Our Background

Coach Wunderle

Max Wunderle has been a standout endurance athlete for over 20 years with a diverse background in long distance triathlon and marathon swimming.  A competitive swimmer since the age of 6, Max parlayed his capacity to suffer into a successful swimming career at both the national high school and NCAA levels complete with team records, All-America status and national championship qualifying standards.

Not satisfied with traditional competitive swimming, Max moved into a more grueling test of stamina, marathon swimming.  In 1987, he became the 2nd youngest person to ever circumnavigate Manhattan Island.  This 28.5 mile counter clockwise journey beginning and ending at the Statue of Liberty showed the 17 year old that such efforts were possible with the proper training and fitness.  This 7 hour and 48 minute effort was also good enough to place Max as the 2nd American, 2nd male and 5th overall finisher in a world class field of over 50 participants.  Motivated by this quick taste of success, Max attempted to put his name in the Guinness Book of World Records by attempting to break the world record for most miles swum in a 24 hour period (48 miles).  After being on pace to break the record by over 8 miles, Max’s body shut down due to lack of body fat and stopped the attempt at 13 hrs after covering 33 miles.  The next four years would feature a return back to traditional competitive distance swimming at the NCAA level and 4 standout years of national championship caliber results.  Max’s post collegiate career “went dark” as he retreated from serious competition for over 15 years.

2004 saw Max jump into the world of multisport and complete his first sprint triathlon.  After completing his first half Ironman competition in 2005, Max quickly moved to the top age group level of the sport and qualified and competed in the 2006 Ford Ironman Championship 70.3.  In 2007, Max placed 16th overall and 4th in his age group at the Ford Ironman Lake Placid Ironman, qualifying for the Ford Ironman World Championship where he placed 249th overall against a field of 1,787 pros and amateurs in a time of 9:55:23.

2008 saw Wunderle again stay among the world’s best age groupers with half a dozen podium finishes, 2 wins and a 2nd place finish in the 35-39 age group at Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene in 9:45.09.  Wunderle’s Coeur d’Alene finish qualified him again (third time in 2 years) for the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, HI.

Max Wunderle
Born: 1970, Ithaca, New York
Age: 40
First Triathlon: Madison Sprint Triathlon, 2004
Family: Wife - Christina; Daughter - Sutton (13), Sons - Hagen (11), Torben (9)
Lives: West Simsbury, CT

Career at a glance

• 3-time USA Triathlon All-America selection (2006, 2007, 2008)
• 3-Time Ironman finisher
• 49th place at the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, HI 35-39 AG (2007)
• 2nd place finish at Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene 35-39 AG (2008)
• 4th place finish at Ford Ironman Lake Placid 35-39 AG (2007)
• Ended 2008 as #2 nationally ranked Ironman distance male in the 35-39 age group
• Certified CrossFit Level I Certfication
• CrossFit Endurance Head Coach
  
  

Coach Swift

Jay Swift is a four-time ironman finisher who is always looking forward to his next ironman. When he is not racing or training for ultra-endurance events he can be found at a hockey rink. There he helps young players excel at the game of hockey by instilling in them the need to not only to play hard on the ice but also off it by utilizing strength training and conditioning.

Through out his youth Jay played football, quarterbacking teams from the youth level through high school. It was not until many years later as an adult that he discovered ice hockey. After a severe neck injury in 2000 ended his hockey playing days Jay sought out another challenge. In 2003 he was introduced to triathlon by a friend and completed his first sprint. The following year he moved up to the half iron distance and in 2005 tackled Ironman Lake Placid, a race he has completed four times. After acquiring all of that experience Jay decided, as with hockey, it was time to help others achieve their goals and turned to coaching. His philosophy is simple.

It is a coach’s job to see the potential in an athlete and help him or her reach that potential. The relationship between athlete and coach can and should be one that creates an environment in which the athlete is able to succeed. In order for this to happen the coach must be as dedicated to his athlete as the athlete is to achieving his or her goal, this is his formula for success.

Jay Swift
Born: 1967
Age: 43
First Triathlon: Tri the Tri Danbury CT, 2003
Family: Wife of 20 years - Nora; Son - Chris (15)
Lives: Bethel, CT

Career at a glance

• 5-Time Ironman finisher

Coach Rutter

Brittany Rutter is a six-time Ironman finisher as well as a four time marathon finisher, including the Boston Marathon in 2006. She is also a personal trainer, group fitness instructor & triathlon coach.

Rutter grew up playing team sports in high school & college. On a dare from a friend, she signed up for her first sprint triathlon in the summer of 2002 and never looked back.  She received USAT All-American honorable mention honors in 2003 & 2004, competed in 2 USAT national competitions and then made the jump to Ironman distance racing.  

Brittany Rutter
Born: 1976
Age: 34
First Triathlon: Spring Meadow Sprint (MT), 2002
Family: Single
Lives: Sea Bright, NJ

Career at a glance

• NSCA - Certified Personal Trainer
• Crossfit Level1 Certification
• Crossfit Endurance Level1 Certification