The idea for this site came while I was launching my own company (Multisport Maps) – I needed people (lawyers, bankers, accountants, web designers….) and I wanted to work with other triathletes. It made sense to me – to hire someone who would understand what I was doing, and who I could trust to do solid work... but I didn’t know where to find them. So, that’s what I created here – a simple networking site for triathletes working outside the sport to connect, and hopefully, to give business to one another. On the left, there's a link to the list of athletes, categorized by their profession - each name accompanied by a short, descriptive paragraph. Every so often, on the main page, I’ll profile one of the people from the list - what exactly they do, what they look like, and best of all, how (and where) they race. I hope you enjoy.

---Brian Burns

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Feature - Mike Lardizabal

Allright, we’ve got another photographer in the house: Mike Lardizabal (or ‘swordfish’ on ST for unbeknownst reasons). From what I gather, Mike is focusing almost exclusively on running this season, but he has some good tri credentials, and he’s a hell of a nice guy (he helped at the beginning of my Multisport Maps project)… we’ll let the single-sporter slide on this one. Mike’s an Ironman finisher (IMLP in ’06), and came pretty close to being a 2-time finisher this past season (he had a tough, nutrition-related DNF). But he didn’t take the most-common route to being an uber-athlete. At the age of 37, he was in terrible shape (even by non-athlete standards)… a chain-smoker even. He decided to start working on it, and promised by 40 that he’d run a local 5k without walking. He finished his first one in less than 25 minutes (he says that’s still his best finish), and he was off. He’s 44 now… veteran of two IM’s, and tons of middle and short-distance races around the east coast. He’s got a couple small tri’s planned for this season, but he’s focused on running now… trying to nail down the elusive BQ (Boston Qualifier).

Professionally, Mike works on his new Audi. No, wait…that’s just a “hobby.” He makes money as a photographer and a film-maker. He works on his own, and sells his stuff in galleries across the world. His work is about, in his own words, “seeing the world, the regular everyday ordinary one, as clearly as possible.” Anything, anyone, any place… as long as it’s real. “If I can pull an emotion from someone looking at my work...maybe triggering a memory or circumstance...then I've done my job.” His stuff is terrific... each piece is worth (at least) a second look. For more on the stuff, you can see his professional blog here, or check in on his (really good) personal blog here.

A couple pictures. One of Mike, and one of his work:



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