Athlete Bios

Cindy Bigglestone has raced and trained at a competitive level for over 10 years competing in triathlons of all distances. Cindy is best suited to long course racing and discovered the Ironman to be her passion.  Cindy runs @Camp Triathlon training camps, Is the manager of Eastside Multisport Center, Team bike fitter with both F.I.S.T and Serotta certifications and Team Synergy Sponsorship Coordinator. 12 Ironman finishes including 2 Kona World Championships - Ironman PR of 11:16 Canada 2005, 1/2 Ironman PR 5:08 Vineman 70.3 2007. 2008 race schedule: Ironman Arizona, Desert 1/2 Ironman, Troika 1/2 Ironman, Black Hills. 

Bryan Urakawa's first triathlon was in late summer 2003, a few weeks after watching the Danskin triathlon where his partner (Sarah) completed her first.  By late 2004 he had stumbled through his first half-iron and then, in 2005, his first full-iron.  Always wanting a bigger challenge, Bryan set his sights on the Ironman World Championships, which has narrowly evaded him so far - with a 44 second gap at Ironman Coeur d'Alene in 2007.  In 2008, Bryan raced Ironman St. Croix and plan to enjoy a number of Northwest races but is focusing on that elusive Kona spot at Ironman Canada.

Ben Bigglestone has been racing triathlons since 1989. Over the years he has competed in all distances, from sprint to ironman. A lover of the sport Ben has made triathlon his career and works full time as a Triathlon coach and consultant for TYR Sport where he looks after their interests at the North America Sport Ironman and 70.3 Events. A degree in Sport and Exercise Science and with nineteen years of racing and training under his belt, Ben is well qualified to co-ordinate some of the team workouts and help guide team members through their next event. Ben is currently President of Team Synergy.

Max Long has been doing triathlons for about four years now and came late to the sport after back problems in Rugby forced him to quit. He has tended to stick to the middle distance Tri’s and so far he hasn't competed in anything longer than Half Ironman. Max hopes to do an Ironman but  will probably wait for his youngest child to get a little older before he commits to the training. This year his is planning on doing mostly local Olympic distance races at Cascades Edge, Federal Way etc. If the season goes well he would like to do a Half Ironman late in the year and also try and qualify for Alcatraz again!

Chris Esposito started triathlon in 2004, doing his first sprint triathlon as a relay with his daughter Dawn, a competitive swimmer. He learned to swim in 2005 and did his first Olympic at the end of that season.  Chris's best finish that year was top ten in Masters Men for the Lake Sammamish sprint. In 2006 his season culminated with the Grand Columbian Half Iron as his first long course race and signing up for Ironman Canada in 2007. The 2007 season training went very well, including the first Tri One O One race in Clear Lake, CA and the Troika Half Iron in Spokane. Chris's 2007 IMC race ended prematurely when he was hit by a car during the bike portion but he has signed up again for 2008.

Catrena Sullivan did her first triathlon as a freshman in college in 1986. She did it on a mountain bike and loved it but never gave it another thought until 5 years ago when a friend was doing the Danskin. She decided to give it a "tri" and was hooked. Now she races sprints, olympics and half ironman distances. Her favorite part of the sport is all of the great people she has met training and racing. She is the happy mother of two children and the proud owner of one Pug and one Boxer. She always remembers to thank her Sponsor...her husband Sean!

Lee Wiseman started competing in triathlons in 2006. He has a background in long distance mountaineering so he was drawn to the long course and signed up for the Pacific Crest ½ Ironman before his first swim lesson. In 2006 Lee completed two ½ Ironmen, three Olympics and one sprint. (his first and last sprint) After getting a good taste of competing in 2006, Lee signed up for Ironman Canada 2007. The 2007 season would end with two more ½ Ironmen, one Olympic and completion of Ironman Canada. In 2008 Lee is working to balance a marriage, a career and long distance training and enjoying himself along the way.

Andrew Morlidge says "I took up triathlons five years ago because I found just running rather boring. After successfully completing many sprint and Olympic lengths I moved on to the half ironman distance last year, and this year completed my first full ironman at Coeur D'Alene. My family are all very proud of me and turn up to cheer me on whenever possible". 

Thomas Gruver did his first triathlon over a decade ago… and thought he might die in the swim. Knowing nothing about the sport, he was the only swimmer in the water without a wetsuit. Later… during the run, one of the safety pins holding his number on came undone and he proceeded to bleed all over his white jersey. Suffice to say… it was several years later before he ventured into the sport again. With a huge passion for cycling, and at the urging of several world-class friends, he did his first half IM in 2003, and was hooked. Next year was his first full distance Ironman, where he learned the true meaning that “nutrition” is the fourth discipline in the sport. The hard way. Since then, he’s done 3 more IM’s., steadily improving in time and place. This August will mark his 5th, and 3rd go at Ironman Canada.

Deborah Rubens got hooked on triathlons in 2001 when she raced with some friends at the Danskin Tri. She loves the discipline and the challenge of the long-course races and so far has 3 Ironmans under her belt. She wants to do an Ironman every year until she's 80! Then she'll take a break.

Hans Lund says "I was born in 1966 in Denmark and moved to Seattle to become a Husky in 1989.  I have two kids but only one wife.  Visiting Penticton in 2004 I saw my first Triathlon (Ironman Canada), and swore on the spot to learn how to swim and come back as a competitor.  I completed my first and so far only full Ironman at Ironman Canada 2007 and had a blast.  Due to family and work obligations I have scaled it back to Half Ironman races until the kids are a bit older.  I now typically train 8-10 hours a week, trying to avoid swimming as much as possible.  Target for 2009 season is a sub 5 hours Half Ironman and a sub 1h:25min stand-alone Half Marathon.  Other interests of mine include Scuba Diving, Tennis and Mountaineering, with my big dream being Everest after I win in the lottery.

Michael Gordon has been racing triathlon for 8 years. Growing up as a runner and mountain bike racer, Michael turned to triathlon in college as it seemed like a good fit. Through triathlon, Michael has become a more well-rounded athlete and has seen lots of improvements through the years of racing. Michael’s tends to get stronger as the race goes on, as he is a strong runner, solid cyclist, and continuing to improve on his swim. His main focus is racing half ironman and ironman distance races, but he likes to race all distances for the pure fun of it, and to mix things up in his training. After being injured the majority of 2007, Michael has his sights set on getting back to full form and having a strong showing at IM Canada in 2008. In his day job Michael is a school teacher at Madrona K-8 in Seattle.