Team Running Free Athlete Profile: Larry Bradley

Team: Team RF Milton

Sport: Triathlon

Age: 36

Occupation: Wine Forecaster

Home: Mississauga

About me: In 2005, I started to get in shape from a long decade of pizza, beer and donuts. One race led to another and I eventually became hooked on duathlon and have been trying to improve ever since. 2009 was my third full season in the du and in 2010 I will make the switch to triathlon.

Sports: Duathlon, triathlon, cycling, hockey.

Athletic Accomplishments: 2006 -Sept. 2, 2006 – Guelph Lakes 2 Sprint Du – first ever multisport race, purchased my first road bike the week of the race. 32nd of 130 Athletes. I was hooked! 2007 -Met my coach Syd Trefiak in the spring as I prepared for my first “full” season on the Subaru Series. -Raced in 8 Duathlons (6 Subaru, 1 HSBC, 1 Trysport), finishing 9th in 30-34 AG for yearly title. -June 3, 2007 – Milton Sprint Du – first race on a Tri-bike (Cannondale Slice Aero) and averaged 36.5 km/h, finished 6th of 159 Duathletes, my first Top 10 -June 17, 2007 – Binbrook Sprint Du – first time I led the field on the run to the bikes, chasers quickly caught me on the ride but still finished 4th of 66 for first Top 5. -Sept. 15, 2007 – Can. Du Championships in Parry Sound – last minute decision to test my skills and ended up 23rd overall, 6th in my AG behind some very talented athletes from all over Canada. 2008 -Competed in 11 multisport races (9 Subaru, 2 HSBC), finishing 2nd in 30-34 AG Standings. -June 1, 2008 – Milton Sprint Du – finished 3rd of 142 duathletes for my first Top 3 result. -June 15, 2008 – Muskoka Long Course Du – first time leading a Subaru Du onto the bikes with a 3k run averaging 3:39/km. Ended up 3rd overall of 66 competitors. -June 22, 2008 – Guelph Lakes Olympic Du – had best splits for both runs of the race and ended up with my first 2nd place overall finish out of 70 racers. -June 29, 2008 – Welland Sprint Triathlon – completed my first ever triathlon and finished 15th overall of 190 triathletes, 1st in my AG. Used the breast stroke to get around the 750m swim. -July 6, 2008 – Peterborough ½ IM Du – finished first Half IM distance race and was 3rd overall of 60 athletes. 90k bike split was 36.9km/h which was much higher than my initial goal time for the bike. -Aug. 23, 2008 – Ontario Du Championships – had knee injury but raced anyway, 6th fastest bike time, finishing 8th overall of 92 racers, 2nd in AG for Provincial Championship. 2009 (so far…) -Attended 6 duathlons (5 Subaru, 1 HSBC), currently 1st in 35-39 AG Standings -Three Duathlon Wins (Muskoka, Guelph Lakes 1, Niagara) in the year. -May 18, 2009 – Victoria’s Sprint Du – had a very strong showing in a race with many of the triathletes and pros (even after a 2 minute “drafting” penalty), first podium in a race of this class (417 athletes), 2nd of 41 in 35-39 AG. -June 14, 2009 - Muskoka Long Course Du – first time having the fastest bike split in a race, first ever multisport victory, 1st overall of 59 duathletes. -June 21, 2009 – Guelph Lakes 1 Olympic Du – best bike slit in the race with 37.4km/h average, second win of the year, 1st overall of 68 athletes. -July 18, 2008 – Ontario Du Championships – had 4th fastest bike splits at 37.6 km/h in strong field, finished 6th overall, 2nd in AG for Provincial Championship, fastest Olympic distance time of career. -Aug. 9, 2009 – Niagara Sprint Du – third win of the year, 1st of 136 duathletes.

Athletic goals: 2009 Goals - -Win a duathlon on Subaru Series -Win my Age Group on the Subaru Duathlon Series -Run a sub-18 minute 5k (in a race) -Run a sub- 3 hour marathon -Learn to swim to be competitive in Triathlon in 2010

My most catastrophic racing experience was: First marathon in 2005, eating too much pasta (rookie mistake) before the race and having to spend over 5 minutes in the port-a-john. Flat tire in 2007 Niagara Du after hitting a quick opening run and blasting up "The Beast" in a very quick pace. Next race, I was once again out to a good start and then clipped my front tire coming out of transition on the bike. I flipped over the handle bars and lost several spots. Trying to get back into the race, I dropped my chain cranking it up a hill ending any chances at points in a large field.

My most memorable racing experience was: My main 2009 goal was to win the Muskoka Chase Duathlon. I maybe did not train for the long course as much as the previous year so I was going in with olympic distance fitness but a strong will to push past any barriers. After a quick opening 3k run, I got out to the bike course in speedy fashion passing the run leader in transition. I hit a lot of open road and found myself out with the pro triathletes and keeping pace with them for the quickest bike split in the duathlon. I wanted to come off the bike and hit a very quick 15k run but my legs were not firing so I basically worried around the run course looking for my competition. Luckily, my bike afforded enough gap on the second place duathlete and I was able to hit the tape for my first multisport victory.

Favourite footwear, clothing, or equipment: I feel most comfortable in my Brooks running gear.

Favourite race: Muskoka Chase Long Course Du

Favourite race food: Bagel with Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Raisin Power Bars for pre-race fuel.