Tell us about yourself. Where are you from and what do you do.
Milos Kostic, born 18 April 1941. I will be 69 years of age in August this year. I live in Regina, Saskatchewan, in the middle of the flat Canadian prairies: very cold winters and hot, dry summers.
As of last year, I am a retired engineer, materials scientist. I have a grown up son. Now I live alone and spend much time with my running and triathlon friends, training, leading a marathon club, and socializing.
What is your background in sports?
I have been running for 35 years and swimming and cycling a bit. Five years ago, I started competing in triathlons, mostly half-iron and iron distances. So far, I completed 13 iron distance triathlons, including the Norseman in 2007. I completed four Hawaii ironmans winning M65-69 all four times. Currently I hold M65 course records in Canada Ironman (11:11:50) and Hawaii (11:29:29).
Clearly, if one persists with sport into late years, trains hard and competes, the success follows. This has led to numerous recognitions, including:
• 2006 Saskatchewan Sport, Masters Athlete of the Year
• 2006 Triathlon Canada, Masters Long Distance Triathlon Athlete of the Year
• 2007 Triathlon Canada Grand Master (60+) Male Athlete of the Year
• 2007 Triathlon Magazine Canada, Masters Athlete of the Year
• 2008 Triathlon Canada Grand Master (60+) Male Athlete of the Year
• Ironman Canada Iron Spirit Award, August 30, 2009
• 2009 Triathlon Magazine Canada, Age Group Triathlete of the Year
Why did you choose to race Norseman and what is your race goal?
I remember fondly my 2007 visit to Norway and the participation in that year’s Norseman and have always said that I would like to come back and, maybe this time, finish on top of the Gausta. It would also be nice to improve on my 2007 finishing time, 17:06:09. In addition, my best friends wanted to come and support me. Then the following Saturday, 14 August, we will all run in the Helsinki City Marathon.
Asides from Norseman, what is your other plans for the 2010 season?
After Norsemen, I will compete in Canada Ironman 29 August, and then Hawaii again in October. Other than some half iron events, I will run in the Boston Marathon 19 April and several other shorter road running races, marathons, and ultras.
Do you do any special training for Norseman?
It is going to be same basic training. It always includes lots of hills, but in the flat Saskatchewan the longest hills are about one kilometre long. So I will likely travel to the Alberta and British Columbia mountains on two separate weeks to develop the endurance for the brutal Norseman climbs. Maybe some cold water swims in the British Columbia’s Lake Okanagan.
What other races would you like to compete in the future?
I would like to do more iron distance events in Europe and more distant locales, such as Japan or Brazil. The problem is that I do not like to travel alone. So it all depends on who else can come. Other than those, I would like to train for, and compete in, at least one 100 mile ultra.
What are your favorite places to train?
British Columbia Okanagan region. It is dry, sunny, mountainous, and replete with deep, clear lakes.
And your favourite workout?
My favourite bike ride is the Canada Ironman route section from Osoyoos up Richter Pass and Yellow Lake to Penticton (about 120 km) followed by a 15 km run through vinyards and orchards to Naramata above Lake Okanagan. I also like the long swim, bike, run workouts in the Duck Mountain Provincial Park in Eastern Saskatchewan. For me, lake swimming is the best, and the most enjoyable rides and runs have many of hills.

By Jørgen