Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewa Alum Turns Successful Pro Triathlete
9/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Sept. 22, 2004
By Pam Rose
Sports Information Assistant
In just his fourth season competing and only his second season as a pro triathlete, former cross country and track and field athlete Josiah Middaugh has made a name for himself in the Xterra Pro circuit and is currently ranked second in the nation and aiming for the world title.
Xterra, which consists of a 1.5k swim, a 30k mountain bike and a 10k trail run, got its start in 1996 in Maui, Hawaii. There are five competitions across the country every year ending in the World Championship in Maui. There are also numerous international and amateur races that one can compete in.
Josiah hasn't always been such a standout athlete. Back in his days as a Chippewa, Middaugh was set back by injury much of his college career, which if you look at the big picture, actually helped him in his present training.
"I basically swam and biked my way through injuries and left college with the feeling that I never reached my full potential," said Middaugh.
While running at CMU, Middaugh met his future wife, Ingrid (Quillette), a fellow cross country and track and field runner. Shortly after college the two married and moved to Vail, Colo., where Josiah did his internship. He now works as a personal trainer and Ingrid as the spa director at The Aria Spa and Club at the Cascade Resort.
"The move was a big adjustment for us, but it is definitely something that worked for us. We are both from small towns and Vail is very small. The big difference is the terrain here," said Middaugh.
"We also like how active the community is, it's very athletic. That's something that both Ingrid and I both thrive on. We were on the National Snowshoe Team together which is really popular out here and won nationals two years in a row and Ingrid is training for the New York City Marathon on November 7th.
On a whim, Middaugh bought a used mountain bike from a pawnshop once he moved to Vail.
"I did a 100 mile off-road mountain bike race the week I bought the bike and after that I was hooked," he said. " I raced in my first Xterra race that same summer and after that I raced as an amateur for a while on the circuit and moved up to the pro division last year."
In order to become a pro triathlete, Josiah had to finish in the top 10 overall in three events in one year, each of the events had over 200 competitors.
"I generally spend about 20 hours a week training, with a majority of the time spent on the bike, and I almost always work out twice a day," said Middaugh.
The biggest challenge for Josiah when competing is swimming. "I have had no real competitive background in it. My race rally really begins the moment I exit the water, then I can put my strengths to work," Middaugh said.
Middaugh has come a long way in just a short amount of time. He is currently ranked second in points going into the USA Championship this weekend in Lake Tahoe, Nev., after winning the Xterra Canada Championship last week. He finished sixth in the World Championship last year in Maui and consistently posts the fasted bike splits in the championship race. In West Xterra Championship last month, he had the fastest run.
Along with being a pro triathlete and working full-time, Josiah is also a new father.
"We had Sullivan about five months ago, so it is hard to balance time between work, training for competitions and family, especially when we are both training. But, somehow we make it work," said Middaugh.
"Triathlon training and racing is totally different than distance running, but the mental dedication and commitment are the same," said Middaugh. "Running in college at such a competitive level gave me a large capacity for work and a big aerobic engine."
To learn more about Xterra and to track Josiah's progress as he approaches the World Championship go to xterraplanet.com.
