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In the next episode of the Tech in 26.2 Podcast on Traxamo, I sit down with Brad Kroll, President of MarathonFOTO and Conor Gay, VP of Internal Operations at MarathonFOTO. For 45 years, over 10 million runners have trusted MarathonFoto to capture and deliver the best in race and endurance event photography. MarathonFoto partners with the biggest and best names in running including Boston Marathon, Chicago Marathon, NYC Marathon, Stockholm Marathon to name a few. In our discussion, we cover a lot of grounds from state of race photography in early 2000s to how technology has enabled MarathonFoto to share race day moments with the runners almost instantaneously at the finish line. Enjoy listening! Here are the highlights from our conversation:⛳ Evaluation of race photography
⛳ Overview of MarathonFoto's race day photography workflow and operations
⛳ Technological innovations enabling near-instant photo delivery at race finish lines
⛳ Examining the feasibility of fully automated race day photography
⛳ Exploring potential applications of race photography in identifying unauthorized participants
References
Marathon Photo - https://www.marathonfoto.com/ Chicago Marathon - https://www.chicagomarathon.com/ NewYork City Marathon - https://www.nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathonEpisode info:
Youtube - https://youtu.be/up98519yT5k Apple Podcast link - https://apple.co/4hoayFc Spotify podcast link - https://bit.ly/3A2QLKATranscript and Show notes:
https://www.traxamo.com/tech-in-26-2-brad-kroll-conor-gayEnjoy the episode!
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In the next episode of the Tech in 26.2 Podcast on Traxamo, I have a conversation with Gerry Perez, the Founder and CEO of RUNGP, the leading CRM platform for the running industry. Gerry, who has a background in digital marketing, recounts how attending an industry event inspired him to transition his digital marketing agency into a software company. We delve into various case studies and the data supporting them, emphasizing the most effective channels that event organizers should prioritize to maximize their marketing ROI. This discussion promises to be extremely beneficial for event marketers and organizers alike. Enjoy listening! Here are the highlights from our conversation:
⛳ Pivoting from digital marketing agency to building a SaaS business
⛳ Deep dive into event marketing landscape in endurance industry
⛳ Why SMS marketing is the best marketing investment for event organizers?
⛳ Intersection of AI and event marketing -
⛳ Navigating compliance and what is SWAS (software with agency service)?
Podcast Outline
0:05 Episode Summary
1:05 Introduction
1:51 Founding story of RunGP
3:03 What’s RunGP
3:55 Transitioning from Digital agency to software company
11:45 Background in endurance industry marketing and channels
13:19 RunGP’s core offerings
17:14 Why SMS marketing is the best investment for event organizers
21:29 Key metrics to measure ROI on event marketing investment
26:12 Approaching event marketing for different generation
28:31 Using AI for event marketing for FAQs, content or reputation management
Conversation AI Content AI (writing creatives) reviews AI (reputation management)33:54 Marketing trends in the endurance industry
36:45 Handling compliance in SMS marketing
40:21 Supporting the endurance sports ecosystem through Software as agency service (SWAS)
44:40 Scaling with SWAS business model?
46:19 What’s next for RunGP?
References
RunGP - https://rungp.io/ RunGP Podcast on SMS Marketing - https://rungp.io/podcastSpecial mentions
Chris TomlinsonEpisode info:
Youtube - https://youtu.be/EROW332W_Q8 Apple Podcast link - https://apple.co/3zJgkAj Spotify podcast link - https://bit.ly/4eEPJmZTranscript and Show notes:
https://www.traxamo.com/tech-in-26-2-gerry-perezEnjoy the episode!
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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In the next episode of the Tech in 26.2 Podcast on Traxamo, I sit down with running legend Dave McGillivray - An entrepreneur (Founder & President of DMSE Sports), philanthropist (Founder of Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation), motivational speaker (~1600 appearances from Ted Talks to corporate & local events), author (written 4 books), and athlete (ran more than 160,000 miles - 167 marathons, including 51 consecutive Boston marathons, 80-day trek across the United States, running the 3,452 miles from Medford, Ore., to Medford, Mass. in the summer of 1978 to benefit the Jimmy Fund, 9 Ironman Triathlon World Championships to name a few). He is also the race director of iconic Boston Marathon since 1988. Our discussion focuses on Dave’s approach to adopting technology in races and some of the challenges he believes technology can help solving. Wish Dave all the best for his 10th Ironman Triathlon World Championship in couple of weeks. Enjoy the episode! Here are the highlights from our conversation:
⛳ After running 160000 miles in his legendary career what still drives him?
⛳ Dave’s take on scaling races
⛳ How a trip to NYC Marathon expo in 1995 changed the course of timing races forever
⛳ Covid’s impact on running industry
⛳ Can technology solve for uncertainty posed by climate changes
Podcast Outline
0:05 Episode Summary
0:53 Introduction
3:05 What drives Dave?
5:23 being the race director for Boston Marathon for 37 years
7:28 Dave’s take on scaling a race - Visualizing the event before it happens
8:34 Adopting chip based timing in Boston Marathon in 1996 - there gotta be a way to time and chip a race
11:47 Incremental improvement in race timing industry
14:35 How Dave approach technology to elevate race day experience - managing space and time
19:49 Under deliver or over deliver of promises from technology
24:16 Covid’s impact on running industry
27:39 Challenges on top of Dave’s mind that technology can potentially solve
turning away people when the races are full - I wish I could accommodate everybody that wants to participate global warming and dealing with unpredictable weathers during races34:03 Table top exercises for planning for weather forecasts
38:35 Maintaining integrity of sport in running events
References
Dave McGillivray personal website - https://davemcgillivray.com/ DMSI Sports - https://www.dmsesports.com/ Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation - https://www.davemcgillivrayfoundation.org/ Boston Marathon - https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon Fallmouth Road Race - https://falmouthroadrace.com/ TD Beach to Beacon 10K - https://www.beach2beacon.org/ MyLaps Championchip - https://www.mylaps.com/championchip-celebrates-25th-anniversary/Episode info:
Youtube - https://youtu.be/BWTY7Jgho8Q Apple Podcast link - https://apple.co/3XQjA4G Spotify podcast link - https://bit.ly/3XLA26bTranscript and Show notes:
https://www.traxamo.com/tech-in-26-2-dave-mcgillivrayEnjoy the episode!
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In this episode of the Tech in 26.2 Podcast on Traxamo, I sit down with **Johan Tigér,** CEO and Principal Consultant of Tigertech based in Sweden. Tigertech provides digitization services for endurance sports events to create bespoke experiences for participants. I was curious to learn about Tigertech’s RunRedeem solution that Johan did for New Balance where the goal was to reward runners for their effort when training. We cover quite a few grounds on different custom solutions Tigertech built since its founding during pandemic to trends and role of AI. Enjoy the episode!⛳ Founding Story of Tigertech ⛳ Creating fun experience through digitization⛳ Deep dive into RunRedeem and what’s next for it?⛳ Scaling Tigertech as a services company⛳ Trends and role of AI in endurance tech Podcast Outline0:05 Introduction4:25 Starting Tigertech - Digitization for endurance sports industry9:43 Using technology to create fun experience for participants11:59 What is RunRedeem20:50 Finding first customer22:27 Scaling Tigertech24:23 What’s next for Tigertech26:06 Trends in technology usage in endurance sportsReferences- Tigertech - https://tigertech.se/- RunRedeem project with New Balance - https://tigertech.se/projects/breakfaster/- RunRedeem article on RunningUSA - http://www.run4amc.org/index-466.html- Gothenburg, Sweden Half Marathon - https://www.goteborgsvarvet.se/enEpisode info:- Youtube -- Apple Podcast link -- Spotify podcast link -Transcript and Show notes:- Enjoy the episode!
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In this episode of the Tech in 26.2 Podcast on Traxamo, I have a conversation with Frankie Ruiz, the Cofounder of the LifeTime Miami Marathon. We delve into Frankie’s innovative approach to integrating technology as the race organizer for the Miami Marathon, which now boasts over 25,000 participants. Frankie also shares how, after selling the Miami Marathon to LifeTime, the event is utilizing LifeTime’s event management tools, such as Athlinks and Chronotrack, to enhance both the production quality and the runner experience. We wrap up our conversation chatting about what other interests Frankie is pursuing including to be the Mayor of City of Miami one day. Here are some key focus areas of our conversation:
⛳ Founding Story of Miami Marathon
⛳ Scaling Miami Marathon to 25000+ participants
⛳ Creating better runner experience through technology like crowd science, data drive coral verification, bandit control program
⛳ Areas race industry needs innovation
⛳ Reflection on selling Miami Marathon to LifeTime
Podcast Outline
0:05 Episode summary
1:18 Introduction
2:04 Founding Story of Miami Marathon
5:53 Scaling Miami Marathon through acquisition
10:27 Approach to leverage technology as race organizer
16:39 Data points for the bandit control program
20:58 How Crowd Scientists help to better plan race course
28:18 Corral verification program by Athlinks and Chronotrack
32:32 Frankie’s top of the ming challenges- photography, running expos , interactive race medal
34:13 Frameworks to select technology for better production and runner experience
37:14 Frankie’s reflection on selling Miami marathon to LifeTime Fitness
44:27 What’s next for Frankie
References
Miami Marathon - https://www.themiamimarathon.com/marathon/ Marathon Guide - https://www.marathonguide.com/ Crowd Science - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_science Frankie's Tedx Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK3Wwzyybw4 LifeTime Fitness - https://www.lifetime.life/Episode info:
Youtube - https://youtu.be/pftasoyCmjQ Apple Podcast link - https://apple.co/3ARx3Sd Spotify podcast link - https://bit.ly/3MxUG4zTranscript and Show notes:
https://www.traxamo.com/tech-in-26-2-frankie-ruizEnjoy the episode!
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In the next episode of Tech in 26.2 Podcast on Traxamo, I sit down with Shannan Gove, Cofounder of Rosterfy - an Australia based volunteer management platform used by 3 million+ volunteers and staff globally. If you have been to any events, you know volunteers play a critical role for the success of events especially mass participation sports events. Supporting events like FIFA World Cup, ParaOlympics, ICC T20 Cricket World Up, Super Bowl etc.. Rosterfy manages end to end volunteer journey supporting recruitment, onboarding, expense management, integrations with other platforms thus reducing cost and increasing volunteer retention for organizers. Here are some key focus areas of our conversation:
⛳ How looking for volunteering opportunities to land a job after graduation lead to founding Rosterfy
⛳ How Rosterfy supports volunteer management for nonprofits & charities, mass participating events, universities & colleges, cities & local governments, sporting federations etc
⛳ Solving for having enough volunteers and retaining them for the event organizers
⛳ Why only volunteers and not larger workforce?
⛳ Trends in volunteerism and AI
Podcast Outline
0:05 Episode summary
0:55 Introduction
2:35 How looking for volunteering opportunities to land a job after graduation lead to founding Rosterfy
6:16 How does Rosterfy support managing volunteers for Fifa World Cup, ICC T20 Cricket Worldcup, Super Bowl, Charities & Non-profits, Colleges & Universities
9:03 Improving volunteer retention
10:52 Solving for not having enough volunteers
15:53 Importance for integrating with other tools and processes
18:02 Why Rosterfy is only focusing on volunteers
20:54 “oh shit” moments
23:38 What’s next for Rosterfy
26:13 How Rosterfy is thinking and leveraging AI
28:36 Trends in volunteerism
References
Rosterfy platform - https://www.rosterfy.com/ Miami Dolphins - https://www.miamidolphins.com/ Spartan race - https://www.spartan.com/ Tough mudder - https://toughmudder.com/ Shannan’s top 5 tips for efficient volunteer management - https://www.rosterfy.com/blog/third-sector-featured-leader-interview-with-shannan-goveEpisode info:
Youtube - https://youtu.be/pDOkJKYy9ZA Apple Podcast link - Spotify podcast link -Transcript and Show notes:
Enjoy the episode!
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In the next episode of Tech in 26.2 Podcast on Traxamo, I sit down with Tom Fowler, Entrepreneur, Advisory board member and former President of Polar North America. Tom’s impressive track record includes revitalizing endurance sports businesses like Polar North America, Recon Instruments, Cervelo Cycles or Nike European Operations, granting him with unique insights and thought leadership into the wearables sector of the endurance sports industry. As an advisory board member for several endurance tech companies, including Summa Labs, Nix Biosensors, Hanu Health, Stryd, and Form, Tom offers invaluable perspectives for founders navigating resource constraints, particularly financial limitations. His extensive experience in the sports technology sector, coupled with his background as a former professional triathlete, provides him with a distinctive understanding of both the business and athletic aspects of the industry. Here are some key focus areas of our conversation:
⛳ Turnaround story of Polar North America by focusing on core product strengths, streamlining distribution channels and expanding foot print on DTC (e.g Amazon) channels
⛳ Tom’s take on smart watch industry on how its evolving to be a life coach from sport coach
⛳ Approach & strategies on selecting the right wearable technology products for amateur athletes
⛳ Evolution of health centers/gyms to become life performance management centers
⛳ Handling data privacy in connected world
⛳ Finding minimum viable audience (MVA) to build minimum viable product (MVP) to iterate fast
⛳ Run towards challenges - Tom's reflections on his career journey and advice to those aspiring to follow a similar path
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In the next episode of 26.2 Podcast on Traxamo, I sit down with Gary McNamee, Founder & CEO of Outside Interactive and chat about Simulator product which recreates the race day experience of running a race on equipments in your living rooms. Let’s say you are running the 2024 New York City Marathon virtually during November first week and you have a Peloton treadmill at home; using Outside Interactive’s Simulator, NYC Marathon organizers can bring you the race day experience - running the actual race course with it’s electrifying crowd support that pervades the whole city. And we are going to experience exactly the same on Aug 10 & 11th where people from all over the world can participate on a connected race on the actual Paris Olympic 2024 Marathon Course on Kino Maps platform. Here are some key focus areas of our conversation:⛳ Founding journey of Outside Interactive⛳ Building Virtual Runner/Simulator - Importance of listening to feedbacks and iterating⛳ Heralding a new era of physically interactive television starting in Paris Olympics 2024 Marathon⛳ What’s in Virtual Runner/Simulator for race directors, charity organizations, advertisers, health clubs, equipment manufacturers etc⛳ Discipline, Patience and Humility - Gary’s serial entrepreneurial journeyPodcast Outline: 0:05 Episode summary2:17 Introduction3:41 Founding story of Outside Interactive14:29 What’s ahead for Outside Interactive16:57 Adoption of Virtual Runner/Simulation by the running community30:28 Outside interactive Simulator and equipment manufacturer34:31 Discipline, Patience and Humility - Gary’s entrepreneurial journey42.21 What’s ahead for Virtual racing?References : - Outside Interactive - https://outsideinteractive.com/- Paris Olympics 2024 Connected race by Kino Maps - https://challenge.kinomap.com/en-marathon-pour-tous-connecte- Paris Olympics 2024 Marathon Pour Tous - https://marathonpourtous.paris2024.org/en/l-evenement/marathon-pour-tous- Beach to Beacon 10K, Cape Elizabeth, Maine - https://www.beach2beacon.org/- Boston Local news channel covering Outside Interactive’s Virtual runner/Simulator product - https://www.wcvb.com/article/company-creates-way-for-runners-to-enjoy-races-virtually/12035120Episode info:- Youtube - https://youtu.be/WqgH87zJAU0- Apple Podcast link - https://apple.co/3WwfZIl- Spotify podcast link - https://bit.ly/3yqBCStTranscript and Show notes:- https://www.traxamo.com/tech-in-26-2-gary-mcnameeEnjoy the episode#runners #podcast #endurance #racetech #parisolympics2024 #parisolympics
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In this next episode of Tech in 26.2 podcast - I sat down with Mohammed Iqbal, Founder & CEO of Sweatworks, a product focused health and wellness digital agency based in Virginia with offices in London, Manila, Miami, Montevideo, New York and Shenzhen. With 100 employees, 10+ patents and 1M+ digital lives reached, Sweatworks works with brands like Nike, Strava, Garmin, Bose to name a few. In addition of being an endurance athlete himself, Mohammed is also an investor and advisor to health and fitness startups and the host of the weekly latest trends in fitness and wellness podcast, LIFTS. Here are some of the key focus areas of our conversation:
🧩 How Mohammed’s background in fitness and Sharp electronics paved the way for founding Sweatworks🧩 Why building a services company vs a product company?🧩 Landing Nike as first customer after going through 125 No’s🧩 How Sweatworks is achieving it’s mission of Wellness for all through Digital Fitness Lab?🧩 Trends in wearables in endurance tech industry for businesses & consumers and role of AI
Podcast Outline
0:05 Introduction
3:44 Founding Story of Sweatworks
10:42 Why building a services company vs a product company?
14:46 - Understanding Customer acquisition cost (CAC) in B2B vs B2C
17:40 Landing Nike as first customer after 125 No’s
21:24 Achieving Wellness for all mission for Sweatworks
24:20 What is Sweatworks' Digital fitness Lab?
28:24 Do we have a data problem in endurance industry?
33:46 Trends in consumer adoption of endurance tech
37:21 Making sense of collected data
40:04 AI and endurance tech industry
46:47 Parting thoughts
References
Sweatworks - https://www.sweatworks.com/ People can reach out to Mo on LinkedIn Lifts Podcast - Youtube & Apple iTunes - https://apple.co/46iSMOr Nix biosensors - https://nixbiosensors.com/ Ultrahuman rings - https://www.ultrahuman.com/ Aura Rings - https://ouraring.com/ Customer acquisition cost (CAC) - https://www.saasacademy.com/blog/customer-acquisition-cost-cacPodcast production tool credit:Planning - NotionResearch and show notes - Perplexity and Microsoft CopilotRecording - ZoomTranscription - Restream.ioMedia editing and mixing - Canva MagicAI
Episode info:
Youtube - https://youtu.be/BCSmGnU18ao Apple Podcast link - https://apple.co/4deoK0A Spotify podcast link - https://bit.ly/3y7MVySTranscript and Show notes:
https://www.traxamo.com/tech-in-26-2-mohammed-iqbalEnjoy the episode!
#endurance #running #runners #eventmanagement
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Podcast Outline0:05 Introduction2:34 A quick overview of Movemint platform3:11 Founding Movemint over a bike ride6:34 Finding a product market fit 9:30 Friction points Movemint platform solves today12:19 4 Personas supported on Movemint platform15:14 Deciding on the right Pricing strategy17:39 Strava integration - supporting athletes and organizers21:43 Supporting timers solving the frictions between registrations to scoring to results25:07 Raising pre-seed round28:00 Fail fast moments when building Movemint31:20 How does the feedback loop look like at Movemint32:51 Future of event registration industry38:36 Is Movemint profitable with adopting industry pricing standards as they scale up?40:23 AI and future of event registration industry References- Movemint platform - https://www.movemint.cc/- People can reach out to Zack at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) or on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackisaacs/)- Sample event page from [Headlands 27k](https://www.movemint.cc/events/headlands_27k_2024/), global series page for [Tracksmith Twilight 5000](https://www.movemint.cc/organizers/tracksmith), and [Strava segment-powered virtual event on Mt Tam](https://www.movemint.cc/events/tam_trail_time_trial_2024/) (lowest time across all segments wins).- Underscore VC's [Why We Invested](https://underscore.vc/blog/why-we-invested-movemint/), [Boston Road Runners launch](https://www.endurancesportswire.com/boston-road-runners-and-next-generation-donation-support-run-on-movemint/), [Tracksmith Twilight 5000 launch](https://www.endurancesportswire.com/tracksmith-launches-global-twilight-5000-track-races-on-movemint/), and [USA Cycling integration launch](https://www.endurancesportswire.com/movemint-announces-usa-cycling-integration-to-support-cycling-event-organizers/)Podcast production tool credit:Planning - NotionResearch and show notes - Perplexity and Microsoft CopilotRecording - ZoomTranscription - [Restream.io](http://restream.io/)Media editing and mixing - Canva MagicAIEpisode info:- Youtube -- Apple Podcast link -- Spotify podcast link -Transcript and Show notes:- Enjoy the episode!#endurance #running #runners #coaching
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In this next episode of Tech in 26.2 podcast - I sat down with Troy Busot, Founder of CEO of Athlinks (a LifeTime Company) : the premier platform for race results and athlete data that holds ~400 million race results and counting. As a triathlete and serial entrepreneur, Troy recently launched iLoomi, an expert biographer for writing a life story. Some of the key focus areas of our conversations were:
🎯 Founding journey of Athlinks and pivots to find product market fit🎯 Figuring out generating revenue (through advertising) and retrospectives on mistakes🎯 How to build a company with exit in mind from day one?🎯 Power of networking and finding a suitor to sell Athlinks
🎯 Selling Athlinks to LifeTime Fitness and figuring out how to get things done at LifeTime
🎯 Events leading to launch of iLoomi - celebrating magical moments of life
Podcast Outline
0:05 Introduction
3:21 Founding Story and finding product market for Athlinks
12:36 Getting first paying customer through advertising
16:00 Endurance industry trends that helped survive 2008 recession
20:30 Transitioning into being an endurance athlete and building fail fast muscle
25:45 Building Athlinks as cog in a bigger machine and finding potential buyer for exit
31:48 Selling Athlinks to LifeTime Fitness
33:21 Learnings from building Athlinks - Make the experience magical for end users, celebrate their experience, deeply connect with community; half ur assumptions will be wrong,
37:09 How you build a company with exit in mind from day one?
40:07 Figuring out getting s**t done - life at LifeTime Fitness
56:54 Transitioning out of LifeTime Fitness
1:02:02 Launching iLoomi - celebrating magical moments of life
References
Athlinks - https://www.athlinks.com/ iloomi - https://www.iloomi.com/ USA Triathlon - Splash & Dash - https://www.usatriathlon.org/get-racing/youth-splash-and-dash-series Mapmyrun - https://www.mapmyrun.com/ Lifetime Fitness - https://www.lifetime.life/ Chronotrack - https://chronotrack.com/ Product Market Fit - https://www.productplan.com/glossary/product-market-fit/ Faster Forward Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faster-forward-with-troy-busot/id1538652099Podcast production tool credit:Planning - NotionResearch and show notes - Perplexity and Microsoft CopilotRecording - ZoomTranscription - Restream.ioMedia editing and mixing - Canva MagicAI
Episode info:
Youtube - https://youtu.be/GQRWbMY_jWs Apple Podcast link - Spotify podcast link -Transcript and Show notes:
Enjoy the episode!
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In this episode of Tech in 26.2 podcast - I sat down with Dirk Friel, Co Founder and Chief Evangelist of TrainingPeaks - All in one platform providing coaching, training plans, performance analysis, and data syncs for athletes and coaches. TrainingPeaks solutions are used by Tour de France teams, IRONMAN® World Champions, Olympians, and age group athletes and coaches around the world to track, analyze and plan their training. Some of key focus areas of our conversations were:
Founding Journey of TrainingPeaks to solve a problem Dirk and his father, legendary coach Joe Friel had on their coaching business Hoe TrainingPeaks is built to help people achieve their best through deliberate practice How does TrainingPeaks platform help to run & scale coaching businesses Top 3 trends in the endurance sports industry in the past 25 years : Triathlete paving the way for adoption of technology and coaching Cycling and power meters and innovations GPS and smart watches Can AI coach be as effective as human coach and future of endurance sports coaching in the age of AI.Podcast Outline
0:05 - Introduction
2:40 - Journey as ProCyclist
5:56 - Founding story of TrainingPeaks over a beer with Gear Fisher
14:26 - Getting first paying customer
16:16 - help people achieve their best through deliberate practice - overview of TrainingPeaks platform
18:48 - Scale of TrainingPeaks - if you care about heart rate, speed or distance, TrainingPeaks the right platform
23:23 - How does TrainingPeaks platform supports coaches to run their Coaching businesses
29:32 - Enabling accountability through deliberate practice
33:43 - Trends in endurance sports tech industry in the last 25 years
39:34 - TrainingPeaks university
43:19 - AI and personal coaching in endurance sports
46:24 - Can AI coach be as effective as human coach?
References
TrainingPeaks platform - https://www.trainingpeaks.com/ The George Restaurant in Vale, CO - https://www.thegeorgevail.com/ Foot of the Rockies, Fort Collins, Co (Oldest running specialty store in US) - https://www.footoftherockies.co/ Endurance Sports books by Joe Friel - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Joe-Friel/author/B001JP0ANM?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true Dirk Friel Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dirkfriel/ Dirk Friel Profile - https://www.trainingpeaks.com/partners/dirk-friel/ TrainingPeaks CoachCast - https://www.trainingpeaks.com/podcasts/Podcast production tool credit:
Planning - Notion Research and show notes - Perplexity and Microsoft Copilot Recording - Zoom Transcription - Restream.io Media editing and mixing - Canva MagicAIEpisode info:
Youtube - https://youtu.be/EIA5dU-qRTM Apple Podcast link - Spotify podcast link -Transcript and Shownotes:
- https://www.traxamo.com/tech-in-26-2-dirk-friel
Enjoy the episode!
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Welcome to the share the next episode on Tech in 26.2 podcast - A conversation with Kurt Hansen Founder & CEO of Innovative Timing Systems, one of the top 4 (@Mylaps, @Chronotrack, @Raceresults) and privately held race timing companies in the world. During our conversation, we focus on the following areas:👉 It was an accident - founding story of Innovating Timing System👉 Passion for rescuing animals and love for big cats leading to naming the race timing products after big cats e.g Jaguar timing systems👉 How frustration and anger due to lack of innovation in the race timing industry led to 32 patents 👉 High level over view of how does Jaguar timing system work?👉 Building the infrastructure to scale Innovative timing system to 700 offices supporting ~18000 races across 70-80 countries👉 Why build an unparalleled tech support for its customers, legendary in the industry?👉 Consolidation underway - Kurt’s take on where is the race timing industry heading?Podcast Outline: 0:05 - Introduction3:00 - Traveling 140 countries around the world5:15 - It was an accident - founding story of Innovating Timing System14:08 - Passion for rescuing animals and love for big cats leading to naming the race timing products after big cats e.g Jaguar timing systems16:45 - Drive for Innovation so “that 5K was their Olympic experience”. How frustration and anger due to lack of innovation in the race timing industry led to 32 patents 21:10 - Creating the magical experience on race day - high level over view of how does Jaguar timing system work?33:59 - Building the infrastructure to scale Innovative timing system to 700 offices supporting ~18000 races across 70-80 countries38:17 - Why build an unparalleled tech support for its customers, legendary in the industry?47:27 - Consolidation underway - Kurt’s take on where is the race timing industry heading?References:Innovative Timing Systems website - https://www.innovativetimingsystems.com/Jaguar Race timing systems demo by Kurt - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT8-pZXvXEcIronman World Championship, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii - https://www.ironman.com/im-world-championship-kona
Podcast production tool credit- Planning - Notion- Research and show notes - Perplexity and Microsoft Copilot- Recording - Zoom- Transcription - Restream.io- Media editing and mixing - Canva MagicAIEpisode Info- Apple Podcast link - https://apple.co/4bWDXmD- Spotify podcast link - https://bit.ly/3VjaIDg- Youtube - https://youtu.be/_r1VUANuZuUTranscript & Shownotes- https://www.traxamo.com/tech-in-26-2-kurt-hansen
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Transcript and Shownotes:Episode references:- Bob's personal website - https://www.bobbickel.com/- RunSignup platform - https://info.runsignup.com/- TicketSignup platform - https://www.ticketsignup.io/- GiveSignup platform - https://www.givesignup.org/- 2023 RaceTrends report - https://info.runsignup.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/23-Race-Trends-ONLINE-compressed_3.pdf- Founder's corner blogposts - https://info.runsignup.com/2022/03/03/founders-corner-ramblings-on-what-why-and-how-we-do-things-at-runsignup/Episode info:- Apple Podcast link - - Spotify podcast link - Episode Outline:0:05 - Introduction3:12 - RunSignup founding story6:09 - Growing from a passion project to 40% market share in endurance event registration 8:54 - Getting first paying customer10:12 - First founding team member11:20 - Running Monday morning 9:30 meetings for last 14+ years - listening and executing to ideas submitted by customers12:42 - Monday tasks and onboarding new developers in the team14:04 - Product led growth - starting GiveSignup and TicketSignup18:34 - Building a balanced portfolio for growth with RunSignup, GiveSignup and TicketSignup21:22 - Building empowered teams who acts like an API to optimize for communication26:55 - Transaction based revenue model vs subscription based revenue model for SaaS business32:17 - Tilted seagull revenue model in endurance sports33:13 - Where is the event management industry heading (influencer led events, middle age (40-60 yr olds runners , young athletes)37:53 - Running trends - why there are more woman runners than men?40:12 - Are virtual races here to stay?
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Tech in 26.2 Podcast Intro
