Tyler Butterfield topped off a breakthrough 2013 season with a second place finish at Sunday’s Ironman Cozumel. His podium worthy performance was propelled by a 2:49 marathon, his best Ironman run split to date.
The Ironman Cozumel result adds to Butterfield’s already impressive 2013 race tally, wherein he placed third at the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon in March, scored two Ironman 70.3 podiums Calgary and Muncie, finished ninth at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship and–in perhaps his standout event of the year–earned a hard fought seventh place finish at the Ironman World Championship in Kona where he remained in contention for an even greater result until the final two miles of the Marathon.
Butterfield’s 2013 season is even more remarkable given that only last year he represented Bermuda at the London Olympic Games in the ITU distance of triathlon, after a two Year qualification process in short course draft legal racing.
During that time Butterfield bore the responsibility of racing fast and frequently enough to earn the requisite number of points to secure a spot for Bermuda on the Olympic start line.
When asked about the difference between 2013 and his past experience in professional triathlon racing, Butterfield said, “A lot of things are coming together for me. I’ve been racing professionally since I was a teenager, and every year you just get stronger, wiser and understand what works for you better and better. I love racing ITU as it gives me a chance to represent my country in events like the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, and because the racing style forces you to constantly improve because there’s simply no room for error, but I’m finding that the Ironman distance is what suits me physically more than anything else. Both my Mom and Dad were good marathoners amongst other endurance sports, so it’s in my genes to focus on the longer events.”
“The other thing that has helped this year is that my home life has really settled down,” he continued.
“I remember Chris McCormack saying in 2006 that the difference between the years he wins and doesn’t win is having everything else in his life sorted and settled. I understand that now. When Nikki was racing, too, I spent a lot of time and energy trying to help her reach her potential, because I thought she had a better chance at being successful than me. But we realized that what she wanted most was to be with our kids, so once she stopped racing that allowed me to focus fully on my career. Nikki has really taken on helping me now, so all I have to worry about is making sure I show up fit and healthy to race. She does pretty much everything else.”
