Tyler Booth is the heart and soul of our operation. With a background in track, cross-country, and soccer, he’s pivoted to endurance sport and felt like the Ironman was the right challenge to put his ambitions to the test; when the opportunity of working toward a common goal with others presented itself, he felt like he couldn’t pass it up. Though initially an unofficial training group, the creation of this team was the effect of a collaborative effort to band together in support of Tyler’s mother, which has now been turned into something much more meaningful - a true testament to Tyler’s dedication and resilience in all aspects of life. He’ll be joining Matt in the quest for a Boston Marathon qualifying time at the 2026 Ottawa Race Weekend, after successfully breaking three hours this past year. Alongside the affinity for running lies a true love for bikes, inside and out. Working as a mechanic at Fresh Air has given him an avenue to channel this passion and engage on a more intimate level with the cycling community. Aside from pushing himself to his limits, Tyler can be found on his five-hundredth listen-through of one of his favourite metal albums or getting too enthralled in watching a hockey game.

Sam Smith is, in his own humble words, a former-soccer-player-turned-paddler-turned-triathlete. In terms of his accolades, he played academy soccer in his youth and medaled at Canadian Nationals in canoeing. He’ll be training for the 2026 Ottawa Race Weekend Marathon over the winter with Tyler and Matt, and has “really been enjoying running lately”. While he is chaos personified, Sam is also the brains behind the operation and has kept us all on track, whether it be mapping routes, planning intervals, or curating our media presence. Outside of sport, Sam is the founder of Carleton’s BioCARE program, a biomedical engineering team whose goal is to apply engineering and biotech to real-world healthcare challenges. The engineering brain means he’s very detail-oriented, which makes him an incredibly compassionate and inclusive teammate. If you’re looking for company for a long workout, Sam’s the person you’ll want yammering in your ear the whole time - he is a constant source of entertainment!

Jenny Wilbraham grew up riding bikes and cross-country skiing back home in Maine, before moving to Ottawa in 2019 for university. She skied on the Carleton team for 5 years while pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies and has competed in a few local mountain bike races. Jenny may prefer racing on trails, but in recent years, she’s come to enjoy road riding in the Gatineau Park, and has begun doing running races again for the first time since high school. New this year on her race calendar was the Eastern Ontario Cyclocross Series, which wrapped up at the end of November and she also has her sights set on the 2026 Ottawa Race Weekend Half Marathon. Working at the bike shop with Tyler and Sam got her introduced to the Hobbyists and the boys let her tag along for their long rides this summer. She’s grateful to be included, inspired by everyone’s camaraderie and commitment, and hopes the team will never make her race a triathlon.

Matt O’Neill grew up paddling with the Rideau Canoe Club and has represented Canada at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Champs and U23 World Champs in 2022. Having completed several marathons alongside this year’s Ironman, he’s now focusing on qualifying for the 2027 Boston Marathon. Being part of the Hobbyists reminds him of the camaraderie he’s used to from canoeing; he brings a competitive nature to the team - or maybe the team brings it out in him. This is highlighted in his genuine excitement to be the first Hobbyist across the Ironman finish line and the immediate activation of his bragging rights. Aside from being a huge chemistry nerd on his way to earning a Master’s Degree, Matt has been the glue of our operation on several occasions. His zest for life and training makes us excited to get out the door and his leadership is greatly valued. When asked if he has any fun hobbies, Matt responded “this is my fun hobby…” Enough said.

Kieran Graham grew up sprint canoeing and kayaking between the ages of 8 and 21 and also played baseball and volleyball when he was younger. Currently taking a break from structured training, he can be found riding his bike or hiking; he loves going fast, but takes a lot of enjoyment in the adventure. Kieran joined the Hobbyists to “have a group of guys to train for the Ironman with and do some good at the same time.” He brings a quiet, but undeniably positive energy to the group, even involving himself on the sidelines for race days when he isn’t competing. Outside of athletics, Kieran is pursuing a degree in Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering at Carleton.

Olan Bradford grew up sprint paddling with the Rideau Canoe Club and is currently attending grad school in Vancouver, with sights set on the Whistler 50K ultramarathon in September. He joined the Hobbyists because it mixed his favourite things together, providing a great group of people to train alongside, taking on new athletic challenges while supporting a great cause. He says he supports the team by “being the slowest runner so no one else feels bad about their running times” but on a more serious note, likes being involved with the community and continually meeting new people. The Ironman was Olan’s first triathlon, which was not clearly evidenced in his final ranking - second Hobbyist across the line! He enjoyed being able to train alongside his brother, who also completed the Ironman. Outside of triathlons, Olan is involved in multiple intramural sport leagues and says his secret talent is cutting people’s hair.

Zac Liberty is Ottawa’s 2024 Natural Men’s Physique champ and a five-time marathoner who has joined the Hybrid Hobbyists in preparation for Ironman Ottawa 2026. A hybrid athlete through and through, Zac blends the strength of bodybuilding with the endurance of long distance running, which gives him a unique voice and presence on the team. His personal mission is to contribute to Ottawa’s fitness community through coaching, fundraising, and by continually testing the limits of what is possible. He is the founder of Hull Sunday Run Day, a vibrant community run club that gathers more than sixty runners every week, as well as Liberty Fitness, his coaching company that supports athletes across the city. Zac brings years of experience in bodybuilding, hybrid training, and race preparation. He is also a musician who plays both guitar and piano, and he draws heavily from Stoic philosophy to guide his athletic and personal life. Ironman Ottawa is his one “impossible” pursuit for the year and he says he feels honoured to take on the challenge alongside the Hybrid Hobbyists.