Age Grouper For Life Podcast

In this Age Grouper for Life episode, Colin interviews the great, Raymond Botelho. Raymond recounts how he got into triathlon in 1994 after a friend dared him to do a race near his hometown of Newport, Rhode Island. He had no prior experience but was eager to try it, and was mentored by an experienced triathlete named Jim Merchant who helped him train for his first Ironman race in 1996. Since, he started racing professionally in 1999. They discuss the importance of swimming, coaching philosophies and experiences, and reflections on a storied career. Thanks for joining the podcast, Raymond! You can visit Raymond’s coaching website at https://www.raybotelhofitness.com/. ​--- Show Notes: Becoming a Professional Triathlete @ 3:00 Raymond started racing professionally in 1999, working multiple jobs to support his training. He had some early successes but also struggled with fueling and pacing, leading to a few DNFs. He eventually broke the 9-hour Ironman barrier in 2014 and continued to improve his ti