Mentally & Physically Tough
The Athletes
Sam Piccolotti
“In moments of struggle, you learn things about yourself. You become grounded with the internal drivers and demons. As you push through each mental and physical barrier you begin to realize the demons speak lies and you grow stronger.”
I was raised as a swimmer. I have been swimming competitively for nearly all my life. My endurance racing began by accident. I was asked to do a swim as part of triathlon relay team in the mid 1980s. An asthma attack in the swim brought that race to a short halt. The humiliation of not finishing drove me to train for the sport of triathlon of which I have over 40 years of competition from Sprint to extreme Iron distances. I’m a bucket list athlete. I’ve completed several Ironman Triathlons along with Adventure Racing, Road Cycling, Mountain Biking, Marathons, Ultra Marathons and Obstacle Racing and Xterra Races. I have top finishes in Master Swimming events in several states.
I don’t compete in as many sanctioned events these days as I have found enjoyment In solo adventures and testing myself physically and mentally in new ways. I am a personal trainer, US Masters Swimming and American Swim Coaches Association Level II coach and a Black Belt in martial arts. If the road I’m on doesn’t look challenging, I know I’m on the wrong road.
Sam Piccolotti
“In moments of struggle, you learn things about yourself. You become grounded with the internal drivers and demons. As you push through each mental and physical barrier you begin to realize the demons speak lies and you grow stronger.”
I was raised as a swimmer. I have been swimming competitively for nearly all my life. My endurance racing began by accident. I was asked to do a swim as part of triathlon relay team in the mid 1980s. An asthma attack in the swim brought that race to a short halt. The humiliation of not finishing drove me to train for the sport of triathlon of which I have over 40 years of competition from Sprint to extreme Iron distances. I’m a bucket list athlete. I’ve completed several Ironman Triathlons along with Adventure Racing, Road Cycling, Mountain Biking, Marathons, Ultra Marathons and Obstacle Racing and Xterra Races. I have top finishes in Master Swimming events in several states.
I don’t compete in as many sanctioned events these days as I have found enjoyment In solo adventures and testing myself physically and mentally in new ways. I am a personal trainer, US Masters Swimming and American Swim Coaches Association Level II coach and a Black Belt in martial arts. If the road I’m on doesn’t look challenging, I know I’m on the wrong road.
Zoe Nance
“I do things a lot of other women don’t or won’t do… Be your Ultimate Potential! If I can do it, I know, anyone can.”
“Hi, my name is Zoe Nance, and I like to do stoopid shit.” Would be my introduction at an
Adventurers Anonymous meeting. Zoe means life, I named my business Zoefitness, Life Fitness. Fitness is a lifelong endeavor. I have based my practice on being “Fit for Life”.
My favorite events are 6 to 12 hours. My favorite sport, ultra-endurance mountain biking, and my other favorite sport is swimming. I run, why? Because it is imperative for the sport of Triathlon, and, because we were born to run. As far as athletic accomplishments, I podium at local triathlons, generally place in the top 10 to 30 percent in National events. I was multiyear Texas Marathon Mountain Bike State Champion. I have podiumed at more 6- and 12-hour mountain bike races. I have won and podiumed at 24-hour mountain bike races on Single Speed. Many of my 6- and 12-hour events were on single speed. I have 3.75 Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Belt Buckles. I count the .75 because it was my 1st most memorable, and the one I learned the most at. I have a Stage Race Belt Buckle, and I have run the 50-mile trail race for Silver Rush. I podiumed at my 1st 50k run in Texas.
I have raced Escape from Alcatraz; I have raced the Xterra World Championships twice. I placed top 4, at World’s 6th. My 1st trip to Leadville to race was in 2007, and I would say doing a Long Course Triathlon on the Leadville course has been high on my list for at least a decade. I am grateful that Sam has taken the reigns for making this happen. Why do I challenge myself with these types of events? I would say it’s human nature. It’s what drives me. We are born to be outside, in nature. It’s my meditation, it’s the time in my life I am able to hear The Voice, I am able to connect with Spirit, it’s the time I clear my mind, and am open to all of life’s possibilities. I do things a lot of other women don’t or won’t do. I have been asked, “if no one else show’s up, and you take the win, does it count?” It absolutely counts. If you’re the only one with the determination to show up, then you absolutely deserve that 1st place finish, or QOM. I would say that it is human nature to always be the best version of ourselves. To reach for more, to challenge ourselves.
“Be Your Ultimate Potential”. If I can do it, I know, anyone can!
Zoe Nance
“I do things a lot of other women don’t or won’t do… Be your Ultimate Potential! If I can do it, I know, anyone can.”
“Hi, my name is Zoe Nance, and I like to do stoopid shit.” Would be my introduction at an
Adventurers Anonymous meeting. Zoe means life, I named my business Zoefitness, Life Fitness. Fitness is a lifelong endeavor. I have based my practice on being “Fit for Life”.
My favorite events are 6 to 12 hours. My favorite sport, ultra-endurance mountain biking, and my other favorite sport is swimming. I run, why? Because it is imperative for the sport of Triathlon, and, because we were born to run. As far as athletic accomplishments, I podium at local triathlons, generally place in the top 10 to 30 percent in National events. I was multiyear Texas Marathon Mountain Bike State Champion. I have podiumed at more 6- and 12-hour mountain bike races. I have won and podiumed at 24-hour mountain bike races on Single Speed. Many of my 6- and 12-hour events were on single speed. I have 3.75 Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Belt Buckles. I count the .75 because it was my 1st most memorable, and the one I learned the most at. I have a Stage Race Belt Buckle, and I have run the 50-mile trail race for Silver Rush. I podiumed at my 1st 50k run in Texas.
I have raced Escape from Alcatraz; I have raced the Xterra World Championships twice. I placed top 4, at World’s 6th. My 1st trip to Leadville to race was in 2007, and I would say doing a Long Course Triathlon on the Leadville course has been high on my list for at least a decade. I am grateful that Sam has taken the reigns for making this happen. Why do I challenge myself with these types of events? I would say it’s human nature. It’s what drives me. We are born to be outside, in nature. It’s my meditation, it’s the time in my life I am able to hear The Voice, I am able to connect with Spirit, it’s the time I clear my mind, and am open to all of life’s possibilities. I do things a lot of other women don’t or won’t do. I have been asked, “if no one else show’s up, and you take the win, does it count?” It absolutely counts. If you’re the only one with the determination to show up, then you absolutely deserve that 1st place finish, or QOM. I would say that it is human nature to always be the best version of ourselves. To reach for more, to challenge ourselves.
“Be Your Ultimate Potential”. If I can do it, I know, anyone can!
Kathy Duryea
Kathy is an extraordinary endurance athlete who has excelled across a wide range of disciplines over the past several decades. Starting as a standout long-distance runner in her youth, she went on to become a highly accomplished cyclist, off-road triathlete, mountain biker, and adventure racer.
Her cycling career was particularly notable, including a bronze medal at the Masters World Mtn Bike Championships in 1998 and rankings in the top 50 of the World Cup Mtn Bike Series and top 25 in the NORBA National series. She was also a multi-time Texas state mountain bike and criterium champion.
Kathy’s triathlon achievements are equally impressive. She completed her first triathlon event while 5 months pregnant, and later achieved her dream of competing in Ironman distance triathlons off-road. She also won 2 gold, a silver and a bronze medal at the ITU World Championships in off-road triathlon 4 years in a row.
In addition to cycling and triathlons, Kathy has excelled in a variety of other endurance disciplines. She has completed numerous ultra-distance trail running events, motorcycle enduros, and adventure races – including a 7-day expedition race with the Eco-Primal Quest.
Kathy’s athletic accomplishments are truly remarkable, especially considering she has maintained this high level of performance over such a long period of time spanning 4.5 decades. Her drive to seek out “epic” events and push her limits is inspirational.
Kathy Duryea
Kathy is an extraordinary endurance athlete who has excelled across a wide range of disciplines over the past several decades. Starting as a standout long-distance runner in her youth, she went on to become a highly accomplished cyclist, off-road triathlete, mountain biker, and adventure racer.
Her cycling career was particularly notable, including a bronze medal at the Masters World Mtn Bike Championships in 1998 and rankings in the top 50 of the World Cup Mtn Bike Series and top 25 in the NORBA National series. She was also a multi-time Texas state mountain bike and criterium champion.
Kathy’s triathlon achievements are equally impressive. She completed her first triathlon event while 5 months pregnant, and later achieved her dream of competing in Ironman distance triathlons off-road. She also won 2 gold, a silver and a bronze medal at the ITU World Championships in off-road triathlon 4 years in a row.
In addition to cycling and triathlons, Kathy has excelled in a variety of other endurance disciplines. She has completed numerous ultra-distance trail running events, motorcycle enduros, and adventure races – including a 7-day expedition race with the Eco-Primal Quest.
Kathy’s athletic accomplishments are truly remarkable, especially considering she has maintained this high level of performance over such a long period of time spanning 4.5 decades. Her drive to seek out “epic” events and push her limits is inspirational.
Jon Dorn
Currently the Chief Entertainment Officer at Outside Interactive, Jon oversees the company’s TV, audio, and events groups. He started his outdoor career as gear editor at Backpacker, where he once logged 100 bag nights a year for five years in a row. He’s survived countless bear encounters and mountain bike accidents, and once hallucinated a storm of butterflies in the middle of a sleep-deprived multiday adventure race. He lives in Boulder and has completed more than 50 triathlons and other endurance events – never on the podium but always with a smile on his face.
Jon Dorn
Currently the Chief Entertainment Officer at Outside Interactive, Jon oversees the company’s TV, audio, and events groups. He started his outdoor career as gear editor at Backpacker, where he once logged 100 bag nights a year for five years in a row. He’s survived countless bear encounters and mountain bike accidents, and once hallucinated a storm of butterflies in the middle of a sleep-deprived multiday adventure race. He lives in Boulder and has completed more than 50 triathlons and other endurance events – never on the podium but always with a smile on his face.
Monica Deemie
I am originally from the East Coast and have been living the rocky mountain life in the front range for over ten years. My wife and I fell in love with Leadville, CO after volunteering at the Leadville 100 Race Series soon after moving to Colorado. We built our little slice of heaven three years ago and are blessed to have a mountain getaway. My family and I are excited to relocate to St George, Utah early 2025 to continue our life adventure. I recently took a racing hiatus for the past couple of years to focus on building our family and welcomed our beautiful daughter, Aldyn Lee last August. I can’t forget to mention the queen of the family Aspen, our ten-year-old husky who is always ready for the next excursion.
As far as racing goes, I did not participate in any sports at an early age but always had an interest in fitness which led me to teaching myself how to swim for a local triathlon. I eventually became the youngest competitor in my first Ironman at the age of 18. I’ve completed ten+ since with two Kona, Hawaii finishes. Soon after moving to Colorado, I was immediately intrigued by trail running. Now a proud Leadwoman and a few 100 mile finishes later, my love for endurance racing has yet to fade. I had the honor and opportunity to pace Kathy to her 1st MMI finish and looking forward to getting back to challenging myself postpartum and being the best role model for our daughter.
Monica Deemie
I am originally from the East Coast and have been living the rocky mountain life in the front range for over ten years. My wife and I fell in love with Leadville, CO after volunteering at the Leadville 100 Race Series soon after moving to Colorado. We built our little slice of heaven three years ago and are blessed to have a mountain getaway. My family and I are excited to relocate to St George, Utah early 2025 to continue our life adventure. I recently took a racing hiatus for the past couple of years to focus on building our family and welcomed our beautiful daughter, Aldyn Lee last August. I can’t forget to mention the queen of the family Aspen, our ten-year-old husky who is always ready for the next excursion.
As far as racing goes, I did not participate in any sports at an early age but always had an interest in fitness which led me to teaching myself how to swim for a local triathlon. I eventually became the youngest competitor in my first Ironman at the age of 18. I’ve completed ten+ since with two Kona, Hawaii finishes. Soon after moving to Colorado, I was immediately intrigued by trail running. Now a proud Leadwoman and a few 100 mile finishes later, my love for endurance racing has yet to fade. I had the honor and opportunity to pace Kathy to her 1st MMI finish and looking forward to getting back to challenging myself postpartum and being the best role model for our daughter.
Nicolo Piccolotti
Originally from the East Coast, I was lucky enough to spend the majority of my childhood years in Colorado experiencing the myriad of outdoor adventures and sports that were made accessible to me. Unlike many I was exposed to multisport events at a very young age, competing in triathlons until my early teen years before transitioning to lacrosse. In addition to lacrosse, I was a four-year legacy rider in the Colorado High School Mountain Bike League throughout my time in High School. While attending college at Colorado State University in Fort Collins my passion for endurance training resurfaced simply as a way to explore the nearby trail systems and wilderness either on foot, or atop the saddle of a bike. This naturally set my eyes back on completing endurance events, in the following years I challenged myself with Xterra’s and progressively longer running events. When my father Sam Piccolotti started the Mountain Man Invitational in 2020, there was no question in my mind that one day I would try my hand at the legendary event. In the past, I have been responsible for filming the Mountain Man Invitational, but with an impending relocation from Fort Collins this year seemed as good as any to step out from behind a camera and join my fellow athletes in the challenge!
Nicolo Piccolotti
Originally from the East Coast, I was lucky enough to spend the majority of my childhood years in Colorado experiencing the myriad of outdoor adventures and sports that were made accessible to me. Unlike many I was exposed to multisport events at a very young age, competing in triathlons until my early teen years before transitioning to lacrosse. In addition to lacrosse, I was a four-year legacy rider in the Colorado High School Mountain Bike League throughout my time in High School. While attending college at Colorado State University in Fort Collins my passion for endurance training resurfaced simply as a way to explore the nearby trail systems and wilderness either on foot, or atop the saddle of a bike. This naturally set my eyes back on completing endurance events, in the following years I challenged myself with Xterra’s and progressively longer running events. When my father Sam Piccolotti started the Mountain Man Invitational in 2020, there was no question in my mind that one day I would try my hand at the legendary event. In the past, I have been responsible for filming the Mountain Man Invitational, but with an impending relocation from Fort Collins this year seemed as good as any to step out from behind a camera and join my fellow athletes in the challenge!