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ST: Much has changed since that double flat day, but you are still a Zoot man. Maybe you can tell us what you do for Team Zoot.
Bryan: I am the Team Zoot Southwest Regional Captain. The Team is a brand ambassador program which we have grown to over 3000 athletes nationwide this year. All of us associated with running the Team could not be more proud of what it has become.
ST: How big is the Southwest squad and how far does it reach?
Bryan: We are about 200 athletes across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.
ST: And do you meet regularly or mostly randomly at various races?
Bryan: My local Phoenix folks meet up for training together on the weekend and at local races. I encourage people in the other states to do the same.
ST: I think you just raced in Mexico, was that a vacation with the race added on, or a race with a vacation added on? And how did you do?
Bryan: Yes, the Las Palomas Triathlon. It’s basically a big party with a triathlon thrown in. This was my 5th race there, my first being back in 2009. There’s a Sprint and Olympic. I raced the Olympic and won overall, my 3rd time winning it, but it’s a small race with only 60 racing that distance. The Sprint had over 150. What was funny is that the men's top 3 were all 50+.
ST: Old and wise and better with pacing?
Bryan: No, just fast young guys didn’t show up! One year, I think it was 2017, Ben Hoffman showed up during his bachelor party weekend and destroyed the field while hungover. Ben can confirm.
Bryan: I am the Team Zoot Southwest Regional Captain. The Team is a brand ambassador program which we have grown to over 3000 athletes nationwide this year. All of us associated with running the Team could not be more proud of what it has become.
ST: How big is the Southwest squad and how far does it reach?
Bryan: We are about 200 athletes across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.
ST: And do you meet regularly or mostly randomly at various races?
Bryan: My local Phoenix folks meet up for training together on the weekend and at local races. I encourage people in the other states to do the same.
ST: I think you just raced in Mexico, was that a vacation with the race added on, or a race with a vacation added on? And how did you do?
Bryan: Yes, the Las Palomas Triathlon. It’s basically a big party with a triathlon thrown in. This was my 5th race there, my first being back in 2009. There’s a Sprint and Olympic. I raced the Olympic and won overall, my 3rd time winning it, but it’s a small race with only 60 racing that distance. The Sprint had over 150. What was funny is that the men's top 3 were all 50+.
ST: Old and wise and better with pacing?
Bryan: No, just fast young guys didn’t show up! One year, I think it was 2017, Ben Hoffman showed up during his bachelor party weekend and destroyed the field while hungover. Ben can confirm.
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ST: There is a good saying that we can’t control who shows up other than ourselves. But that still begs the question, were you hung over?
Bryan: I was on Sunday morning! It really is a great post-race party and everyone is on the beach having a blast.
ST: Was this the first time out racing on your new bike?
Bryan: It was! My new QR V-PR. QR has been a Team Zoot partner for a few years now and has been very supportive to our athletes. The V-PR is all new for 2022, it’s very light, great ride quality, and very adjustable for fit. I’m excited to race on it this year.
ST: Did you get it as a complete bike or did you put it together with parts either from another bike or new?
Bryan: They only offer the bikes complete and have a home delivery service, so you receive the bike built and ready to roll. It’s my first disc brake bike and has the new Shimano Dura-Ace 12 speed Auto Shift group set. It’s a great package.
ST: Did you have any help setting it up?
Bryan: Yeah my bike fitter is Blake Upton, the owner of Moxie Multisport here in Scottsdale.
ST: Any personal touches to the bike?
Bryan: No, you can really get it with all the bells and whistles directly from QR.
ST: Including that CeramicSpeed pulley system?
Bryan: Yeah, they offer CeramicSpeed pulley and bottom bracket as an option. Also those Vision bars.
Bryan: I was on Sunday morning! It really is a great post-race party and everyone is on the beach having a blast.
ST: Was this the first time out racing on your new bike?
Bryan: It was! My new QR V-PR. QR has been a Team Zoot partner for a few years now and has been very supportive to our athletes. The V-PR is all new for 2022, it’s very light, great ride quality, and very adjustable for fit. I’m excited to race on it this year.
ST: Did you get it as a complete bike or did you put it together with parts either from another bike or new?
Bryan: They only offer the bikes complete and have a home delivery service, so you receive the bike built and ready to roll. It’s my first disc brake bike and has the new Shimano Dura-Ace 12 speed Auto Shift group set. It’s a great package.
ST: Did you have any help setting it up?
Bryan: Yeah my bike fitter is Blake Upton, the owner of Moxie Multisport here in Scottsdale.
ST: Any personal touches to the bike?
Bryan: No, you can really get it with all the bells and whistles directly from QR.
ST: Including that CeramicSpeed pulley system?
Bryan: Yeah, they offer CeramicSpeed pulley and bottom bracket as an option. Also those Vision bars.
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ST: Will something change before the next race?
Bryan: I have it all set up and ready for the season. I will not be at St. George next week but will be there in October for 70.3 Worlds.
ST: What is your next race then?
Bryan: Probably Deuces Wild Olympic in early June which is right down the road from our second home in Show Low, AZ.
ST: Where does the Deuces Wild name come from? Are cards involved?
Bryan: Correct! Apparently, as the legend goes, the town of Show Low (also a card reference) was acquired by the flip of a card!
ST: What about running shoes? Which ones do you race in and what do you use for training?
Bryan: I train and race in the Nike AlphaFly Next %...like everybody else it sometimes seems. [laughs]
ST: Talking about training, it is about to get hot in Phoenix and maybe you can tell us how you structure your training during the hot summer months?
Bryan: You have to start as early as possible. Even then it can be 90 degrees at 4:30am. I do all my rides during the week indoors so that helps. We also have a home up in the White Mountains of Arizona where we spend our summer and the temperature there at 6200 feet is 20 degrees cooler.
Bryan: I have it all set up and ready for the season. I will not be at St. George next week but will be there in October for 70.3 Worlds.
ST: What is your next race then?
Bryan: Probably Deuces Wild Olympic in early June which is right down the road from our second home in Show Low, AZ.
ST: Where does the Deuces Wild name come from? Are cards involved?
Bryan: Correct! Apparently, as the legend goes, the town of Show Low (also a card reference) was acquired by the flip of a card!
ST: What about running shoes? Which ones do you race in and what do you use for training?
Bryan: I train and race in the Nike AlphaFly Next %...like everybody else it sometimes seems. [laughs]
ST: Talking about training, it is about to get hot in Phoenix and maybe you can tell us how you structure your training during the hot summer months?
Bryan: You have to start as early as possible. Even then it can be 90 degrees at 4:30am. I do all my rides during the week indoors so that helps. We also have a home up in the White Mountains of Arizona where we spend our summer and the temperature there at 6200 feet is 20 degrees cooler.
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ST: What is your indoor bike setup like? And do you also run indoors?
Bryan: We have a Kicker. My wife uses Rouvy, I just listen to podcasts and do the workout my coach prescribes. We don’t run indoors although I do like the treadmill you have.
ST: Yup, that Woodway rocks. Who is your coach and are you a good listener?
Bryan: Rick Lapinski of L3 Endurance. I have known Rick since around 2009 when we were together on the Zoot Ultra Team. He’s coached me since about 2017. I think I am very coachable because I like having the plan presented to me and then I make sure everyday it gets done. I trust in the process that Rick prescribes and just get to it.
ST: Have you learned to embrace the heat?
Bryan: You have no choice. It impacts intensity the most, you just can’t go as hard when it’s really hot in training.
ST: I think your wife also raced the Las Palomas Tri?
Bryan: She did and was 3rd Overall in the Sprint! She recently completed her first full Ironman Arizona in November as well and had a great race.
ST: Well congrats to you both and here is wishing you a great season.
Bryan: Thank you so much! You too!
Bryan: We have a Kicker. My wife uses Rouvy, I just listen to podcasts and do the workout my coach prescribes. We don’t run indoors although I do like the treadmill you have.
ST: Yup, that Woodway rocks. Who is your coach and are you a good listener?
Bryan: Rick Lapinski of L3 Endurance. I have known Rick since around 2009 when we were together on the Zoot Ultra Team. He’s coached me since about 2017. I think I am very coachable because I like having the plan presented to me and then I make sure everyday it gets done. I trust in the process that Rick prescribes and just get to it.
ST: Have you learned to embrace the heat?
Bryan: You have no choice. It impacts intensity the most, you just can’t go as hard when it’s really hot in training.
ST: I think your wife also raced the Las Palomas Tri?
Bryan: She did and was 3rd Overall in the Sprint! She recently completed her first full Ironman Arizona in November as well and had a great race.
ST: Well congrats to you both and here is wishing you a great season.
Bryan: Thank you so much! You too!
