Charley Perez

Coach

Charley brings many years of experience in working with people to his coaching approach. Charley began his professional career as an elementary school teacher while serving as a volunteer in the Peace Corps. With a doctorate in psychology, Charley has worked with children and families as an elementary school counselor, psychotherapist, protective services social caseworker, mental health clinical supervisor, and has taught at Wichita State University and The University of Northern Colorado, Chapman College, and Metro State College. Besides coaching, he does private consultation in the field of human services.

 
In spite of a full schedule, Charley has always found time to dedicate himself to his passion - competitive running. He has been a life long runner, competing in high school and college track and cross-country. He went through his "marathon phase" and in 1982, completed the Boston Marathon. In 1998, as a veteran competing in the 50-54 year old division, Charley earned three National Championships and two 2nd place finishes at the National Master's Track Meet in Orono, Maine. In 1993, he completed his first triathlon and a new passion bloomed. After many years of competing in Sprint, Olympic and Half-Ironman distances, he qualified for the 2003 Triathlon World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, where he placed second in the 55-59 age group division and was the only American in the top 5. In 2005, he finished 5th at the Age Group ITU Olympic Distance World Championships in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Inside Triathlon Magazine ranked Charley the top triathlete in his age group in 2003 and in 2005, he was ranked in the top five. In 2007 Charley has moved into Aquabike competitions and won his division at the Pla-Tri Half-Iron Aquabike in Dallas and won his division at Vineman Full-Iron Aquabike.

While in graduate school at WichitaState, he worked 3 years as an assistant track and cross-country coach with the middle and long distance runners. While serving in the Peace Corps, Charley served as an assistant coach to the late Arthur Lydiard. Since 2001, Charley has coached the Team in Training Triathlon program and has trained over 300 to compete in Olympic distance triathlons in Colorado, Los Angeles, Monterrey, Memphis, and Chicago.

Although he is highly dedicated to his training regimen, Charley allows himself the freedom to enjoy a good time. He and his wife, Patty Loyd, have been together for over 30 years. They moved to Colorado in 1976 and love living in Colorado and the Denver area. The city and state fits their lifestyle to a tee.

Molly Smith

Membership Director

Molly is a Colorado native and an outdoor enthusiast at heart.  She trains for running and triathlon events with her husband and fellow Rocky Mountain Triathlon Club officer, Matt, and also loves to hike, camp, mountain bike, ski and play volleyball.  Molly ran track and played volleyball through high school and also played volleyball on the University of Denver’s club team and for her college in Brisbane, Australia.  She holds Masters degrees in Business Administration from the University of Denver and in Organizational Development from Colorado State University.  Molly competed in her first triathlon in 2005 after learning to swim and has since finished more than 15 triathlons including several ½ Ironman distances and several 1st place age group finishes.  She loves to encourage people who are new to the sport of triathlon and is thrilled to be involved with the Rocky Mountain Triathlon Club.  As a  profession, she serves as the program coordinator for the Boettcher Foundation’s Colorado-based merit scholarship program.

Tim Woods

Past President

Tim is a native of Denver and has been a member of RMTC for six years, including two as the Club Treasurer. He joined for the simple reason of using the club discount on a new bike, but has not left since attending his first workout. He has completed over a dozen triathlons, including one half ironman, and many running races. Outside of triathlon he works for First Data and can be found playing volleyball in the summers at Wash Park.

Jonathan "Yon" Golan

Webmaster

Yon came to Denver from Sydney, Australia in 2003 and through TNT ended up joining RMTC in the hope of meeting new friends and maybe finally doing a triathlon after talking about it for several years. Since his first workout Yon has never looked back, participating in the club on several different levels, but primarily as the club Webmaster since 2006. Yons background includes some time in the Army and a lot of international travel which he tries to do at least once a year. Yon holds a degree in Computer Science and works as a software architect. When he is not working or training Yon enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, brewing beer at home and traveling.

Megan Barney

Treasurer

Megan was not birthed like most humans, but rather descended from the heavens above Georgia one day. She was riding a bike while carrying a cook book in one hand and six pack of beer in the other. She has a fondness for feet and her web site is banned in many counties as well as in China.

Len Thomas

Communications Director

Matt Smith

President

Matt started his triathlon career working for a sporting goods store in Olympia, Washington.  When he put up a display with Mark Allen winning the Hawaii Ironman that said, “Eat Right, Get Plenty of Sleep, Go Like Hell!”, he decided that one day, he’d do that race too.

As a competitive distance swimmer since age 6, Matt had the first leg of triathlon down.  He also raced mountain bikes (usually placing in bottom ½) and X-Country in high school where he was ranked 13 out of 14 on his school’s team.
After a 4 year stint in Rhode Island where he graduated from Johnson & Wales University, Matt moved to Colorado and started racing X-Terra triathlons and qualified for the National Championships in his first year, thus being hooked on racing and training.

Since moving to Colorado, Matt completed a master’s degree in Adult Education and met his true triathlon inspiration, his wife Molly.  Both enjoy racing and training for all distances.  Matt is a two time USAT All American, 70.3 and Ironman World Championship Qualifier and holds the course record for the Steamboat Springs Triathlon.  He has been involved with RMTC for two years and helps “bring the deals” to the club.