far as going over to Spain, do you go there anymore
or was that just a phase that you kind of went over there to
train or? No, I still go back.
I have a place there so I like to go when I can.
The road cycling's incredible. And just.
The feet of the level of competition there.
Like the next level? Swimming pool alone is insane.
(01:26):
Like you're swimming to Vincent Louis and like, Oh my God, yeah.
It's insane. Yeah, humbling experience, I
bet. Well, cool, man.
Well, First things first, thank you so much for taking the time
and making this happen relatively short notice post St.
George. So really appreciate you making
it happen and for being on. Yeah, it's a pleasure to meet
you and looking forward to getting connect, getting to
(01:48):
connect with you. Thank you for having me.
Yeah, man. So first question, it's a, one
of my favorite questions to ask on this podcast is from your
perspective, who is Colin? Oh well, it's hard.
There's, it's hard to identify yourself as like one particular
(02:10):
thing, but I could probably identify myself as like what I
am. I'm an adventurous person and I
like to, I like to have a visionand follow it through like no
matter what it is, like a triathlon or whatever it is.
(02:31):
I like to like, even if everyonetells me you can't do it, I like
to go for it regardless. Yeah.
Sweet. So do you think that's more of
like a nature or a nurture characteristic about yourself,
that drive and passion and focus?
Probably a nature thing. You never know.
It's hard to identify. It's just always the way I've
(02:54):
been like, like overly ambitiousand kind of just go for it
regardless. Yeah.
What is like one of the earliestchildhood memories you have of
being that way and what was the thing you were going after?
Well, I've raced my entire life.My mom would always throw me in
whenever it raced since I was like 4 or five.
(03:17):
And my sister was really, reallyfast.
And she still is. She still.
Is. Not the.
Yeah. She would, she would beat me.
Like she's two years younger than me, my little sister, and
would race like these local 5 KSand she could run like a 17
minute 5K, eighteen minute 5K easy at 12:11.
(03:41):
Wow, that's really impressive. Yeah, but I couldn't do that.
So it's hard, like being two years older and seeing your
little sister just whoop your butt every other weekend.
So. It kind of taught me some
important lessons from a young age, like to, to race my own
race and like to be, you know, not so dependent on results,
(04:04):
maybe your own process. Yeah, that's amazing to have
those lessons that early on. I feel like a lot of even pros
who've been around quite a whilestill struggle with trying to
learn that lesson, like racing your own race.
It's becoming more common I would say, but definitely
something that takes a while to learn typically.
(04:27):
Yeah, yeah, especially in triathlon where, I mean, I
haven't had the best swims. So you come out of the water
sometimes and you're like 4 minutes down.
And like. It's, it's easy to think like,
OK, it's over. Like, but if you kind of have
the mindset of like, well, it there's still like a long day
(04:47):
ahead and like if you keep that optimistic mindset that it can
turn around, often times it does.
Yeah, yeah, for sure. It depends on, I guess, the day
you're having and how your mental preparation and how life
stress is going. Yeah, there's a lot of factors
that go into that kind of stuff for sure.
I've been on both sides. Sometimes race is going really
(05:10):
great, enjoy the day. Other times super hard and all
you want to do is quit, which I'm sure you've experienced some
of that as well. Oh.
Yeah, yeah, I walked quite a fewarm.
Yeah. I've.
Experienced. It Yeah.
So tell me a bit about your mom and your dad.
Would you say that you're more like your mom or more like your
dad? I'm more like my mom.
(05:32):
My mom's the same way. Just kind of like she'll, she'll
do whatever, whatever it takes like we're starting a business
or like she also did some pro mountain biking back in the day.
OK, so she's just ruthlessly competitive as well even.
With us. Really still now she competes
(05:55):
with my sister and yeah, but my dad's the more like level headed
calm, like has a plan. So when they work well together,
it's just maybe I have a little bit of both, but more my mom.
Yeah, yeah, for sure. So with your mom, you said
starting a business, entrepreneurial, your mother?
(06:16):
Yeah, yeah, I would say so. She she had like a personal
training business and then some other real estate stuff.
Yeah, she's always been like figuring out a new way to do
things, whether it could be in the business world or sports or
whatever. Yeah.
Do you find that you're similar in your interests outside of
(06:37):
triathlon? Yeah, I am.
I I liked my family's huge in sports, so that's a lot of what
we talked about. But yeah, we like to talk about
like, you know, world politics or whatever, just like debate
both sides of the issue, like just, yeah, that's kind of the
(06:59):
way the way our family works. Yeah, yeah.
Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty focused on being open minded
like that. You would say that's a quality
of the family. Yeah, yeah, exactly.
And even like with little debate, like training
philosophies or pretty much anything and there there isn't
like a set way to do something. Maybe there could be multiple
(07:23):
ways to skin a cat, if that's the analogy.
Yeah, So how old are you, Colin?I'm 23.
OK so zoom out a little bit. I'm trying to ask a question cuz
I know at 23 so I'm trying to think back when I was 23.
I'm going on 33 now. Seems like it was just
yesterday, but when I was 21, I think that's when I really
(07:44):
started to pick apart the, for lack of a better word, just
worldview that I had grown up with and then figured it out,
like how I would apply or changeor mold that worldview as I got
a little bit older. So I'm curious to hear for you
like zoom out a little bit for me, what are the things that
help create the filter or the way that you kind of perceive
(08:07):
and experience the world? You can we can go politics,
religion, training, philosophy, just your overall
characteristics of mindset around that.
You value perseverance and, you know, shooting big but staying
focused. Yeah, well, it's all my life.
I've had like similar similar things like I moved to Spain
(08:29):
when I was 19 and. It was kind.
Of hard, like it was a completely new world to me.
And. New language, new people, new
team then. So I got to meet tons of
interesting people that had likenew perspectives on the world.
Not that I'm like the most worldly person, but I got to see
(08:54):
a lot of interesting even ways of training and triathlon.
And yeah, just the different people you meet in Spain,
there's like people from all over Europe and so from Africa
and Asia. So that was a really neat
experience at that young age. Yeah, yeah.
(09:14):
So keep going for me, if you don't mind me prying a little
bit more. But like because you said like
your family, you like to straddle both sides of the aisle
and come to, I guess just kind of debating the issues.
Do you find that it's difficult for you to stand on one side of
the aisle and kind of like dig in or do you, what does it take
(09:35):
for you to solidify your stance and something you think?
I wouldn't say it's solidifying A stance.
I would say it's more just like having a conversation with
anyone, like about anything. Like, I think a lot of people
have different perspectives on things for, you know, certain
reasons, like they've had certain experiences in their
(09:56):
lives that make them have that perspective.
And it's always interesting to hear that, like just hearing it
from not like an emotional perspective, just hearing it
from like, like, why do you think that, you know, and then
what? What makes you think that?
Yeah, I've always found like some very interesting things
from that. Who do you think is the person
(10:22):
that in your world of influence right now?
I, I'm assuming it's going to bein triathlon.
Who pushes you to think a littlebit differently maybe than how
you're used to thinking? Do you have any of those kind of
people? I started triathlon when I was
like some professional triathlonwhen I was 19 and I started just
(10:44):
watching YouTube videos like I would watch Lionel Sanders and
Sam Long. Around.
That time frame and they were doing just insane training that
was kind of like it's different.It was really different.
Like I know like Lionel is doingthe intensity and Sam Long was
doing the crazy run volume closeto.
(11:05):
Where I'm at. And I found that so inspiring
both, both of them like just they kind of have a method like
their reasons and they're going for it regardless of like what,
you know, what media is telling them about like.
Is that what you share shouldn'tdo?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So that's kind of for my my
(11:30):
basis. And then the more experience
I've gotten, the more I've realized that like there isn't a
set model to anything. Racing, training, life.
Yeah, it really is all up for debate.
Yeah, yeah, I've definitely shared that thought because the
older I've gotten, yeah, it seems like the world is
(11:51):
definitely more Gray. And just because you mentioned
Lionel and Sam, I think this is an appropriate time to just ask
you this one question and then we will dive into the race that
recently happened. But I'm curious, you know, from
you starting in this profession at a young age on YouTube,
watching these guys and then finding yourself at the race
(12:11):
this past weekend where you're standing on the podium with
them, like you're in the mix forthat.
What was that? What was going through your mind
and how has that affected just the belief in yourself?
Well. I couldn't.
Like I couldn't. I, I knew it was possible.
Like from the training I've done, I knew it was a
(12:33):
possibility, but I never quite imagined being there until like,
like the final moment. I was like, this could happen.
Like there's a chance. Like don't, don't say.
It's going to happen. And then when I crossed the line
I like and it kind of set in like I was like, I've been
(12:56):
crying at the same time. Because it's.
Yeah. It's been, you know, four years
of like, just just dedication and then like finally achieving
that. And.
Like being literally standing onthe same podium with your idols,
(13:16):
it's, it was pretty surreal. Yeah.
Yeah, I can only imagine. So this is a where I want to
take a pause for a second and I want to rewind the clock.
Tell me about your first interaction with the sport of
triathlon and take me through the journey of how you came to a
place to realize, oh, like I can, I can be professional at
this. Oh, what's funny is I've always
(13:40):
thought it was a possibility andI could do it, but I didn't
really start until I was 19. I, I wanted to run in college
and I thought after college thenthen I could go after it.
But I came to the realization at19 that if you want to truly
(14:01):
have a chance in the sport, you have to start then.
Like it's really hard to start later.
And it's just because the sport takes so much experience,
whether it's gear, training, anything, it takes years to
finally, like, figure out how todo it.
So I was like, OK, I'm doing this.
(14:23):
And I only had a mountain bike at the time.
And so I was like, I'm signing out for the externa.
And I I've been following some other pros that were also going
to do it. I think Sam Long was also there.
Yeah. And Eric, Eric Longish.
Is this the one down in Georgia?No, no, this was about an hour
(14:44):
away from here in Beaver Creek. OK, Yeah.
And I did it when I was a kid aswell.
So I knew the course, which which made it pretty exciting.
Yeah. And then on that race, I, I
forget exactly what place I got,but I'd be in the some of the
top pros and I was like, OK, maybe, maybe I have a chance.
(15:06):
So after that I was just just full gas trap on.
Yeah. Who've been some of the, the key
mentors that have helped you like jump on that learning curve
from, I mean, the bike alone, just knowing how to get the
right bike, how to work on your own bike and then finding your
own bike and then the training surrounding that.
(15:27):
Like I figure there's so many things to learn who who have
been kind of the the key mentorsin your experience?
I was actually, I was on the mountain bike team, like a
mountain bike team when I was young in a Rd. cycling team as
well. But I mean, when, when you're
young, you kind of you don't really quite know exactly what
you're doing and why. You just kind of like learn the
(15:50):
basic techniques. And then when I started like
really going after triathlon, I knew it would be hard to do it
alone. Like training.
I trained in Evergreen Co and there aren't many triathletes
here. I think there's a couple.
And then on a pros and all the pros are in Boulder.
So I'll go down there when I could.
(16:11):
But I realized that like if I want to have a chance, I would
probably need to go to Europe orsomewhere like that because the
level of cycling there and the opportunities are pretty good.
And then I got an opportunity. I saw it that there was like a
Academy in Spain called the Drona Race Academy.
(16:32):
Oh yeah, and. It was a cycling and triathlon
team, so I'm like perfect and within, I think within a week I
was there after seeing the Academy.
So I was just like, whatever it takes, I'm going and I got
access to bikes, guys that wanted to turn pro and we're all
(16:54):
living in the same house with the same goals, talking cycling
non-stop for a year, year and a half year.
And. You learn so much in that time,
like how to handle your bike, how how to train appropriately,
like how cyclists train, and maybe how not to train as well.
(17:16):
I'll learn that. What'd you learn really quick?
Yeah, yeah. It also got access to some
really nice bikes and equipment.And in Girona there's like
there's a bike shop every like within that, every 20 meters
there's a new bike shop. And.
So I mean, it was the easiest cycling in the world.
(17:38):
You go from your front door and there's a climb 5 minutes away
with world tourist cyclist on itevery single day.
It was it was the best experience I could have asked
for there. Yeah, that's amazing.
So with the people that you weremeeting there, like, did you
real? Was it a humbling experience?
Did you suddenly realize, like, oh, I have a long way to go?
(18:01):
Or did it give you, I guess, more inspiration to realize
like, oh, I actually have this? Like, I think I can get where I
need to go a little. Bit of bowl I, I had like, that
was the first time I did like a training camp at sea level
because I was at 7000 feet the entire time.
So it's hard to see like what power numbers you could do.
(18:23):
And then when I got there, I like, it was like, oh, OK, like
I, I can push bigger numbers than I anticipated.
But then you would look at the segment for that climb and some
guy would have it at 7 watts perkilogram and they're like, yeah,
that's where the level is. Yeah, yeah, yeah, totally
different. So what you said earlier like
(18:44):
that, it was, it was good, but it was hard.
What was hard about the move andgetting there?
And there's just that whole thing A.
Little bit of homesickness to behonest.
Yeah. Like it's so far away, you leave
all your friends and of course there you make new friends
there, but you kind of wish you like like did I?
(19:07):
Am I sacrificing everything to do this?
And in a, in a way, you're sacrificing a lot.
But I mean, the experience. I mean, I don't know if I could
beat it. Yeah, yeah, for sure.
I mean, I can only imagine. So were your parents supportive
of this move? Because I would assume like you
(19:29):
took a sabbatical or kind of said no to college and decided
that this was the path you were going to take.
How did? How did the support come through
or not? Yeah, I was.
I was honestly surprised they were willing to support me on
this. With like.
Just I just had a belief in myself that was.
The. Only thing I could tell them was
(19:50):
I. I believe I can do this now.
Like I didn't have any other data to back it up.
Yeah, and just cold hard belief I'm.
On the bike, I'm OK, on the swimand I can run like that.
That's it. That's all I can say.
And I also had support from my college as well.
That was really critical, like. The.
(20:10):
Train for that externa. They let me take a semester off
Wow, didn't keep my financial aid and and I could just train
trap on and also do school and that really gave me the time to
like figure out that I wanted todo it.
Does that make sense? Yeah, yeah, for sure.
(20:31):
Did you ever struggle with the belief like in these past four
years that like you could do this?
Was there any ever a time when you thought maybe this isn't the
way I wanted to go? Not really.
I've always thought like yeah, Ican do this.
(20:53):
Like of course I got sick a few times and in Girona with those
guys I over trained and put myself into a hole for months.
You. Know you're, you're training
with these guys and everyone's like, oh, what'd you do today?
What'd you do today? She's like, oh, I'm gonna do an
hour or more, two hours more, 4 hours more.
(21:14):
Yeah, the competition, yeah. And then like a few months
later, you're just, you're done.Like there's no, there's nothing
left and you go show up to a race and like you're just sleepy
and tired. Yeah, for sure.
So for a lot of people, they're just now probably getting wind
of your name. Obviously you have a lot of
(21:34):
friends, you've been to the sport a while, so you know a lot
of people. But from like the outside
looking in, the people who maybefollow the sport from a more
recreational standpoint, they'rejust now kind of seeing you come
on the scene. Obviously you have beyond even
four years of experience in thissport.
And a lot has happened that havebeen stepping stones.
Like I imagine it didn't just happen overnight.
Like there's a lot of work that goes into this.
So what were some of the, in your mind, key step stepping
(21:56):
stones that led you to the result you were able to have on
Saturday? Well.
Really learning how to train andrace the way my body responds.
I had to go through every different model of training to
find the right one. Like I tried the the big volume
(22:21):
and that didn't work for me. I tried the Super high intensity
stuff and that didn't work for me.
And over the past, I would say maybe like 9 months, I've really
figured to use the middle ground, especially with
altitude. Like I, I train like not low
volume, but I can't train like 30 hours, 36 hours a week.
(22:45):
And I also need like the right blend of intensity or if it's
too much like my body starts to like breakdown physically.
And like I don't run that big a volume.
Like the key sessions are a longrun and a threshold run and then
just running and then cycling a lot more volume with like a key
(23:07):
to threshold sessions and endurance ride.
And I kind of figured the right balance between both.
So that's kind of been a major stepping stone.
And then also like getting nutrition rights a big been a
big one for me. When I first started the sport,
I was like, I was really, reallyskinny.
Like I was like 6-2 in 140 lbs a130.
(23:30):
Five. Holy smokes, yeah.
Yeah, because like running, I had this stupid philosophy that
like lighters better, which. Was not.
True, I'm running so much betternow and I weigh 25 lbs more.
Yeah. Yeah.
How are you able to put on weight?
Was this like very regimented? Because you I assume you have
pretty high metabolism, it was hard to put on weight.
(23:51):
Yeah. Actually I put it on in Girona.
Like just eating an insane amount of food.
There's a pastry shop like 100 meters to my house out.
There, put them out of business.Yeah, yeah.
She, she thought it was buying for other people.
Like she was just like, like, doyou have family here?
And I was like, no, no, it's just me.
(24:13):
And she's like, do you have friends that you're buying a
fund? No 7 crystals are for me.
Yeah, that's wild. So for the the pressure like
now, because you have this result and it seems to me from
the outside looking in and I've experienced this a little bit,
(24:35):
obviously not to your level, butwhen somebody gets on the scene,
you know, they get a level of notoriety.
There's a level of expectation externally that people start to
put on you, which can reflect internally for the amount of
pressure and expectations that one places on himself.
My question to you is like, whatdo you feel any of that yet?
(24:57):
And if you do, are you going to do anything to combat it, to try
to stay and keep it? We're like a similar mindset as
before, like try to be in the background and you know,
whatever happens, happens. Does that make sense?
It's kind of poorly phrased. No, no, I totally get that.
My philosophy is still the same.Like I probably had more
(25:17):
pressure 2-3 years ago when I had nothing, like nothing to
show for it because then it was really like, believe in me
please. Like I can do this.
And now I have something to be like OK, like maybe like this,
this could happen. And.
(25:38):
I mean, I, I like to race just like go for it no matter what.
Even like if they said I was 15 minutes down at a swim, I'm
still going to ride and bike as hard as hard as I can.
It doesn't matter. Like, and I saw it like the
great example of that was Christian in Oceanside.
(25:59):
Like I, he was so far behind. But when I could see him in the
laugh section and he would look at his watch when he was going
past me, even though I was like in 11th place at the time, like
I was having a great day. But he didn't care.
He was going for it no matter what.
Every second counted. Yeah.
And it's just kind of that fighter mentality, like it's
(26:21):
trained like if you quit the race, you'll quit in training
and. Then you'll quit.
Again in the next race. But if you fight through it and
kind of like keep going, I thinkat the next race when you're
having a good day, you can kind of put in that extra, like that
extra fight. That makes sense.
Yeah, Yeah. When when people get to know you
(26:43):
just in passing, when they don'tactually sit down, get to talk
with Colin, figure out a bit more of the depth of who you
are. What do you think?
Generally the by and large the impression is that people have
when they like, hear about you or or get to know you a little
bit. I don't know.
That's the thing. It's hard to say what other
people think of you. May maybe I I hope they think
(27:08):
like I'll fight for the the place no matter what.
Like when I show up to race, I'mthere.
I'll give it everything I got. That's that's what I hope people
think. But I would hope people also
think like I'm a relaxed guy. You know, I'm, I'm not like, I'm
(27:31):
not mean to anyone before a raceor like I don't have any like
particularly any rivalries or hatred towards anyone in the
sport. Sure.
Yeah, yeah, I hope that's what people think that like I'm here
to like give it my best effort and.
Yeah. Yeah, race.
I kind of race for myself and see what what I can do
(27:54):
regardless of like what any placement or numbers say.
Yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah.
My first impression, I would sayis definitely passionate,
driven. You want to make something
happen. Yeah, young.
And I say that with like the best in the best way because I
think being so young and being able to have some of the
(28:14):
success, I guess that you've seen from a racing perspective
so far just goes to show like you're not even near your
pinnacle yet and there's so muchleft to do.
So I think that that's that's super encouraging just from the
outside looking in like I'm I'm stoked to know you.
So I guess the next question I'dlove to ask is coaching like
we've talked about the philosophy a little bit, it
(28:36):
sounds like you're self coached is that is that the case?
Yeah, yeah, I've been self coached, I would say 95% of the
four years. So like, and I'm, I think I'm
able to do it because I'm able to like really separate myself
from the training and like the emotional side of it.
(28:58):
And. Like if, if things aren't going
well, I'm able to be like, OK, well, let's break this down.
Kind of like put on the coachinghat.
And and then I'm also willing tolike, you know, change things
quickly if things aren't working, which is hard to do
with the coach, because a lot ofcoaches have like a, a way they
(29:20):
do things and it's hard to breakthat.
Whereas if you're self coached, it gives you the ability to
really like look at everything. Like.
What what's worked for me in thepast, one feeling sickness, race
is coming up. There's so much to take into
account. Where?
(29:40):
And things change so quickly, atleast for me in the sport, like,
like a little niggle will come up and I'll be like, OK, this
session has to change for this session.
And I just, I don't like having to deal with like getting
permission to change that. Yeah, yeah, for sure.
(30:01):
So you think that you'll stay self coached for the foreseeable
future then? Well, funny, funny enough, I'm,
I'm working to change things, atleast on the swim front, because
after, after Saint George, I was, I was pretty disappointed
because my pool times are getting faster and faster and
faster. But yeah, it almost seems like
(30:23):
I've regressed in the open water.
So I got the there's experts in this world and I'd like to talk
with them. Yeah, for sure.
Well, now I'd love to if I don'tknow if you've done any sort of
like a race recap, if you're interested.
I would love to hear just from your perspective, if you don't
mind sharing that whole day, like what was going on in your
(30:45):
mind? How did it play out for you?
Kind of the step by step. We heard a little bit at the
end, like, you know, you got to the last mile and you weren't
even ready then to say like, Oh yeah, I got this to get on the
podium. Yeah, well, I'll, I'll start a
couple days before the race. Yeah, that's beautiful.
Like I had this like hamstring like just this leg issue.
(31:09):
It was just this. Tightness in the leg and I was
able to run, but it was just, itwas there the whole time.
And so I decided three days out from the race.
So I was like, OK, I'm just, I'mnot going to the fitness is
there. I'm just not going to run the
Tuesday, Friday or Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and I'll see
(31:31):
how it feels on the warm up for race day.
And then the travel there was super easy.
I live it was a 90 minute flight.
My dad drove so the bikes so it is already ready and I I like
the area. It was so fun and I went with my
sister. So it was, it was good to have
the whole family there. And I felt pretty calm, like I
(31:54):
knew the course would suit me and I kind of knew how I'd want
to play it. That like this is a bike heavy
course and I'm just going to bike it like there's no run
because I know my run fitness isthere and I know people are
going to try to like conserve a little bit.
So snow. Canyon.
(32:14):
At least I thought so. And so I was like, all right,
I'm going to I'm going to blitz,blitz the bike as well as I can.
And I had some good sessions that week on the bike where I
was like, OK, the fitness is there.
If the power meter is not broken, I'm really fit.
You know, sometimes it's like you have to wait till race day
to really see. And then when, like race
(32:38):
morning, I felt really calm. I was like, all right, we're
gonna do this. That was like the first time I
ever snoozed my alarm to get like an extra 20 minutes of
sleep. Yeah.
The show's kind of like I was relaxed.
And. Going in the water, actually, it
was like I'm gonna have a great sweat, like this is gonna be
easy. And the 1st 100 meters was just
(32:58):
like just fighting. Like, I was just like hitting
everyone that's hitting everyoneyou're trying.
To get through. Without like, you know, slowing
down, just having a random fightwith someone.
Yeah. So it the swim like you think, I
thought it was in a good place to go out of the water and.
(33:24):
Can you hear me? I think I may have lost you.
(33:48):
Can you hear me? So the last thing I heard was
(34:08):
you were getting in the swim, you were expecting it to be
easy, you were beaten, everybodywas beating each other up and
then that's kind of where it jumped out.
OK, well so I could see a coupleof swim caps and I thought I saw
a Cam Wharf swim cap, but I think it was Sam Long's.
(34:29):
And I thought because I, Sam or Cam Wharf had a great swim in
Oceanside. So I was like, OK, this I should
come out of the water, probably with Jackson Laundry should be
around here. There'll be.
Some good firepower and then I got another one there.
I heard 3 minutes and I ran the transition and I thought
Lionel's bike was gone and I waslike Oh no, that's that's not
(34:51):
good. That's really bad.
Yeah. I just grabbed my bike.
I looked over, I saw Sam Long was right there.
But OK, cool. Like at least there's someone to
work with here. And then Sam Long was going
pretty hard. From right, from right.
From the gun. In July, if I just kind of like
(35:12):
just hang back just outside the draft zone, like and just kind
of follow him all the way through, I should be OK.
But the legs were like feeling really, really good where I was
almost like, come on, Sam, like let's let's go faster, let's go
faster. And I was so far out of the
water, like there were so many guys.
So it felt really good, like just going around and then I
(35:35):
caught Sam or I caught a Cam Wharf and Trevor Foley and then
they they caught on the Sam as well.
And and then we kind of went through and there was some pack
dynamics. There was some there was some
yelling about like don't pass me.
And I was like, all right, I'm going to, I'm going to go
through. But I mean.
(35:57):
The F3 was right there and the racing was just like it was
really fast and there was a lot going on, so it's just like if I
saw the red light I was going through no matter what.
Yeah, hectic. Yeah, yeah.
And I wasn't going to risk a penalty, especially like with
that kind of bike. I was like, I have the fitness
where I'll just go around, it doesn't really matter.
(36:18):
And I kind of worked my way up like to the packs.
And I was getting like I saw like someone said, like 6th
place, 5th place, 4th place. And then at the at Snow Canyon,
I saw Sam Long really, really ramped it up.
Like that's where he started to,like, really put down some big
(36:38):
watts. I was.
Surprised because like on the other hills, he wasn't doing as
well. He had like a giant chain ring.
I don't know what it was. 6060 tooth.
Geez, yeah, there, that's that'spretty big.
I had a 58 and I thought that was like on the limit.
So we're going up Snow Canyon. He just like stepped on the gas
and must have been doing, I don't know, 440 watts or
(37:01):
something. This is this is not.
I didn't even have a power meteron because I didn't want to see
like I didn't. Want to mess with?
My head for the run, yeah. And I eventually caught I think
Seth Ryder right at the top of the hill.
And I was able to get a little bit of a gap on the descent.
But like going through town, I had a close call.
(37:22):
There was like, there was a guy who I don't know why he just
wasn't looking around. He was just looking straight
down and he was running across the road.
And I figured like, if I was fast enough and kind of like got
over to the side, I could get around them.
But. Oh my goodness it.
Was like, it was that close and then I looked at the speed
right, right afterwards and it was like 47 mph.
(37:43):
Oh my goodness. Like.
What a horrible crash. But.
I kill the dude. Happened in heaven and it kind
of like got me like a little startled and like re energized
for the run. I'm alive, yeah.
Yeah. And so I I had a good transition
and then I'm from from the firsthill up the diagonals like, OK,
(38:07):
this is there's going to be a lot of suffering.
The legs like they, they suffered a lot going up Snow
Canyon and now like this ride, it was hot, it was hilly, this
golf course. And so I was like, I'm going to
stay in 3rd place and just mile by mile.
I'm like next mile. I want to just stay in 3rd
(38:28):
place, stay in 3rd place, stay in 3rd place.
And I can hear the splits in like I knew on the second lap I
was like, I was really suffering.
I can feel like I lost the bottles on the bike.
So I could feel the dehydration coming a little bit.
And so I was like, all right, and the eight stations were hard
to get waters and I was just like a little tiny sip of water
(38:49):
and you're just grabbing as manycups as you can and just just
not enough. And so, like Kevin, I knew Kevin
McDowell was coming and I knew he was a fast ITU runner.
And. He probably would have some
wheels if it came down to a Sprint.
So it couldn't come down to a Sprint.
And like the final, there's this, there's a, there's two
(39:13):
laps and then kind of the beginning of the laps to climb.
And so I was just like, if I make it to the top of the hill
on the second lap, I think I cankeep it.
I can keep the gap. And so I was just like, I was
like almost like completely speed and I could hear the.
Splits. And even like I got some really
(39:36):
amazing support on course from like other pros like Jackie
Herring, right? Like the critical limit at the
critical point at the top of thesecond lap, Jackie was like,
come on, you're in this like, don't just don't like you.
This is the hardest part. Like just just get out of this
hill. And that was, that was a really
cool moment for me 'cause I mean, I've looked up to Jackie
(39:57):
for like a long time. And yeah, it was, it was cool to
have like, Sony look up to like.Had that belief in you, Yeah.
Get going and so like going downlike the final three or four
mile like I could feel that likethe bumpy like starting to like
(40:17):
closer and closer to the limit. The vision was going in like the
last mile like I heard a split that was like the biker behind
me. I don't know if she was supposed
to say anything, but she was like she kind of whispered.
She's like, he's half a block behind and I.
Was like, Oh my goodness. OK, yeah, I couldn't look back.
(40:38):
I knew if I looked back like. Over.
It's over. Yeah, it shows weakness.
And you can't stop at that loud aid station.
Like you just have to run through it and it's all
downhill. So yeah, the pace looks pretty
good, but you're just like suffering.
And I was like, I'm not looking back until that last turn
around, which is like 800 metersfrom the finish, because then
(40:59):
you can actually see him. And I saw him and I was like,
OK, there's enough of a gap. And it kind of gave me a bit of
a second wind and like, push, push, push.
And then like when I got to the line, I was like, Oh my, I made
it like, and I had, there was nothing left.
Like I was just begging for water.
And. Then it was it was really a real
(41:21):
difficult two hours after the race, which is like, I've never
quite gone that hard. Before like.
It's nice to know that's inside of you like.
There there. Is another.
Another. Few.
Percent, even though you're like, well, I went as hard as I
can. It's like, yeah, but I you
didn't have that. Yeah, you can keep pushing.
(41:42):
And I mean missing the nutritionobviously is a huge piece,
getting dehydrated and then likeyou said, the two hours
afterwards, I assume it was so bad just because you were
probably feeling nauseous tryingto get in anything.
But it's just a hassle. Like were you really in a bad
way of sodium wise as well? Yeah, I just, I just just
throwing out for a long time after the race.
Oh dude I hate that feeling. Yeah.
(42:04):
And then I was trying to also take in fluids because the you
have to go over to drug testing.Yeah.
And trying to pee. And then there's.
There's nothing there. Except like just just stomach
problems. And then there was like a bit of
a bit of blood, too much information.
But the medics came and then I was just like, because you're
(42:28):
drug testing, someone has to watch you the whole time in the
bathroom. And they're like, don't pee
because you you have to save it for the bottle.
Yeah. So I got to like, I got to chat
with Lionel Sanders and San Juan.
And that was really cool. That was a cool moment to see
both of those guys kind of like in their more natural element,
(42:50):
like just. Shooting it, yeah.
What did you talk about? Like what were you what, what
kind of questions did you ask? Or is it just painful listening?
I was asking the question. I was just asking Lionel about
like. Just.
Just kind of his training philosophy, like how he's doing
his own thing and and then just kind of asked him about like if
(43:15):
he's going to Europe at all and talked a little bit about that.
And like training for a course like Nice, which is so hard
technically. Like you need that experience on
the open road. And yeah, it was really cool
chat to Lionel. He's so much, he has so much
information in the sport and like you wish you could just
(43:37):
have dinner with him for a few hours and really, really learn.
Yeah, you should invite him out to dinner.
He mends him. I know, I know, I'd love to, but
yeah, I got to get down to Tucson. 1st or wherever.
You got well, that's where everybody is in the winter.
Have you ever considered going down there?
I have. I have.
I've just gotten to Drona. Previously, but yeah.
(43:57):
I need to check it out. You know, it's so funny, like
everyone goes to Tucson. I've gone there for the past
couple years just for a week to hang out with Mark Dobrick and
it's actually not even that great of a place to train, if
I'm being completely honest. Like the roads aren't that
great. I with the exception of Mount
Lemmon, Mount Lemmon's amazing. The swimming's nice because you
have like the big or valley Aquatic Center that's right
(44:20):
there at the base of Lemmon. But like, honestly, other than
the temperatures, it's really not that great.
But that's just, that's just my opinion.
If maybe they have to say something.
Yeah, yeah. And.
I think I'd rather train in Saint George.
The training there was incredible.
Those were nice. I would train in the the lakes
there were super clear and clean.
Gorgeous. Yeah.
(44:40):
Haven't been yet, but so. Well, Speaking of Saint George,
that leads me to my next question.
Mr. Nicholas Chase, the CEO of RTS, lives there.
Tell me how you first got in contact with Nick and RTS.
And yeah, just being on the team, like, what's the
experience been so far? Yeah, last year, I forget where
it was, I think it was like 70.3Michigan and most of the team
(45:06):
was there and I got to meet all of them and there was just, it
was just like a friendly, fun dynamic.
And you can tell kind of the vibe of a team based on like how
everyone's interacting with eachother and everyone there was
just like really relaxed and really fun and they were like
actually supportive of each other.
For some teams, it's like, you know, it's, it's kind of, it's
(45:29):
not really supportive. It's like I'd rather I'd rather
win and be. Yeah, like.
Be nice a. Little 2 facedness.
Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
And I just got a really good vibe from the RTS team.
And so I started to talk with Nick at the at the end of last
year and then just, I really, wehad like pretty similar partners
(45:53):
already. And I, I wanted to try like the
blue 70 wet suit and then the fast TT bars and zoo and all,
all those partners. And yeah, I figured it would
just be a really fun team to join.
And it has been, it's been, it'sbeen great.
Yeah. Did you go to the Cozumel camp
(46:13):
at the beginning of the year? No, I didn't.
I got a little sick at the beginning of the year.
Oh, shoot. Yeah.
Next year. Yeah, I was trying to get ready
for Airman New Zealand. So yeah, it was a little.
A little too close. Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure.
No, that makes sense. Well, assuming you're on the
team next year, are you probablygoing to go?
Yes, yeah, I'll be there. Yeah, I love Cosmo.
(46:35):
Yeah, yeah, I haven't been yet. I'm.
But. Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Oh, cool. Well, it'll be fun to hopefully
get to meet you in person there,if not before.
Actually, let me just ask, are you doing Santa Cruz 70.3 by
chance? I.
Was looking at it. I was making my schedule
actually this morning. OK it.
It really depends on I have a world championship slot for 70.3
(46:58):
worlds. Yeah, I just, I need one for
Nice and if I get one for Nice, then I think I'll stay in Europe
until 70.3 Worlds after Boulder.And just because it's I noticed
like guys that go over to Europefrom the US really struggle if
(47:21):
they like they go in race week. And the same thing for the
European guys coming here. And I've seen it play out too
many times and myself included, like going over there and trying
to race right after travel. You think you, you think you
fine until race day and then youjust, you're missing a few
percent. But it's really shows.
(47:44):
So I'd rather just be in Jonah. I love the area.
And yeah, and then really prepare well for nice and just
be on that course for the month beforehand.
Yeah, yeah, for sure. So let me ask you this question.
Now that you're here, like you have a plot to play in this
(48:06):
sport, what does in your mind, success look like for this
career? Like, what are you?
What are you shooting for? I want to be competitive with
the best in the world. Like I want to show up.
I, I don't really care what likeif, if I win little races, like
I want to win the biggest races possible when I'm at the best in
(48:31):
my career. And I think the way you do that
is by showing up two of the biggest races when you're young
in your career and constantly knowing where the level's at.
I think it's critical because I think you could fool yourself
and maybe show up to races wherethe top guys aren't there.
(48:52):
And, and then you could get thissmall sense of where the level's
AT and you have to show up to the top races where the guys are
ready as well, where they've spent like time preparing for
them. And that's kind of dictate my
philosophy a bit like, especially with making the
calendar for this year, like I want to show up to Frankfurt and
(49:16):
I want to show up to Lake Placidin the Ironman Pro Series races
where guys are really they've spent the time preparing and
they're ready for these races. Yeah.
What does that look like in terms of, you know, creating
your training plan? Like let's just say you go to
race like Saint George, obviously you get a sense for
where the level's at based on swim times, bike power and time
(49:39):
run times. Do you then go and create like a
new goal for a specific time period for a training block?
Like, OK, I'm going to work up to, you know, this many efforts
at this power or this or this run pace and you know, and then
I'll judge how I'm doing based on reaching that.
Or do you have like every year just a, a different number
(49:59):
you're shooting for? Like how does?
How does that practically look for you?
It's a bit of both. It's like it.
Of course you train to your ability.
You can't train for random numbers like like if for
example, I don't know, I heard on the podcast today that
(50:21):
someone did, I think 380 watts for a 70.3.
And like knowing myself, I'm like like if, if I went and
trained for that, I don't know if I would get the best results
or if I just train to my numbersand just train to progress the
most I can. If that makes sense.
(50:42):
Where you know, overtraining your training to your abilities.
And I think if you train to yourabilities and train like for
that constant improvement, then then eventually you can get to
the levels you want. But you have to first really
like know where you're at and kind of emotionally detach
(51:02):
yourself. Like I'm training here and here
and here and here and here and down the road, down the road,
I'll get there. Like right now I'm really
working on my bike endurance because I noticed Iron Man, the
fresher you come off the bike and in an Iron Man, the better
you'll do because you have a whole marathon to run guys down
(51:26):
and if. A long time.
Yeah. And if you can be like say 70%
of your FDP versus 80% of your FDPI feel like that makes?
A bigger difference for running.Huge difference.
Even if the bike splits the exact same, just that level of
freshness really, really plays abig factor.
(51:47):
Yeah, for sure. It's interesting because for
your specific training, because you're coaching yourself, if you
have something prescribed in theplan and you feel that day just
a little bit off, do you typically push through or do you
pause and maybe scratch it? Should scheduling change up for
another day or just skip it? Or what do you do typically?
(52:11):
I always usually start the session because I've had some of
my best days where like the first 5 minutes I'm like, oh
God, this is really bad. Yeah, yeah.
And then and then you get into it and then, you know, the blood
starts going and you're like, OK, all right, I'm ready.
Surprise yourself. Yeah, I've been there many times
for sure. Have you ever been in the middle
of a session, though, where it just feels really bad and you're
(52:32):
like, ah, this is not productive.
Like, you take another. Take a pause.
It's pretty rare now. Like back back before, yeah, I
would. That would happen quite a few
times a couple years ago. But now I would say like I
basically hit every session I prescribe.
(52:54):
The only things I'll cut are easy stuff like if I have an
easy form, I'll run. And I feel like it would be
better to like go to bed and maybe have like a big meal.
I feel like that then that wouldbe better to prepare for the
session. The following.
Day. So whenever you go out to maybe
(53:18):
it's before a big key session oreven before race, what do you do
to get in the zone? Music is kind of kind of an
essential. Yeah.
I also like to, I, I, I've kind of developed like little, little
ways to get my body ready for a big session.
Like for me, sometimes it's it'shard to eat enough.
(53:42):
I don't. Want to eat?
And you kind of have to be like,you know, you have to bake the
cookies and eat all the cookies.That's.
Crazy. Like having like that extra, I
don't know, 2 or 3000 calories on board.
Like it really does make a difference for the next day.
(54:03):
Like loading like it tomorrow isa race and kind of treating
every day. Like you show up and you're
ready for it. Like you're ready for a race.
Like I see some people that go into training and they kind of
treat it like a job they don't really care about.
I'm not to RIP on anyone, but like they just kind of show up
and maybe they're not fueled enough.
(54:24):
Well, they would never do that for a race.
Like, I feel like it's really essential to like think about
like your caffeine intake, what like treat it like a race,
these, these key sessions and then you kind of learn the
habits and then you also dial inyour race, your race methods.
(54:48):
Yeah, for sure, I used. To do that where I would just
put water in the bottles and be like I have my two hours.
Perfect. Like where it's like.
You have to have calories like you have to take in calories.
To be ready. For the swim in the evening or
the run. And it's kind of like just
(55:08):
really upping the level of like your training and nutrition and
like having a plan even for training days, like trying to
hit a certain amount of carbs and like having a cadence, right
and like close to race equipment.
And then you can really like, I've found myself to do like
(55:31):
really, really good sessions that way.
Whether it's like a one hour easy bike or hour and a half to
two hours or versus like a key threshold session or run easy
for an hour versus like an hour and a half threshold session.
Do you feel the same regardless of the session?
No, no, I don't. I think it it would be, I think
(55:54):
it would be unhealthy and probably like really hurt you in
the long run if you tried to take in like 120 grams on a one
hour easy ride. Yeah.
Your body's not using it so. Yeah, yeah.
But if you have like say 3 or 4 hours close to Iron Man pace,
like yeah. And that's when it's time to put
(56:16):
in the calories. Like literally just have your
exact race set up and then do itlike do that exact setup.
So. That's what I've been.
Working on for my Iron Man. Like, I'm really, really
focusing on Lake Placid. And.
That course, like it's a hilly, hard course.
(56:38):
So I just want to be like nailedin nutrition now.
And have. Have all that experience so when
it shows up to race day, taking in those calories are natural.
Having the bottles there, it's all like, yeah, you've done it,
you've already been in that. In that world.
Yeah, has anybody ever said, Colin, you're 23, why are you
(56:59):
trying to go after the Iron Man the big distances right now?
Yeah, yeah, all the time. Everyone, everyone said that
like ever since I was young, like I, I did my first Olympic
distance and I was like 98910 somewhere on there, 4 feet tall.
(57:19):
Then it. Was like it's it's too young to
do those kind of things. But I I don't feel like unless,
unless you're not if you're not getting injured and you stay
healthy, like I don't really seea problem with it.
And like guys have now are winning the tour at 21.
It's like the tour is. Yeah, it's it's.
(57:42):
That's another level of insanityfor in terms of volume, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, exactly. And if you're trained for it and
you're prepared, like I feel like it, it's, it's not going to
be that big of a problem. Like it's not going to kill your
speed if you have the the willingness to like get on the
track, you know, to get ready for a 70.3 year Olympic.
(58:06):
Player, yeah, for sure. So when you started this journey
back when you were 19, you know some odd 4 odd years ago, what
is something that you would tellyourself that you wish you had
known when you started this journey?
Stay the course and like, stay stubborn like.
Stay stubborn. Yeah, like, it's because
(58:27):
everyone has their opinion and like, some, some are right, of
course, but some people are like, you know, they might not
have the experience to really like, know exactly what's going
on. And so like, you kind of have to
like stay true to your heart andbe like this, this is what I
(58:50):
want to do. This is why I want to do it.
And like, even though someone might be older, more
experienced, like if you have your reasons and you feel like
they're valid, like do do whatever that is.
Like, say it's like big training, little training.
Like it could go both ways really.
(59:12):
Yeah, really, truly good. So for someone who is looking to
consider getting into being a professional triathlete from a
relatively young age, what kind of advice would you also give to
them? Would it be very similar?
Yeah, yeah. Well, it's hard because I've,
like I say, I've been self coached for these past four
(59:35):
years, but in the, I don't know,15 years before that I've had a
dozen coaches, you know. Where?
They've given me like years and years of experience and like,
like my college running coach ran professionally for years,
(59:56):
Amanda Rego and like. Learning those kind of things
from her were like undoubtedly help me throughout my career,
like injury prevention, how to actually do track workouts and
run properly, all those things. You, you have to have good
(01:00:19):
mentors. That's where like, like being
stubborn. Yeah.
It's a, it's also a balance withlike having having the right
mentors around you who you trust, because that, that goes a
long way. It the rare the rare people to
(01:00:41):
find but once you find them likemake sure make sure you get as
much from them as you can. How many key mentors do you have
right now? A lot.
Even even if say, like I might not be in contact with Lionel
(01:01:05):
Sanders, but he's still a mentorbecause of the way he does his
own thing. The same thing with Sam Long,
even though it's completely offset training methods.
And like there's other people like that.
(01:01:27):
I have closer relationships withother pros who have much, much
more experience than me that I'mable to like get little bits of
advice. Like Jackson Laundry comes to
mind. Like he, he's been around, he's
been around the block, he's he'sseen global championship fields
again and again. And so like, having these people
(01:01:50):
around really, really does make a big difference.
That's cool, man. Well, First off, or I guess not
First off because I've said a lot of questions, but lastly, I
should say thank you so much forsharing just so freely and how
you have. I'm really excited for your
future. It's I, I know Nick relatively
(01:02:10):
well. I think I've had almost
everybody from the RTS crew on the podcast once or twice.
So it's fun to have met you now officially and get to know
somebody else from that team. But I wish you all the best.
Looking forward to continuing tofollow you along.
I know you got Chattanooga coming up.
By the time this airs, it'll be already have passed.
(01:02:32):
So we'll look forward for peoplecan go check out and see how you
did. But I'm looking forward to
seeing how you continue to progress, man.
And whatever we can do to continue to support you, I will
make sure to do that. Cool.
Thank you so much for having. Me.
Yeah, man, thank you so much fortaking the time.
Yeah, awesome. Thanks.
Bye. Thank you so much to Colin for
(01:02:54):
jumping on the pod and allowing me to dive into his life and
hear about all of the many adventures he's been on across
the world. And the in depth dive for how he
was able to enjoy his breakthrough race at Saint
George was pretty cool as well. Wishing him all the best and the
whole RTS team. If you met to this point the
(01:03:14):
podcast just want to say thank you so much.
Really appreciate you being here.
Check out the show notes for anylengths links, any links in the
description for any of the sponsors and stuff that we may
have going on there. If you want to sign up for the
newsletter, you can do that alsoin the show notes at the stupid
questions dot show website. If you are watching or listening
on YouTube. Thanks for being here.
(01:03:35):
If you could like comment, subscribe, turn on the
notification bell. That really helps to continue to
grow this podcast. And if you are listening on any
of the podcast platforms, if youcould also like comment, review
and subscribe if that's what's called, give it a follow.
Really appreciate that helps continue to grow it.
As I've said, I love doing this guys.
Really thank you so much for listening and thanks again to
Colin and the RTS team for making this episode happen.
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