Monkeys, the bar has been raised once again. Brian Kuritzky is a 24 year old securities analyst at Goldman Sachs. Three weeks ago, he placed a seemingly impossible bet with several of his colleagues - that he could complete an Ironman Triathlon in under 16 hours, with zero training. That's straight out of the Aeron and into a back-to-back 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike race, and 26.2 mile run. On Saturday, that's exactly what he did.
It all began when two co-workers laid down a challenge to the former Cornell soccer player: finish an "Ironman" triathlon in 16 hours. For every minute over 16 hours, Kuritzky would pay his colleagues $1 each, out of his own pocket. For every minute under, the payoff was reversed and $1 per colleague would go to the Komen Foundation.Aside from some research on nutrition and a few laps in a local swimming pool, Kuritzky had done zero training for the event. With his demanding job as a securities analyst at Goldman Sachs, he had only a few hours a week to dedicate to soccer practices, with extended games on the weekends.
Most people that compete in Ironmans undergo 6-9 months of brutal training beforehand, and 20% of them typically still do not finish. Was this a problem for Kuritzky? Hell no.
"I knew every minute I finished ahead of 16 hours I had 100 people or so who were going to be donating. Every minute wasted felt like a (lost) potential $1,000. If I took my time or took a break it would've been missing opportunities for money for the charity. If I were to stop when my body was telling me to, I wouldn't have finished the first bike lap."
Kuritzky finished in 15 hours and 30 minutes - a full half hour under the goal time. That earned $75,000 in payouts from coworkers, including some donation matching by Goldman.
That's drive ladies and gentleman, that's balls of steel. Keep Mr. Kuritzky in mind next time you're proud of finishing that vending machine challenge.
All I can say is fucking hell that's good
Right? My only question is WTF is this kid doing working as a Securities Analyst?! Prolly pays better than most U.S. pro soccer teams can shell out but shit, go live the dream in a semi-pro Euro league or something.
Cap,
I'm sure you've seen "Rounders"...remember the scene when Matt Damon's doing the voice over?
"if you sit down at the table and can't spot the sucker in the first 30 seconds...you are the sucker"
well, training or no training...when you bet against a NCAA soccer player in an endurance event... YOU ARE THE SUCKER
Playing soccer would really only help the running. There are plenty of muscles used during the bike and swim that aren't even touched during a 90 minute soccer match. That's impressive as hell.
If this dude had a WSO account I'd give him all my silver bananas. Going into an Ironman COLD and throwing up a 15:30? Ridiculous.
That is down right amazing.
Just because you are an NCAA soccer player, doesn't mean you can up an do an ironman, that is asinine.
For anyone who thinks this is 'easy' by any means just because he used to be a soccer player, you're belittling something really phenomenal--either out of jealousy or pure disrespect. Running endurance can translate to the biking, but swimming is an entirely different sport. And, as CaptK mentioned, this guy's been working crazy hours for 2 years now. I don't know that any of my colleagues could run a marathon, much less complete an Ironman with a competitive time.
This kid showed incredible willpower for an amazing cause and deserves nothing but respect for what he did. I can guarantee you it wasn't easy by any means. Fuck any and all of you who think otherwise.
That is straight up BAD ASS.
Very inspiring.
When it comes to athletics or working out, most people quit waaaay before they have to. It's not that hard to turn those 8 reps into 10 if you really have the drive to do so.
Cornell represent :)
I bet half the people reading this probably think they could do this too.
Not exactly no training.
It seems he keeps active by playing a bit of soccer during the weekend, and he has run a marathon before, so he was probably in great shape to complete the ironman in the first place.
Still impressive but not that unusual. It's not like he came off twinkies and donuts to complete the triathlon.
well how about we bet you can or can't do it too MaturationofShane?
I once ran a full marathon with no training. Drank a beer at the 17th mile and finished in under 4 hours. My goal was to not walk - I managed that, but it was pretty painful overall & this was as an undergrad. I can't imagine a full iron-man with no training. Amazing stuff...
That's just...impressive. VERY impressive.
I have competed in a couple of amateur short course triathlons in the past, and it was brutal even with months of prep. Completing Ironman with little serious training is...fucking outrageous. This guy is world class.
Talk about raising the bar. Reading this makes me want to train for something hard...
I don't think I could even swim 2.4 miles without drowning halfway through.
Hah... I second the above.
Get this guy an account........honorary WSO Hall of Fame
the whole "no training" thing is shit. I'm sure he works out 4 times a week.
And he plays soccer. He is also small.
Beast.
These endurance events aren't that hard to finish
OK, SAC, you're just being facetious.
But the rest of you haterz who think this isn't an epic accomplishment, or is somehow diminished by the fact that the guy was a Div 1 athlete and plays soccer on the weekends can kiss my ass. Goldman needs to fire LvP and put this guy in charge of PR.
What's more, I haven't completed 16 hours of physical activity this year (and I'm guessing a lot of you could say the same), and this stud knocked it out in one day. My hat's off to him.
I've completed two esape from alcatraz triathlons so I have a partial appreciation for how difficult it is to gut it out in an Ironman event. Congrats to the guy.
That said, 15:30 isn't particularly fast for an Ironman. 70+ yr olds w/ modest training routinely cross the finish line in Hawaii in 14-17 hours.
I think his accomplishment is more a testiment to maintaining his collegeate fitness than anything else. So...kudos to the guy for maintining a high level of fitness - via the gym, weights, a rec soccer league, etc.
It's called Testosterone enanthate mixed with Dbols a week or 2 before the triathlon. You monkeys are so naive!
For those claiming its not that hard I got a dollar for every minute you get under 16 hours for any ironman that begins 3 weeks from today. Put up or shut up. Otherwise, stop staying this isn't over hard because you are out of your mind.
The fact that he previously ran a marathon without training is just further evidence that he is a beast, not evidence to show that its not that hard. And going to the gym a couple days a week and playing soccer on week days does not count as training. I play bball, run and go to the gym and am generally pretty fit; I couldn't run a marathon tomorrow to save my life, no mind do an ironman.
This right here ladies and gents, is doing god's work.
That's very impressive
mind over body.. Amazing
He inspired me to take my first run this year, I'm regretting it now...
If only I read this BEFORE cracking open my first beer, I'd definitely be at the gym. Dang.
I will certainly say they have over played the "no training" aspect of his accomplishment, but this is still absurdly impressive. The Ironman is grueling and intense, even for those that train. I realize most folks on here are studs and type A's, so the thought is "If I had the time to train I could do it too"...which is probably true, however, this guy didn't train specifically for this event, which can make a huge difference. Cardiovascular-ly, he is in shape, which is half the battle, however, the muscle endurance is entirely something else. Yeah, I think it's misleading because he does workout and exercise, so it's not an overweight couch potato coming in and knocking this thing out, however, being able to finish is a testament to this guy's willpower. There are stories of trained athletes that have run the Ironman and were not able to finish at all, much less in 15.5 hours. There are also stories of some who push themselves so hard...to the brink...that they actually lose control of their bowels and shit themselves, which is an example of the mind telling the body to keep going and the body just losing control of it's faculties.
Again, this is crazy that he did this, its unfortunate that some people on this sight don't realize just how great of an accomplishment this is, trained or not.
Regards
That's not bad for somebody from a target...
He was definately getting his swell on before the event.
only at GS...
Coud it be the "GS Touch"???
I can't say for sure, but I believe I met and played beer pong w/ this gentleman while at Cornell (I went there and graduated in his year)... If he's the guy I'm thinking of he looked to be in excellent shape despite being a notorious drinker --- some people are just good athletes, what they do to their bodies mean very little... they simply were born with a different level of ability. As he played on the soccer team (D-I) obviously he was a natural runner.
Ok. Great.
It's not about athletic ability, it's about incentives.
While being able to hop out of a desk and outperform trained athletes is debatable. He obviously did it, and as an IB analyst, this man understands two things: incentives and how to bet. He recognized how to motivate himself extrinsically and he bet to win. Give anyone the right motivation and be amazed at what they can accomplish.
Not trying to take anything away from him, but
NCAA D1 soccer player.
Already ran NYC Marathon in sub 4 hours.
Triathletes talk about him: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid…
IMO the best post
Now throw as much monkey shit at me as you want, but you all are downplaying 4 years of NCAA D1 soccer, and most likely 8+ years of pre-college soccer training
Banker? This guy should be a SEAL
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