Team NYARA

Team Name: Team NYARA
Country: USA
Captain: Rodney Villella
Team Website: www.nyara.org
Team Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-Adventure-Racing-Association/198145592444
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@NYARAdirt
Home town newspaper: The New York Times
Sponsors: MontBell, Zanfel, Raw Revolution, Gu, AR Pathfinder, Dirt Rag Magazine, Beauty Without Cruelty

Biographies

Name: Rodney Villella
Age: 45
Where were you born: New York City
Hometown now: Newburgh, NY
Occupation: Race Director/Event Production for Krell Adventures (www.krelladventures.com)
Other hobbies: Skiing, Snowboarding, Rock & Ice Climbing, Canyoneering, Sailing, Golf and Eating Ice Cream
Years racing: Lost count (but about 17)
Racing achievements: Still racing
Personal motto: Slower is Faster
Strengths as a racer: Navigation when the lights go out (don’t know how that will help in AK this year).
Married/Single: Married without the license.
Children: None.
Thoughts about, and goals for racing ExpAk: Looking forward to eating ice cream after the finish.

Name: Amy Bartoletti
Age: 44
Where were you born: Wilkes-Barre, PA
Hometown now: Newburgh, NY
Occupation: Race Director/Event Production for Krell Adventures (www.krelladventures.com)
Other hobbies: Snowboarding, Rock & Ice Climbing, Canyoneering and Eating Cup Cakes

Years racing: 16

Racing achievements: Putting up with Rodney

Personal motto: Don’t trust the navigator.

Strengths as a racer: Being stubborn and never giving up.

Married/Single: Married without the license.

Children: None.

Thoughts about, and goals for racing ExpAk: Looking forward to eating cupcakes after the finish.

Name: Pete Spagnoli
Age: 55
Where were you born: Sag Harbor, NY
Hometown now: Sag Harbor, NY
Occupation: Sports Physical Therapist
Other hobbies: Triathlon, Mountaineering, Skiing

Years racing: Lots
Racing achievements:

2013:

· REV 3 Adventure Race
· Gung Ho Adv Race- 4th
· Untamed NE adv race
· Leadville 100- 9:55
· ARWC Costa Rica – 25th

2012:

· REV 3 adventure race 6th
· Goals ADV race 3rd(unoffical)
· Untamed New England 15th(unoffical)
· Leadville 100 10:05
· ARWorlds-France 35th
· USARA NAT’S 11th 3RD MASTERS

2011:

· Expedition Patagonia, Chile 5th
· Goals ADV Race 1st RTNE BC 12th USARA nationals 6th
· Leadville 100 10:52

2010:

· Odysessy Endorphin Fix 1st male /3rd OA
· Lake Placid Ironman 11:08/300/2000
· Mayor’s Cup (race around Manhatten 2nd in tandem)
· Montauk 1/2 IM 5th AG
· Montauk Duathlon 1st AG/4 OA
· Something Wicked 6hr MB race 3rd in class

2009:

· Odysessy Endorphin Fix 1st
· New Balance 50K 6th
· Primal quest SD 9th
· Shag AR- Nat qualifier 1st

2008:

· Las Vegas 1/2 marathon 1:36
· Odyssey 3day Endorphin Fix, 2nd
· Lionheart 24hr USARA qualifier, 1st
· Primal Quest Montana, 11th
· Wilderness 101 Mt bike race top 50
· Mooseman 70.3 top 10%
· Mighty Hamptons Tri Shag 24hr Adv Race
· USARA Nationals -3rd AG 2nd 3rd

2007:

· Odyssey One Day, VA, 1st
· Snowgaine 2 day, NY
· AR World Championship-Scotland, 17th
· Odyssey 2 Day Fix Mooseman 70.3, NH
· Off-Road Ironman, Va Shag , 24hr AR , NJ, 9th AG 1st
· USARA National Championships
· 70.3 World Championship

2006:

· Eco Primal Quest, Utah 22nd
· Odyssey Mega Dose 1st Overall
· Odyssey Endorphin Fix
· USARA National Championships 21st Overall
· Q50 Trail Run

2005:

· AR World Championships ,NZ
· Appalachian Extreme
· PA Wilds 2 Day Stage Race 1st

2004:

· Subaru Primal Quest Washington 29th Overall
· AR World Championships, Newfoundland, 17th Overall
· Appalachian Extreme 1st Overall

2003:

Subaru Primal Quest Lake Tahoe 41st

TRIATHLON

· 15 Iron Man Finishes. PR 10:28
· 10 Half Iron Man Finishes.
· 2006 World Championship – 4:40

· In the past 10 years, Pete has been a consistent age group top 3 finisher and top 10% overall – Xterra, ranked Top 3 in Age Group (Northeast Region) – NYC Marathon X 3 – SOS (survival of the shawankunks) x2

MOUNTAINEERING

Summit of Mt. Ranier, Summit Longs Peak (winter), Mt. Washington traverse (winter), Summit Cotopaxi and Cayambe, Ecuador, 2008

Summit Aconcagua , Argentina , 12/08 14ers – Grey’s, Pikes Peak, Shavano and Tabeguache, 7/09

Mt. Bierstadt 1/12, Mt Democrat, Bross, Lincoln and Cameron 5/12, Mt. Quandary 8/12, Mt. Elbert 8/12

Mt Mckinely, 6/09 (17,000) Mt Kilimajaro, 1/10 (Summit)

Denali, 7/11 (Summit)

Strengths as a racer: Pace counting…well not really

Married/Single: Married

Children: Yes / If so, how many: 1

Thoughts about, and goals for racing ExpAk: Looking forward to watching Amy and Rodney eat ice cream and cup cakes. I think I’ll have a beer.

Name: Bruce Swanson
Age: 52
Where were you born: Warwick, NY
Hometown now: Warwick, NY
Other hobbies: Ultra Distance Running, Spartan Death Race

Years racing: Lots

Racing achievements: I’ve completed numerous adventure races from 6 hours to 6 days in the US, Canada and Portugal. I’ve also competed in canoe/kayaking, cross-country mountain biking, races up the stairs of the Empire State Building and Sears Tower and ultra-distance running races in the east coast and rocky mountains. All this fun is fueled by a 2-3 hour per day exercise regimen year-round.

Strengths as a racer: Not changing my socks or shoes at all during the race.

Married/Single: Married

Children: Yes / If so, how many: 2

Thoughts about, and goals for racing ExpAk: Looking forward to the finish so I can get back to the gym at 4 am for my daily 2 hour workout.