Barry Siff has never been one to stand still. A pioneer in the endurance world, his journey has spanned continents, competition levels and boardrooms from Omaha to Kona. He’s raced in over 75 marathons and 12 Ironmans, helping shape the future of triathlon as a race director, entrepreneur and former President of USA Triathlon.
But in 2022, everything changed. After a severe bike crash left him with a shattered body, including broken ribs, a hip replacement, and an emergency neck surgery, Barry wasn’t sure if he’d race again.
“I’m in the worst shape of my life,” he says. “But now, I’ve got a new goal and a new path to get there.”
Barry is not only focused on recovering but on coming back stronger.
“I’ve always said the journey is more important than the destination. Now I get to live that in real time.”
After years at the top of his game, the crash brought Barry back to square one. The strength in his left arm vanished. His endurance was gone. But his triathlon mindset? Stronger than ever.
This spring, with the help of Human Powered Health, Barry is rebuilding his body with precision. “There’s a difference between working out and training,” he says. “And I want to train.”
Barry visited our Scottsdale Performance Lab to get a full picture of his current fitness and set a foundation for his comeback. With each test, he unlocked personalized insights that turned his uncertainty into motivation and gave him a clear roadmap forward. Each test was selected by our performance physiologists to baseline his progress and identify key blockers in getting Barry back to full health.
Barry discovered his heart rate wasn’t responding like it used to due to a low cadence and months of reconditioning. With new training zones and a cadence target, he left with clear guidance on how to rebuild endurance.
Unsure if he could even run again, Barry was surprised to learn that his form was still strong. The test gave him the green light to return to running with confidence.
The force plate revealed a noticeable loss of power, especially on his left side. Now, Barry has measurable data to guide his strength and balance training.
Grip strength testing confirmed weakness in his left arm, which had visibly atrophied since the accident. This gave him a simple benchmark to track recovery over time.
Barry’s DEXA scan identified reduced bone density in one knee and a shift in muscle balance. These results are helping him structure his training to build strength and prevent injury.
“This was the most professional and informative testing experience I’ve ever had,” Barry shared. “It gave me a true baseline and a vision for what’s possible.”
Triathlon is not only a sport for Barry, it’s his tribe. “What I miss most isn’t the racing. It’s the people. It’s waking up at 5 am with a challenge ahead and a training group beside you.”
Today, that passion still drives him. Even after a life-threatening accident and years away from racing, Barry’s passion is burning brighter than ever. “I want to be competitive again. And at 70, I still believe that’s possible.”
From founding race companies to leading national sports organizations, Barry has always been focused on what’s next. Now, he’s returning to his roots: endurance competition. And he’s using every tool available to get there the right way.
“My intrinsic motivation has always been tied to triathlon,” he says. “Now I get to rebuild, not from memory, but with science and sport.”
With Human Powered Health in his corner, Barry’s comeback is centered around reigniting purpose, rediscovering community and proving that no matter what stage of life you’re in, True Health is Self Made.
Watch Barry Siff’s full story in the video below.
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