News & Reviews

June 7, 2009
Boulder, Colorado - USA Olympian Matty Reed showed again just why he may be one of the most versatile triathletes in the world, winning the brutally hard REV3 Half-Ironman in 3:59:28. Taking the lead immediately upon exiting the swim, Reed showcased his strong talent in all 3 sports.

"The course was crazy hard, like uphill, downhill, corner, up hill, repeat," Reed said. "I knew it was going to be a strong man's course and that is why I came. I am thrilled to break 4 hours on this course."

Reed, who recently won the Pan American Championships in the drafting format of triathlon, is showing that he truly is one of the rare 3-sport (swimming, biking, running) triathletes.

Today, Reed took control of the race at the gun with Boulder's Tim O'Donnell, and the two blasted the swim together. Once on the bike, Reed powered away from the field and entered T2 with a 2:26 lead. That was all Reed needed as at half way of the run the lead was still at 2:20. Reed then settled in, knowing the race was his by the smile on his face on the out and back section of the run. Reed then enjoyed the finish and rolled across the line in honor of "The Blazeman" (waronals.com), the charity he races for.

"I really love the half-ironman distance. I can show my strengths and really enjoy racing fast and hard," Reed stated. “This distance, an athlete must be able to bike solid and on this course no one can hide. The hills made it an honest course.”

Many were calling the REV3 one of the hardest races on the planet. Reed seemed to just stride along on the run, showing the triathlon world again that his short course speed and his powerful skills combine well at the half-ironman distance. Reed won the 70.3 Oceanside race earlier in the season.

The 2008 Olympian Reed has won all but one race he has entered in 2009 (a flat tyre ruined the streak) and enters a race-heavy part of his season.

"I have put in a good training block this past month and am looking forward to some World Cup racing later this month and then hitting some non-drafting short course races in July. It is fun for me to race across all three formats. My heart loves to race hard and I cant say enough about this race today.... It was hard!!!"

Reed recently raced the Boulder Bolder 10km citizen’s race where he finished a solid 12th, a good training day for the year around Boulder resident.

Up next: World Cup Championship Series Race - Washington D.C. And then World Cup Des Moines.