Duathlon.com: Tell us a bit about your sporting background. How did you get involved in event management and particularly in putting on duathlons and triathlons?
Steven Tomboni: My sporting background is U18 varsity football and wrestling combined with many years on the summer swim clubs. My involvement with the multi-sport world goes back to 1983 and way over training for my first sprint triathlon with a co-worker. A torn left ankle tendon in the last set of lifting after riding 60-miles and running 6-miles ended that first season quickly. Fast forward to November 9, 1992 and the TV channel surf tool landed on re-broadcast of Ironman 1991. Post-traumatic excitement and in an ugly snow storm, I ran 4-miles that afternoon and was hooked.
Living in Muncie, Indiana there are only two types of endurance athletes; those that have volunteered for the Muncie Endurathon and those that will. I jumped right into volunteering to be the swim course director in 1994, then the Asst. RD in 1995 and then the RD for the ITU World's in 1996 where the men's and women's records for the half were set on the same day.
Along the way has been racing at every triathlon distance and 3 Powerman Alabama's and many half and full marathons, taught a Tri 101 class for years where my wife and I meet and producing events from 5k's, marathon, sprints to Oly tri's, youth events and the 2002 USAT National LC Championship in Muncie. I finished Ironman Florida on November 9, 2002 with 11 of my best mates from Muncie.

Duathlon.com: Are there things about duathlons that you most enjoy as a race director?
Steven Tomboni: The best part is: NO SWIM! Seriously, the swim part of a triathlon raises the stress level to the moon for an RD. Also, a course that is really challenging like the one in Muncie brings out some outstanding athletes and is a great sport to watch.

Duathlon.com: Any ideas you'd like to share about making duathlon more popular or improving the sport?
Steven Tomboni: First, the regional qualifiers in 2011 which are being proposed are a good step and a must.
Next, duathletes need to talk up this great sport and register! Your entry fees make the difference. Let's be honesty, money talks and if the business end is great the sport will be greater!
Where is the Holy Grail for duathlon? We need a place or race that calls to everyone's spirit every year. Tough, inspiring, an athletes course and a place where there is real challenge. TV coverage wouldn't hurt.

Duathlon.com: Let's get to your exciting news. Tell us about Powerman Muncie.
Steven Tomboni: Oct 2, 2010 will be the first Powerman Muncie and it will be one of those events you'll never forget. The run/bike/run format is awesome to begin with and why places like Powerman Alabama and Zofigen still draw great crowds. Our venue is second to none in the world and features a huge parking lot/transition area, park setting and an awesome course with the perfect 20k bike loop on great roads with quite a few rolling hills thrown in for good measure; 3 laps for the 60k Powerman bike. Then the run course; tough, hilly, challenging with a nearly vertical climb to the finish line. We will separate the duathletes from the runner/bikers real quick. Bring your A game! We have 2 other duathlon distances in the 5k/20k/5k and 10k/40k/10k just for fun. This is the last race in our 2010 series that includes a May 15 Duathlon, June 12, Aug 7 and Sept. 4 all with the same format: Oly Tri/Du/Aqua-bike and then Powerman Muncie to cap the season. There will be some great swag, an awesome finisher medal and a serious party at the end.

Duathlon.com: What part of putting races on do you find the most difficult? What do you like the most?
Steven Tomboni: After nearly 18 years of event management, I have been thrown more curve balls than Babe Ruth. The most difficult part is concern over safety. We can plan and plan and plan but there are so many variable. I really take safety very seriously and stress over every detail. My friends and family have raced my of the event produced over the years and we want everyone to have fun and be safe.
My favorite part is the finish line. Again, friends and family finishing with tears, joy, pain and smiles make it all worth the lack of sleep on race week.

Duathlon.com: As a race director, how do you define an event as successful? What makes for a great event from your perspective?
Steven Tomboni: Success is a 100% safe event. Next are those finisher faces. Everything cleaned-up before midnight would be nice as well. A great event is made by great volunteers and we have the best in the world. Without them….

Duathlon.com: What kind of things do you do when you're not working as an RD?
Steven Tomboni: I currently chase 4 and 2 year sons around the yard, try to keep track of my 21-year old college senior daughter, race sprint triathlons when possible and enjoy training with my wife, the Co-Founder of Muncie Multi-Sport. And as much bird-watching as spare time allows.

Duathlon.com: Anything else you'd like to share our readers?
Steven Tomboni: We would like to ask everyone to give if possible to the Scott Werts fund at CircleCityMultisport.com. He is a fellow triathlete and a founder of the local Indy club. Scott has been diagnosed with ALS and will fight as best he can with your help.