GRANTS, N.M. Brian Smith, a 50-yearold athlete from Gunnison, Colorado, has secured his second victory in the challenging Mount Taylor Winter Quadrathlon, eight years after his first win in 2018. A seasoned competitor, Smith has been participating in the event for two decades, using it as both a personal goal and a component of his year-round training routine.
“I just love the training for this event,” Smith shared. Winter in Gunnison is typically cold, and he uses preparation for the Quad as a motivation to stay active, incorporating Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, running, and biking into his way of life “All the fitness I get from training for this race carries over into my summer season,” he said, adding that his cross-training also helps him excel in Xterra triathlons and mountain bike races during the warmer months.
Smith trains under demanding conditions, often doing multiple workouts a day and focusing on uphill and vertical gains to build the endurance needed for the event. Over the years, racing at the Quad has presented challenges, from low-snow winters to the struggle of balancing a full-time job and family life. Smith works as a Supported Living Services manager for adults with developmental disabilities and also coaches Special Olympics athletes. His 12-year-old daughter keeps him busy with her own activities as well.
This year, the race tested his resilience. Early on, he faced freezing slush and water, which caused him to fall behind. “I just figured from that point, [I’d] just run my own race… just pace myself and [don’t] do anything silly,” Smith said. Eventually, he reclaimed the lead during the ski segment and held it through the final run and bike into town. “It really wasn’t until I ran in town that I knew I was probably going to win it.”
Smith credits his mentor, who has won the Quad eleven times, for inspiring him to push his limits. Competing against much younger athletes in their 20s and 30s, Smith finds motivation in proving that mastery and experience can still triumph.
Looking ahead, Smith hopes to keep competing and even involve his daughter and other athletes from Gunnison in future events. “We have a lot of multi-sport athletes who would love to do this event,” he said. “It’d be a lot of fun to show [them] something new, something different.”
For aspiring competitors, he emphasized the value of cross-training: “You’ve got different sports you can do, so there’s no burnout. If you get injured or struggle in one area, you can always fall back on another.”
As he reflects on his second victory, Smith sees it as both a personal milestone and a stepping stone to future challenges, saying, “It’s been a goal of mine for many years.”