Full Transcript for 29 - Cattanooga

appreciate that. 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:38.639 You know, and then when I moved around for Iron Man producing new events, you know, some were certainly easier than others, but Chattanooga, you know, I've been fortunate to call this place home for 11 years now. 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:42.560 It uh it works, it makes sense, but I have high expectations for myself. 00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:46.480 You know, I think I push those onto staff, and I I think the athletes see at the end of the day. 00:04:46.639 --> 00:04:48.560 Um, I I hope we put on great races. 00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:50.800 We want to put on a great experience, and I think that's the goal. 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:53.920 We I spent a lot of sleepless nights trying to figure out how to do that. 00:04:54.480 --> 00:05:02.480 Yeah, and then this is gonna be kind of a tough question, but you're one of our favorite race directors, you have high expectations for the staff. 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:12.480 The staff chooses to come to this race, but you have a reputation as being a gruff, like being I don't even know how to describe it because you're not. 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:19.120 We wouldn't come here for other races outside of Iron Man, but uh grumpy or whatever you want to call it. 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:24.720 How come you think there's that reputation, but you're literally the nicest, most caring guy? 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:27.199 You've hey, I can tell it's not going well for you today. 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:29.360 You've asked me before, what do you need? 00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:33.360 Like, where do you get that reputation when you're like the best guy in the event business? 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:35.360 I mean, I think you're you're being polite. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:42.240 I mean, I think it's there's a good number of people that think I'm an asshole, you know, and I think that it again it comes back to high expectations. 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:49.680 You know, I have high expectations for myself, and I and we have a job to do here, you know, and I I pride myself in putting on one heck of an experience for our athletes. 00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:53.839 That comes first, before the the partying, the having fun, before the goofing off. 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:54.720 I want to have fun. 00:05:54.879 --> 00:06:04.079 And I think sometimes that's mistaken that uh, you know, I'm just being a dick when in reality I just want to get done, put on a phenomenal experience, and let's go have a good time. 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:10.720 Yeah, and but at the same time, there's people like myself and Eddie here who choose to come to this race because of you. 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:16.319 And oh yeah, we've remember the year you got all the air conditioners, and I found them at like 10 p.m. 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:19.040 And and I remember you just said, do your job, dude. 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:20.879 I think and and I think it is that simple. 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:25.519 I think and I've had this conversation a lot, you know, and people are often come here and I look around at our staff, right? 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:30.959 We have a ton of young staff this week in particular, and there's like a reputation, like, oh my god, I gotta go work with My Rick. 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:38.720 And uh I think that again, it's tough for me because uh I do expect a lot, and if you don't do your job, I'm probably gonna tell you that. 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:40.240 And it's that simple for me. 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:42.079 If you do your job, we're gonna get along just fine. 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:46.560 And I think the people that appreciate it, you guys come in, you do your job, and and you don't hear from me. 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:47.839 I'm not riding your ass. 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:49.600 But if you don't, then I probably do. 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:50.800 And so I think that's a struggle. 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:53.199 And I'm not saying it's perfect, but I have high expectations. 00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:56.800 You don't do your you don't do your job, I'm probably gonna tell you you're not doing your job. 00:06:57.120 --> 00:07:07.199 And then, and maybe I I'm not with you 24 hours a day, but I don't think the athletes have ever seen the grumpy side of you or whatever you want to call it. 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:12.720 I don't personally, I know there's athletes that get so far out of line there's no other way to deal with them. 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:16.160 But in general, the athletes love you and they know you. 00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:18.160 How come so many athletes know you? 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:23.120 Like you're not exactly going out on Twitter every day and hey guys, it's Brian here. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:25.439 But every athlete knows who you are. 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:28.639 Well, I mean, I think you know, one, there's just timeline, right? 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:32.480 24 years of doing this and and putting on hundreds of races. 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:35.120 So I think there's some of that, but I do try to be present. 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:39.120 Uh, I do want athletes to know that you know, Iron Man is not a machine that just happens. 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:40.000 There are people. 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:46.720 Uh the the three of us sitting here are responsible for for doing this, and I, you know, I am the face of the local event. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:50.480 And so, you know, when I see athletes, I want just like I ask you if you need anything, I ask them. 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:51.519 I want them to have a great experience. 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:53.839 If we can help with that, uh, I mean it. 00:07:53.920 --> 00:07:57.600 You know, I do anything I could to give somebody a better race week experience, a better race. 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:02.720 Um, but I do try to uh to be personable and make sure that I'm engaged with that community. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:06.319 And and by the time you get to me, if you have a problem, there's

you're probably fired up. 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:09.040 And and I'm I'm normally pretty ready to go. 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:15.439 Uh, you know, I'll give everybody a shot, but by the time you get to me, a lot of people have told you no, and I'm probably just the last one to tell you no. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:25.759 Is there any experience either here or in Muncie that stand out to you as like the best moment or the best day? 00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:29.120 Oh man, I don't I don't know. 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:30.160 I mean, I think that's it. 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:31.199 There's so many, it's hard. 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:32.720 I have one for your race, though. 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:35.759 I think that I mean it's tough because for me it's people, right? 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:42.080 I mean, it's us, and and we don't do this for this long and put the hours in that we do for the pay or whatever. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:44.320 I mean, it's a pretty thankless job at the end of the day. 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:53.440 We're we're out here to to have some intrinsic, you know, feeling that we did something cool and help people sort of do something that was uh life-changing for some, uh rewarding for others. 00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:55.279 And so I don't know if I have a moment. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:58.159 I think for me, the the moment is just the people, is the relationships. 00:08:58.320 --> 00:08:59.039 We do this, you know. 00:08:59.120 --> 00:08:59.919 I mean, we're on the road. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:05.519 I'm not as much anymore with you guys, but back in the day, 300 nights a year on the road, I mean, it's a it's a family. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:16.879 And I think, you know, it's it's antics and kona that we've all been through when we get done at the bar, and it's just like I wake up in the back of a pickup truck, I know, on my way out to Queen K and don't know where I'm at, type stuff. 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:21.120 Like, there's plenty of fun ones like that, but I think for me it's it's stories. 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:25.840 You know, you were a part of the uh the event here when we lost Chris Bean. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:28.720 You know, I mean that's the moment I was gonna say Steve Bean. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:31.600 Steve is one of them, and so I talked to Steve uh a week ago. 00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:32.799 Can you recap that story? 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:36.399 Yeah, so so years ago, it was one of our first couple years here. 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:38.240 We race week early in the week. 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:42.159 Cameron Bean um was hit by a car on a training run. 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:49.039 He's a professional athlete, professional runner, just across from where we are now at Mox and Bend, he was struck by a car running and killed. 00:09:49.279 --> 00:10:01.519 Uh don't quote me on this, but Monday or Tuesday of race week, and and I got a call the next day from his father, Steve, um, and said, I want to race in honor of my son. 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:07.759 And Steve had not trained, you know, and so we brought Steve and his other son Chris. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:12.320 Uh, we brought him in and you guys uh helped me as I have a few things going on. 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:16.159 You guys sort of took him in and helped show him around and give him the Iron Man experience. 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:24.159 And I mean, I'll never forget that Steve finished that Iron Man, you know, with his family here and in honor of his son who just passed, if I remember right. 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:30.480 I think the funeral was Friday, you know, and and we you know we buried his son and came and raced because his son would have wanted it. 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:36.480 And uh I I think here in chat that's probably one of the at least the most profound moments that I have. 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:38.799 For me, easily, like that stands out. 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:45.519 I we we bring it up every year that a guy like off the couch finishes an Iron Man in his son's name. 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:55.440 And then the paper did a cool write-up the next day, and I mean they showed him it didn't show who won the race, it showed him finishing at like 11:30 at night, which was super cool. 00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:57.679 Brian, you're one of the special ones. 00:10:57.840 --> 00:11:04.000 Um, you also write race direct the Chattanooga Marathon, so it's a half marathon and marathon or just half marathon. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:07.360 Yeah, we've got marathon, half marathon, 5K, and kids fun run. 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:09.919 So for uh end of March this uh coming up in 2026. 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:14.480 And if you're anywhere in the area or travel for these kind of events, I think that's a great one. 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:18.639 Um it's well produced, just like the Iron Man Chattanooga is. 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:19.679 We love you, man. 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:22.320 You you make it fun, that's why we're here this year. 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:24.159 We could be in Augusta, you know that. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:26.559 Yeah, I know, but it but it's but it's Augusta. 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:27.840 I mean, we're in chat. 00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:28.240 Look at this. 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:31.679 I mean, you guys can't see where at, but we're sitting on the banks of the Tennessee River having a good time. 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:37.360 So I appreciate the the you know partnership that we've had and friendship because uh this is what makes us do this, right? 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:41.679 I mean, who wants to work 30 hours over the next uh two days uh if we're not having a good time? 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:45.600 So let's have a good time, let's do our jobs, put on a great show, and uh then we'll go have some beer. 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:46.320 Sweet. 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:47.279 Love you, man. 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:48.639 Thanks, boys. 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:50.720 Man, Myrick's the best. 00:11:50.960 -->

00:11:57.279 What what a great guy, and man, it it's just like how he is with athletes is amazing. 00:11:57.440 --> 00:11:58.240 He's a friend. 00:11:58.399 --> 00:11:59.840 Yeah, yeah, he's a friend. 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:07.120 Like there's a lot of people here that are just friends, and if we aren't working for Iron Man someday, we're still gonna be friends and we're still gonna keep in touch. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:12.720 It's like a small town, it's a moving small town, and and everybody knows everybody's business. 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:16.720 It's like there's my brother, there's my sister, and uh, you know, and it's it's crazy that way. 00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:26.960 Speaking of like the Iron Man family, we'll introduce the Iron Man family, but I would say the most important person at the event is the race director. 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:29.039 I think that's why they're called the race director. 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:39.120 There's a few races where there might be somebody else that is equal, but the second most, and in some races the most important is the volunteer director. 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:41.919 100%, because we can't do it without volunteers. 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:47.519 This race and every race like it is not possible without the help of the volunteers. 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:51.919 But from the Iron Man family of five, right? 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:52.799 Five. 00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:58.480 I think we have two introduce her here in a second. 00:12:58.720 --> 00:12:59.679 Alex High. 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:05.600 Her son works for her brother, sorry, her brother works for BCC Live in Boulder, Colorado. 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:08.080 Ryan, he's on the podcast regularly. 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:10.799 Her dad does Calm for Iron Man. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:11.120 Yep. 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:11.440 Yep. 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:14.960 Her mom is here working, but retired from Iron Man, but is here working. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:16.000 So she says. 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:17.600 Everybody kind of retired. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:28.480 And then your husband is the brother of one of my best friends, um, John Christin, who is the brother of my good friend Dave Christon. 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:33.919 And so we've been talking about what a cool small world it is. 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:36.000 But Alex is here with us. 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:36.399 Hang on. 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:38.720 Hello. 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:39.919 How's it going? 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:43.919 So you are we said this about Ryan Richards. 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:45.679 I don't really ever see you cranky. 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:46.320 Never. 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:49.039 You always have that great smile, you're always happy. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:51.919 How many volunteers do you have this weekend? 00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:56.559 So total over the course of the entire race weekend, I have just over 2,000. 00:13:56.879 --> 00:14:02.799 How do you get 2,000 people to come out here on their own time and support a race? 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:05.120 Honestly, it's it's triplefold. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:08.240 So I have great captains, which are my group leaders. 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:16.960 So these are nonprofit leaders, they're school group leaders such as team captains, um, band leaders, uh, club leaders. 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:28.639 They recruit a ton of our volunteers uh to come out into the race to support our athletes, to earn volunteer hours for their kids, as well as give out grant we give out grant money for these volunteer groups to come in. 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:31.039 Um, our community is super supportive. 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:33.279 So Chattanooga loves this race coming in. 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:34.879 Our community gets very excited. 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:36.960 We're called the volunteer state for a reason. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:39.840 So we have a lot of locals come out to volunteer. 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:44.879 As well as athletes and their supporters are eager to help out on race day. 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:50.240 They know how important it is to have volunteers at each race, essentially. 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:53.840 So we have a lot of athletes and supporters helping us out pre-race. 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:57.200 So yeah, that's a it's a great, great community. 00:14:57.679 --> 00:15:02.080 Is the responsibility of you know no no no volunteers, no race. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:02.399 Correct. 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:07.279 Is the responsibility of finding 2,000 people daunting like when when does it start? 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:08.960 I assume it starts like Monday. 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:09.919 Right, right. 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:10.720 It does, yeah. 00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:18.240 So I give myself maybe a little bit of a little bit of a break, so about a week to to decompress after this race, and then we're we're back to the races. 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:25.840 So um pretty much for the so we have the two races, so we have the 70.3 in May, and then this one in in September. 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:30.559 Um I start for the 70.3 in November of this year, pretty much. 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:39.600 Um, and then shortly after, honestly, for the full, I start in January, February, start talking to different groups in the area, seeing their interest in coming and and volunteering with us. 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:47.039 So and I think one of the things that surprises me about a lot of the volunteer directors, they have no idea what they're getting into. 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:48.720 It sounds good, but you did. 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:55.519 Like you had worked other roles at Iron Man, you knew exactly what you were getting into and still did it. 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:56.320 Why? 00:15:56.799 --> 00:16:01.600 Honestly, it was it was a great way to get to know my community. 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:07.679 Um, so I got this job, shoot, I think four months after I moved into into Chattanooga.

00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:13.440 So it was a great way for me to just kind of kick start my my introduction into the Chattanooga community. 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:15.440 And honestly, I love working with people. 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:19.600 I love seeing how inspired our volunteers get by watching the race. 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:21.840 I love seeing them inspire athletes. 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:28.879 So honestly, I love working with the with the community and with the athletes and with the volunteers and just making races great. 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:32.399 So honestly, it was a very easy yes to Brian when he asked. 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:38.879 So Yeah, and we had just talked with Brian and what a great person he is, but um, that he attracts people like you. 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:43.360 I mean, that's what it is, is he can get the best people to come work for him. 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:48.240 Is there a moment at Iron Man Chattanooga that stands out for you? 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:55.600 Is there any one volunteer or one finisher or one person you help that stands out? 00:16:56.000 --> 00:17:00.799 I would say it's it's I look toward our our last athletes. 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:07.920 So it's the last athletes that are coming out of the water, the last athletes that are coming off the bike onto the run, and the last athletes over the finish line. 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:15.599 They've fought all day for for their race, and they have they have volunteers out there until the wee hours in the morning helping them out. 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:27.680 And we have aid stations keeping the energy from you know seven in the morning until one in one in the morning, and they are so enthusiastic, enthusiastic and excited to help these last athletes cross the finish line. 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:43.519 It's it's truly the most inspirational part of the of the race, and seeing the the party at the finish line for the last athlete coming across, the music, the the hype, and seeing again the volunteers at the finish line ready to greet them with their metal, their hard-earned medal, it's just it's amazing to see. 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:45.839 So oh man, that gets me excited. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:46.400 Yeah. 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:52.480 Well, you are nothing short of a gym, like you I've watched you transform this race. 00:17:52.640 --> 00:18:05.759 You do you did inherit some of the best volunteers, like the LaFeuse, and there's a lot of people here at this race that I go, oh yeah, I remember you, and I see, and they they have the same role every year. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:09.359 Um and we'll see them tomorrow at the Iron Kids. 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:11.680 And um you've built a great team. 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:14.240 Congratulations on what a great job you've done. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:15.279 Oh, thank you very much. 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:17.759 Yeah, no, I could not do it without my volunteers. 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:22.640 I tell them every email

and every time I get to talk to them in person, I could not do this job without them. 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:24.799 And like you said, I inherited a great group. 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:28.960 I've recruited great volunteers that keep the keep the legacy of Chattanooga going. 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:31.359 So it's it's it's very rewarding. 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:37.119 This race and every race like it is not possible without the help of the volunteers. 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:38.559 And Alex High. 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:39.519 Thank you very much. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:40.319 I appreciate it. 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:41.039 Yeah, of course. 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:42.000 Thank you. 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:50.640 I think like just for me, Alex High is such a rock, and she has a lot of snacks. 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:57.839 You know, that's the main part is you know, you go over there and the volunteers are like, wait, hang on, are you volunteers? 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:05.759 And I've learned if you take a warm drink and take a cold drink, you can substitute drinks and stuff like that. 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:10.160 And they then they start laughing, and then they start, you're good, you're in the you're in the game. 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.839 They do take care of us here. 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:22.960 I remember um the volunteer food tent has saved me many a time that sometimes the staff does have to dig in only when there's some available, but she's great. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:32.000 Um like I said, the whole family, like her her dad, Ken has given me some really good advice before, like business advice. 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:41.119 And I was going through a a falling out with a coworker, and he gave me some really good supportive advice, and I'll never forget that. 00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:45.920 Um their mom, Sarah, is the nicest person ever. 00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:47.759 Oh my gosh, and it's always happy. 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:58.480 And we saw her the other day, and we forgot that we don't see her every day, and she's like, no hug, and I was like, I saw you last week, and she's like, You haven't seen me in months because I haven't been on tour, and I kind of felt bad. 00:19:58.720 --> 00:19:58.960 Yeah. 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:06.480 But you know, we give Ryan a hard time because he doesn't believe we went to the moon, but I try to tell him we went, you know, and he fights. 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:10.000 It's right. 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:13.680 So he'll surely hear this episode. 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:19.759 Uh, one thing we shouldn't have asked, we should have asked, is how do you get involved in volunteering? 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:20.400 Right. 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:26.559 And I know you can email volunteers at ironmanchattnooga.com or at ironman.com. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:27.119 It's pretty easy. 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:28.720 You can go to the Iron Man website. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:33.039 Um, or you can reach out to us at 500Cats and we

can point you in the right direction. 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:37.920 And there are some awesome And it's amazing to talk to these people that are volunteers. 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:41.359 And you uh yeah, I talked to a couple earlier, and uh, they've been doing it for seven years. 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.720 I was like, why do you do it? 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:43.519 We love it. 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:52.400 The registration captain goes to like bluegrass festivals his spare time, and we found out yesterday we have a ton of music in common and stuff like that. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:21:00.160 And he's the one that sent me um several years ago I was getting into trail running, and he sent me across the river to some great trail runs. 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:03.359 It is, yeah, you get to know the volunteers, and you get away. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:04.160 I'll tell you who I like. 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:09.519 One of my favorites, and and he's since come over to our side. 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:11.440 Bill from Wisconsin. 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:13.200 Yes, finish line captain. 00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:22.000 Yes, oh my gosh, who used to be the hardest person to work with, and now the people that get in our shot are regretted because of him. 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:23.119 He takes care of them. 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:26.559 It's like, hey guys, back here, and he's like, Where should I put the line? 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:27.359 Yeah. 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:38.319 So, well, you know, one of the themes of the podcast today is it's it's obviously Iron Man Chattanooga, but is all the amazing people that we get to work with. 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:41.519 And one of them we're gonna bring on here is Ryan Richards. 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:42.160 Oh, wow. 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:46.079 And he used to be the race director at Iron Man Wisconsin, he's now a regional director. 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:48.079 I'll let him explain, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:54.160 But another guy who might be the best human being alive. 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:54.720 Yes. 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:58.079 If you needed help, you needed a kidney. 00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.359 He would give it up. 00:21:59.599 --> 00:21:59.920 Yes. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.680 Ryan, tell us a little bit about yourself. 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:03.759 You're wearing a 70.3 Omaha shirt. 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:05.359 Is that in your region next year? 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:06.000 It is. 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:06.559 It is. 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:07.200 Uh, yeah. 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:13.839 So I transitioned uh late spring over to be the Midwest regional director for Iron Man. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:18.160 It's uh it's been it's been a very interesting summer for me. 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:25.279 Um doing a lot of different things that I normally didn't do as the race director, but uh doing doing as the regional director. 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:27.279 But it's uh it's been a lot of fun. 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:30.559 I still get to go to all the races, I still get to see all the people I love. 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:36.640 BCC, you know, get to see them at the races, and that's what means the most to me is being able to see everybody still. 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:39.200 And we've worked together for over 20 years. 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:45.440 I know my first year in Wisconsin was 2006, and you were the race director. 00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:54.799 We've been through a lot together, but tell me a little bit about the like camaraderie we have amongst obviously not just me and you, but uh everybody. 00:22:55.440 --> 00:23:09.039 Yeah, I mean it it you know there's there's there's a lot of great Iron Man staff, but what a lot of people don't realize is all of the the teams that are supporting this the the event that don't get seen, don't get heard necessarily. 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:16.240 Um, you know, we've got tremendous partnership with Lakeshore Athletic Services, a tremendous partnership with sports stats, BCC Live. 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:36.319 I mean, it the you know the list is the list is big, and that doesn't, you know, of course that includes all of the communities and the and the law enforcement and the public works departments that we work with that that you know they're they're the unsung heroes, they're the ones that that do a lot um behind the scenes that really make this a special event for the athletes and the spectators. 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:37.759 What draws you to it? 00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:42.319 Like you've been doing it a long time, uh not just you've been just doing events. 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:56.000 Used to work for LAS, which is uh they do Lakeshore athletic services, they do tents and barricades and road closures, and you used to work for them, and then you gravitated and did some Iron Man stuff and some other we used to do milkman. 00:23:56.319 --> 00:24:01.200 Like, what is it that you like about events that it's hard work, it's not really fun. 00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:03.839 I mean, you know, it's like it's hard work. 00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:05.759 We have fun doing it, right? 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:07.440 But it's not like a roller coaster. 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:09.359 It's the people that make it fun, right? 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:12.079 I mean, it you're right, it's not necessarily fun work. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:21.279 You tell people what you're doing, and they're like, ugh, you know, and then you know, sometimes you tell people what you do and they don't understand really what it is, and like, oh my god, you get to do that every weekend, that must be so fun. 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:27.680 And then you're out picking up goo wrappers at 2:30 in the morning in the pouring rain to make sure that the city is clean after an event. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:36.720 But um, you know, I think what what makes it fun for me, and and you touched on it, and we've talked a little bit about it, but it it's it's

truly the relationships. 00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:38.319 I am not an endurance athlete. 00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:57.119 I've done a couple of 5K races, I've done a couple of you know, canoe bike run triathlons and stuff, but I've I've never done an Iron Man, I've never done a 70.3, I have really no desire to, but I love being able to produce them for people, and I love being able to see the athletes' sense of accomplishment. 00:24:57.279 --> 00:25:07.039 I love being able to see the families and the pride and the energy and the um you know devotion that everybody put in, and then get to see the finished product of them crossing the finish line. 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:12.000 Like for me, like that's the cool thing of uh of being a part of these events. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:23.599 What do you think gives you like you of all people have the most balanced demeanor and your relationship with the athletes is second to none. 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:30.240 The way you talk to the athletes, the way you treat the athletes, and even when they don't treat you well, which isn't often, but it happens. 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:36.559 Somebody's uh disgruntled about something, and the way you listen and respond calmly, where do you get that from? 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.279 What is that? 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:43.839 It's it's just you're one of the most unique people I work with because of how you're always calm. 00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:46.880 I I mean that's that's something I hang my hat on. 00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:49.759 I I try to maintain, you know, being calm. 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:58.400 I also like I think just being able to listen to people and give them a straight answer back as much as I can is is the key, right? 00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:09.920 Like a lot of times they just want to talk, they want to vent, they want to complain, they want, they want to be heard, and I'm happy to open my ears and be and listen to them and then and then give them the best answer back that I can. 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:17.599 And it may not always be what they want to hear, but at least they know that they were heard and and listened to and and and got an answer back. 00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:19.200 This is a tough question. 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:24.720 I should have mentioned it before so I had a chance to think about it, but what's the best day in the event business? 00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:29.599 Like what is there one day that stands out as that was the day? 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:34.880 Um I mean, ra race day is always fun. 00:26:35.200 --> 00:27:04.480 Um for for me when I was when I was the race director, I always loved Friday afternoon and Saturday um before the race because by then your your meetings with the cities, this the government offices have closed, there's not a lot of change that's gonna happen, things are pretty well set, and you really just kind of get to enjoy the experience of of the expo, of the energy, of the build-out, and seeing the people who are moving around and figuring stuff out for themselves. 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:16.319 Like a lot of the people that may not have done a race, when they finally get to see where the change tents are, how they're gonna flow through transition, where the finish line actually is, so they can talk to their family about it. 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:17.839 Like this is where it's gonna be. 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:25.279 So I I I really do like the day before the event, but I mean, there obviously it's it's something special about race day. 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:33.200 Um, if I could take it a step further and say the day I like the least, it's the Tuesday after because it's a it's a complete letdown. 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:44.640 Monday, Monday, you're still really busy, you're doing things for after a after an Iron Man race, you've got the awards banquet, a lot of places we've got a volunteer party to go to, and Tuesday's just kind of that letdown. 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:46.880 You're like, well, it's over, you know. 00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:48.559 Yeah, yeah, that's it. 00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:50.720 I I agree to me, it's the day after. 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:53.519 There's still stuff going on, but you're so you're so tired. 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:55.920 Okay, I want to just tell one quick story. 00:27:56.160 --> 00:28:00.880 I've only seen you mad once, or I've only seen you mad at us once. 00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:20.000 And this goes back to like, I'm just gonna guess 2010 Iron Man Wisconsin, and we are guilty of sometimes playing the music too loud, and you had come over and said, Hey, when it's midnight and the athletes are in, go ahead and kill it and let's get done. 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:46.160 And we did, and we went ahead and killed it and got done, but we knew there was this guy out on the course, and so we kind of just cleaned up around the PA, and Mike Riley had left, but then Mike Riley was coming back, he went to the Great Dane, of course, and so he's coming, he's coming back from the Great Dane, and we're like, Hey Mike, there's a finisher coming in, and he grabs the microphone and he goes, Crank it up, and this is at 1 a.m. 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:59.759 And we turned it up really loud, and all of a sudden our tent, the sidewell just flew off, and you ripped it off, and you started spitting cuss words, and and like we were scared, like you were pissed. 00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:02.960 I I promise you it was probably very short-lived. 00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:05.759 It was and it was well deserved. 00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:14.240 But the the story takes even a funnier turn that then Mike Riley like fell on the sword and said, I made him do it, and he didn't. 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:23.440 He left and went to the Great Dane, right, and then was walking back to his hotel, happened to see it happening, so we gave him the mic and turned it back up. 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:24.799 And then it took even another. 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:30.559 So Mike fell on the

sword and told you it was his idea, and that kind of calmed you down and stuff. 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:33.200 But then the next day that doesn't change anything. 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:33.839 No, no, no. 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:35.599 I'm not but it calmed you down at us. 00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:36.880 It's just much to blame. 00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:38.400 It calmed you down at us. 00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:49.440 But then the next day, the president of Iron Man at the time his name was Ben Furtick, sent an email to the staff and said, Class act, waiting for my friend that came in at 1 a.m. 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:50.799 I really appreciate it. 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:53.680 And we went to Mike and said, You're gonna tell him, right? 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:54.880 And he's like, Nope. 00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:58.079 He's like, I fell on the sword, I'm taking this one. 00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:02.799 But I Always remind Ryan of that because it was just kind of funny. 00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:09.279 I wish I could say the words, but it was UMFers, and yeah, he was pissed. 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:14.480 It's the only time I've seen you mad in 20 years of all the things that have happened at the events. 00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:16.000 And it was rightfully so. 00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:18.079 I, you know, I mean, it was rightfully so. 00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:19.519 Like I said, it was very short-lived. 00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:20.079 It was one. 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:26.720 It just comes, it comes like obviously when we move into a community and produce these events, it's not for everybody. 00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:32.400 I mean, we'd we're we're hyper-focused on the athletes and the spectators and the people directly involved in the race. 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:39.759 But we, you know, it's very important for me to remember that there are other residents, there are other community members that want to move about, want to go to bed. 00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:43.680 You know, they don't always want to hear you are an Iron Man till all hours of the night. 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.559 So I understand it. 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:47.279 It's one of the things I've gone back and forth with the city of Madison. 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:49.759 They've they've started to leave me alone now. 00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:54.240 But like that particular year, it was it was a hot button issue. 00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:57.200 And you know, we had talked about decibel levels and things like that. 00:30:57.279 --> 00:31:02.079 And after 10 p.m., it was supposed to go down to I don't remember what it was, 85 or something like that. 00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:03.920 And you know, and we did it. 00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:11.279 We were we were accomplishing what we went set out to do until the last minute, 1 a.m. 00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:16.160 And uh yeah, it became a it became a party for a couple more minutes, you know. 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:19.119 In all seriousness, I do apologize. 00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:21.920 Um, but I always remind him of it because it was funny. 00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:27.759 We've been through a lot of other things than helping people and ties and lows and stuff like that. 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:34.720 But um, I know you know this, you're a true friend, and it's a privilege to get to work with you. 00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:44.880 And I miss you as the race director of Iron Man Wisconsin, but then having you at all of the races, like in in general, the Midwest region, although this is the South, right? 00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:54.880 But in the Midwest we region is awesome because you bring uh you bring a calmness to the race, and like you mentioned to me earlier, what do you let people do? 00:31:55.519 --> 00:32:01.519 You let people I let I just let and like this is kind of what I was gonna, you know, the feeling is very mutual. 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:09.200 When I when I see the the the staff chart of the people that are coming, like there's like oh I know we're in really good shape. 00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:17.039 And when you know BCC Live is always on that list as well, and I it's just like I'm gonna let people do what they do. 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:19.359 I'm I'm not a micromanager at all. 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:24.799 Like if there's if there's something that maybe I should you know think that should be changed, we're gonna have a discussion. 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:37.119 I'm not gonna tell you what to do, I'm gonna find out why you think it should be like this because it might be a better idea than what I have, but we're gonna have a quick discussion about it and then we're gonna we're gonna move on with a you know with a good answer. 00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:46.079 But I've uh I feel like it's best to just let people do their thing, and we're all professionals, we all know what the end result needs to be, and just let people do it. 00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:49.759 Yeah, let people do their job, is what you said earlier today. 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:51.279 Yeah, well, we appreciate you. 00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:53.359 We appreciate you coming on the 500 cats. 00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:54.720 You're one of the 500 cats. 00:32:54.960 --> 00:32:55.359 I love it. 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:59.359 So we appreciate you, and it's gonna be a great weekend here in Chattanooga. 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:02.640 Thank you, Ryan Richards from Madison, Wisconsin. 00:33:02.880 --> 00:33:04.480 Thank you, appreciate you guys. 00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:08.720 All right, so I I actually know this next guy, Daniel. 00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:13.920 I actually know him from before we met via the internet. 00:33:14.319 --> 00:33:18.720 I met him and his wife, and he happened to have a Springer Spaniel, too. 00:33:18.880 --> 00:33:20.000 So that's what got you. 00:33:20.880 --> 00:33:22.079 That's what got you right there. 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:34.960 Um, yeah, so it and then he was looking to get a job with Iron Man, and then starting this year, I guess he got

in touch with um Zucchini and is got a job. 00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:36.400 So, Daniel, welcome to the show. 00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:37.440 Yeah, welcome, Daniel. 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.240 Thanks. 00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:41.200 So tell us who you are and where you're from. 00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:44.559 I'm Daniel Alamon from Lafayette, Louisiana. 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:52.480 I don't want to tell your story, so I want you to tell your story, but you were an athlete first. 00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:55.200 That's a big red flag for staff. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:57.920 That's a big red flag soft-heard. 00:33:58.079 --> 00:34:00.400 Yeah, it's what and we talked about this earlier. 00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:02.960 It's it's it's called watching the band. 00:34:03.200 --> 00:34:14.880 And when we did live shows, some of the staff would want to watch the band, but you're there to work, and so with athletes, a lot of times they're like, My buddy's coming in, I gotta go see my friend on the run course. 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:18.559 And so and I get it, because when you have friends that are racing, it's a big deal. 00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:21.440 But why did you want to come work for Iron Man? 00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:24.559 You had a good job, we'll talk about that in a minute. 00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:27.519 I think it's it's full circle right now. 00:34:27.840 --> 00:34:36.079 Um I think there's more opportunity maybe to go, but just it's all about my story. 00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:40.159 And to to go, I think to go back in detail. 00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:44.159 I had cancer 2015. 00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:48.639 I was one week away from doing my first Iron Man uh or half Iron Man in Augusta. 00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:53.119 Got diagnosed with leukemia, fought, fought four years later. 00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:54.239 I went to Augusta. 00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:56.639 Same year I did in Arizona. 00:34:57.039 --> 00:35:00.559 Um soon after I did get in contact with you. 00:35:00.800 --> 00:35:03.599 And I mean, you say why Iron Man. 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:08.559 I remember being ball headed going through chemo on my trainer, watching Kona videos. 00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:10.000 So why Iron Man? 00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:11.760 It it got me through. 00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:13.519 It was special to me. 00:35:13.679 --> 00:35:20.719 It for the first round of leukemia, it it provided a way for me to keep going. 00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:24.639 Um was able to do another race. 00:35:24.719 --> 00:35:26.960 I did co um Cosumel. 00:35:27.679 --> 00:35:29.119 Then that was during COVID. 00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:31.119 That was crazy times. 00:35:31.360 --> 00:35:33.119 I I did have a pretty good job. 00:35:33.199 --> 00:35:34.880 I did physical therapy. 00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:39.599 Um I then I relapsed with leukemia. 00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:42.480 I had a stem cell transplant. 00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:46.400 I have pictures in my hospital room. 00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:51.840 They have a just a regular bike, and I have a video that said I'm getting ready for my next arm in. 00:35:52.159 --> 00:35:56.159 While I'm in the hospital, I asked the doctor, can I do a race next year? 00:35:56.320 --> 00:35:58.719 One year from and she was like, I'm not sure. 00:35:58.960 --> 00:36:01.760 So I signed up while I was in the hospital for Gulf Coast. 00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:04.320 So a year later I went to Gulf Coast. 00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:06.639 A year and a half later, I mean Kona. 00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:11.199 I just told somebody earlier today, I'm one of the most persistent people you'll ever know. 00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:14.880 You can ask my wife, you'll probably know that as well, David. 00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:17.039 You can probably ask Audra as well. 00:36:17.280 --> 00:36:19.199 I'm persistent when I want something. 00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:21.280 If I have a vision, I want to do it. 00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:25.760 Um, so I just kept going. 00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:32.079 And that time I raised$30,000 for the foundation, Iron Man Foundation, and that way I got to go to Kona. 00:36:32.320 --> 00:36:33.280 I lived out my dream. 00:36:33.360 --> 00:36:36.800 My wife said, You said you were gonna go to Kona, and you did. 00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:42.639 Um a different way than some people go, but hey, whatever. 00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:43.679 Yeah, you did it. 00:36:43.760 --> 00:36:44.079 Like that. 00:36:44.239 --> 00:36:52.639 I don't think I don't think anybody that's in the sport or loves the sport cares how you get to Kona, and a great way is racing for the foundation. 00:36:52.719 --> 00:36:54.880 But if anybody deserved it, it's you. 00:36:55.199 --> 00:36:57.199 But let's go back just a little bit. 00:36:57.360 --> 00:37:01.039 Like how many people survived leukemia? 00:37:02.559 --> 00:37:04.000 The numbers are better now. 00:37:04.239 --> 00:37:08.000 Um, I I was older, it it's more of a pediatric cancer. 00:37:08.239 --> 00:37:12.639 When I got diagnosed the first time, I was under a pediatric oncologist. 00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:14.800 Um, I thought it was great. 00:37:15.039 --> 00:37:18.880 I was around a lot of kids, it was the environment was happy. 00:37:19.280 --> 00:37:21.599 The second round, I was around a lot of adults. 00:37:21.679 --> 00:37:23.280 It was not as happy. 00:37:23.679 --> 00:37:26.159 Um, and it was fearful going through a transplant. 00:37:26.239 --> 00:37:27.360 There was a lot of risk. 00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:37.280 But I I was scared at first, but kind of made my faith and said, I want to keep going. 00:37:37.920 --> 00:37:43.840 The crazy story about the second round of of cancer, my wife and I were going through trying to get pregnant. 00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:47.119 Um, I'll leave some of the details out, but we were trying to get pregnant. 00:37:47.360 --> 00:37:56.639 When I found out I was about to go in the hospital to start everything with stem cell transplant, she left me a onesie in the back of my truck.

00:37:57.280 --> 00:37:58.880 Iron Man World Championship. 00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:02.079 Future Iron Man World Champion Umesie. 00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:06.639 Like a little baby outfit that she got out of one of these merch stores. 00:38:06.960 --> 00:38:11.679 And that that was the first picture I found out I was gonna have a baby. 00:38:11.920 --> 00:38:17.519 So, what more to fight for my life to to know my future son? 00:38:18.880 --> 00:38:27.840 Um, one of the things you said to me that still has really stood out is we did this interview with him, and it lasted a couple hours. 00:38:27.920 --> 00:38:30.880 It was really long because he's really good at telling a story. 00:38:31.199 --> 00:38:35.760 And I remember I asked you this question, and this has stuck with me. 00:38:35.840 --> 00:38:37.199 Um, I don't know why. 00:38:37.440 --> 00:38:45.519 And I said, Wow, going through this, it must really help you with your patience and and people that you are helping. 00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:51.519 And you said something to the effect of like not everybody wants help, and I don't know why that stuck with me so much. 00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:53.039 I've learned that since then. 00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:55.119 But can you elaborate a little bit on that? 00:38:55.280 --> 00:38:59.840 That you said something to the effect that like not everybody wants to get better like you did. 00:39:00.239 --> 00:39:05.199 Uh I mean, some people would give up, some people don't have that drive. 00:39:05.360 --> 00:39:16.159 That it's I I worked in a hospital a long time and doing home health therapy, and some people just didn't have that want. 00:39:16.480 --> 00:39:22.559 Um, they didn't have that self-motivation, and it's I always related Iron Man to cancer. 00:39:22.800 --> 00:39:26.320 It was how far can you push your mind and your body? 00:39:26.639 --> 00:39:28.639 And it was true for both. 00:39:28.800 --> 00:39:32.159 I mean, I've been on the course for Iron Man for five Iron Man. 00:39:32.960 --> 00:39:36.000 Sometimes I I'm like, I don't have to do this anymore. 00:39:36.239 --> 00:39:40.880 Just like somebody maybe going through an illness, it doesn't have to be cancer, it could be something else. 00:39:41.119 --> 00:39:48.320 Um I I tell people all the time, I I remember the video in Florida that y'all y'all follow me. 00:39:48.400 --> 00:39:51.920 I said, somebody will go through something, it's how you respond. 00:39:52.400 --> 00:39:54.559 So it's just like being on the course. 00:39:56.000 --> 00:39:57.519 You're not gonna have a perfect day. 00:39:57.679 --> 00:40:00.880 Something will go wrong, and what will how you respond? 00:40:01.679 --> 00:40:04.400 That race in Florida, y'all videoed me at a flat. 00:40:04.639 --> 00:40:07.199 I could have sucked it up and just said, hey, I'm out. 00:40:07.519 --> 00:40:11.679 Well, it took me about 12 minutes and I fixed my flat and I kept going. 00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:16.960 That might have cost me my sub-12 that I wanted to go, but oh well, I finished. 00:40:17.280 --> 00:40:18.239 That's fast. 00:40:19.599 --> 00:40:23.199 What last thing, two more things. 00:40:23.519 --> 00:40:31.039 What do you say to people like if they are going through something like leukemia, and like you said, it doesn't have to be that? 00:40:31.280 --> 00:40:33.840 Like we're you never give up, we know that. 00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:39.360 But what do you say to people, like what advice do you have to people about if they're going through tough times about not giving up? 00:40:41.280 --> 00:40:45.199 Somebody asked me a similar question this week. 00:40:45.599 --> 00:40:49.440 They knew somebody, a friend, uh going through something tough. 00:40:50.000 --> 00:40:51.440 I believe it was cancer. 00:40:52.079 --> 00:40:58.639 And I always said I'm the type I have to see long term. 00:40:59.039 --> 00:41:00.400 I have to see a a goal. 00:41:00.559 --> 00:41:03.440 Like Iron Man, you train for months, months, months. 00:41:03.920 --> 00:41:07.840 Um cancer for me, it was a long drawn out. 00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:11.119 So I I had to see the end. 00:41:11.280 --> 00:41:14.239 And my doctor said, You just let's get to today. 00:41:14.480 --> 00:41:16.960 I'm like, Yes, but I have to have a goal. 00:41:17.519 --> 00:41:19.119 So maybe that's part of it. 00:41:19.280 --> 00:41:20.960 Have a long-term plan. 00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:23.760 I I got I wanted to see a kid being born. 00:41:23.840 --> 00:41:32.960 I wanted to do Iron Man again, I wanted to live, but also at the same time, in a way is day by day, I always said, I have to win the day. 00:41:34.320 --> 00:41:35.280 Just today. 00:41:35.679 --> 00:41:39.599 I'll worry about there's a scripture, I I won't quote it because I'll get it wrong. 00:41:39.760 --> 00:41:41.119 But don't worry about tomorrow. 00:41:41.280 --> 00:41:43.199 Tomorrow have their own problems. 00:41:43.360 --> 00:41:44.559 Let's worry about today. 00:41:45.119 --> 00:41:46.320 So win the day. 00:41:46.400 --> 00:41:49.920 And for cancer, it was I had to win more days than it won. 00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:51.920 Because it was gonna beat me some days. 00:41:52.239 --> 00:42:03.360 And just like right now, I didn't know I was gonna be doing this, and I hope sharing my story uh like always, my story helps somebody else. 00:42:03.599 --> 00:42:06.400 Um you inspire me every day. 00:42:06.639 --> 00:42:09.440 You do you do. 00:42:09.760 --> 00:42:11.599 I mean, I've I've known you for a while now. 00:42:11.679 --> 00:42:16.480 We keep a little bit in touch, not a whole bunch, but not we don't just see each other at events. 00:42:17.119 --> 00:42:20.719 I tell people I I make a slight joke. 00:42:20.800 --> 00:42:25.360 I said, I truly think God everybody has their beliefs, but this is mine. 00:42:25.679 --> 00:42:27.599 God saved my life. 00:42:27.760 --> 00:42:29.920 I think prayer saved my life. 00:42:30.320 --> 00:42:34.639 Um, I make a joke, I said, I I think

there were so many people praying for me. 00:42:34.800 --> 00:42:39.280 God got tired of them and said, Look, I'm gonna take care of it, just leave me alone. 00:42:39.519 --> 00:42:50.800 Um, but I I think it's a no-give up, and I never had to face there there was a a few times here and there, I I did have to face that is this the end? 00:42:51.119 --> 00:42:52.400 Is will this kill me? 00:42:52.559 --> 00:42:55.519 And that's maybe morbid, but it is the truth, it's life. 00:42:55.679 --> 00:42:56.960 We're all gonna go. 00:42:57.199 --> 00:43:00.800 But I had to just self-motivate a lot. 00:43:01.119 --> 00:43:20.639 Um and somebody asked me what motivated what motivated me during that time, and my wife said just sometimes just being around people, doing things, going places, um, just being a normal person, even though it's bald headed, no eyebrows, no hair, whatever. 00:43:21.119 --> 00:43:26.320 Um it was Daniel Strong, and then Daniel Strong 2.0. 00:43:26.639 --> 00:43:30.400 Yeah, yeah, you are that, that is for sure. 00:43:31.280 --> 00:43:40.880 So now you're working at Iron Man, you're doing sight, sights, setting up, tearing down, setting up, tearing down, setting up, tearing down, moving three feet. 00:43:41.119 --> 00:43:41.920 Do you like it? 00:43:42.159 --> 00:43:42.800 I do. 00:43:43.360 --> 00:44:00.960 Um I get to see out of, I mean, it's been almost 10 years I I I've been racing, I have a much more appreciation for Iron Man, everyone, everyone a part of Iron Man. 00:44:01.519 --> 00:44:29.440 Just as y'all, uh anybody that anybody that works for Iron Man, which is if it's the registration girls, anyone, because there's so many details, and people that race and maybe bad mouth certain things with Iron Man, I wish they could come work one race or one day and see how much goes into it from what you just said, move it three feet or take this whole fencing down and let's change it. 00:44:30.559 --> 00:44:40.400 It is is the appreciation and then also being at certain points as an athlete and I know what it is. 00:44:40.719 --> 00:44:45.519 Uh I at finish line or in transition, I get to joke around with the athletes. 00:44:45.599 --> 00:44:50.559 At swim start, I get to make people laugh, smile, relax, get in the water. 00:44:50.800 --> 00:44:52.480 Hey, just joke with him. 00:44:52.559 --> 00:44:54.480 Like, hey, it's just it's open water. 00:44:54.880 --> 00:44:55.840 Don't be scared. 00:44:56.239 --> 00:44:57.280 Just have fun. 00:44:57.760 --> 00:45:05.840 And it's going different places, seeing different people, and especially, I mean it's the finish line. 00:45:06.239 --> 00:45:06.559 Yeah. 00:45:07.119 --> 00:45:18.159 See not just the athlete, is the families, wife, husband, kids, mothers, daughters, whoever, seeing them watch their loved one, whatever. 00:45:18.400 --> 00:45:25.199 Every one of those people probably have a story why they come why they wanted to do 140 miles. 00:45:25.920 --> 00:45:36.000 And I don't think it's it's bad for me to take a little time and take a picture of them together, or wait and take a video of them together. 00:45:36.320 --> 00:45:40.239 I think that is why what makes it special. 00:45:40.480 --> 00:45:44.800 Um some people it doesn't it's not like that. 00:45:45.920 --> 00:46:11.519 Well, it's cool, you know, getting to hear your story during COVID, like we didn't get to meet, then we got to meet at a race, and we featured him in a video at Iron Man Florida, which was pretty cool because it came out really good, in my opinion, and it told your story, and then now seeing you here working for Iron Man, and then we're gonna see you again at Iron Man Florida as an athlete, but you're taking it up a notch. 00:46:11.840 --> 00:46:12.480 I am. 00:46:12.880 --> 00:46:19.920 This was uh somebody asked me the other day, so what what next? 00:46:20.320 --> 00:46:26.159 I said, Well, I still love to race, I still love Iron Man, um, I still want to go sub-12. 00:46:26.719 --> 00:46:31.280 But they like they said, Well, you've done Kona, you've done five, now what? 00:46:31.679 --> 00:46:35.360 So I was in Muncie, I met an athlete, and she had a guide. 00:46:35.440 --> 00:46:39.760 She was autistic, she was part of Nick Nick's his team, one percent. 00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:43.119 And I told myself, Wow, maybe that's next. 00:46:43.840 --> 00:46:49.760 What a great opportunity, and to something so gratifying um to do. 00:46:50.159 --> 00:46:53.519 So I actually met Chris and Nick and Kona. 00:46:53.840 --> 00:46:57.360 We actually stayed at the same resort, and it was awesome to meet him. 00:46:57.519 --> 00:47:06.159 What an inspiration he is, and and what he's done to win two SBs to the all the marathons, everything he's done. 00:47:06.400 --> 00:47:10.800 But I reached out to Nick and said, Hey, I can race. 00:47:11.760 --> 00:47:16.960 Put put me with somebody, let me help somebody else cross the finish line. 00:47:17.119 --> 00:47:21.920 If it's uh for the first time, second time, whatever, let me help somebody else. 00:47:22.159 --> 00:47:23.280 And he said, Okay. 00:47:23.679 --> 00:47:34.239 So actually last night we had a call with 17 out of 20 guides that we're gonna have in Florida um to try to grow their their team. 00:47:34.480 --> 00:47:42.880 And it's anybody from Downs to Autistic to Dyslexic to just any any needs. 00:47:43.119 --> 00:47:51.519 Um, I'm not sure who's my athlete just yet, but it really doesn't matter as long as I can help somebody else cross the finish line. 00:47:52.239 --> 00:47:55.199 Man, you're the real deal, man. 00:47:55.519 --> 00:47:58.079 We appreciate you coming on. 00:47:58.320 --> 00:48:00.320 Um, we'll obviously be in Florida. 00:48:00.400 --> 00:48:03.039 I kind of sense we might be making another feature video. 00:48:04.480 --> 00:48:05.440 We'll cross that. 00:48:05.920 --> 00:48:06.480 Don't do it for me. 00:48:06.559 --> 00:48:07.360 Yeah, do it for that. 00:48:07.840 --> 00:48:08.719 That's

just a good story. 00:48:08.960 --> 00:48:10.719 Like it's a good, it's that's what it's for. 00:48:10.880 --> 00:48:25.280 Like it's it's a good story for the team and your progression of finally getting a 70.3 done, finally getting a full done, going to Kona, and then coming and taking a job, like it's a hard job, and it doesn't seem like it's hard for you. 00:48:25.599 --> 00:48:33.440 I I don't think look, are there days where it's raining, raining, it's muddy, it maybe it's hot. 00:48:34.400 --> 00:48:38.400 I don't look at as it I want to know something funny. 00:48:38.480 --> 00:48:40.880 I I don't even know when I'm getting paid. 00:48:42.320 --> 00:48:44.880 Seriously, I don't know what day I I get paid. 00:48:45.360 --> 00:48:48.159 When it shows up, I'm like, okay, great, I got paid. 00:48:48.800 --> 00:48:52.239 I don't think of it as a job, it's something I love to do. 00:48:52.400 --> 00:48:56.880 I maybe not sight all the time, but it's it's Iron Man. 00:48:57.039 --> 00:48:59.920 If I can help any part of this sport, I'm here. 00:49:00.239 --> 00:49:00.880 Yeah. 00:49:01.519 --> 00:49:02.800 Super cool. 00:49:03.840 --> 00:49:05.760 Well, Daniel, thank you. 00:49:06.320 --> 00:49:08.719 Um we'll see you in Iron Man Florida. 00:49:08.800 --> 00:49:10.480 Well, we'll see it tomorrow. 00:49:10.880 --> 00:49:12.320 Probably at the swim start. 00:49:12.400 --> 00:49:13.599 And so it's Friday. 00:49:13.679 --> 00:49:16.880 Uh, we're hoping to release this Saturday, but it might be next week. 00:49:17.119 --> 00:49:18.320 So it's Friday. 00:49:18.480 --> 00:49:28.000 Saturday's the day before the race, then Sunday's race day, then Monday's the hardest day of the week of breaking everything down, and so but I was super glad to see you. 00:49:28.079 --> 00:49:32.639 I haven't I know you've been working at Iron Man all summer, but I haven't been at any of the races you've been at. 00:49:32.880 --> 00:49:33.440 It's been fun. 00:49:33.599 --> 00:49:36.960 Your team has all been very welcoming. 00:49:37.119 --> 00:49:39.360 I mean, I've known that for years, meeting them. 00:49:39.599 --> 00:49:42.800 Um they've they've helped me a lot. 00:49:43.199 --> 00:49:44.639 I won't go into detail. 00:49:44.800 --> 00:49:51.280 They've helped me a lot at finish line with with my wife and kids, so that's very appreciative. 00:49:51.599 --> 00:50:01.840 Yeah, the the uh and not to just go into a whole nother story, but one of the things you guys is was your dream was to have your wife and and child meddle you. 00:50:01.920 --> 00:50:07.599 And I remember I said something that I did not have the clout to back up, like, yeah, we'll make that happen. 00:50:07.840 --> 00:50:10.000 And well, because you had to have a kid first. 00:50:10.159 --> 00:50:13.440 Yes, and so you did that part, and then sure enough, it all came together. 00:50:13.519 --> 00:50:16.880 And uh I remember I also was like, Told you so. 00:50:17.280 --> 00:50:21.280 And it was well, you

did most of it, so pretty cool. 00:50:21.519 --> 00:50:22.320 Daniel, thank you. 00:50:22.400 --> 00:50:23.119 We love you, man. 00:50:23.199 --> 00:50:28.559 We're we're proud to know you, you inspire, and it's cool that we get to work together now. 00:50:28.639 --> 00:50:34.960 I think that's something that I just a couple times I watched you just doing your job today, and I was like, Yeah, that's pretty awesome. 00:50:35.039 --> 00:50:35.519 So thank you. 00:50:36.239 --> 00:50:42.480 Congratulations for making it on the team and be obviously being a bright spot in the whole organization. 00:50:42.719 --> 00:50:43.440 Thank you. 00:50:43.760 --> 00:50:46.480 So, did you you know you knew Daniel, right? 00:50:46.639 --> 00:50:47.519 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:50:47.599 --> 00:50:49.440 Um, part of the making the video. 00:50:49.519 --> 00:50:50.639 I mean, he's amazing. 00:50:50.719 --> 00:50:52.559 Yeah, I figured you did that you were in Florida. 00:50:52.960 --> 00:50:53.920 Amazing guy. 00:50:54.079 --> 00:50:55.920 I got I got a little choked up there, though. 00:50:56.239 --> 00:50:56.880 I'm not gonna lie. 00:50:56.960 --> 00:51:01.519 There was a couple times I reached up to just wipe, you know, wipe some sweat off my face. 00:51:01.840 --> 00:51:07.440 I still am shocked that he used to have an Iron Man's a great job. 00:51:07.519 --> 00:51:09.199 I'm not trying to say it isn't a great job. 00:51:09.440 --> 00:51:09.679 Right. 00:51:09.920 --> 00:51:27.599 Because obviously that's what we're here doing, but it's a hard job, and not a lot of people want to leave like corporate life or their safe job, and move sandbags and fence and set up tents and roll out carpet and stuff like that. 00:51:27.760 --> 00:51:30.320 But like I said to him, I was watching him this week. 00:51:30.639 --> 00:51:38.880 He doesn't complain, and he seems like he's really enjoying it, and he seems super positive, and then the fact that he's gonna go guide somebody. 00:51:38.960 --> 00:51:40.639 I mean, that's that's incredible. 00:51:41.199 --> 00:51:42.400 I agree that's all about. 00:51:42.559 --> 00:51:44.880 I still don't think athletes make good staff. 00:51:45.119 --> 00:51:47.679 No, they don't, and and it's they try. 00:51:47.920 --> 00:51:48.880 He might prove us wrong. 00:51:49.199 --> 00:51:50.639 I would love to be proved wrong. 00:51:50.880 --> 00:51:52.400 I think he's gonna prove us wrong. 00:51:52.559 --> 00:51:54.800 Uh they're lucky to have him. 00:51:55.360 --> 00:51:56.880 I think he's only going up. 00:51:57.280 --> 00:51:59.199 So we got a big day tomorrow. 00:51:59.360 --> 00:52:03.039 Um tomorrow's probably the first real busy day of the week. 00:52:03.199 --> 00:52:05.679 We've kind of eased into the week. 00:52:05.920 --> 00:52:07.840 We kind of feel a little overstaffed. 00:52:08.000 --> 00:52:10.159 And starting tomorrow, we're gonna feel understaffed. 00:52:10.400 --> 00:52:13.920 Well, we've got the exciting two o'clock welcome. 00:52:14.239 --> 00:52:16.480 The welcome ceremony is two o'clock on Saturday. 00:52:16.559 --> 00:52:17.760 It's usually a Friday night thing. 00:52:18.000 --> 00:52:18.079 Right. 00:52:18.320 --> 00:52:21.119 And it's funny, somebody brought that up to me and they're like, What are you doing tonight? 00:52:21.280 --> 00:52:23.199 And I was like, Yeah, I don't know. 00:52:23.519 --> 00:52:26.320 Every Iron Man I've ever been to, I have to work Friday night. 00:52:26.480 --> 00:52:31.039 I think it was both a shock on us when we both looked at each other when they said two o'clock on Saturday. 00:52:31.119 --> 00:52:34.880 And I was like, Well, was that because of the hurricane last year? 00:52:35.199 --> 00:52:38.239 And it was because of the hurricane last year, and we'll just leave it at that. 00:52:38.400 --> 00:52:39.119 Yes, yes. 00:52:39.360 --> 00:52:50.960 So uh it's getting towards the end of our day here, so we're getting ready to wrap it up for the day and then hopefully have a successful race, and we'll recap that on our next one. 00:52:51.199 --> 00:52:54.800 And we gotta make some kind of AI song. 00:52:55.119 --> 00:52:55.920 Yes, definitely. 00:52:56.079 --> 00:52:58.960 So definitely I don't know what the AI song is. 00:53:00.960 --> 00:53:03.360 We'll make an AI song about Chattanooga whiskey. 00:53:03.519 --> 00:53:04.480 I think we could do it. 00:53:04.639 --> 00:53:05.360 All right, here we go. 00:53:05.440 --> 00:53:06.639 Chattanooga whiskey. 00:53:12.719 --> 00:53:16.400 The sun dips along the Tennessee Hills. 00:53:18.400 --> 00:53:21.599 Chattanooga's calling, I can feel the thrill. 00:53:24.000 --> 00:53:26.960 Ryan's on the porch drumming that tune. 00:53:29.280 --> 00:53:32.800 Wow, rhyme porn's whiskey beneath the rising moon. 00:53:34.239 --> 00:53:40.000 Chattanooga whiskey sweet, just rhyme at you off your feet. 00:53:43.280 --> 00:53:46.159 We'll dance to the side.