S1E6 -- Aloha - Ohana - Kokua (with guests Van Sanchez & Marla Zucht)

First up in this episode is a conversation with the man who holds the world record for youngest person to complete the Ultraman challenge, Van Sanchez.  Van is also a 515 race director for UltraMX515 in his home country of Mexico.  Van brings along his “brother” Miguel Angel Garcia.

The Ultraman Canada 2021 athlete profile features a 4-time Kona IM age grouper, Marla Zucht, from Canada.  

Steve King highlights another 6-time Ultraman World Champion--Shanna Armstrong in Steve King Stories.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Ultraman Canada
• UMUK
• UltraMX 515
• Urban Jungle Tri Store
• Ultraman Florida 
• Ultraman MX non stop
• Ultra 355 Cozumel
• Skaha Lake Ultra Swim
• Ironman World Championship
• Boston Marathon
• Ironman Canada
• New York Times -- Swim, Bike, Cheat
• Oh she glows Cookbooks
• Whistler Housing Authority

Shout outs and mentions in this episode:

• Ramiro Gutierrez
• Iñaki de la Parra
• Arnaud Selukov
• Ross Pike
• Heather Church 
• 2010 Winter Olympic / Paralympic Games
• Julie Miller
• James Young
• Claire Young
• Kathy Winkler
• Amber Monforte
• Barbi Brochu  
• Andi Ramer
• Hillary Biscay
• Ardis Bow
• Kate Bevilaqua
• Amy VanTassel
• Dede Greisbauer  
• Markus Joswig

Transcript

Van Sanchez / Miguel Garcia conversation

Larry 0:41

And I have a conversation with my guest, the ultimate Iran, an upcoming 2021 Ultraman Canada participant. Do you know that this podcast has a Facebook page? Well, of course it does. Check us out for video clips of the interviews and updates of when the new episode will drop, which, by the way, is every three weeks. Also, when you share a 515 Facebook post, it gets seen by your friends, which of course are my target audience. So please hit that share button and spread the word. Today I have a special two for one in the first slot of the podcast where I speak with the OHANA members. First is a man who has podiumed a handful of times in his age group in both 70.3 and full distance events, and has attended the 70.3 World Championship. Those events all happened after he was crowned the youngest person to complete the 515 distance when he did it in 2014 at UM UK. From his home in Fresnillo, Sacatez, in Mexico. Hello and welcome Van Sanchez.

Van 1:49

Hello everyone. It's a pleasure for me and for Mike. Try to talk about the Ultraman races and a lot of this stuff. It's an amazing experience for me, and I wish will be this experience. The Ultraman experience will be an amazing experience for all the people in the world.

Larry 2:11

And and Van has also brought a guest along with him who has completed seven 515 events. He works as a tri coach and owns his own triathlon shop called Urban Jungle in Mexico City, where he is located. I welcome you as well, Miguel Mike Garcia. Hi, Mike.

Miguel 2:28

Hi Larry. You need to know about this ultra experience and ultra life I'm living.

Larry 2:44

Excellent. Okay, Van, can we get started with you first? Exactly how old were you when you did the UM UK?

Van 2:54

Exactly 19 years old, Larry. And my birthday is on November 26th of November. Well, 19 years.

Larry 3:08

Yeah. And you remain the youngest person at this time to have completed Ultraman. So if I've done my math correctly, right now you're 25, 26? 26. 26. Okay. And the reason I point that out is because uh we often say that competing at an Ultraman distance event is a is a life-changing event. And for some that just means reaching for the extreme of human capabilities and seeing what they are personally able to do. But for you, even at your young age now, it truly changed your life. Because at the age of 19, it set the course of where you have gone ever since. Can you tell me a little bit about the UM UK? Um what did you find there that that changed your life and and set you on your path?

Van 4:00

Yeah, Larry. The real thing is the Ultraman UK was a very hard part of my life, I think so. And it's the reason because I try to reply this experience with the people. I think so was very, you know, very inside my heart all the week because my friends, my family, and all the people around me pushed me to finish the race.

Larry 4:32

Yeah, so the the experience of doing it with your crew and and having your family there got you to the finish line of UM UK. And then what else is happening at this race that's that fills your heart and and and sets you on this path of where you are today, where you're now a race director as well.

Van 4:55

Well, you know, my crew was two persons from UK. I'm very, very happy with with these guys, and Ramiro Gutierrez, who was part of my crew uh a lot of times and a lot of feelings. It's one of the reasons because we try to take these feelings, the the ultraman things, you know, aloha y cukua, and take this and show this kind of lifestyle in Mexico. Mike uh is one of the well, you know, Mike is my friend and he's like my brother, but he is the one of the my special persons from inside the race who exactly try to speak and complete these these three words now, aloha, and cucua.

Larry 5:57

And and so once you experienced that, you wanted to take that back to Mexico. You wanted the the other people of Mexico and maybe the the Central America area to be able to experience it, and you just decided to start your own race as well, to to to bring that to to the people.

Van 6:18

Yes, Larry, we tried to bring to Mexico these feelings and these words, no? Not exactly the words, but but you know the feelings, the experience for the people here in Mexico and in Sud America.

Larry 6:33

Yeah. And and so, Mike, you're you're one of the people that have attended many of the MX515 races. You've you've done five of them, I believe. And you've become very close with Van over this time. You guys are great friends. He calls you like his brother, and you've been helping out with the race as well by creating some content and producing audiovisual material for the race and Facebook and things like that. So I I you're considered part of the ohana of of his race. Can you can you tell me a little bit about your relationship and how it started? How is it that you guys have become such great friends and and brothers?

Miguel 7:12

Okay, well, uh I started in the ultra world on the ultra man family in Florida. Uh I attended the second event that was held in Florida. And unfortunately, I didn't finish it. I didn't even finish day one. So it became like uh, you know, uh a heartbreaking story struggle that I had to deal with. So during that time, uh well, before that I was friends with Inyaki, or I had some relationship with him. So I kind of became part of uh got hold into the Ultraman world. And I like it. And when I didn't finish it, I came back one year later. I even tried to attend the World Championship with my heartbroken and all that uh kind of black hole you go through when you don't finish one of these races. And during that time when I was attending to come back on the second year, I I already heard about Ben and the youngest Ultraman athlete in the world. But during that year, we became like to connect on on social networks and Facebook and that time, and and we became aware, I became more aware of him, and and that's why we started like talking, but nothing more than just two athletes talking on social networks. When I came back to Ultraman, Florida for the second time, I well, I got really engaged into this world. I I knew uh, well, I thought that this was gonna be like just my check. I did uh I have already done an Ultraman, I was gonna live forever. And when I came back, and like I uh my heart got uh happy with finishing that uh that race, I knew that uh Ban was creating uh a race in Mexico. So and we started talking, well, what can I do to be part of the Ultra MX uh Ohana? I I'm part of uh a company that creates videographic uh material. So I proposed that I could be part of that video, and I wanted to be racing uh two. And now here we are with almost six years later, and with a friendship and and brotherhood that has gone beyond business and has gone beyond well uh beyond the Ohana that most athletes know.

Larry 9:54

Yeah, that's that's that's uh that's an excellent story in that I I think a lot of people they they pick up on the Ohana the same way. You I mean you don't need to know the person. You haven't had you don't have to have met the person previously to be able to hit them up on a social media and ask them a question about a race or to volunteer to help out with a race or anything like that. So the story that you're telling about how this is just grown out of a normal social media connection and a love for the race together, it it it's it just tells a lot about the ohana of the people that do the the Ultra 515 races. I I think the other thing in in your story that that struck with me was you were saying how you were just willing to do whatever it was to help. You you didn't care what it was, and you looked at your skill set and said, I can I can help out with video or something like that. And and as a as a race director, also appreciate that what Van was probably seeing was, yeah, I will take any help you can give me. Like we we will take all help at any time. For sure. Yeah. Um so uh so yeah, anybody out there, if you ever want to help your local race, call the race director, and definitely they will take your help always. One of the things that I hope people get out of uh my podcast, and the reason they would come back regularly is so that they're getting some practical advice about how to successfully finish a 515 race. So, Miguel, um, as an athlete and as a coach, you you probably have two perspectives on this. So I'm gonna give you a two-part question. As an athlete uh who's finished a number of these races, what is one thing that you've learned? And maybe that was in the race that you didn't actually finish that you share with others that want to do this? And then the second part of the question is as a coach, because everyone is an individual, what is the hardest part of building a plan for an athlete?

Miguel 12:03

Uh I think I can sum up both parts, like the the as an athlete and as a coach, like to be patient, be patient and and take it easy because I know that everybody in in this world, especially at for the athlete, when they put up uh on a plan or an as a target to do a race of of this uh this size, everybody wants to do it like perfect, and everybody wants to go big. And I don't know, I think the expectation that any athlete has is so big that it's really easy to lose your head, and it's really easy to like to lose sight of what you are going to do. So I think patience is the the number one I will suggest. And I've gone through that dark the dark hole I told you at the beginning. So you really have to go and and keep in mind that you just have to finish it, you you have to enjoy it. I I think a lot of people, most of them uh forget that this is about enjoying it, and maybe in the future, and maybe after five or six races, like I like I'm beginning to feel right now, they can say, okay, maybe I'm ready like for racing. I I think if you keep that in mind, and if you are honest with you, it's gonna be a much better uh way you you're gonna go through. And well, there's people like Banda that are such great athletes that at 19 they they can uh finish these kind of races. He's already racing world championships on another distance. And there are athletes like me, like honestly, I'm not a great athlete, but uh I like it. So I try to race like the type of athlete I am, the one that enjoys races that go, and the only the only goal I have is finish it, share with my family, share with my friends, share with my uh well, share it with the with Van and all the people in the stuff. And and as for now, that's my only uh objective, and I have really enjoyed it. Um for the athletes that I have uh I have already uh trained, that none of them had gotten uh well last year none of them got in the race because of of uh the pandemic, uh, but the suggestion is the same. Go easy, enjoy it, and and just finish it. Yeah, the fun part of the race it goes from the middle to the back. The the one the athletes that are on the front pack, yeah, they're really not enjoying that much, and they're like in some different kind of thinking. So the ones that that are from the middle to the back are the ones having more the more fun.

Larry 14:57

Yeah, and so are the crews back there.

Van 15:00

Exactly.

Larry 15:02

We we've been talking a little bit about the the fact that you actually have your own race now. So I would I'd like to spend a little bit of time just talking about how you started your 515 race and it's turned into a a race series, in fact. So, Van, can you just tell me about the events that you are now organizing and where they're located, um what what they are, the distances and things like that, and what's on the horizon given COVID?

Van 15:34

Yes, for sure, Larry. Uh you know, the first one is the 515, it's in October. Uh the last year was very complicated for the COVID. But all the athletes finish the race and we go very, very good for the race, I think so. And the second one is uh in April for the Ultraman non-stop. And the third race in the schedule will be the 355 in Cosmoil.

Larry 16:06

With the with your race coming up in April, are you still planning on running that at this time? Is it do you have permission to run that right now?

Van 16:13

Exactly, here in Zacatecas. And we have all the permits. Really, for 10 athletes is easy. Maybe Mike will be talk about the race, about the Ultraman non-stop, for example, because uh he he leases he'll listen these these words, but he needs to finish the race this April. Larry.

Larry 16:41

Okay. So so Mike, maybe you you've done the it's is it's the same course for the non-stop as the the regular 515? No different.

Miguel 16:52

It's in there in Sacatecas, but it's in uh uh I don't know, like a more enclosed location. There are a lot of loops. Uh on tree sports, the the swim is gonna be on a pool because of COVID. They well, as as far as I know, there's nothing sure about open water swimming. So to make it sure, it's gonna be in a pool. The loop for the bike, it's I think 30 30 kilometers. I think. Um and there's gonna be 84 loops for the run, so it's gonna be like like like a hamster running, so it's gonna be really, really hard. I'm eager to do it. I'm really excited, and I I I don't think it's gonna be easy, but I'm I'm sure it's gonna be a lot of fun.

Larry 17:43

Um, can you can you describe for me the the regular 515 course uh for the race? Just so that the listener gets an idea of what they would be in for if they want to come down and do this race. Just give us a little idea of what it's like, some of the scenery and and how hard it is, things like that?

Van 18:01

Yes, well, the the swim, uh the first four years was in uh in a local park, uh a really big park that is there in French Nia. And it's in a private lake, and it's it's uh it's not really cold, but it's a uh uh cold course. It's an I think 11 loops, uh also in an enclosed location. And it's I can say it's uh uh really I don't know, like not easy, but you can really plan while you're swimming in there, the transition is perfect, and once you get out of the park, you you go directly on the onto the highway to to the part of the bike. This last year, uh also due to COVID, it was on a different in an open water location uh in a lake near Fresnio. And I can tell you the location was beautiful, the place, uh everything was beautiful, just that it was really harder. The the water was colder, there was a lot of wind, there was uh it was uh it was the worst swim of my life. I think everybody who who raced there suffered and did a lot more time that they attempted it, but but the location was uh stunning. I think it's it's it's really beautiful. The bike on uh day one, you had to go like from Fresnilla to Zacatecas, it's like about uh 60 kilometers for 30 to 40 miles, and then you get to uh a mountain called La Bufa. And I think this is the well Zacatecas is high, that's the highest place in Zacatecas, or at least in that zone, and it's a brutal climbing there. It's it's really hard, but at the same part you enjoy it because you have views, you have, I don't know, all about Ultra MX is that you're suffering and enjoying the views and enjoying like the people that it's like uh I don't know, the you have an angel and a demon. So once you get to the to climb labufa, you you go down really, really fast. And I think the day one is uh if if you don't have any eventuality, nothing happens if you your bike doesn't get broken or something. I think day one is really doable for for everybody. Day two, it's it's uh I think it's really hard. First 80 miles are like uh flat, like a little uh downhill. But once you get back again, 60 miles of uh soft climbing that uh starts to break your legs, starts to break your soul, starts to break your mind. And once you are shattered, you get to La Buffa again. It's a lot of mind, and and you don't want to waste time because if you stop for five minutes, you really don't know if you're gonna need that five minutes at the end. And I think Van and I have seen uh a few athletes over these uh five years that haven't finished that they do just for a minute or some seconds. So you you want to be really strategic about that part. And day three, it's an uh a path that only we use. Um well, it's one marathon to go, one to go back. And it's also kind of hard because the well, the first marathon, it's a little downhill that you don't really feel, that you don't really uh uh know that you are going uh downhill. But when you got back, well, I can tell you that your legs are screaming. The the heat, it's uh it's a semi semi desert, so it's not really hot, but just hot enough to to make you like crispy when you are uh about uh Seven, eight hours uh in that in that path. And and just if it wasn't enough, when you get to Fresnillo, when you are entering the city again, I can tell you the last two miles, you get to climb uh uh uh two bridges uh 500 meters, but really steppy that well makes you hurt and and talks to and talk to your God and talk to every every uh every uh person uh beyond uh this life you can talk to to get there. But I can tell you this race is really hard welcoming the people in there, uh the racers. That's not that's something that the race does very well that all the athletes, most of them come back again, and and if not, they are also in contact after a very few years.

Larry 23:01

Yeah, you know, that's actually one of the questions that I had coming up is I know that as race directors, Van, like the Ohana, the aloha, and the kakua are the reasons that we're doing these races. Those that's like we feel it, we love it, and so we want to put these on all the time. Can can you maybe share with me a time? Uh this is a bit open for both of you, but can you share with me a time, uh specific time where you you felt one of those ideals of the um aloha coming through in the race? Can you is there a pinpoint one that sticks out in your mind that it's like, oh yeah, I love it because of when this happened?

Van 23:39

Okay. Now about Dohana, Larry, it's easy because when the people come from all around the world, you know, you feel you really, really feel this feeling. Uh because you know I'm I'm very happy if the the people who who do a travel of uh I don't know, but maybe six or eight hours or twelve hours from Australia or whatever, come to Frenillo, come to my house, come with my family and try to reply this race and finish the race, you know, Larry, is when when the the world changed and this change uh you know change completely. The world changed and then it's a feeling, and this one I felt, and I feel the Ohana really. When the people come to my home, Mike, you know, Mike, when the people come to my home and stay with my family is when I really okay. This is very different. This is not an Iron Man, this is an ultraman, because this is the Ohana, Mary.

Larry 24:55

How about you, Mike? Is there a specific time when you can think of where one of these things has really stood out for you?

Miguel 25:03

Uh completing what Van said, you don't go to a race really easily, that you can go to the race director's house and feel welcome, and that his mother makes you breakfast, and you can be really eating with uh somebody who just arrived from Canada and somebody who just arrived from Brazil, and you start talking about anything but but but but the race, anything but Ultraman, anything but triathlon. You start talking about families, you start talking about um your your fears or personal uh personal past experience about family uh children or families get together. So I can tell you that it's something you you don't find in any other uh kind of race. And and I felt that many times, and I can tell you that also uh there are a lot of athletes that now I can call friends, and and also when we get to to Zacatecas or when we gather in some other place, families are really tight now, and and that's something that only this kind of ohana and this kind of uh as I said before, the hard welcoming feeling you get when you get to to the Ultra MX uh makes you love. Uh I can say that I don't know. Ah well, last year there was uh athlete number 100 uh crossed the line of five years, and I can tell you that from that 100 athletes, there are only, if I can say five that don't like belong on the hand, that doesn't get in touch, or that they don't really hang out with all the rest of the athletes, it's too much. The other 90 are really a uh big, uh warm family, and and that's something that Van has created really well, and well, all the people in in the town, because that's what Fernillo is about, is it's family, and the people in there is amazing.

Van 27:15

Sorry, Larry, and Mike, you know, the the town here in Fresnillo, Larry. The people are very happy always to to help. You know, you can imagine helping with the with the water or help with the drinking or the food and whatever. Just to one another story, for example. This last year, this October, so day three, we are getting we are arriving to to Fresnilly on the last two miles that I told you that had these bridges that are uh terrible. And there was a moment I said, okay, I'm not gonna I'm not gonna finish on time. Uh there, I think there was like five 15 minutes to get to the finish line, and I made my mat and I said, Okay, I'm not gonna finish on time, I'm gonna take it easy. Somebody from the town appeared out of nowhere. I don't uh there uh at this point I don't know really who she is. Well, I know from one that she's the mother of one cyclist from there, but she appeared in there and she knew me, and she started to tell me, you have to finish, you are the uh you are important here in Fradinio, you have to and she started like pulling me and pushing me and motivating me and uh throwing me water, and well, she was like uh uh I don't know how to say, but she was like an angel that started like really, really pushing me towards the finish line. And I can tell you I finished this race with 50 seconds on the clock, and well, it's it's it's it's there, no. And I can tell you I wasn't gonna, I will I I'm sure I wouldn't finish this race on on time if it wasn't because of her. And the the best of all is that when I finish the line, I well, I say thanks to her. Uh uh, it was like all the celebration when you get, and she like disappeared. Where is she, where, where, where have she gone? I wanted like to talk to uh thank to her and make something bigger out of it. And she was like somebody who appeared to help me finish and then vanish. So I think that kind of experiences uh uh change you and and give you a whole different perspective of of life and and how these races are, you know. But uh I think it's not easy to have that kind of people coming out of nowhere and make you finish your goal and and and well and make you feel so happy and and welcome in some place.

Larry 29:56

Yeah, I I think for for the ultraman person listening to the podcast, they're gonna be like, yeah, I get it. I I've I've lived that story. I know what you're talking about. But for the Iron Man person who's listening to the podcast and maybe is thinking about doing ultra and they're looking for those tips and advice and want to hear about different races, this this is what it's all about. This is why the ultra family exists. It's why people come back year after year. So the the stories that you guys have just told are like perfect examples of what happens probably at every ultra event there is. And like you said, the the people that don't get it is very few, because if they came in with a different attitude of I'm here to win the race, as I said earlier, by the time they get to the end of that three days, they've come around to the to the ultra family side and they understand the the bigger picture for most people. And there will always be those few that come in to win and leave and don't get to know anybody. But like you said, you you you now know like 95 great people from this race over five years, and and that is what makes these races so good. From what you've described, it sounds like kind of a a smaller town for your your 515 race, and then Cozumel is the location for the 355. So obviously, if somebody wanted to plan a nice resort vacation along with a race, Cozumel might be their choice. But what is the community like a little bit a little bit more about the community where you do the 515? Is that is that going to be a nice vacation spot too to hang around for an extra week or two, or is the amenities there for that, or how what's the location?

Van 31:40

Uh the reason because we started the race here and we don't plan to move the race to another place is because the people from Fresnillo, not me, not Mike, no not you, not the athlete, not who who listened this this podcast. The people from Fresnillo love the race, the athletes and the local athletes and the athletes they try to change the mind, you know, change the change inside the mind and conquer the limits, you know. The people from from from this town always have the same thing. Work in the mind, have a family, and it's all right. Here in Mexico the situation is different. In Canada, Canada is an amazing place. Mexico is the same, but we have uh not exactly all the opportunities, you know, we have more problems if if you won't uh say this. But when you try to get and pick up the race in a small town, uh and the people say, yes, okay, let's go. We can push the race, we can make the race, we can love this race. And is there a reason because perenillo is very important, and now is maybe it's not the the you know the capital of the sport in Mexico. Cosumel is now the the the the new Kona, for example, for the triathlete. And Pernillo is a very small town, you know, it's it's different, it's very different, but the first thing is the love of the people for the race, uh Larry.

Larry 33:37

Yeah, that's that's excellent that you can um have that association with the people in the city. I like I like that idea. So so Van, what what are your big ideas? What what's your your vision of where you see the world of ultra-try going and and what part do you want to play in that?

Van 33:57

We are the new, you know, the new the new age, for example, the new era for the ultraman, I think so. And I wish, I wish for the next years try to talk uh with all the race directors for the races and make a big map with all the races, uh Larry, and say hello everyone, hi guys from Canada, hi guys from Israel or wherever. We need make this because we need make and finish the idea for the ultraman, a big family, not always in separate ways, you know Larry, and I think so, and for all the new generations will be an amazing opportunity to to build this ultraman, real Ohana, you know Larry.

Larry 34:55

Yeah, yeah, it's it's it's definitely divided out there as to what's going on, and there's some politics behind the scene and things like that. But if we speak of Ohana at some point, hopefully everybody can come together and and really make that a true vision.

Van 35:14

If you want, you can come to my race. I'm happy to receive you. Because you're my friend, mate, you know, Larry? And it's easy, really is easy. I I don't want to talk about the politics and the GP's stuff because uh, you know, it's hard, but I need to say that, uh Larry. You need to change the the this chip, the mind, the the kind of feelings, because it's not all about the money, Larry. It's about the the the kind of race, the the lifestyle. Because this is not a race exactly, you know. We talked uh a few minutes ago about that, about about this, sorry, and this is about the love, it's about the the conquer my limits and finish uh and change my my person and change my mind. And I think so, Larry. This is not about the politics and the money, I think so, but this is for for all the the people who listen the the this in Spotify only. If you want to come to Mexico, you have the the my house and the house of Mike and all the athletes here in Mexico is open for you. The house, my house is open for you, Larry. You are welcome in Mexico, you are welcome in my race, and it's not exactly my race, Larry. It's a race of all the athletes and the ultraman athletes from Mexico, Larry.

Larry 36:53

Yeah, no, it's that's that's a wonderful thought. Yeah. Um, so I just I want to thank you guys for for zooming with me today and being part of the podcast. I think you you both come with the exact ideals of what the 515 experience is all about. And uh I'm really happy with the information that you share today, and I'm sure the people listening will have learned a lot by having this as part of their workout routine. So thank you very much, guys. I appreciate it.

Van 37:27

Thank you so much, Larry. Thank you so much for the invitation.

Larry 37:33

I was so happy to get to meet those guys through Zoom. They really get it. It's great that they have formed such a great bond through the Ultra Experience. Just like I did with Brad Sawa, who I met volunteering as his crew for Ultraman Canada in 2012. And now look at us, we're the co-race directors of the very same race. And and just as an update to our Ultra family, we are still planning to go ahead with the race this year in July. And depending on what the COVID rules are as we lead up to the race, things may look a little different, but we remain hopeful that our international athletes will be able to attend. And as I said early on in that conversation, race directors are always looking for help. Brad and I are looking for help. We're looking for volunteers to help with the race logistics and to work as crew for the athletes. So if you're interested in helping out with the race this year or any year in the future, please contact us at official ultramancanada at gmail.com. And remember to put the word official in front of Ultraman Canada to ensure that you reach us and not another race. On to today's crew story. It's coming from Arno Sulakov, who also believes heavily in the Ultraman ideals, as you will hear.

Crew Story : Arnaud Selukov

Arnaud 38:54

Good morning from uh beautiful friends, snowy friends, actually. Uh you may hear some uh background noise because I'm on a job at the moment and we try to multitask in getting old uh doesn't make it uh easier. Anyway, um your podcast is great, and uh wanted to give you my two cents about uh some adventure that happened with my crew on my first Ultraman, which was Ultraman Australia at the time, and um I had a friend uh who used to live with me in Singapore because at this time I was living in Singapore and uh he he was supposed to crew for me and fans on me, but uh when I arrived, uh he knew that totally he was not really available, but uh he was also moving out. So my first task on arrival was uh to help him uh load some cut on boats, and uh obviously it was not going to work and um I found myself uh stranded as much as you can be in Australia, but uh I found myself on uh in Newsla without a crew and without solution. And uh one of the athlete uh I was coaching in Singapore, um very good friend of mine, and uh he put me in contact with uh header and uh Ross Pike living in Newsah. And uh you know sometimes in life thing are just clicking and uh and we went for a coffee and uh Pikey and uh header they had a half uh bigger than me and uh and not only they offered to prove for me but uh they find me, they offered me a room in their in their house and they drove me around despite the fact that they never proved for an inframen of our rate. It was uh such a great experience, and um and I would say even if we made just once during the inframent today I still consider roast and uh fiking and uh as uh some of my very very close friends and uh I will do everything I can if uh one day they would be in the need, and sometimes we stay in touch with this pandemic going on we can't uh really visit but uh yeah they have people very close to my heart and uh I would be far very thankful. And during this race we had also another great experience, and uh that was for me really what uh switched my focused a bit from uh the non-very long distance rating to uh to what uh ultra distance to a man on day two I was leading the race because after day one I was in the lead and uh and uh on day two we had a very very very strong battle, uh the big ding dong battle as this thing was trying and uh and we were running back and forth, and uh those two and course it's not an easy one, and um at some point you have a lot of navigation because there is a small loop that you have to do a couple of times if I remember well, and uh and I found myself uh alone because I lost my crew and um so no crew, no food, no drink. But the afternoon it was really, really windy and pretty hot. And I really thought at some point I would have to stop it and uh try to break the bottom and stuff because uh in the in the news that back country there is not much, it's a bit like in Canada. Once you are out of town, not much is left then, and uh and I would reach the price to see actually from the guy chasing me. You know, they came to me and they asked me if I needed anything, and uh it was uh it was amazing and uh and today I'm still very emotional when I'm thinking about it because they could have taken advantage of me and say, Oh, the guy is drying. Doesn't matter if we just keep passing by him and uh but instead of that they decided to uh give me food, give me drink and keep me on track, and then uh yeah, I won the rate, but uh I won the rate because I had the best proof, but also because I have the best competitor all day, and then it is something which is uh I often say, you know what we eat time to to do the man in now and then uh you don't make much frame during uh race. You you see some of your friends, but you don't make frame after. And I've raised twice to the many now and then I have to I've made an frame during these two races to then uh during all my that's that's been it I really love that and uh that's why I wanted to keep to keep on going on these rate and visiting today because not then uh to the competition and competition. Thank you, guys. See you. Bye-bye.

2021 UMC Athlete Profile : Marla Zucht

Larry 44:26

Today's UIC athlete on the profile is a 16-time Iron Man finisher, with four of those being at the World Championship. She is a Canadian living in one of the most beautiful places in the world. The smaller of the co-host cities of the Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games in 2010. Zooming in from Whistler, BC is Marla Zook. Welcome.

Marla 44:50

Thank you, Larry.

Larry 44:51

I love Whistler myself. I'm living in Vancouver. I get up there as much as I can. I'll be there tomorrow skiing, actually.

Marla 44:58

Oh, fantastic. You're going to have a great day. It was a good stormy day today. The alpine didn't open, so you're going to have great snow to ski tomorrow.

Larry 45:07

Yeah, yeah. Well, that's what I was looking forward to. We kind of watch the weather for those. We know the days that when it snows hard, you're not going to get on there. They don't open it. So we try to live the next day.

Marla 45:17

That's right. We laugh. We always used to head up for powder days, and now we avoid the powder days when they first freshly come.

Larry 45:25

Yeah. Um, so were you living in Whistler during during the Olympic Games?

Marla 45:30

Yes, yes, indeed. It was a highlight of the times. I've lived up in Whistler for 25 years, and it was so exciting leading up to when it was announced that Whistler was going to be hosting it, co-hosting it with Vancouver, and then having it here. And I volunteered on the the downhill ski course. So it was just, I embraced it all. I mean, every evening, the awards ceremony, all the live music. It was fantastic to have the world all here visiting, and the excitement and the energy was just incredible. Would love to have it again.

Larry 46:06

That's the same sort of feeling that was like just all over Canada at that time. Like we we were lucky enough to be in the host cities, but I think that was spread across the country. Yes. So um like everybody who's who's been to Whistler knows that it's a beautiful place. Um great for the outdoors-minded people. And for those that are coming to Canada for the race, if you have a few extra days before or after the race, it's worth the drive down from Penticton to go to Whistler and and spend a few days there. You you won't regret that. Maybe you can just tell us a little bit about some of like the great training places you have to go run and bike and what different terrain that there is to offer in Whistler.

Marla 46:52

Yeah, that's so true, Larry. As I say, I've lived here for 25 years, and the love of the place is not worn off even a little bit. We are blessed with beautiful freshwater lakes and alpine mountains that are backdropped. And I mean, every day I feel so fortunate and grateful for where I live and work and play. And uh it's beautiful, the trails, the mountain bike trails, the well, the trail running up in the high alpine. The lakes are just gorgeous to swim in every as soon as I can get in the lake, starting probably by May. I'm actually just doing an online order for my thermal gloves and booties again and thermal swim cap to be able to get in alter lake. And the temperature will probably be about 15 degrees when I start swimming. But and then I'll swim every single day right through until probably September. And I typically go in the morning before work, and I can't think of a better way to start my day. And I I can access the lake right from my house. I just put on my wetsuit and into the lake in five minutes, and it's beautiful.

Larry 48:08

And I understand that you recently um, or maybe not recently, but before you had tried a 12 kilometer swim down in Opa Lake. And right now that's not a very big lake. So I'm wondering, were you going side to side, around in loops, zigzag?

Marla 48:28

Round in loops. So yeah, four times around the lake. So I where I start from is my home dock just near Blueberry Trail. So I went in from there and just went four times around. And yeah, uh, I was I'd been planning to support a friend of mine that was going to do the Skaha Lake swim this past summer, but then was canceled because of COVID. And he still decided to do it. So I did go up and paddled beside him to help him achieve his goal. And I was just really inspired. And I knew I've been wanting to do the Ultraman race for a while. But for me, the big scary piece of it has always been the swim. I'm not a great swimmer. I mean, I I can get through, but uh, it's definitely my the weakest link of the three. So having the opportunity to help him and share that experience, it really solidified the desire for me to want to take on that big audacious goal. So I decided to get in the lake and just try to crack that nut and do the long swim. So did 12K or round and around and around I went. Yeah. So having, I think just mentally knowing that I could do that distance opened up by desire even more to want to take on the big goal of Ultraman for myself.

Larry 50:00

Yeah. And were you practicing with your nutrition as well for that big swim?

Marla 50:06

Or you know, not so much the nutrition piece, which has been a journey in itself for me through my Iron Man career. Um, 16 of them in. And I've had lots of times to uh trials and tribulations and to tweak it. So, but where it really comes to rear its head, if you've got it right or wrong, tends to be on the marathon for me. So the long distance swim, I was just purely using gels. Um, every every lap around, I would take a couple. So so that that didn't seem to be uh an issue at all for me, fortunately. I was more worried about how my just body was gonna hold up my shoulders. Um, but yeah, no, body felt good for it. So yeah.

Larry 50:52

So I'm guessing you've given some thought then to how you're gonna plan your nutrition over three days, because that is probably the thing that wrecks the most races at Ultraman. Because if people haven't done an Ultraman before, they they know how to nutrition get their nutrition for an Iron Man, but when you're doing it three days in a row, that that third day is still relying on your nutrition on day one. That once you get into your deficit, it's it just digs you deeper. So what what sort of plan do you have in place on your nutrition?

Marla 51:26

Well, planning, which is extremely important. So I I am very I will be very regimented with my plan on when I'm taking what and have it all broken down. Um so you know, I I will need to kind of experiment and tweak it as I get out into those longer volumes with the training volumes, just to see how much I need when. But I again I think it will come down to the the third day with the marathon, the double marathon for sure, because the biking and the the swim bike day, uh I think just what I've already done, what works for me, I'm fairly confident that will continue to work for me. I had the opportunity to crew for a girlfriend um in 2019 at the Ultra 520. And I was I was with her on the run. And uh just trying to keep her kind of consistent and help her again with the nutrition. It was the key, the key component when to drink, when to eat, how much to take on, when. So I will have that all broken down in my race plan for my nutrition as I lead up to it and yeah, have to maybe gauge and adjust a little bit depending on what type of heat we get on the end of July.

Larry 52:53

Of your 16 uh Iron Man races you've done, do you do you have a favorite? Is there a place that you went to that is like maybe maybe not even like you had your best race there, but you you have like a fond memory of of the place itself or the people you met there?

Marla 53:09

Well, it's hard not to say Kona and the world championships. And for I mean, until you've had the opportunity to experience it, you can't even really imagine it until you're there. And for me, it wasn't even as I was early on in my days of starting the Iron Man journey, it wasn't on my radar. I mean, in part because I never really thought I'd get there, perhaps. And it just wasn't something that I was that familiar with until I actually had the opportunity to qualify and and go. And it was like, wow, like the just the camaraderie of racing with people from all over the world and the excitement, and and it's just such a well-oiled machine. I mean, they've got that, they've got that race dialed so well and a beautiful setting, of course. Um, not that I I don't tend to race as well in the heat, I I prefer cooler temperatures. Um, but yeah, just it it really is the top race, the pinnacle of racing for me. And then second to that would probably be the Boston Marathon, which in a way was similar, kind of just the grandioseness. As soon as you got off the plane in Boston, it was just like, welcome to the Boston Marathon. And it was just, it was it's really exciting. And you know, you just know when a place is really behind the event, you can feel it. And again, that energy and that excitement is it means so much as an athlete. You get so much back from that. So those would be my favorites.

Larry 54:47

Yeah.

Marla 54:48

I mean, racing, of course, racing in in Whistler for Iron Man Canada. We had it for seven years and hometown, uh, you know, favorite. Um, I mean, my favorite place to be in my terrain, and you know, talk about making it easy to be able to visualize because these are all the areas that I, you know, get to run and ride and swim in. Um but I always actually love getting to travel and and go away for races too. And I have an extremely I'm super fortunate and grateful to have a very supportive family, a partner, and parents that love to travel and come with me to the races. And so it ends up being quite a family affair when I do choose to travel to a different race, whether it's you know, somewhere else in Canada or somewhere else in North American states.

Larry 55:38

So I think with your your world championships, then are you still of the mind of if I qualify, I'm going, or are you like, okay, it's great, I've done it, I could save that money and travel to a different race.

Marla 55:55

No, I think I'm still at the mindset I would go again. You know, the first time I went was in 2015. And at that time I thought it would just be a one-shot time, one and only, but it's pretty addicting to get to go. It's just it's such a yeah, it's such a fantastic opportunity. So, you know, I'm so I feel so grateful for having the chance to have gone four times. But if there's a fifth opportunity, I would definitely embrace it, yeah, and go.

Larry 56:28

And the the 2015 race, um, that was kind of a famous race in Whistler. And and you're getting to go to Kona is kind of a bit of a story as well.

Marla 56:43

You did your homework. Yes, yeah, I actually wasn't gonna bring it up, but um, yes, that definitely was quite the um surprise, the shock. I can honestly say I was completely oblivious to what was going on on race day. I I mean I didn't know the competitor at all. And even when I was up on the on the stage for the podium, on the podium getting our awards, at that point I was still oblivious to what was what had happened on race day, but I still I remember being up on the stage and the first place and second place female turned to, well, the ones that thought they had come in first and second, turned to the woman that had been given the first place award. And they were like, Where did you pass me on the in the course? And I was like, Wow, I wonder what's going on. I had no idea. And I I really didn't know what had happened, and it was probably a week later we had traveled up. My partner and I had traveled up to the Okanagan. We were actually visiting some friends in Naramata. And then I started getting all of these my my text messages going off. I'm getting all these bizarre emails about we think you actually uh should have qualified to go to the worlds. This somebody has cheated in your age category, which means if they get disqualified, you will get to go to the worlds. And I was just dumbfounded. Like I, you know, initially I didn't even uh want to believe it. And I didn't want to get very I didn't want to get caught up in it, and because I just had no idea, I was completely shocked by it all.

Larry 58:40

So at this point, I'm just gonna break in to bring some context to this story that Marla clearly is hesitant to speak about as the person who benefits from the cheating scandal investigation. I'm sure many of you already know the story that she is speaking about, as it was widely discussed through the Iron Man world on Slow Twitch. But just in case, I thought I would fill in some of the gaps. There is a New York Times article that gives a forensic account of how Julie Miller, the athlete in question, was eventually disqualified after being given the benefit of the doubt prior to the award ceremony that Marla was just speaking about. The problem was that Julie had, air quotes, lost her timing chip in the T2 transition, but not the timing band. Here's a quote from the article, which I will attach to the show notes for listeners' reference. Dissatisfied with the response of race officials, they methodically gathered evidence from the minutia of her record, official race photographs, timing data, photographs from spectators along the routes, the accounts of other competitors and volunteers who saw or did not see Miller at various points. Much of it suggested that Miller simply could not have completed some segments of the race in the times she claimed, and it all raised grave questions about the integrity of her results at Whistler and other races. Now, much of that information discussed in the article comes from Okanagan resident and web designer for the Ultraman Canada website, James Young, who was one of the leaders of putting the case together, as his partner Claire Young was also caught up in the podium shuffle and eventually awarded second place. Slow Twitch became the hub for the exciting stories and the digital photos, which of course are digitally timestamped. So despite Miller's claims of innocence, the evidence presented to Iron Man officials caused her to be stripped of several past titles and barred indefinitely from competing in future Iron Man events. To this day, I should say, Julie has not admitted any wrongdoing. As a result, Marla became the fortunate beneficiary of the dedication of the athletes who took it upon themselves to do the investigation. Now back to Marla's account of how she was affected by all of this.

Marla 1:01:09

So about a week went by, and I, you know, I kind of just assumed it would maybe peter out. Well, it certainly didn't. I mean, it just continued to ramp up and ramp up, and the amount of bigger, bigger and bigger, and then of course, once you know it came to light what had happened. And you know, all the people that I mean, I was just absolutely amazed at all the people that were rallying behind the situation and wanting to, you know, make it right. Um, and then when I, because this was now at the beginning of the race, Iron Man Canada was at the end of July. I think I started getting notified at the beginning of August. And it probably took the entire month of August. I don't think I actually was notified until beginning of September that then this racer had been disqualified from Iron Man Canada and found to be have cheated in the race. And then I was given the opportunity to go to the world. So now we are about four weeks, maybe less than four weeks out. So trying to scramble to a uh think about ramping up my training because I had, you know, thought my race um season was over after Iron Man Canada. So having to think about ramping up again and trying to get to a place of well, peaking or just getting back into race ready uh performance and getting accommodations in Kona with that little time, everything sells out and all my the logistics, the travel. And I mean, it was quite the whirlwind for sure. And initially, uh yeah, I mean, I I was just didn't believe it that it was gonna happen. Yeah, and then it did. So, and and then once I'm actually there in Kona, I again I'm absolutely dumbfounded at how many people knew about it. And I actually had people coming up to me at the swim because my partner would come down and with the swim, and when he'd be in conversation with people, and when it came out that you know, who I was, people wanted to take photos and it was it was absolutely absurd and bonkers. And I remember because it was the first time me going, so I took everything in. I did the parade of athletes, uh the nations, and when again people found out, you know, me racing with Canada and the athletes' breakfast for that Canada would put on. When people found out who I was, uh unbeknownst to me that it this is even you know caught wind outs outside of Sea to Sky Corridor, people were just all over it, and I couldn't believe it. I just was oblivious to it. But yeah, and then obviously, I mean it's a sad situation. Uh I'm super fortunate to have had the opportunity to go because of that. And then the next year with Iron Man Canada, I don't think I because I I wouldn't have even realized what was what kind of the little ceremony that goes into when you actually um have the opportunity to get your name called out and to go to Kona and do you want it? The whole lay, that whole, that whole little ceremony when I realized that I didn't get to have that the first year. So then I got it the my second year for qualifying, it just was all that more yeah, exciting and enriching. And yeah, so yes, that was quite the beginning to the world championships.

Larry 1:04:50

Yeah, you probably have the most interesting how I get to the world championship story.

Marla 1:04:55

Yes. Uh-huh. I had people in New York, friends in New York, calling me because they had read about the story in the New York Times. And I'm just like, oh my goodness.

Larry 1:05:04

Yeah, apparently, apparently, the New York Times, that was one of their most commented on stories of the year. That's that's how everybody knew you.

Marla 1:05:14

Uh-huh. Exactly.

Larry 1:05:18

So, what I'd like to do now is I always do a little two minutes in transition. So we we've talked about your sporting life a little bit, but we want to get to know you as what you do outside of the sport as well, so that we get the full profile of our athletes that are coming to the race. So, um, just to get over to that side, I I do a thing called two minutes in transition. I'll give you a couple lightning round questions and you can do quick answers, and we'll see how many of those we can get through in two minutes, and we'll talk about more your personal life.

Marla 1:05:50

Okay.

Larry 1:05:51

Got it. What is a bucket list event or something that is on your current radar?

Marla 1:05:57

Ultimately!

Larry 1:06:02

Do you know what is your biggest mileage week? Like total all in. What's your biggest week?

Marla 1:06:08

You know, once I'm kind of up at my volume for Iron Man, though, training, Iron Man distance. I haven't done the Ultraman training distance yet. So I would say uh eight 18 to 20 hours a week. I mean, I start to look at it as a like a part-time job. So yeah. And I guess that's only gonna get longer.

Larry 1:06:31

And and do you uh do you train with music?

Marla 1:06:34

No, never.

Larry 1:06:36

Do you just enjoy the sounds of where you're reading?

Marla 1:06:39

I really do. I'd rather feel uh immersed in my environment. And yeah, there's just something for me that makes it more tactile in that regard. I can it's one of the things I I've never gravitated towards listening to music. I did do an ultraman, uh sorry, an ultra marathon, and I listened to an audiobook once for that one. Uh eight hours plus, but uh no, generally no music.

Larry 1:07:11

What is uh something that you like to do that does not involve swim, bike, and run?

Marla 1:07:16

Right. Uh cooking. I really enjoy cooking and and baking with my have a 13-year-old niece that um I enjoy baking with.

Larry 1:07:28

As a as an athlete, a lot of athletes do have their, you know, special nutritional requirements or restrictive diets in some way. Do you have any anything in your diet that is special or I am a vegetarian?

Marla 1:07:44

I mean, I do eat seafood uh occasionally, but I am a vegetarian and I have been for 30 years. Um but I have a sweet tooth. I I love chocolate, I love desserts. Um so I'm I I eat well, I'm conscious of what I eat, but I enjoy eating also. And I so I don't limit myself because it's part of when I as much as I train and am active, I think the enjoyment of eating that that's part of my yes.

Larry 1:08:18

Where do you where do you go to find some new good healthy recipes then?

Marla 1:08:22

Um I love reading cookbooks. So I just got the new Oshi Glows cookbook for dinner. Um so I love reading, yeah, healthy nutritionists, nutrition easy recipes and trying new recipes all the time.

Larry 1:08:41

I know that you work with the Whistler Housing Authority as well. That's kind of what I guess pays your for your toys. Um can you tell me a little bit about that job and and what it what does it do? Because as people that have been there will know, Whistler is kind of a small, small town and it's confined in its ability to grow based on being in the in the little valley and the infrastructure that's available to the city. So um housing affordability is a an issue all over British Columbia. Um obviously being um a resort and an attractive place to be, it's it's also um something that happens in Whistler. So what is it that you do at the Housing Authority?

Marla 1:09:25

I'm the general manager of the housing authority, so I run the organization and the Whistler Housing Authority uh oversees Whistler's affordable housing program, of which we have both affordable homeownership and affordable rental housing that's restricted exclusively for the workforce in Whistler. Because as you say, Larry, I mean, Whistler is a desirable place and it's also an expensive place to live. And without the inventory of housing that's restricted for locals, I mean, many locals wouldn't be able to afford to live in the community. But the housing that we provide is probably about 50% of the market costs, be it market rents or be it market ownership. So it really enables our workforce to be able to, well, for Whistler to be able to attract and retain and sustain a local workforce. And we essentially take out kind of this the speculation out of the real estate market for locals to be able to afford to live and work in in the resort community.

Larry 1:10:31

So that's that's that's it's great that that Whistler had the foresight to plan that because I know there were there were stories of people that were coming and like renting closets to live in while they were here and things. And yeah, so it's it's great that it's great work that you do to make sure that everybody has a reasonable place to live.

Marla 1:10:51

Yeah, it is. It is great, and it's it's rewarding work.

Larry 1:10:56

Okay, well, thank you very much for uh taking the time to come and uh do the Zoom meeting and and help us to get to know you. And uh I look forward to meeting you in actual person and not in the camera.

Marla 1:11:09

Yes, likewise. Well, thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to share some of my interests and passions and my goals. Thank you.

Mary Jo 1:11:21

And now here's another Steve King story.

Steve King 1:11:26

So let me introduce you to a lady who has won the World Ultraman title on six different occasions. The first time was in 2003 at the age of 29. She won again in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. 2009 was in fact her fastest ever winning time at 2548-46. Her closest win was also that year uh when Kathy Winkler also bested the previous record, but she found herself 16 minutes and eight seconds down on this line. In 2009, this lady also uh came to Ultraman Canada and came fourth behind Amber Montfort, Barbie Brochou, and Andy Raymer. 2010, we have to remember as well, she was third to Amber Montfort, who recorded what is still the uh world best in terms of an Ultraman World Championships. She did a 24-07, and she is a three-time champion. In second place in 2010 was Hilary Biscay, who ended up uh winning the event in 2013 and placed third overall, did a 24-30-50 there. And in fact, it was this lady who was third that year who did a 24-43-57, which actually was a personal best by 62 minutes. So there are three women who have now placed third overall at the World Championships at the Ultraman, Artis Poe, Amber Montfort, and Hilary Biscay. In fact, two women have won the Ultraman distance races overall. Kate Bevelakwa, the Australian, did that in Canada, and Amy Van Tassel of the US did that in Israel. Let's not forget the world best that happened in Florida when she finished second overall. That was Didi Grisbauer, who not only slammed through the 24-hour barrier, but went inside 23 hours, a stunning performance. But the lady I'm referring to, a six-time world champion, has also raced at the Gigathlon in Switzerland. She was a winner of the solo race across America in 2006. She's finished some great ultras as well as cycling. She's done the Furnace Creek 508, but she's also finished the Badwater 216K or 135 miler, which she did in 2008. In fact, in 2009, her final win at the World Ultraman Championships, she won overall, but she also won the heart of a gentleman who won the men's 20 to 29 category, Marcus Joswick, and they ended up getting married. Just like Alexandra Ribera on the men's side, the Brazilian, this lady represents the USA and represents Triathletic Excellence, the six-time women's world ultraman champion that I'm referring to, of course, is Shanna Armstrong.

Mary Jo 1:14:27

Hey, if you liked what you heard today, please tell a friend and be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. We'd appreciate it if you'd rate them in the show while we're there. Truck the name is the people you think we should interview, and we'll get in touch with them and make that happen. Thank you for listening to 515 minutes.