Born and raised in Czech Republic. Category 1 cyclist turned endurance triathlete with over 20 years’ experience as a skilled bike mechanic and five years as the GM of the Trek Bicycle Store of Jacksonville, FL. RETUL fit specialist, bike mechanic extraordinaire and loves good coffee, croissants and chocolate. 16 x Ironman finisher, 5x Ironman World Championship finisher. 8:59 Ironman PR. 3:04.04 Ironman marathon PR.

Karel's Background

As a young kid in a post-communist country, fresh out of school, there was not a lot of opportunity for me there. I came to the US with the journey in mind to pursue the American dream where “the sky is limit”. I came to the US and did very low paying jobs, like cleaning floors and working 3 jobs a day, in order to “make it” and have a better life in the future. For the first five years in the US I didn’t touch my bike ordo any sport activity because the priority was making money so I could live in the US. In 2005, it was time for a change. I had my bike with me that my dad had sent me from Czech and I contacted the Gearlink cycling team who continue to remain good friends with Marni and me. They later set me up with Marni. They introduced me to the owner of the Gearlink online bicycle store and he recognized that I was very experienced in the cycling industry and also a hard worker. I have been involved with cycling and retail since I was in Czech and has always been a passion of mine.

It was in 2005 that I decided to race again and I did my first cat 5 race in May (middle of the season) and upgraded to cat 4 right after. I finished 2nd in my first cat 4 race (Sugarloaf road race in Clermont) and after many podium finishes, I won the Florida Point series as a cat 4. The next year, I moved to cat 3 and won both the Florida Points Series and Florida Cup Series and then with lots of hard work, I upgraded at the end of that year as a cat 2. I did my first Cat 2 criterium in West Palm (Cyclefest) in 14th place and they paid 15 deep so I got my first payout as a Cat 2 rider. That race hurt and I thought there was no way I could ever ride at that level and hold a full-time job. Later on, I received my cat 1 upgrade and have been racing at the national level with other domestic professional riders. I could easily settle for local races and place on the podium but going to the bigger races was a better challenge for me.

In 2006, I met Marni on a group ride (it was her birthday). We were set up by mutual friends, but she stood me up for a few weeks because she was afraid to do the group ride. After a few years of working at Gearlink and barely making ends meet as Marni was back in school again to pursue her dietitian degree, we met Jeff Kopp who was part of the Linder Capital cycling team and owned American Bicycle Company and the Trek Store. I was racing for Jeff’s team (living in Clearwater at the time with Marni) and while at a race in GA, Jeff mentioned that we should move to Jacksonville, FL because he thought I would make a great fit for his Trek Bicycle Store. In 2008, we made the move to Jacksonville. And after 5 years of managing two Trek Stores in Jacksonville, we made the scary decision to leave Trek and to work for Marni’s business in December 2014. Since Marni and I no longer needed to live in Jacksonville, FL., we decided to move to bike-friendly Greenville, SC in May 2014. Moving was the best decision we made together as it has given us a life of adventure and nature.

In 2018, after a very long journey, I became a US Citizen!
In 2021, I re-discovered my love for off-road riding and began racing gravel events and training for Xterra off-road triathlon events. I love being on my mountain bike and I look forward to more off-road adventures. Unfortunately I had a crash in May of 2021 and broke my right hand. The recovery was very long (and painful) and I was not able to race much in the summer of 2021. I am happy that I can be back on my bike(s) as that is where I am the happiest.

In 2022 I participated in the 7-day stage race Haute Route Alps. In 2023 I completed the 5-stage Oregon Gravel Grinder and 6-stage Brek Epic. Although the stage races are challenging and test my recovery, I enjoy seeing what I can do day after day after day.

In 2024, I am dedicating my season to stepping out of my comfort zone with extreme triathlons. I helped Marni with her first two XTRI events (Canadaman and ICON) and I enjoyed the small field size and the YOU vs. YOU vs. Elements focus. This year I will be participating in Stone extreme triathlon, ICON and Patagonman. I will be supporting Marni at Norseman in August.

With my upbringing in Europe, I was always taught that you are never good enough. When I see results, I always think that I can do better. I don’t like to settle. I strive for self-improvement. There’s always someone faster out there, it’s just about who shows up on race day. Therefore, I don’t chase times, I chase competition. Triathlons and cycling aren’t my job, it’s just my hobby so even though I want to do my best, I understand it’s a lifestyle that keeps me active and healthy.

Although our own triathlon training is important to us, I really enjoy working with athletes and helping others discover their abilities. I focus my time coaching athletes, working one-on-one with athletes on cycling skills for our camps and private camps and providing RETUL bike fits to age-group and professional athletes all over the US. 

PR's and Achievements

Cycling

2010, 2011 Pro 1,2 Florida Cup Series Champion

2006 Tour de Gila finisher Silver City, New Mexico

US 100K classic (3x finisher) – best finish 9th Place

Athens Twilight Pro race finisher – 2x finisher (2011,2012)

Multiple podium finishes Pro 1,2 in Florida cycling races

Raced on the national level pro racing series, highlight was finishing Athens Twilight 2xs

Raced on the Czech development team as a Junior while growing up in Znojmo, Czech Republic

Running & Triathlon

5K:
2019 Greenville News Run - 17:08.
8K:
2016 Trees Greenville 8K - 29:09.

15K:
2013 Gate River Run - 55:35

20K:
2015 Paris Mountain Road Race - 1:24.28, 3rd overall

Half Marathon:
2019 Prisma Half Marathon - 1:15.36

Sprint distance: 
2012 BFAST, 1st triathlon, 1st AG, 5th overall

Olympic distance:
2013 HOT (Hammerhead Olympic Distance triathlon) - 2:09:15 Overall winner
2014 31st Annual Great Clermont Triathlon: 2:04:26, 10th overall, 1st age group (PR)

Half Ironman distance:
2012 Branson 70.3 – 5th age group (1st Half IM, 70.3 World Championship Qualifier)
2012 HITS Ocala – 4th overall
2013 Rock n’ Rollman –2nd overall
2013 Coliseum Rock 'N RollMan Half: 4:48:13, 2nd overall
2013 Miami 70.3 –  4:33: 37 (14th age group)
2014 HITS Ocala – 5th overall
2014 St. Croix – 4:56.43. 11th age group
2015 IM 70.3 FL - 4:28:38, 7th AG
2015 Challenge Knoxville - 4:34:01, 2nd AG, 8th overall
2016 Toughman Chattahoochee - 4:28.37, Overall winner
2016 Lake James 50 - 3:11.26, Overall winner
2016 Mountains to Mainstreet - 4:31.42, Overall winner
2017 IM 70.3 FL - 4:19.46, (70.3 World Champ qualifier), 3rd AG
2017 IM 70.3 St. George - 4:32.23, 3rd AG
2017 IM 70.3 World Championship - 4:33:28, 8th AG
2018 IM 70.3 Florida - 4.27.33, 3rd AG
2018 IM 70.3 St. George - 4:30.26, 3rd AG
2018 IM 70.3 Raleigh - 4:23.55 (fastest amateur run), 1st AG, 2nd overall
2018 Challenge Prague Half - 4:17.22, 1st AG
2018 IM 70.3 Augusta - 4:13.17, 1st AG, PR
2019 IM 70.3 Haines City - 4:27.33, 4th AG
2019 IM 70.3 St. George - 4:26.22, 2nd AG
2019 IM 70.3 Chattanooga - 4:04.34, 1st AG (4th overall)
2021 IM 70.3 Florida - 4:29.24, 1st AG (45-49)
2021 Lake Logan Half - 4:29.39, 2nd overall
2021 IM 70.3 World Championship - 4:48.08, 11th AG
2022 IM 70.3 Chattanooga - 4:23.55, 1st AG
2022 IM 70.3 Blue Ridge - 4:37.00, 1st AG, 5th overall
2023 Clash Daytona - 4:11, 2nd AG
2024 IM 70.3 Gulf Coast - 4:18, 1st AG

Ironman distance:
2013 Ironman Lake Placid- 10:03, 1st Ironman (13th age group 35-39, 1:10 swim, 5:16 bike, 3:26 run)

2014 Ironman Austria – 9:22:51 (22nd age group, 1:07 swim, 4:56 bike, 3:11 run), PR

2014 Ironman Wisconsin– 9:44:02 (3rd age group, 1:10 swim, 5:11 bike, 3:14 run) - Kona qualified

2015 Ironman Lake Placid - DNF, injury (1:07 swim, 5:16 bike - with a stop to help an athlete)

2015 Ironman World Championship - 9:55.29 (1:13 swim, 5:06 bike, 3:27 run)

2016 Ironman Austria - 9:13.10 (9th AG, 1:03 swim, 4:56 bike, 3:06 run), PR

2016 Ironman Mont Tremblant - 9:30.55 (2nd AG, 1:06.08 swim, 5:08.52 bike, 3:08.21 run), Fastest amateur male run, Kona qualified

2016 Ironman World Championship - 9:33.33 (1:08 swim, 5:07 bike, 3:10 run), 25th AG

2017 Ironman Lake Placid - 9:41.35 (3rd AG, 1:01 swim, 5:19 bike, 3:14 run), Kona qualified (declined spot)

2017 Ironman Chattanooga - 9:20.55. 1st AG, 2nd overall amateur male, (47:05 swim, 5:08.11 bike, 3:19 run), Kona qualified

2018 Ironman Austria - 9:20.02 (5th AG, Kona qualified (declined spot)

2018 Ironman World Championship - 9:45.15 (bike mechanical)

2018 Ironman Florida - 9:28.14, 1st AG (1:01.36 swim, 5:02.58 bike, 3:15.15 run), Kona qualified

2019 Ironman Canada - 9:25.13, 1st AG, 4th overall male (58:30 swim, 5:17.06 bike, 3:04.04 run), Kona qualified (Declined spot).

2019 Ironman World Championship - 9:49.12

2020 Coronaman (self-supported full distance triathlon) - 9:57 (not including transitions)

2022 Ironman Lake Placid - 9:48, 2nd AG (1:00 swim, 5:15 bike, 3:25 run). IMWC qualified (Declined spot).

2023 Ironman Chattanooga - 8:59.57. 1st AG, 5th overall (38:29 swim, 4:56 bike, 3:16 run). Kona qualified (Declined spot).

Ultra Endurance Events

Florida 3-day Extreme Triathlon (292 miles = 6 miles swimming, 242 miles biking, 50 miles running): 20 hours and 47 minutes. Overall winner, event record.

Stone Extreme Triathlon - 14:40, 7th overall (4200 yard swim, 109 miles of biking and 13,576 feet elevation gain, 21.8 miles of running and 7830 feet elevation gain).

Off-Road Events
2021 Xterra Oak Mountain - 2:51.41, 1st AG (Xterra World Championship qualified)
2021 Sumter Forest Gravel Race - 3:16
2021 Thomasville Clay Classic - 6:41
2021 Belgian Waffle Ride North Carolina - 5:53.30
2021 Xterra USA Championship (Utah) - 2:45.13, 2nd AG
2021 Austin Rattler 50-mile - 5:12.16, 5th AG
2021 Xterra World Championship (Maui) - 3:08.56, 2nd AG
2021 Xterra Oak Mountain - 2:51, 1st AG, 5th overall
2022 6-hours on the ridge MTB - 1st AG
2022 Whole Enchilada MTB - 8th overall
2022 Xterra Czech Republic - 3rd AG
2022 7-day Haute Route Alps - completed!
2022 Xterra World Championship (Italy) - completed!
2023 Xterra South Africa - 1st AG
2023 Xterra Oak Mountain - 2nd AG
2023 6-hours on the ridge MTB - 1st overall
2023 6-gap gravel - 14th overall
2023 Belgium Waffle Ride NC - 6th AG
2023 Oregon Gravel Grinder - completed!
2023 High Cascades 100 MTB - 3rd AG
2023 Breck Epic - 16th AG
2024 Xterra South Africa - 1st AG
2024 PE Plett 4-stage MTB race - completed!
2024 Xterra Oak Mountan - 1st AG