Random AG Glenn Cook
We bumped into Glenn Cook at a Pinky Swear Foundation fundraiser evening with Hunter Kemper. The event was a teaser for an upcoming Tri At The Trump sprint triathlon and Glenn was a super chatty Cathy that night. But it all changed when the spotlight of an interview was on him a little while later and I had to wrangle responses out of him. Now meet the fast age grouper who once subscribed to a Corn Flakes only diet.
Slowtwitch: Good to chat with you Glenn.
Glenn Cook: Thanks. It was great meeting you at the dinner with Hunter Kemper and our mutual friend David Daggett.
ST: Have you adjusted to the cooler temperatures that all of a sudden jumped on us here in the Carolinas?
Glenn: I have not. I can run in the cold but I don't like riding in it. I try every year to cold ride but end up on my trainer watching a movie. I did put in 20 miles at Salem Lake yesterday, hard start but made through. I'm thinking about growing a beard.
ST: What kind of movie do you watch when riding indoors?
Glenn: I will go to Redbox and get an action movie – something loud and fast. A favorite to watch is The 300, or documentaries. I really like the ESPN 30 for 30 series.
ST: I heard you have been dealing with a torn calf muscle. How is that coming along?
Glenn: Yes, it has been over a year since it happened. In the back of my mind while running I keep thinking it will happen again. My physical therapist made a point to always stretch. I have been doing that and so far so good.
ST: Have you been dealing with any other injuries?
Glenn: Yes. I busted some ribs in the second race in the NC cyclocross series last year.
ST: You apparently have raced less in the last years.
Glenn: The past ten years I worked and race directed triathlons for the Virginia Triathlon Series. Being at races spring through fall limited my weekends, and most times if I had a weekend off I stayed home. For fun, Greg Hawkins, the owner of the VTS and I would do a team while we worked the race.
ST: But you did race some in some events?
Glenn: Yes. When my wife and I go on a vacation I will look for a race. I have raced in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Treasure Island triathlon in San Francisco, Pacific Grove, Memphis in May and in Spain. Most times I wouldn't take my bike. Just rent one from a local bike shop.
ST: I think your endurance sport interest got jump started at age 22 after a mountain bike race.
Glenn: A friend lent me his mountain bike and I loved it. So I bought one and entered a local race. Awful time. That day I said I would never do it again. Next morning I was back on it.
ST: Talk about the cereal diet you subscribed to back then.
Glenn: Well at the time I wanted to race but I am 5 feet 8 inches tall and was over 200 pounds. I even won a Clydesdale race one time. So I started to eat only corn flakes and started running. It worked – I lost 20 pounds in a month and the running led to duathlons then to triathlons.
ST: Corn flakes? How long did you do that?
Glenn: Only a month. Grew tired of it quickly. Plus the weight loss plateaued quickly. I would like to add I have been a vegan for the past eight years. It can be done on a plant based diet.
ST: When you first did triathlon, which discipline suited you best?
Glenn: The bike has always been my best and favorite.
ST: Has that changed over the years?
Glenn: No. But do enjoy going on long trail runs.
ST: But you run well too, right?
Glenn: I have improved over the years. Seems like I run better off the bike than from a stop position.
ST: Is there a specific race you especially enjoy? And I don’t mean your best result.
Glenn: My favorite and I think the hardest is the XTERRA East Championship in Richmond.
ST: Why that one?
Glenn: It is in the middle of a big city, swim across a river to an island, great trails, plus the bike goes through tunnels. It is simply an intriguing race.
ST: But what was your best result or race in your view?
Glenn: When I won the National Championships in 2011 in my age group.
ST: Be more specific.
Glenn: The main purpose of doing the race was to qualify for Team USA. I didn't think I had a good race. I even rented a bike there. When I was getting my race gear, I could hear my wife screaming, You won! You won!
ST: When I met you, you had Hunter Kemper sign a jersey for you. Word though has it that he had signed something of yours before.
Glenn: Ha! I met him at a triathlon in Winston-Salem and he signed my jacket and drew the Olympic rings. I was so excited, but my wife washed it.
ST: Will you hide this newly signed jersey?
Glenn: This time she framed it.
ST: You work for Jones Racing Company and have been involved in race management for a long time now. Does that make you appreciate other race organizers more when you race there?
Glenn: Yes. I know the hard work leading up to a race. Most people show up at a race not knowing how everything was put there and then put away.
ST: Does that bother you?
Glenn: Sometimes. Most comments that we get are great – it is the few negative comments that bug me.
ST: Anything else we should know?
Glenn: My wife is the best. Without her I wouldn't be doing any of this.
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