Mike has done on site announcing and television for Running and Triathlon events worldwide since the late 70’s, this has placed a microphone in his hands at over 1000 endurance events. He is best known as the Voice of Ironman and in March of 2011 at Ironman New Zealand, he announced his 100th Ironman . This past October was his 23rd consecutive calling of Ironman Hawaii and over 200,000 triathletes worldwide have heard his famous phrase “You are an Ironman”. At the Awards ceremony of the 2011 World Championships in Kona he was inducted into the Ironman Hall of Fame.
He called the first ever professional triathlon in Solana Beach, CA along with the first Rock & Roll Marathon in San Diego. He along with Bob Babbitt has hosted the Competitor Endurance Sports awards since its inception for 19 straight years.
In 1984 Mike & his wife Rose started RACEPLACE Magazine in San Diego, California. RACEPLACE was operated by Rose Reilly for 30 years and in 2014 was bought by Mike’s son Andy Reilly. It remains the #1 regional source for event listings and entry form information in Southern California. Mike was also an independent sports rep in running, triathlon and cycling for over 18 years and has had the distinction of being one of the first Power Bar reps in the Country. He was instrumental in forming the first shoe company triathlon team in the 80’s for Saucony, featuring Scott Tinley.
In 1999 Mike was one of the original 10 team members of Racegate.com (now Active.com) founded by Mitch Thrower and Scott Kyle of Triathlete Magazine. The company has grown to 2500 team members and he was the Vice President of Endurance Event Sales for The Active Network.
In 2014, Mike started working as the EVP of global sales at Events.com– a provider of cloud-based applications encouraging social interaction and enhancing the experience of putting on, promoting and attending events.
Mike has been involved with the Running USA National Running Conference for the past 10 years as a lead committee member and conference MC. He is also a co-founding member of Triathlon Business International – an industry business organization that is dedicated to promoting the sport and the business of triathlon.
Mike ran his first marathon in 1978 and has a 2:49 PR and competed in his first triathlon in 1979. He and his wife Rose (3:55 Marathon PR) reside in Poway, CA. Daughter Erin (30) is a financial planner in San Diego and has run the Boston Marathon. Son Andy (29) is the owner and publisher of RACEPLACE Inc.