Team BBMC

So much fun racing and giving back at Race Day Events Wisconsin Tri Series Sugar River this morning! Congrats to Brian, Megan and Tom in their great races!

2026 SIMULATION DAY WRAP-UP!
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These are the days that leave us energized. Connecting with and having an impact on people in our community who are building toward big goals.
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We make this event FREE because it seems like nowadays everything, especially in endurance sport, has a price for admission. We wanted to create something that didn’t, so anyone, regardless of budget, could come out, do what they love and leave feeling more prepared for race day.
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This year's event was definitely full of surprises. Up until about 4pm the day before, the forecast showed a 90% chance of thunderstorms. Then, miraculously, the models changed and what we ended up getting was about as good as you could ask for in August. Sure, it was humid, but compared to what August could have thrown at us, we'll take it!
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We swam. We biked. We ran. We worked on sighting, fueling, pacing, flattening the hills on course and a few other tricks and strategies to help athletes have their best day when it counts.
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Unfortunately, we also had a significant amount of equipment stolen directly after the event. In 20 years of doing this, we've never experienced anything like that, and it was incredibly disappointing. But the response from our community was the exact opposite. The generosity and support we've received will allow us to replace everything that was taken, and we are SO GRATEFUL.
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Lastly, a HUGE thank you to our volunteers. These days simply aren't possible without you.
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Thanks to everyone who came out. Good luck in September, and we'll see you in 2027 for another FREE SIM DAY!

Athlete Spotlight - RJ Montes
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THE BIG BUCKLE!!
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Not only did RJ Montes finish his first Leadville MTB race, he broke 8 hours and earned the Big Buckle... not easily done on the first try!!
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RJ is a remote athlete based in Iowa. He was a BIG event guy this year, and he shined. He started off the season with the Georgia Death Race 74-ish Mile Ultra Marathon and then pivoted to Leadville after that... and, to no surprise, he nailed both of them.
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You might think that to do all of this, RJ must have centered his entire world around training. That's not the case at all.
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RJ is an executive by day, coaches his girls' MTB team, travels for races almost every weekend during the season, and is a devoted husband to his better half, Lynette.
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So what's the secret?
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It's having a goldfish mind. It's prioritizing recovery as much as training, believing in himself, and staying focused on maximizing the moment in training.
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He's done this successfully for over a decade with BBMC and has found success in almost every distance and event type he's chosen, including the Ironman World Championship.
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Congratulations, RJ!! We couldn't be more stoked to be along for the ride on your journey!

Athlete Spotlight — Timur Kupa
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In our world, when we think about tough endurance events, we often think swim, bike and run. But there are events out there that push endurance into an entirely different realm—and don't involve any of those disciplines.
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The MR340, a 340-mile kayak race down the Missouri River, is one of those events.
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New to BBMC and training for Ironman Wisconsin, Timur Kupa came to us for coaching with one stipulation: he also had to fit the MR340 into his build at the end of July.
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We agreed... and not only has he done a fantastic job building toward IMWI, but he successfully completed the MR340 for the SIXTH time.
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It took him 80 hours, with air temperatures over 105°, countless storms, a rescue of a fellow competitor, and all of it done on roughly 2 hours of sleep. It's no surprise that nearly half of the competitors didn't make it to the finish.
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Timur, thanks for showing us just how far perseverance, grit and mental toughness can take you.
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Now, onward to IMWI!

Congratulations to this guy, Brian Andryk on his 6th place age group finish at USA Triathlon … Mr. Consistent just keeps on rolling and getting better!

2026 Ironman & 70.3 Camp Wrap
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These camps absolutely fill our cup. We took a break from them in 2025, brought them back with a fresh approach in 2026... and they exceeded every expectation.
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Day 1 (Friday)
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Mother Nature decided to settle up her tab.
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It hadn't rained in Madison in weeks, but by the time we were ready to swim at Marshall Park, the wind had shifted, the rain was pouring, and 3'+ waves were rolling straight across the lake.
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We talked about cancelling... but race day doesn't come with guarantees. Preparing for everything sometimes means embracing conditions you'd rather avoid.
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We pulled our buoys back in (barely), moved into the shallows, and modified the swim. It was wild. One of our kayakers logged nearly a mile in an hour... just trying to stay in place.
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The best part? Watching athletes walk out of the water smiling. The campers who appreciated it the most were those who came in with open-water anxiety. They left knowing they could handle far more than they ever thought possible.
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After the swim we warmed up with dinner from Sugar River Pizza, talked through the Ironman Wisconsin and 70.3 swim and bike courses, and wrapped up the evening with a Q&A.
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Day 2 (Saturday)
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Saturday greeted us with... more rain and wind. Fortunately, temperatures in the mid-60s made it surprisingly comfortable once we got moving.
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Again, we could have waited for better weather... but why? Wisconsin has a long history of throwing athletes curveballs, and preparing for those possibilities is part of preparing for race day.
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Athletes swam up to 2,000 meters, rode their respective race courses with full support, and finished with a supported run before we debriefed over snacks and music.
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Throughout the day we answered equipment and clothing questions, refined pacing and nutrition plans, discussed riding confidently in wet conditions, and talked through how weather can change fueling and hydration strategies.
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Day 3 (Sunday)
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Finally... sunshine!
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We met at Monona Terrace to walk through the Ironman Wisconsin and 70.3 run courses, transitions, and race-day logistics before heading out to run.
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With aid stations every 2-2.5 miles, athletes had the opportunity to practice fueling exactly how they plan to on race day.
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We wrapped up camp back at the swim start with ice baths, Cousins subs, more Q&A, and a lot of excited conversation. After a weekend of challenging conditions, the sunshine made for the perfect ending.
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A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and to every volunteer who gave their time throughout the weekend. Camps like this only run as smoothly as they do because of people who are willing to serve others. We appreciate every one of you.
We'll absolutely be back in 2027, with the same three goals...
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#-1 - Affordability

Triathlon has become increasingly expensive—from race entries to equipment. We wanted to create a weekend that was genuinely accessible.
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Three days. Two meals. Nutrition throughout the weekend. Fully supported training sessions.
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$100.
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We believe experiences like this should be available to as many athletes as possible.
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#2 - Education
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The focus wasn't simply getting workouts done...it was helping athletes understand why.
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Nutrition. Pacing. Equipment. Mindset. Race ex*****on. Course strategy.
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Six weeks before race day is the perfect time to learn, ask questions, and still have enough training left to put those lessons into practice.
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#3 - Connection
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One of the best parts of camp is bringing together athletes from all over the country who all share the same passion.
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This year we welcomed campers from Arizona, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
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These are relationships that continue long after camp ends. We get to follow their journeys, be a resource along the way, and cheer them on when they reach the finish line.
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We'll see you all on the start line in September.
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BOOYAH!!

Athlete Spotlight – Curt Ehlinger
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We'll kick off Curt's spotlight with his result from last weekend... 2nd OVERALL at the Badger Trail 50K... at 56 years old! He's a living example that mindset and consistency are what matter most.
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Curt is a very busy guy, and sport is what keeps him in the flow. He has a demanding career at a university in Dubuque, Iowa. He's a devoted husband to his wonderful wife, Jennifer, and a proud father. His faith is incredibly important to him, as are his friendships. Last spring, he even took a week of vacation to crew and support a friend during the Cocodona 250. He also loves giving back, whether that's volunteering at aid stations or simply finding ways to make a positive impact on his community.
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Curt chooses events across a wide range of endurance sports because he takes the time to reflect on what truly motivates him in each season. From Last Person Standing races, to triathlons, to brutally tough ultras like the Georgia Death Race (74 rugged mountain miles), he embraces every challenge. He's also qualified for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship and the IRONMAN World Championship.
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The thing that stands out most about Curt? His humility. He never feels the need to talk about his accomplishments or one-up someone else's story. He simply loves the human spirit, loves adventure, loves the community, and loves seeing what's possible when he challenges himself.
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Next up for Curt is his FIRST 100 mile trail race at Mines Of Spain... he's done a lot of racing and pacing in the 50-80 mile range, but this will be his first official century!
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Curt, thank you for everything you bring to BBMC. We're incredibly fortunate to have you on our team.
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We were listening to one of our favorite podcasters this morning, Steven Bartlett. He had a compilation of speakers focused on goal setting, daily habits and achievement... Just LOOK at how applicable these are to endurance sport achievement!
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If these don't align for you, find a way to alignment...or hire a great coach who can help you with it. Lots of athletes simply run in the cycle of :
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Set a goal -> Try to Achieve The Goal-> Miss Achieving The Goal.
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It's not because they aren't capable or talented enough, it's because their systems, their habits or their life don't support it !

This week we swam in some pretty rough conditions. Here were the 5 tips (w/elaboration below) that I passed along to our swimmers. Remember that everyone is dealing with the same water. Your goal isn't to make the conditions disappear, it's to adapt to them better than everyone else.
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1. Breathe Bilaterally

Being comfortable breathing to both sides allows you to breathe away from the chop when conditions demand it.

2. Protect Your Breath

Try breathing into your armpit or slightly farther back than normal. This creates a small pocket of calmer water behind your head and can reduce the amount of water you swollow.

3. Shorten Your Stroke

Shorten the front end of your stroke—not the power phase. A slightly quicker turnover helps you adapt to changing wave timing, body rotation, and other disruptions without losing momentum.

4. Commit to One Big Sight

In calm water, it's easy to blend your sighting into your breathing rhythm. In rough water, that often isn't possible. Instead, perform one deliberate, high sight to locate the buoy, then immediately get back to swimming low.

5. Practice Often

Don't shy away from training in rough conditions. Learning to swim in waves builds confidence, improves your technique, and can greatly reduce race-day anxiety.