Dennis Meeker - Zoot Sports 5430 Triathlon winner
Hometown - Boulder
Originally from - Suffix County, New Jersey
Age - 30

On August 26^th Dennis Meeker won the first ever Zoot Sports 5430 Triathlon, an ironman distance race in Boulder. On a day when the high temperature hit the mid 90's, he went an impressive 9:14:48 - 59:49 swim, 4:49:59 bike, and 3:23:06 run, winning by 19 minutes. Below is the duathlon.com interview with Meeker conducted after the race:

How long have you been racing triathlons?
I started in 1995. I played soccer in high school. I was about 198 pounds and smoked 1.5 packs of cigarettes a day when I moved to Boulder in 1991. Boulder made me change my lifestyle. Everybody was active. I had never really left New Jersey before that. I quit smoking about 6 or 7 months after I moved out here. Before that I had been smoking for about three years.

I did a lot of rock climbing up until 1995. A buddy that I climbed with had a skiing accident so I couldn't climb with him in 1995. I had a friend who did tri's and I did the Monument Sprint Triathlon. I almost drowned on the swim. I got to the end and I was totally hooked. From that day on I was going to start doing this. I kind of just worked my way up over the years.

Before the 5430 what was your longest race?

Desert Sun half ironman distance had been the longest distance. I did it three times. This year I took third overall. I took 8^th in 1999.

Was the 5430 your first victory?

I won the Aurora Sprint Triathlon in 1996. That had been my only first overall finish.

What races have you done this year?

Boulder Peak Triathlon & Desert Sun. I was focusing on training for the 5430 the whole summer. Desert Sun was a training day. At Boulder Peak I did my PR [2:07 for an Olympic distance 2 weeks prior]. Desert Sun went well for me. I felt like I had more in the bank to go, but I didn't go out and explode or hurt myself. I felt pretty strong in the swim. In the bike I felt like I needed more mileage and on the run I felt great. I finished with a lot of energy. After I finished the race I added on another 17 or 18 miles of running.

How did you decide to do the 5430?

I wanted to do a full ironman distance and I saw that race come up. I was probably the second or third person to register. I thought this would be a perfect place to do it, in my hometown. I felt like if I felt real bad I could just drop out and ride home and nobody would ever know.

How did you train for the event?
I pretty much averaged 325 to 350 miles on the bike for 10 or 12 weeks. I averaged about 55-60 miles running a week and 6 days week in the pool. I had points where I was overtrained but I felt pretty solid for the whole summer. I took a 1 week break from that training when I had family members out here.

Were you surprised to win?

Yeah, very surprised. I wanted to do well and I thought I could do well, but I knew I was going up against Neal Henderson and Molina and Romuald Leppers, but I told myself just to stay focused. But once I got up to them on the bike and passed them it became more clear that I could pull this off. It really didn't kick in until the last lap on the run that this could be mine. I still kept looking over my shoulder.

When did you take the lead?

I took the lead at mile 45 or 50 - I caught Molina and Heal Henderson. I paced them for a mile or two and then felt like it was too slow. At that point I just went. I finally caught up to Neal and gave him a hello and just kept going. At a certain point I knew what I should be at in time and speed, but I felt good and I just kept going. I really didn't know what to expect. If I was going to explode I would explode. Dave Scott was telling me how big my lead was. He would take splits and then drive ahead and then give me splits again.

The first two laps of the run I felt good. Then at about mile 18 or 19 that is when it really hurt. I hit the wall and my feet were really burning and I was on fire. But I knew I just had to keep gaining. I probably poured more water on myself than I drank.

When did it hit you that you were going to win?

I think it was probably coming back on the last lap when I was on 55^th. At that point it was mine. They told me there was nobody else close behind me. It really didn't sink in until they told me

How did it feel?
It went through my mind that I set a goal and I worked hard at it and I achieved it. It was an amazing feeling. It was great to have all the friends at the finish line. Most of them have no concept of what we are doing out there. Most of my friends are not very athletic, and then for them to see that they were amazed.

My family came for Boulder Peak [but not for the 5430]. Boulder Peak was the first time they saw my race. I called my mom and told her I won the 5430 and she was just ecstatic. The first words out of her mouth were - `but you didn't win anything at Boulder Peak.' The overall feeling really didn't sink in until the next couple of days. It still hasn't. I still have people come up and say congratulations. It definitely feels good.

Did everything go smoothly during your race?

There was a flasher at one aid station, the same woman on all three loops of the run. When I came by the first time in the lead she said `this is for you.' I told her I was coming around all three times and she said `not a problem.' The support from volunteers was incredible. I have never have any kind of support like that.

What do you do for a living?
I work for Christy Sports about 80 hours a week in the ski season - from now until at least the beginning of April. I go back to the normal 40 hours in April. The rest of the time I work maybe two or three days per week.

Who do you train with?
I train by myself. About six weeks before I gear up with Dave Scott's track workouts. I swim by myself or I do a few masters with Monica Caplan. It is pretty much all by myself.

Results from the Zoot Sports 5430 Triathlon are located at www.5430tri.com.

Below: Race photos of Dennis Meeker provided by Jay Sutherland/Brightroom Photos