Brach Schwegman’s journey into endurance sports didn’t begin in the pool or on the bike. It started on the football field, basketball court and the rugby pitch. A lifelong competitor from Cincinnati, Brach built his athletic identity around strength and power.
However, as the years passed, his goals shifted. Staying active was no longer about being the biggest or strongest; it became about mobility, health and seeing just how far he could push himself in endurance racing.
“Fitness used to mean stacking on weight and getting stronger,” Brach recalls. “Now, it’s about staying mobile, healthy and being pain free.”
Multiple injuries, from shoulder surgeries to chronic back problems, reshaped his approach. “Once you get injured, it sets you back so much. Now I focus on injury prevention.”
That mindset brought him into triathlon and ultimately, Ironman. “I’m done proving I can finish a race, now I’m building the race I’ll be proud of.”
Brach has never been someone who does things halfway. “The least I’ve worked out in the last 15 years is four or five days a week,” he says. “I love working out, it’s my favorite thing to do.”
Today, his training weeks often push 18-22 hours, all designed to set him up for Ironman success. To keep the grind enjoyable, he often trains in Arizona. “Sometimes you ask yourself, Why am I even doing this? Being around the right people reminds me, this is supposed to be fun.”
Brach first heard about Human Powered Health through his endurance network and through Cyclologic, the world-class bike fit studio in Scottsdale, located next door to HPH. “Most people don’t even know this kind of testing is available,” he says. “If they did, I think they’d take advantage of it, because the pros have access to this all the time.”
He doesn’t want to leave any room for what-ifs with his preparation. “I didn’t want to look back in 20 years with regret, wishing I’d done everything I could to put on my best performance, and that meant going to the best.”
Brach’s attention to detail and love of data reflect this commitment. “I’m the guy who takes my bike apart just to understand the torque specs. I love analyzing data every ride. But at some point, you realize, you’re just guessing. Until you test, you don’t actually know.”
When he came into Human Powered Health Scottsdale, it was a turning point. “It never felt transactional. It felt like I had teammates like the pros do.”
Brach completed three assessments at Human Powered Health Scottsdale: Running Gait Analysis, Lactate Threshold Testing and a Sweat Analysis. Each one addressed a critical piece of his training puzzle.
Together, the Lactate Threshold and Sweat Analysis tests proved transformative. “There’s this massive stigma in Ironman that you just need to crank as many carbs as possible. I was doing 150 grams an hour, and the data showed I didn’t need nearly that much.”
By adjusting his fueling plan, he quickly lost 10 pounds in a month, fueled smarter with gels instead of powders and simplified his race-day logistics. “Now I know exactly when to fuel, how much power to put out and how to get to the finish line the fastest way possible.”
Next up for Brach is Ironman Arizona in November, but he has a bigger goal in his sights: Kona. “I want to give Ironman the respect it deserves by putting in my best performance. I don’t want to look back in 20 years with regret.” After Kona, he plans to chase a qualifying spot for the 70.3 World Championships in St. George.
Still, Brach knows what keeps him moving forward: “It’s not about being a pro. It’s about enjoying the journey, surrounding yourself with the right team, and chasing the version of yourself you’ll be proud of.”
From team sport athlete to Ironman contender, Brach has shown that progress comes from intention, not guesswork. When you combine determination with the right data, you unlock your best self, proving True Health is Self-Made.
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