Showing posts with label interviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label interviews. Show all posts

Saturday, September 2, 2023

Rookie on the Rise: Interview with Liz Licea!

Liz Licea has burst onto the local triathlon scene in this her first true season of racing. We caught up with her for a minute to get a recap of her season so far, goals for the future, and a report from her recent State Champs victory at East Canyon.

Thanks for the time, Liz!


What’s your athletic background and how did you get into triathlon? What/when was your first tri?

I’m a runner. I ran track in high school and have been running consistently ever since. I got into triathlon with the KOPFC indoor tri series pre-covid but I only did that series once and then stopped. Usually when I get injured running I default to biking and some swimming so last year I decided to go all in into triathlon.

Is this then truly your rookie triathlon season and what races have you done? Which have been your favorites so far and why?

This is my first full-fledged triathlon season. I did Icebreaker last year and really liked it so I decided to do more this year. I really liked the state champs in Mission Viejo, CA.

Fun course and it was at sea level! But Utah-specific, I liked Echo because it was mostly flat and fast.

Liz at Daybreak (photo credit @lettervphoto)


Are you a Utah native or did you move here at some point? If so, how long have you lived in UT?

I moved here from San Diego, CA in 2014

Are you signed up for any more races this season and/or what are your goals for the rest of 2023 and 2024?

I’m going back home and doing a sprint tri September 9th. I’m thinking of closing off the season by doing Kokopelli. My ultimate goal is to race professionally so I’ll be focusing on races that can get me there in 2024.

TriUtah usually has a deal around Christmas time for signing up for 3 races so I’m thinking of still doing potentially 3 in Utah.

Between running events, tris, etc, it seems you have no fear of standing on a start line, which is awesome! What do you enjoy most about racing and what would you say to encourage others to more fully support the local race scene?

I love the atmosphere. Being around fellow competitors gets me pumped up to do the best I can. I love the support and encouragement we all give each other along the way and seeing many of my friends and friendly faces compete.

Whether you're a beginner or an expert, TriUtah or US trisports has a race for you. I know there are other companies out there that organize triathlons but I haven't done one of their events personally so I can't speak much about them.

Whether you were aware of it going into the race or not, the East Canyon Olympic was designated last year as our 2023 State Champs race – excluding Sarah Crowley (one of the top pros in the world), you were the AG State Champ! How did that race play out for you and where on the run did you make that final pass to take the win (by just over a minute)?

I was aware and it is the reason I picked to race the Olympic distance. The race started late because of the shuttles getting there late. I, luckily, found Marco [the Macho Man Menchaca] at T2 and he gave me a ride to the start. Thank you Marco!

However, the fact that we started late messed up my nutrition timing. For the swim I decided to try no wetsuit. I had never swam a race with no wetsuit so why not? Well, it cost me. I've definitely done better on the swim with a wetsuit so I won't forgo that if allowed in the future.

When I got to transition and hopped on my bike, I knew I had a few hills to tackle. I got on a low gear and pushed but for some reason my legs weren't pushing as hard as I was telling them. Then, by mile 5 I started getting hungry. Not good. I had my nutrition in my bottle and that saved me but by mile 21 I was out and hungry again.

Liz at Daybreak (photo credit @lettervphoto)


So far I have dialed in my nutrition based off of 3 races, time to change things up I guess, or perhaps it was the late start. I love being on the bike. I always push as hard as I can because I know that I am a runner and when the run comes, I will be fine.

The run was mostly flat and it was out and back so I was watching closely for the women that were coming back from the Olympic turnaround. I did have a gel on the run that saved me again to push me to the finish. I was picking off runners in the first 3 miles.

By the time I got to the sprint turnaround I started looking to see if the people I was passing were from the sprint or Olympic distance. I spotted a lady after mile 4 with an O on her calf ahead of me. It was time to push. I caught up to her around mile 5 and just kept up the pace until the end.

I have to say, I had just come back from age group nationals, from near sea level, so I am very happy with how I did with this race. I think I felt the elevation for sure. Overall, great competitors and great course.

It appears you’re super strong on the bike and run, with swimming as a relative weakness – what has been your gameplan to improve in the water?

Lots of pool time and open water swims. I am working with Coach Adam Lee to improve. Gotta get that technique down!

Where do you typically swim/bike/run and do you prefer solo or group training?

Based on my training plan I have several groups I bike, swim and run with. I mostly ride with the South Jordan Cycle club on Thursdays and sometimes with their run club on Tuesdays.

Tuesdays are busy with lots of clubs meeting up but for a while I was meeting with a few people at the track on Tuesdays and I've heard nothing but good things from the Salt Lake Track club who I might start joining here soon.


Swimming is mostly at VASA or Steiner with or without a group. I also trail run so I participate at some of the group runs with Women of the Wasatch and Trail Sisters. There are definitely days where I want to go at it alone though so it just depends on how I'm feeling, who's available and what groups are doing what where.

We believe you’re part of the Salt Lake Tri Club – how has SLTC helped with your progress/development as well as camaraderie and fun so far?

I started with SLTC by joining their winter KICKR program last year. Even though I didn't join in on their Saturday indoor kickr rides, I still benefitted from the training plan go at it solo.

In April, when we went to St George to train on the 70.3 Ironman course, I met a lot of cool folks I still swim, ride and run with from time to time.

With SLTC I have made great connections and I feel like I am part of a great community of athletes. I can ask any questions pertaining to triathlon and I get quick responses, I can ask to train with someone and someone always responds, I can geek out over anything triathlon related with these guys and it's always fun!

It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or a pro, you can be a part of SLTC and find great value in doing so. Rory, and whoever he has worked with, has done a phenomenal job in building this club up.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I love being part of this sport, the people and the atmosphere are always very welcoming and encouraging. If you haven't tried triathlon and are looking for something different other than just biking, just running or just swimming, you should try triathlon!

I find that if I get injured from doing one sport, I can do the other 2 and continue on training. You also have the option to do any combination of 2 of the 3 sports. This greatly helped me when I sprained my ankle in June. I was able to do the Aquabike event at Jordanelle.

Then, there's relay, now that's something else I will have to try in the future. The versatility of this sport is immense and there's always something new to try which is why I love it! Happy triathloning everybody!


*****Below is the 2023 UTCS lineup! Check out this post if you need a refresher on how the UTCS works.*****

Show up at 3 or more UTCS races to qualify for 2023 season swag & awards!



Below are links to all 2023 Championship Series races:

Ice Breaker - Sprint
Sand Hollow - Olympic
Daybreak - Olympic
Jordanelle - Olympic
Echo - Olympic & Half!
Brineman - Olympic & Half!
Kokopelli - Olympic
Southern Utah - Olympic



POPULAR LINKS

UTAH TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 2023 --> HERE
AGE GROUP RANKINGS 2022 --> HERE
CHAMPIONSHIP BELT HOLDERS (scroll below)
MOST IMPROVED TRIATHLETES --> HERE
TOP LOCAL RACER AWARDS --> HERE
IMSG "COUNTY COMPETITION" (MAY BE REVIVED) --> HERE

UTAH TRIATHLON HISTORY 101 --> HERE


HISTORICAL U.T.B.
"BELT HOLDERS"



Interview Archives (2016-23):













































Thinking about Lasik or have other eye health needs?
Dr. Brice Williams is offering some incredible
deals for fellow Utah Tri Buzz readers
www.claysonwilliamseyecenter.com




Local triathlete Steve Monson has a stellar reputation
as one of Utah's finest financial advisors
www.edwardjones.com



www.trentperry.com



We started a Patreon account (link below) with the hope of raising a few bucks towards awards & swag for athletes of all abilities in our tri community. We've given out a lot over the past 3 years, but would like to continue to expand our offerings & the volume we can do.

If you enjoy Utah Tri Buzz and would like to pitch in, any amount would be greatly appreciated... (there may be something in it for you as well!)

We're also always grateful for talented people who contribute in terms of time... let us know if you'd like to be part of the Utah Tri Buzz team.

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Location: Utah, USA

Saturday, August 5, 2023

Checking in with TriUtah!

Over the years we've interviewed TriUtah a few times, and it's always good to periodically check in. Special thanks to the Macho Man Marco Menchaca for reaching out to TriUtah's Dan Aamodt to get this "State of the Union 2023" update!

For a great history lesson, we also highly recommend this interview with the original founders of TriUtah from a few years ago!




Do you see we are back to normal after the pandemic as far as participation in sports events?

For participants, I believe so. Participants are excited to be back out playing and enjoying the racing scene! I love seeing everyone at the races!

Like most small businesses, we are still working to overcome the punch in the gut from Covid. However, the vibe and feel from participants in 2023 thus far, is very encouraging!


How big is TriUtah permanent staff and how important is for your success the support from volunteers?

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our operation, and enable us to deliver a positive experience for participants. So much so, we created the Race For Free program back in 2021, where athletes can volunteer for a future free entry to a race.

We also provide donations to groups of 10-30 who volunteer for us. Athletes make the best volunteers! We can't survive without them!


Triathlon, it's our thing... get out and support the local scene!


We see you have added multiple running and cycling events to TriUtah portfolio, how has been that experience and do you plan on expanding with more single sport or triathlon events?

We love hosting events! So, if we can provide additional options like running and cycling events to grow and support healthy lifestyles, without jeopardizing our triathlon event quality, we're all in!

You added a middle distance event this year for Echo. What can you tell us about that experience, and do we expect this to be a distance that will stay in the calendar for 2024?

I've wanted to add a half distance race to Echo for many years. With the fun climbing and fast descending combined with the incredible scenery, it was a no brainer. We plan on keeping the distance at Echo and we also recognize many areas to improve the bike and run courses (bike distance, better signage, etc).

For us to offer two half distance races (one in July and one in September), is important for the growth of new participation in the sport. Everyone wants to race in an Ironman or Challenge Family race.

So, for us to help athletes reach their goals by offering a build-up race calendar (from Sprint, to Olympic, to Half), we are providing them the opportunity to prepare for an Ironman/Challenge race in a fun, local, and affordable racing environment.

This is also why we offer up the Race Three, Save 20% campaign. Athletes can purchase a sprint, an olympic, and a Half distance race and save 20% all while racing locally and preparing for a Full distance event!

Utah has a very large and strong triathlon population, with many athletes favoring Ironman events and not necessarily racing locally, why do you think that is the case? What would be your message to those not racing local events?

Just look at Ironman's rich history and brand power, and that will tell you why Ironman events are so popular.

I've been involved in triathlon since 1988, and Ironman was the king of multi-sport then, and it is king now. It's because I saw the 1987 Hawaii Ironman on TV, that introduced me to triathlon.

For runners, the iconic race to do is Boston. Cyclists, it's The Tour de France. For us crazy triathletes, it's Ironman (or to dig deeper, it's Kona).

All events, whether local or international, help each other out in one capacity or another. TriUtah's mission is to help athletes reach their goals through providing high quality local events; So, rather than compete with the big boys, we schedule our races two-three weeks out from an Ironman race; as a stepping stone to a higher goal.

Racing local is a blast! Plus, supporting local businesses and charities is so much fun because you get to meet, compete, and mingle with your friends...

Do you think local events need an elite or open category and could that attract more athletes?

We used to have an elite/open category back in the early 2000's through 2015. But since then, there hasn't been enough elite participation to justify an elite/open category. If more than one or two elite athletes participate in our events, then we are more than happy to add an Elite/Open category.

Do you see space in the local scene to put a draft legal sprint race? Something like a Salt Lake Classic using a local pool for swimming and bike riding on a closed, multiple loops urban circuit?

A draft legal sprint race is definitely on our radar.

Looking ahead we have still multiple races in the season, do you have any special highlight or message you would like to send to the athletes?

We LOVE the Utah tri community and appreciate all the support over the years! We hope you'll join us either as a participant or as a volunteer!


Keep in mind there are more great Utah Triathlon Championship Series races coming soon:


Next up in the Series! 

1) Mar 25:  Ice Breaker
2) May 6:  St. George 70.3
3) May 20:  Sand Hollow - Olympic
4) May 27:  Daybreak - Olympic
5) Jun 24:  Jordanelle - Olympic
6) Jul 15:  Echo - Olympic & Half (new distance)
7) Aug 12: East Canyon - Olympic (State Champs! + Bonus Points for Season Rankings)


Note for East Canyon there's also a Sprint distance option as a non-Championship Series race. 


*****Below is the 2023 UTCS lineup! Check out this post if you need a refresher on how the UTCS works.*****

Show up at 3 or more UTCS races to qualify for 2023 season swag & awards!



Below are links to all 2023 Championship Series races:

Ice Breaker - Sprint
Sand Hollow - Olympic
Daybreak - Olympic
Jordanelle - Olympic
Echo - Olympic & Half!
Brineman - Olympic & Half!
Kokopelli - Olympic
Southern Utah - Olympic



POPULAR LINKS

UTAH TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 2023 --> HERE
AGE GROUP RANKINGS 2022 --> HERE
CHAMPIONSHIP BELT HOLDERS (scroll below)
MOST IMPROVED TRIATHLETES --> HERE
TOP LOCAL RACER AWARDS --> HERE
IMSG "COUNTY COMPETITION" (MAY BE REVIVED) --> HERE

UTAH TRIATHLON HISTORY 101 --> HERE


HISTORICAL U.T.B.
"BELT HOLDERS"






Thinking about Lasik or have other eye health needs?
Dr. Brice Williams is offering some incredible
deals for fellow Utah Tri Buzz readers
www.claysonwilliamseyecenter.com




Local triathlete Steve Monson has a stellar reputation
as one of Utah's finest financial advisors
www.edwardjones.com



www.trentperry.com



We started a Patreon account (link below) with the hope of raising a few bucks towards awards & swag for athletes of all abilities in our tri community. We've given out a lot over the past 3 years, but would like to continue to expand our offerings & the volume we can do.

If you enjoy Utah Tri Buzz and would like to pitch in, any amount would be greatly appreciated... (there may be something in it for you as well!)

We're also always grateful for talented people who contribute in terms of time... let us know if you'd like to be part of the Utah Tri Buzz team.

Posted by at No comments:
Labels:
Location: Utah, USA

Saturday, September 3, 2022

The Man Behind the Camera: Interview with Victor Villarreal

Special thanks to Victor Villarreal and Utah Tri Buzz contributor Marco Menchaca for collaborating on this interview!

Check out Victor's Instagram account and support his work at letterv.net!

Lastly, keep in mind there are some great local races around the corner:

Brineman **SEP 9th (north of SLC)
Kokopelli **SEP 17th (St. George)
Bear Lake Brawl **SEP 17th (UT/ID border)


First tell us who the person behind the camera is. Are you a Utah native or when did you move here?

I grew up in Southern California, where I spent my childhood riding my mountain bike as far as I could without getting into too much trouble. I ran track and Cross Country in high school, where I developed my love for running. I moved out to Utah after high school with my family. I have now been living in Utah longer than I have in California.


We understand you are very passionate about arts, what else do you do besides taking great triathlon pictures?

Photography is something I began doing because of my love of the arts. With my photography, my goal is to create snapshots worthy of the Nike posters we had hanging up in our bedroom and in our high school history class (my history teacher was our track & cross country coach). 

Not every photo has the same “wow factor” as those posters, but I approach my sports photography as if it would. I know not everyone will be on the podium at Kona, but to some, the local triathlon is their Kona. I feel their achievement is worthy of being captured and being a memory worth looking back at with fondness.


My art background is grounded in architecture and graphic design. Those are the fields I studied in college. Besides photography, I also do chalk murals. My graphic design background and connections opened the door for chalk murals.

I try to create a mural on my driveway for the neighbors to enjoy when I’m able to squeeze in the time between photography, work, and training for my next race. I am a regular at the Chalk Art Festival held at the Gateway. This has become a traditional event for me.


Do you also swim, bike and run? What is your favorite distance?

I do swim, bike and run! I consider myself a runner first, but also a triathlete. My perspective in my photography is an extension of my triathlon experience. I guess the olympic distance is my favorite distance, as it’s the distance I’ve done the most.

This distance gives you enough of each discipline so an exceptionally strong athlete cannot win the race by just conquering their favorite discipline. It’s a great way of keeping a triathlete honest.


I’ve done a few sprints and 70.3s and this year I'll be doing my first full distance triathlon. My experience with the 70.3s have been more of a race in survival mode than anything else. They make for great memories because I survived the poor decision of racing a distance I was under trained to compete in. With more experience in triathlon, and getting my nutrition under control, I hope to do more than just survive Ironman California this October.


Specifically to triathlon why this sport and how did you connect to it?

Back in high school, our coach glorified the Ironman World Championships out in Kona. He wore his Ironman Timex watch, like it was a medal. It made me perceive triathlon on a higher plane.

Since then, I had always wanted to do a triathlon. It wasn’t until my son and his love for the water did I actually take on this adventure. My son, Antonio, was born medically fragile and had special needs. Life tends to take a back seat when your family and loved ones require your full attention. My grand plans in life switched gears in order to provide for my family.


We were introduced to a group that participates in 5Ks with kids and adults with special needs by pushing them in racing strollers. Push To The Finish [ https://www.facebook.com/pushtothefinish/ ] allowed me to introduce my love for running to my son. Tonio (as we called him) and I ran every race we could with Push To The Finish. We then expanded this adventure to half marathons and even ran the Ogden Marathon two years in a row.

His love for the water brought me back to swimming and the dream of doing triathlons together. He loved the freedom being in the water gave to him, but he didn’t care too much for the bike portion as he sat in a trailer behind me. When we ran, he had the best view. The bike didn’t offer as great of a view.


We solved this problem with a grant from the C.H.A.R.G.E. Syndrome Foundation [ https://www.chargesyndrome.org/ ]. We now did our rides on his custom built semi-recumbent tandem by Bilenky [ https://www.bilenky.com/viewpoint ]. The first organized event we did with his new bike was in the summer of 2016, the National Ability Center’s Summit Challenge. He passed away in January of 2017.

Now, my son’s love for racing is what ties me to triathlon. The year he passed away was the year he and I were going to race triathlons. Instead, I dedicated that year in his honor by continuing to race with other children with special needs to fill in for him. My friends with RaceTri helped me achieve this.


My involvement in triathlon, either as an athlete, or as a photographer, helps me share his love for racing with others. I’ve worked with a non-profit that helps promote racing for those who cannot race on their own. The Utah chapter of the Kyle Pease foundation [ https://www.kylepeasefoundation.org/ ] connects athletes like my Tonio, with able-bodied volunteer athletes, who race with them.


Do you work with more photographers out in the race courses or is it just you running around trying to cover as much as possible of the event?

When I began shooting triathlons, my youngest son helped out. There is too much going on some courses during a triathlon to capture everything by yourself. When I'm not able to get a second photographer, you can find me covering much of the race course by myself.

My goal is to capture the moments family and supporters cannot capture on their cell phones. This is why I don’t do many podium shots.


Do you do photoshoots for athletes for social media or other special events on demand? and what is the best way for people to reach out to you?

My camera and I venture off the race course from time to time. I’m best known for race photography, but I also do outdoor family portraits and special events. I can be contacted online, either through email from my website [ https://www.letterv.net/ ] or on my Instagram [ https://www.instagram.com/lettervphoto/?hl=en ].

IT had a decent swim, but totally sucked on the bike and run

How do you see your photographic career growing? Do you have any specific goals or dreams that you are interested in?

I’ve always viewed my photography as a side project. Only recently, have I viewed this “side gig” as something that has the potential to be more of a full time gig. I guess that is everyone’s dream - to make a living doing something you love. The goal will always be to shoot more events AND afford to participate in local races as well.


Which one of the 3 disciplines do you feel is the hardest to get a good shot and why? and which is the one you prefer to shoot the most?

For me, a good shot is one where I can capture the emotion one puts out while racing. No one likes to look like they’re on death’s doorstep, but those make some of the best shots.

I love shooting the start and finish of an open water swim, as there is so much splashing going on. Good shots are hard to get during the swim, since most athletes have their face buried in the water.

I have been known to float in the water with my camera to capture an angle no one else can. Many good shots were missed because the swimmer was breathing away from the camera.


The bike portion of a triathlon are my nature shots. I prefer to capture shots where there are no vehicles in the picture. A good sprint or downhill shot with a beautiful background helps tell the story of how awesome it would be to participate in this race.

For me, the run is the hardest to get a great shot. For many triathletes, the run is just a means to the end, and as a runner with a sprinter mentality, I look for the mechanics of good running form. Instead of capturing a full shot of someone running, I focus on capturing the emotions on their face that the race has brought to the surface.


Finish line shots aren’t as rewarding as the Olympics make them out to be. Most athletes reach to stop their Garmin at the finish line instead of running through it. I get it. The athlete is just glad the race is over.

Do you have a special memory of an event or person you took pictures for?

Pier starts are very memorable for me. I prefer to take shots while being out in the water and in 2021, the East Canyon Triathlon and Echo Triathlon launched their athletes one at a time. With me in the water, athletes began to showboat on how they entered the water. My pictures consist of cannonballs, high dive jumps, belly flops, forward and back flips, even some coordinated double-entry backflips.












*****Below is the 2022 UTCS - the only update we're aware of from the below is that Brineman will be a unique Friday race on Sep 9th. Check out this post if you need a refresher on how the UTCS works.*****


show up at 3+ races to qualify for a slew of season awards!
Update: Brineman is now on Sep 9th


Below are links to all the 2022 Championship Series races:

Ice Breaker - Sprint
Sand Hollow - Olympic
Daybreak - Olympic
Jordanelle - Olympic
East Canyon - Olympic
Brineman **Now SEP 9th - Half (70.3)


POPULAR LINKS

UTAH TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 2022 --> HERE
LATEST AGE GROUP RANKINGS --> HERE
CHAMPIONSHIP BELT HOLDERS --> HERE
MOST IMPROVED TRIATHLETES --> HERE
TOP LOCAL RACER AWARDS --> HERE
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2020 --> HERE
IMSG "COUNTY COMPETITION" (MAY BE REVIVED) --> HERE

UTAH TRIATHLON HISTORY 101 --> HERE


HISTORICAL U.T.B.
"BELT HOLDERS"




Thinking about Lasik or have other eye health needs?
Dr. Brice Williams is offering some incredible
deals for fellow Utah Tri Buzz readers
www.claysonwilliamseyecenter.com




Local triathlete Steve Monson has a stellar reputation
as one of Utah's finest financial advisors
www.edwardjones.com



www.trentperry.com



We started a Patreon account (link below) with the hope of raising a few bucks towards awards & swag for athletes of all abilities in our tri community. We've given out a lot over the past 6 years, but would like to continue to expand our offerings & the volume we can do.

If you enjoy Utah Tri Buzz and would like to pitch in, any amount would be greatly appreciated... (there may be something in it for you as well!)


We're also always grateful for talented people who contribute in terms of time... let us know if you'd like to be part of the Utah Tri Buzz team.



Interview Archives:









































Posted by at No comments:
Labels:
Location: Utah, USA
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