Q&A with 10 Degrees Latitude
Q&A with Neal Mueller | Q&A with Adam Hazlett
GU ATHLETE: Neal "Hochgeschwindigkeitsbegrenzung " Mueller
SPORT: Mountaineering, adventure sports
BIRTHPLACE: Iowa, 1977
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Mountain View, California
WEBSITE: www.10degreeslatitude.com, www.nealmueller.com
Proudest athletic accomplishment?
Traversing 10 degrees of latitude under human power from Scotland to Paris including a 2-man swim of the English Channel; completing 7 summits, including Mount Everest.
Superstitions for training or competition?
For mountain trips I am known as the bag man, because I organize my pack into nested multi-colored bags so I won't lose things.
What's the most helpful thing a spectator has ever said to you while you were racing?
With two hours left of our English Channel swim, my teammate's wife told me, "c'mon Neal, you can do anything for two hours." It's tough to disagree with that.
What characteristics do you most respect in your competitors?
Perseverance. It's not how often you fall that matters, but how quickly you get back up.
When you were a kid, what did you dream of becoming when you grew up?
I wanted to climb mountains, so I did.
Song title that best fits your personality/spirit?
Van Halen- Jump
How do you reward yourself when you reach a key goal?
Chocolate mousse in Paris.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what flavor of GU would you want with you?
Water.
What's the most creative way you've ever carried your GU?
In my Speedo.
Personal causes you're involved in?
Volunteer at Goodwill HQ; Big City Mountaineers (charity that treats at risk youth by bringing them into the mountains).
Three things people don't know about you?
I need clean socks. I prefer red wine, but I'm too polite to request it. I like really loud techno.
GU ATHLETE: Adam Hazlett
SPORT: Adventure sports
BIRTHPLACE: Washington, DC, 1977
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Denver, Colorado
WEBSITE: www.10degreeslatitude.com
Proudest athletic accomplishment?
10 Degrees of Latitude…A bike-swim-bike that took us 1200 miles from Scotland to Paris including a 2-man swim of the English Channel.
Superstitions for training or competition?
I always shower before a competition. I don’t know why.
Funny racing/training story?
While training for Ironman Florida, I was on a long run in the backwoods of Virginia, miles from home, and miles from civilization. When nature called, I found the nearest tree. Long-story short…poison-ivy everywhere (yes everywhere). Two weeks before race day!
What characteristics do you most respect in your competitors?
Mental toughness.
Song title that best fits your personality/spirit?
Pat Green – If I Had a Million.
How do you reward yourself when you reach a key goal? Cigars and Champagne in Paris.
If you were a flavor of GU, which would you be?
Vanilla Bean. My life in general is sort-of boring, yet it’s always good, and I enjoy every bite.
What’s the most creative way you’ve ever carried your GU?
In my Speedo.
Personal causes you’re involved in?
Partnership for America’s Economic Success (PAES) – investing in early childhood education to lay the groundwork for making the success of every child a top policy priority.
Three things people don’t know about you?
My first career was disarming ordnance for the US Navy. I can quote every word of the album “The Great Adventures of Slick Rick”. I met my wife in 6th grade (She’s never been a fan of Slick Rick).
