The Triathlete Hour

This week we’re talking to Lauren Parker about her dramatic silver medal in the wheelchair triathlon race at the Paralympics, and how she then raced the 70.3 World Championships with her toes severely burned. She won't let anything stop her. Lauren was on her way to becoming a professional triathlete when she had a freak bike crash back in 2017 and was paralyzed from the waist down. She tells us all about what it took to check herself out of rehab, get to the annual Challenged Athletes Foundation event, and reinvent herself. Plus, first Sid and Kelly do quick recap of that CAF event this year and discuss the big storm over the weekend that nixed the much-anticipated Ironman California. What’s to be done with increasingly common freak weather events?

This week we have another all British show! We’re talking to Tim Don—the Olympian and former Ironman world record holder is maybe best known these days as "the man with the halo," after breaking his neck when he was hit by a car in Kona and spending months in a halo device that was screwed into his skull and held his neck in place. He came back from that to run the Boston Marathon and race Kona. Now we talk about all the things he’s involved in: serving as a team captain for Super League, a back-up guide for the Paralympics, and don’t count him out yet at the age of 43, he’s training in the UK rain and getting ready for next year’s races. He’s also a dad and his kids interrupt us a couple times, because they want to play! We also first do a quick preview of the showdown going on this weekend at Ironman California and why the pros are battling for end-of-year rankings. For more questions with Tim, check out our Q&A on Super League and what's next at Triathlete. This week’s episode is brought to you by Muc-Off, the world’s fastest race lube.

In this episode of Fitter & Faster, run coach David Roche joins host Emma-Kate Lidbury to talk all things running—from how to get the most from your running this off season, to how to structure your training, how to improve your form, and how to stay injury-free. It's a fun and fascinating chat in which Roche gives us plenty of insights into how he helps guide the many runners he coaches through his coaching company, Some Work, All Play. He talks us through a typical week of run training and lets us into a few secrets on how to get faster, quicker—spoiler alert, it doesn't involve hours of run drills, agonizing over cadence, or over-analyzing form. We also talk about strength training for running, with Roche referencing a couple of different routines that he has on Trail Runner's website: 3-minute mountain legs and 8-minute speed legs. And if you're a triathlete who's keen to venture off-road this fall or winter, Roche has a few tips on how to get the most fun and fitness out of that. If you enjoyed Roche's perspective, you can tune into his own podcast, Some Work, All Play, which he co-hosts with his wife and fellow coach Megan. And, of course, it wouldn't be Fitter & Faster without our Gear Up section with resident gear guru and Triathlete executive editor Chris Foster. As a distinguished runner and tech geek, Foster is in a league of his own talking us through some of the latest run trends, how they've impacted the latest run gear and gadgets, and what's best for you to use to get the most from your miles. In the show, we reference our Fall Running Shoe Guide and this news story about On Running's IPO.

We’re back after a short break, and we’ll be bringing you weekly interviews for a couple more months as we finish out the season before the new year. This week we’re talking to the 5th place finisher at 70.3 Worlds, Canadian Jackson Laundry. Jackson had a horrific crash at Worlds in Nice two years ago, shattering his scapula, took six months to get back, and then COVID hit. He tells us all about why he almost quit the sport six years ago, what he’s done to take things to this next level, and how he’s getting ready for his first ever Ironman this weekend in Mallorca—and then getting married the weekend after. (Yes, we discuss how this could go wrong.) Jackson and host, Kelly O'Mara, also chat about the tachycardia they both have and the experience of having your heart rate go nuts while exercising—but a warning: both of them have seen extensive doctors for tests and diagnosis, if you’re experiencing any issues, go to a doctor. We’ll have that whole chat with Jackson after a debrief about the latest triathlon news with Laura Siddall. Sid is back for Sid Talks: the great Kona v. St. George debate, the races to keep your eye on at the end of the year here, and the year-end PTO rankings. This week's episode is brought to you by Muc-Off, the world's fastest race lube.

Laura Siddall joins us this week for a "quick" recap of the 70.3 World Championship races—with all the details you might have missed from the broadcast and the report from the ground. Plus, we break down the rumors that Kona could get moved from Kona. Check out the rest of our coverage: Age-Group v. Pro—Two Very Different Worlds At St. George Lucy Charles-Barclay Wins First World Title; Gustav Iden Takes His Second

In this episode of Fitter & Faster we discuss the many ways our bodies change as we age—and what this means for our training, recovery, and performance as triathletes. Former Ironman world champion Karen Smyers and ultra triathlete and Ironman champion Dede Griesbauer join host Emma-Kate Lidbury to talk about their experiences. Smyers now coaches a host of successful mature athletes, ranging in age from their 40s to their 70s, so she gives us plenty of insights into how, as a coach, she helps them adapt their training and their expectations. She also talks about racing as a pro into her 50s, something which Griesbauer knows plenty about as she's still going strong in the pro ranks with her 51st birthday just days away. Whether it's more focused strength work in the gym or more diligent injury prevention and maintenance work, one thing is clear: If you want to keep training and racing well as you get older, you have to do so with a smarter approach and really know your body—as well as face up to the fact that you might not see improvements year after after. During our chat, we reference this article about the Lever running system and foam rollers get mentioned a few times, so here's one of our favorite rolling routines. And, of course, it wouldn't be Fitter & Faster without our Gear Up section with resident gear guru and Triathlete executive editor Chris Foster. Chris talks us through some of his favorite gear and gadgets that can help you train smarter as you get older. We talk about the importance of really maximizing data to stay one step ahead of what's happening with your body and your training, touching on a number of topics, ranging from HRV (heart rate variability) to training zones (check out this podcast with Coach Ryan Bolton on Training Zones) as well as stress. We reference this article from PodiumRunner about stress: The Body Doesn't Know Miles, It Knows Stress. We also get in the weeds on the hot topic that is blood glucose monitoring, and you can check out our reviews of the two systems we talk about here: Levels Real-Time Blood Glucose Monitoring and a comparison of them both in this review here. Fitter & Faster and all our Triathlete podcasts are now on one feed, so you can get all your triathlon news in one place. Be sure to subscribe to our Triathlete podcast feed so you don’t miss anything: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Soundcloud | Spotify | iHeartRadio

Welcome to the Triathlete Hour. We’ve got one last championship race in this condensed tri championship season: the 70.3 Worlds this weekend in St. George, Utah. And so today Laura Siddall joins us first for a quick Worlds preview with our predictions—and why the women’s race is the way more competitive and exciting one this time around. Check out all the coverage on our site: Your Guide to the 70.3 World Championship Women Contenders Your Guide to the 70.3 World Championship Men Contenders The Pros' Predictions for 70.3 Worlds And then I chat with British up-and-comer Kat Matthews—who could surprise everyone this weekend in St George. Kat is a British Army captain and picked up triathlon back in 2015 with some colleagues and friends, realized as she says “she was quite good at this,” and slowly got more and more serious. In 2019, when she crossed the line second out of all the women at a big European 70.3 while still an age-grouper who trained part-time after work, she realized she could be really good. Kat moved up to the pro ranks and had a sub-9 hour ironman on debut, set the Ironman Florida course record last year, and then ran a 2:49 for second at Ironman Tulsa back in May. She tells us how gradually progressing load has been her secret sauce, how there really are no secrets, and how it’s really all just a series of choices. Plus, we have an interesting discussion about how many athletes and commentators have remarked on her ability to run fast despite, in their words, “not being skinny." What does that say about some weird ideas we all seem to have about body image?

This week we’re wrapping up Tokyo with a fun chat with the gold medal winning duo of Brad Snyder and Greg Billington. Snyder, who lost his vision after stepping on an IED in Afghanistan back in 2011, became the first U.S. man to win gold in triathlon in either the Olympics or Paralympics. And Billington, a 2016 Olympian, served as his guide and mentor. The two of them talk to us about how they work together, the training that went into the improbable win, and how they both were back at work and school this week—back to regular life and back to business. Their insight is priceless, and you can tell they have a lot of fun, even if they do hours of workouts indoors on opposite sides of the country. And before that we hear from Laura Siddall, fresh off her second place at Challenge Roth and a little sleep deprived. She tells us what it is that makes Roth so special and then we try to figure out why so many athletes are making so many last minute changes to their race plans. What can we expect at 70.3 Worlds in St. George next week? RELATED: The Workouts That Helped Brad Snyder Grab Paralympic Gold

We’ll wrap up Paralympics Month next week with a chat with gold-medal winning Brad Snyder, but this week we’re just doing a quick recap show. Laura Siddall joins us from Tokyo for Sid Talks. She’s been quarantined in her hotel as a reserve for Team GB—so she's watched a lot of racing. We dissect the Paralympic races (and share our favorites) and then talk all things Collins Cup. It was exciting racing, was the event a success?Plus, we look ahead to the anticipated showdowns now at 70.3 Worlds. More on the Paralympics: How Brad Snyder Grabbed Paralympic Gold The Eight Unforgettable Moments of the Olympics and Paralympics And the Collins Cup: Was the Collins Cup A Success?

Welcome to the Triathlete Hour. We’re finishing out Paralympics Month with a chat with Mohamed Lahna, who took bronze in paratri at the Rio Game, but is competing in paracycling in Tokyo. But that’s not the craziest thing he’s done. We talk about finishing the epic six-day Marathon des Sables on crutches, climbing from the lowest point to the highest point on every continent, and what it's like to do massive swims (like across the Strait of Gibraltar) while missing a limb. Mohamed was born without a femur on his right leg and grew up in Morocco without a lot of options for being active. It wasn’t until he was in his 20s that he got his first real prosthetic and biked through the Atlas Mountains—and he hasn’t stopped since. But first, before our amazing talk with Mohamed, we chat with our European correspondent Tim Hemming, who is in Slovakia covering the first-ever Collins Cup. He explains what it is, what to expect, and why there were so many last-minute changes. You can watch the Collins Cup live on Saturday at 7 a.m. ET on Triathlete's website right here.

Welcome to the Triathlete Hour. As part of Paralympics Month today we’re talking to Amy Dixon, who started to lose her vision in her 20s as a byproduct of her juvenile rheumatic arthritis. By her 30s, she had lost 98% of her vision and had to reinvent herself—so she did. She’s now a para cycling and paratriathlon national champion and is headed to Tokyo at the age of 45. After another bout of debilitating health problems last year nearly killed her, she’s excited just to be racing against kids half her age—and then she’s going to celebrate with a vacation in Hawaii. Amy tells us all about how she’s changed her perspective and overcome obstacles along the way, and what it takes to train and make the Olympics while on chemo. But first, Laura Siddall is with us from Japan, where she’s already landed for a Team GB pre-Paralympics camp as a guide. She gives us the scoop and dissects the other race happening next weekend: the Collins Cup. Plus, final Kona qualification spots.

In this episode of Fitter & Faster we dive into all aspects of injury prevention to help you understand how best to stay injury-free. Physical therapist and athletic trainer Dr. Shefali Christopher joins host Emma-Kate Lidbury to talk about the common causes of injuries among triathletes and what you can do to prevent them. Dr. Shefali is also the PT for the U.S. Paratriathlon Team, a position she's held since 2018, and is a triathlete herself, so has that perfect blend of academic and in-the-field experience. We talk through the injuries she sees triathletes presenting with most frequently as well as the obvious—and not so obvious—causes of them. Dr. Shefali tells us that your history of injury is the biggest predictor of future injury occurrence—so the obvious advice is to try to stay injury-free in the first place, and we talk through how to make that goal a reality. Spoiler alert: it includes good sleep, nutrition, gear selection, and more. And talking of gear selection, it wouldn't be Fitter & Faster without our Gear Up section with resident gear guru and Triathlete executive editor Chris Foster. Chris talks us through some of his favorite gear and gadgets that can help you stay injury-free. In the show, we reference this Ask A Trainer article from strength and conditioning coach Kate Ligler on How to Use a Foam Roller During Race Season as well as this video: What's the Best Way to Recover from Tri Training and Racing?

Welcome to the start of Paralympics month on the Triathlete Hour. The Paralympic Games start next week and after all the excitement in Tokyo we’re ready to keep it going. Allysa Seely kicks things off today with her fascinating and inspiring story. After getting into triathlon while in college, she started experiencing symptoms that didn’t make sense: extreme fatigue, passing out when standing up, an inability to walk. It took two years to finally get a diagnosis. And after surgery, she went back to Collegiate Club Nationals and became the first athlete with a disability to compete in the able-bodied race. Allysa talks to us about the challenges of invisible v. visible disabilities, how her amputation was a good thing, how she won gold in Rio at the debut of paratriathlon in the Games, and what the media frenzy was like after. Last year, months of life-threatening infections in her bloodstream again left doctors stumped and had her in and out of the hospital. Now, she’s been panic training for Tokyo, but don't bet against her. More: A Day in the Life of Paralympic Triathlete Allysa Seely

For our last Olympics show we’re talking to our reporting team on the ground in Japan: Brett Larner and Mika Tokairin are a husband & wife reporting duo who cover running and triathlon—and race themselves. They’ve been doing some interesting work in English and Japanese during these Games, so they can give us the on-the-ground scoop here on how it’s going on Japan, what the crowds and reception in Tokyo are like, and how the triathlon races went down in person. Plus, we talk some about why running is so popular in Japan and what we can learn from making it a spectator sport, and how triathlon has grown over the years there. There were some audio issues, but stick with us, the insight they have is worth it. You can also check out all their stories from the Tokyo Olympics here: The Hottest Ticket in Tokyo? Olympic Triathlon The (Bizarre, Uncomfortable, Precarious) Life of Being An Olympic Athlete in Tokyo How Tokyo Fixed Its Olympic Open Water Problem (Hopefully) How Japanese Corporations Bet Big on Pro Triathletes The Land of the Rising Sun: Triathlon's Unique Role in Japan And first, Laura Siddall and I answer the two big questions coming out of the Olympics: Was mixed relay’s debut a success; Can Kristian Blummenfelt win the Olympics and Kona in the same year?

Spoiler alert: This week's episode is all about the men's and women's Olympic triathlon races. Laura Siddall joins us to dissect the races, analyze what went well and what didn't, and look ahead to first-ever Olympic mixed team relay at the end of this week. Don't forget: here's how to watch.

Welcome to the last Triathlete Hour episode before the Olympics! For our final Olympian interview we’re chatting with Kevin McDowell, the cancer survivor and ice cream aficionado. You might not know Kevin’s name but you should. He’s been racing triathlon since he was a kid and had some impressive junior results—but the day after his first pro race at 18, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He tells us all about how it took him years to finally hit his stride in tri after he was recovered, how he thinks he tried to come back too fast and caused more issues, and how his body requires extra love and attention now. That’s why he eats ice cream almost every night and he has an ice cream shop as a sponsor. Kevin also gives us the inside scoop on what to expect in the Tokyo race and in the new and exciting mixed relay… And before we chat with Kevin, Laura Siddall and I give you a breakdown of the individual Olympic races, our picks, and a preview of what to look for. It all starts this weekend! Your guide to the Olympic women's contenders Your guide to the Olympic men's contenders How to watch the triathlon races Who to watch for and how it could go down in Tokyo On the ground at the Games that almost didn't happen

This week we're talking to Olympian Summer Rappaport. Two years ago, Summer locked down her Tokyo Olympic qualification and since then has had to wait...and wait. She tells us how last year, during the pandemic, she re-found her love and fun of the sport, got out mountain biking with her husband, and actually stayed in one place for multiple months. She found triathlon post-college with the help of USAT's College Recruitment Program and hasn't looked back. Now, she's ready for Tokyo—if only she can figure out what to do with her eight suitcases and two bikes. And first, we chat with Ryan Frankel, who founded the app This App Saves Lives. He explains how using carrots, not just sticks, is helping prevent accidents and how he was inspired after his own close call while biking. You can read all our Olympics coverage as we gear up with Olympics month here. Get excited!

In this episode of Fitter & Faster, we chat with Dr. Stacy Sims about the physiological and psychological factors surrounding successful performance in the heat. There's no escaping the fact that races are getting hotter and it's never been more important to arrive at the start line of a race feeling prepared to tackle the heat and humidity. Dr. Sims—whose own interest in thermoregulation resulted from struggling at hot races one too many times—chats with us about what happens to your body (and mind) as temperatures rise, and the best ways to prepare yourself for this. We discuss different approaches to acclimation, including a sauna protocol which she uses with many top athletes, and common symptoms you might see and feel. We chat through different race day options for keeping yourself cool, including hydration and fueling, ice sponges (where to put them and where not to put them!), and cooling vests. And ultimately, we conclude that racing well in the heat isn't all about physiology, as Dr. Sims puts it: "It's not always the fastest, fittest athlete that wins in the heat—but the smartest, most intelligently prepared one." Later in the show we chat with our resident gear guru Chris Foster about the gear and gadgets he believes can help you train and race well in the heat, some of which is high tech, but some of it will surprise you. He also gives us insights into gear he knows helped some athletes execute great performances at the recent Ironman Coeur D'Alene, where temperatures hit triple digits and there was a marked difference in performances between those who were well prepared for the heat—and those who were not.

Welcome to our all Olympics month. For the next few weeks, we have interviews lined up with multiple Olympians leading into Tokyo—starting today with up-and-coming U.S. star (and the cover model on our current Olympics issue) Morgan Pearson. Morgan was second at the World Triathlon race in Leeds earlier this year, third in Yokohama, and has now propelled himself to the front of the list of favorites going into the Games. But four years ago he had never done a triathlon before! He talked to us about what he learned coming from pro running, what’s the hardest part of triathlon, becoming an Olympian (and seeing your friends become Olympians), and how the U.S. men are upping their game…and working together. Will the U.S. win the mixed relay in Tokyo? We say yes. Be sure to check out all of our Olympics coverage: Who and What to Watch in Tokyo Triathlete's Guide to the Tokyo Olympics And Laura Siddall is back for Sid Talks—we recorded literally hours after her second place at Ironman Lanzarote to answer the question: Is it really the toughest Ironman in the world? Then we dissect what's going on with Kona spots this year, why some pros are very angry about rankings, and the Olympic drama around that mixed team relay...

Clarice Lorenzini is the only Asian-American female pro on the circuit right now. She tells us what it's like managing the stress of her husband being deployed, working a full-time job in a Naval rehab center, and making her pro debut at Ironman Tulsa. She actually kept her training and her husband’s deployment a secret most of last year—but now she's ready to be a face of the sport and speak out about why it's important for representation. She also talks to us about how she manages stress, how she got into tri in the first place, and her tricks for making it all work. Read more about Clarice: “I Am Ready To Help Change the Face of the Sport” And first, Sid & Kelly dissect everything about the U.S. Olympic selection announcement and get excited for the Games. Are you ready? We'll be taking a two-week break and will be back in early July with new episodes.

We have a fun episode today: the Age-Group Special, with lots going on. We’re talking to the woman who won USA Triathlon’s most inspirational comeback award for the year. Tracy Kochian is just a regular age-grouper, mom, and lawyer, who went through one setback after another. She shares some tips, insight, and talks about what it’s like for so many of us when we just have one thing go wrong after another. We’re calling this our Age-Group Special because we’ll also talk with Nicola Dick, who chairs the World Triathlon Age Group Commission. She tells us what exactly that is and how they’re trying to get more age-groupers out at World Triathlon races. (A note: We recorded this before the World Triathlon Championship series race in Leeds happened this past weekend, which is a big deal to Nicola in the UK and which we talk about coming up in the podcast.) So first, to break down that Leeds race this past weekend, where everything and anything happened, we talk with Laura Siddall in our regular Sid Talks segment to dissect the Olympic chances now that we’ve seen the big names on the race course, what Lucy Charles-Barclay’s 5th place debut means, and what is going on with COVID and race restrictions. All of that in this week’s episode.

This week, we're talking to Olympic hopeful Kirsten Kasper. Kirsten took up triathlon after swimming in high school (and winning a state championship) and running at Georgetown. She was recruited as part of the college recruitment program, took 4th in the U23 World Championships in her first elite race, and was 4th overall in the World Triathlon standings in 2017 and 2018. Then she got injured. Then, she crashed at the Tokyo Olympic qualifying test event—but finished the race before going to get 15 stitches in her hip. Since then, she's been building back up and was 3rd at a World Cup two weeks ago. She tells us what it's like trying to make one of the most competitive teams in triathlon (the U.S. women's squad), how she and her finance manage both competing for different countries, and the tricks to juggling a constant travel schedule. Plus, she gives us an inside look at the World Triathlon Championship Series race in Leeds this weekend. What's on the line at Leeds? Olympic spots! Laura Siddall helps us break down the race, how the British men are fighting it out, what to expect from Lucy Charles-Barclay's debut, and the drama with the last American women's spot and three women vying for it. Want more info? Lucy Charles-Barclay’s Surprise WTCS Debut And U.S. Drama In Leeds Sleepless Nights at USA Triathlon

In Episode 17 of Fitter & Faster, we explore all aspects of peaking and tapering to help you arrive at the start line of your next race in the best shape yet. Most coaches advocate trying to peak twice a year, but if you don't know how to nail your taper you risk reaching race day feeling flat and sluggish. Understanding the physiological and psychological aspects of peaking and tapering can help you avoid the common mistakes and pitfalls. In this show, we chat with coach Jim Vance, who talks about the many different ways he's helped his athletes find their best form and avoid "the abyss" that can come from getting your taper wrong. We also uncover the "secret sauce" that can truly help athletes hit their peak on race day—and it's not so much about physiology, rather psychology. On that theme, we also hear from Vanessa Foerster, a mental endurance coach who has helped many athletes work on their approach to race day, including their taper. She has some unique perspectives on how to handle it all, which includes writing letters to your future self. And, of course, it wouldn't be Fitter & Faster without our Gear Up section with our resident gear guru Chris Foster. We chat through the intricacies of heart rate variability, percussive devices, and plenty more.

This week we’re talking to Emma Pallant. The runner-turned triathlete and duathlon world champ has made a home in South Africa. She talks to us all about what it’s been like during COVID and how tri training differs from running—she had to learn to eat while she races, and she tells us how that lesson required passing out once or twice. Plus, why she turned to tri in the first place after what she thought would be a career-ending injury and why she loves the atmosphere more than track and field. Plus first Laura Siddall and Kelly O'Mara dissect the North American Ironman Championships in Tulsa this past weekend and discuss why was the race dominated by Europeans. Are we about to hit a lull in this weird racing season? We had a few technical difficulties, as is so often the case in the age of Zoom, but just stay tuned and it's worth it.

This week we talk with five-time Ironman champ Matt Hanson. He's one of the fastest runners in the sport and one of the smartest guys. He tells us all about how he only did his first triathlon because it was on a list of '50 Goals in the Next 10 Years' his wrestling coach in high school made him write, how he qualified for Kona in that first race, and how he fell in love with the sport. Six months shy of tenure, but burning the candle at both ends, he gave up his job as a professor of exercise science to go all-in as a pro triathlete. Now he's won five Ironmans—but he still has one big goal: Kona. As a former professor of exercise science, Matt also knows a lot about, well, exercise science. He shares some insights he's learned and fine-tuned. Plus, why it's OK to heel strike when you run—and how he's put down the fastest Ironman marathon doing it. Check out our article on Matt's run form: Yes, Matt Hanson Heel Strikes (And Maybe You Should Too) But first, Laura Siddall joins us to chat about the craziness that was the last Olympic auto-qualifying event this past weekend and why it's a blessing and a headache for U.S. triathlon. You can see all our coverage of the race: Sleepless Nights at USA Triathlon Get to Know Morgan Pearson, the Newest U.S. Olympic Qualifier Taylor Knibb Upsets Favorites for Yokohama Win and Olympic Team Photos: Taylor Knibb, Morgan Pearson Realize Olympic Dream

This week our own editor, Chris Foster, tells us how he got into triathlon, raced on the U.S. National Team, flew around the world chasing Olympic qualifying points, and just how hard that is. He shares some stories about the crazy travel and tough lifestyle–and about why you should watch the World Triathlon racing this weekend. Hint: It's going to be high drama! If you're looking for more insight into the World Triathlon Championship Series race in Yokohama this weekend and more about the athletes vying for spots on the Tokyo team, check out: Every Question You Have About the Tokyo Olympics Triathlons Answered Behind the Scenes of an Elite Squad of Olympians Preparing for Tokyo A Day in the Life of Olympic Hopeful Taylor Spivey Here's How the U.S. Triathletes Will Qualify

Instead of an interview this week, we have a short fun episode with Laura Siddalll—consider it an expanded Sid Talks—where we dissect the first big BIG weekend of racing in North America, what people can expect from the St. George 70.3 Worlds course this fall, who’s peaking a little early and who to watch. And then we get into what else is on the calendar coming up, ie. Olympics qualification. Get excited for triathlon again! We’ll be back with regular interviews next week.

In this episode of Fitter & Faster, we dive into all aspects of open-water swimming, including the key skills you need, such as sighting, drafting, and pack swimming, as well as how to overcome that all-too-familiar anxiety that so often is part of swimming in the open water, and how to find the right wetsuit for you. We chat with coach Megan Melgaard, from triathlon swim program Tower 26, and she highlights the importance of learning the key open-water skills in the pool first before transferring them to the open water. She advises that regularly practicing these skills in training will help lessen the nerves that so many triathletes often feel standing on the start line on race day. We also talk about swim safety and all the things you need to know about swimming in a wetsuit. We wrap up the show with our gear guru Chris Foster who gives us the lowdown on wetsuits: what to look for in a wetsuit, the best ones he's tested, as well as the other gear you need for open-water swimming, such as goggles (and choosing the right ones for the conditions) and safety buoys. Like Megan, he also talks about the importance of training in all the gear you'll be using on race day. Be sure to check out some of our other open-water swimming resources too: How Can I Stay Safe Open-Water Swimming? Learn to Love Open-Water Swimming Triathlete Live: Open Water Guru Gerry Rodrigues Shares Swimming Tips

Today we’re chatting with paratri world champion and Paralympic bronze medalist Melissa Stockwell. Melissa was the first female soldier to lose a limb during the Iraq War—though, as she jokes, that wasn’t a goal she set out to achieve. She talks to us about coming back from that, being selected as the flag bearer at the closing ceremonies in the 2008 Paralympics, which she competed in as a swimmer, and then finding triathlon. And now she's going for another shot at the team this summer as a 41 year old. Plus first, Laura Siddall is back with Sid Talks and we dissect the wins of another pair of nearly 40-year-olds this past weekend, we try to explain the Pro Triathlete Organization’s rankings, and we preview the stacked field at St. George this weekend. This episode is sponsored by the New York City Triathlon. Enter the lottery by tonight, April 28.

This week’s conversation has a been a little while in the making. We’re talking to the one, the only Andrew "Starky" Starykowicz. The popular athlete was the first American to break 8 hours in an Ironman and is known for his blistering bike splits, but maybe most importantly he’s also known for his openness and for always saying what he thinks. In December, it was announced that Starky had received a 13-month sanction from Ironman for using a banned inhaler after getting pneumonia—and much of our conversation today is understandably about the circumstances around his use of the prescribed inhaler and how the process worked, or didn’t, for him. You can read more about the fight over the sanction here. It's important to note that Ironman has said they followed all rules and regulations laid out by the World Anti-Doping Agency and by the US Anti-Doping Agency. It's also important to note that no one involved is disputing the basic facts of what happened: Starky got pneumonia and was prescribed an inhaler in order to recover from the illness, and then raced Ironman Florida. No one appears to think or suggest that he was attempting to cheat. What is at question is if the letter or the spirit of the rules were broken. As promised in the episode, we're including more links for information on the sanction and process: Starykowicz’s blog post announcing the sanction and his release of transcripts from the hearing Ironman’s statement on the sanction The Court of Arbitration for Sport decision The arbitrator’s November 2020 decision under Ironman’s anti-doping program The PTO’s statement Ironman’s response This episode is sponsored by the New York City Triathlon. Visit nyctri.com for more information about the race and entering the lottery.

This week we’re talking with many time para tri world and national champion, Aaron Scheidies. Aaron’s vision has been deteriorating since he was a kid and he now estimates he has about 10% vision—but he’s still one of the fastest guys out on the race course. He was the first blind athlete to break two hours in an Olympic distance race. He’s won seven world titles—but he’s never raced in triathlon at the Olympics. He’s hoping to finally get that chance this summer, if everything goes according to plan. But as you’ll learn from Aaron’s story, nothing every goes according to plan for him. You can read his whole up-and-down journey to being a Paralympic cyclist in Rio here. He tells us all about what it’s like to race with a guide, some of his crazier adventures as a para-cyclist, how he found triathlon as a kid, and how paratri has evolved over the years. Listen to our chat with his guide and former pro, Ben Collins. And before that we’re talking with our Laura Siddall for Sid Talks. Laura’s actually preparing to serve as a back-up guide in Tokyo for a blind British athlete, and she tells us a little about it from that side. Plus, we dissect all the racing now that racing has finally started again in the U.S. Is every field going to be stacked this year? Listen to the transcript of the episode here.

Welcome back to the Triathlete Hour. Hopefully, you enjoyed our re-airing of old episodes for the end of Women’s History Month and hopefully you also found the beginner’s episode from our training & gear podcast, Fitter & Faster, useful. To get all of our gear & training episodes, subscribe to Fitter & Faster: Apple Podcasts Spotify Today we’re back with another one of our favorite female athletes, our very own Laura Siddall. Usually you hear Laura analyzing the latest tri news from around the world as part of her segment Sid Talks, but today we talk to Sid about Sid. How she quit a corporate engineering job in her 30s to chase the pro triathlon dream, moved across the world to the U.S. with a bike and suitcase, and has won five iron-distance races since then. Plus, what it’s like to live the nomad life, how she’s coping with one injury and setback after another, and why the British women have gotten so good. Read our story on Beth Potter's world 5K record. You can find the transcript of this interview here.

For the last week of Women’s History Month, we’ll be re-sharing some of our favorite episodes from the badass women who make up our sport. We’ll be re-airing here in our feed one episode every day for the next week and then we’ll be back with new episodes the first week of April. Enjoy these old episodes from Gwen Jorgensen, Sarah True, Flora Duffy, Heather Jackson, Holly Lawrence, Sika Henry, Chelsea Sodaro — who has since had her baby, and on the last day of the month we’ll hear again from our only gender nonbinary pro Rach McBride. For our last revisit of an old episode, we're going back to our conversation with the Purple Tiger, Rach McBride. Rach tells us about why they picked triathlon over genetics counseling, playing the cello, or working in sexual health—all of which were options. We also talk about why ADD might be good for triathlon and whether a GPS PR for a 1:20 half-marathon goal counts or if you have to run it on a certified course. And next weekend, Rach will head to the self-organized Canadian Pro Championships. In the second half of the episode, we spend a long time talking about why Rach came out as gender non-binary earlier this year, at the age of 42, and how the decision made them feel like they finally didn’t feel out of place anymore. (FYI: This means Rach goes by the pronoun ‘they’ and so we’ll refer to them that way throughout this episode.) We have a long talk here about what gender non-binary means and why it was important for Rach to be honest about who they are. Here’s the story we did on Rach’s decision earlier this year. And, as mentioned, here are some additional resources and articles about what gender non-binary means: Understanding Non-Binary People (The National Center for Transgender Equality) ‘The Struggles of Rejecting the Gender Binary’ (NYT) Model Policy on Non-Binary Athlete Inclusion (Athlete Ally)

For the last week of Women’s History Month, we’ll be re-sharing some of our favorite episodes from the badass women who make up our sport. We’ll be re-airing here in our feed one episode every day for the next week and then we’ll be back with new episodes the first week of April. Enjoy these old episodes from Gwen Jorgensen, Sarah True, Flora Duffy, Heather Jackson, Holly Lawrence, Sika Henry, Chelsea Sodaro — who has since had her baby, and on the last day of the month we’ll hear again from our only gender nonbinary pro Rach McBride. Today we're re-airing our episode with former pro runner (and 10K national champion) Chelsea Sodaro. A few years ago, after many injuries and a disappointing 2016 Olympics run, she made the switch to triathlon—and has already seen success, winning multiple 70.3s and taking 4th at the 70.3 World Championships this past fall. Chelsea talks about why she’s having fun now, what she’s learned, why she decided to stop chasing the Olympic dream and move to 70.3 (hint: it has to do with staying close to her family), and how she’s evaluated her big goals during this stressful time. Despite a few internet issues, this is an insightful conversation and full of great information. Bear with us! Plus, you’ll want to hear what her running PRs are… And first we talk to Jeff Sankoff, an ER physician, triathlete, and coach who runs TriDoc coaching and puts on the TriDoc podcast. He answers some key questions athletes have right now about their health and safety.

For the last week of Women’s History Month, we’ll be re-sharing some of our favorite episodes from the badass women who make up our sport. We’ll be re-airing here in our feed one episode every day for the next week and then we’ll be back with new episodes the first week of April. Enjoy these old episodes from Gwen Jorgensen, Sarah True, Flora Duffy, Heather Jackson, Holly Lawrence, Sika Henry, Chelsea Sodaro — who has since had her baby, and on the last day of the month we’ll hear again from our only gender nonbinary pro Rach McBride. Today we're going back to our episode with Sika Henry, who is trying to become the first female African-American pro triathlete. How did she end up with that goal and why hasn’t there been someone before her? Last year, Sika also had a horrific crash and doesn’t remember anything before waking up in the hospital. How do you get back on your bike after that? Plus, she still balances a full-time job and a full-time training load, even with her big goals—something a lot of us will appreciate. And she tells us why she almost turned down the chance to do Kona as her first Ironman last year. First, though, Triathlete senior editor Chris Foster talks to us about Lubbock 70.3 this weekend—which is scheduled to be the first large triathlon since the COVID-19 pandemic started. What will it look like? And if you don’t have races on the horizon, like most of us, then what are your options for putting on a self-supported triathlon? If you’re looking for more information, here’s our story about the race. Read more about how to do a self-supported triathlon.

For the last week of Women’s History Month, we’ll be re-sharing some of our favorite episodes from the badass women who make up our sport. We’ll be re-airing here in our feed one episode every day for the next week and then we’ll be back with new episodes the first week of April. Enjoy these old episodes from Gwen Jorgensen, Sarah True, Flora Duffy, Heather Jackson, Holly Lawrence, Sika Henry, Chelsea Sodaro — who has since had her baby, and on the last day of the month we’ll hear again from our only gender nonbinary pro Rach McBride. In our fifth episode we talked with 70.3 World Champ Holly Lawrence, who explained how coming back from a devastating injury helped prepare her for uncertainty during this COVID-19 pandemic. She talks to us from her house in LA about why she doesn’t ride in the rain, how the World Championships in Nice stressed her out, and if she thinks pro triathletes can be a little boring. Plus, she was preparing to do her first Ironman in St. George — what now? Senior editor Chris Foster joins us first, though, to help figure out if too many triathletes are getting quarantine injured, why, and what they can do about it.

For the last week of Women’s History Month, we’ll be re-sharing some of our favorite episodes from the badass women who make up our sport. We’ll be re-airing here in our feed one episode every day for the next week and then we’ll be back with new episodes the first week of April. Enjoy these old episodes from Gwen Jorgensen, Sarah True, Flora Duffy, Heather Jackson, Holly Lawrence, Sika Henry, Chelsea Sodaro — who has since had her baby, and on the last day of the month we’ll hear again from our only gender nonbinary pro Rach McBride. Today we're re-airing our episode with Kona podium finisher and multi-time Ironman champ Heather Jackson. Known for her constant smile, Heather tells us how she stays so positive and what the deal was with the bananas when she won Ironman Lake Placid. A former hockey player, Heather was a high school teacher after college and an age-group athlete when she decided to move to San Diego and go pro. Now she’s one of the fastest women on the circuit. She tells us how she changed her perspective and what she thinks are the most common mistakes age-groupers make. Plus, coach Marilyn Chychota talks to us about what athletes are struggling with right now, how to stay motivated, and what her biggest tips are. She talks extensively about figuring out what your motivations are. Here is the worksheet she mentions that you can go through yourself to evaluate your own motivation.

In episode 15, we're bringing you the beginners' guide to triathlon, giving you the lowdown on all you need to know to get started in tri. With three sports to balance, a ton of gear to figure out, races to select—and plenty more—it can be hard to know where to begin. In this show, we chat with coach and author Matt Fitzgerald, who gives us his advice on how to get started with training, how to fuel well, how to prevent and avoid injuries, as well as some of the things he learned from his first race more than 20 years ago. We also hear from coach Morgon Latimore, who has welcomed a lot of novices into the sport and really enjoys helping athletes master their mindset. And we wrap up the show with our Gear Up! section with Triathlete's senior editor and resident gear guru Chris Foster who talks through all the gear you need to get started in tri—as well as all the stuff you don't. He shares his experience on helping beginners select the best kit for them and tells us some of his favorite brands when looking to bargain shop for a sport that can be expensive. Be sure to check out some of our resources too: Beginner Triathlon Training: Everything You Need to Know Before Your First Triathlon The Best Beginner Triathlon Bikes Tri 101: How to Get Started What You Need to Know About Every Triathlon Distance Read the transcript of this episode here.

For the last week of Women’s History Month, we’ll be re-sharing some of our favorite episodes from the badass women who make up our sport. We’ll be re-airing here in our feed one episode every day for the next week and then we’ll be back with new episodes the first week of April. Enjoy these old episodes from Gwen Jorgensen, Sarah True, Flora Duffy, Heather Jackson, Holly Lawrence, Sika Henry, Chelsea Sodaro — who has since had her baby, and on the last day of the month we’ll hear again from our only gender nonbinary pro Rach McBride. Today we go back to our second episode with Flora Duffy, who joined us last year from South Africa, where she was in lockdown and stuck in the house. The Xterra and ITU World champ talked to us about what it’s like to be an Olympic favorite and now not have an Olympics to go to, growing up in Bermuda, coming back from injuries, and how it took her a decade to become an overnight sensation. Plus, she’s got her eyes on 70.3 Worlds this November and she shares some things she learned from her first 70.3. Kelly also chats first with Brad Culp about the triathlon landscape, how pros are making a living through all this, and they get into some speculation about what could happen with Kona.

For the last week of Women’s History Month, we’ll be re-sharing some of our favorite episodes from the badass women who make up our sport. We’ll be re-airing here in our feed one episode every day for the next week and then we’ll be back with new episodes the first week of April. Enjoy these old episodes from Gwen Jorgensen, Sarah True, Flora Duffy, Heather Jackson, Holly Lawrence, Sika Henry, Chelsea Sodaro — who has since had her baby, and on the last day of the month we’ll hear again from our only gender nonbinary pro Rach McBride. Today we're re-airing our very first episode with Olympian and Kona 4th place finisher Sarah True. Sarah tells us about what it’s like right now dealing with the financial uncertainty of being a pro athlete during the spread of coronavirus, why she decided to race in Campeche 70.3 before travel restrictions went into effect, and how she’s focusing on family for the next few months. As part of the Olympic Selection Committee, Sarah also gives us the inside scoop about the triathlon Olympic selection criteria. And we talk about her ongoing heat issues in races, which led to a series of devastating DNFs in 2019. Can her brain recover and bounce back? Plus, a quick game of ‘would you rather.’

For the last week of Women’s History Month, we’ll be re-sharing some of our favorite episodes from the badass women who make up our sport. We’ll be re-airing here in our feed one episode every day for the next week and then we’ll be back with new episodes the first week of April. Enjoy these old episodes from Gwen Jorgensen, Sarah True, Flora Duffy, Heather Jackson, Holly Lawrence, Sika Henry, Chelsea Sodaro — who has since had her baby, and on the last day of the month we’ll hear again from our only gender nonbinary pro Rach McBride. Today we're re-airing our episode with Olympic gold medalist Gwen Jorgensen, who talks to us about why she left triathlon behind to pursue a running career—and why she doesn’t listen to the online forums telling her she can’t do it. She believes in herself. Gwen was a swimmer growing up and left swimming to pursue running—and left running (and her accounting job) to pursue triathlon after a whole lot of convincing from other people. She then found herself at the Olympics 18 months later. She tells us what it took to win gold, how her now-husband went all-in on supporting her for that goal, and why she left it all to go after a marathon medal. She’s now trying to make the Olympics in the 5K or 10K and has been training with the Bowerman Track Club. We get some details about what that’s been life, how she came back from surgery last year, what her plans are post-Tokyo, and why she’s gotten more involved with social justice issues. Will we see her come back to triathlon?

This week, we’re talking to Chris Mosier, the first trans athlete to represent Team USA, which he did in triathlon, and the first trans athlete to compete in the Olympic Trials, which he did in race walking oddly. Yes, we talk about how someone gets into race walking in the first place—Chris jokes it was harder to come out as a race walker than as a trans man. He also talks about what running meant to him when he was trying to sort out the question he had around his gender identity, how he navigated triathlon, and how he’s trying to be a role model for other trans kids now. He also gets into many of the questions people pose him and why he's worried about the attack on trans kids and trans athletes right now. Chris is always interesting and thoughtful, and you'll enjoy this conversation as much as we did. Transcript available here.

On this week's Triathlete Hour, we’re talking with Gabriela Gallegos, who serves on the USA Triathlon Board and on the World Triathlon board (formerly the ITU). She gives us a breakdown of what that even means, how someone ends up on one of those boards, and why she started a triathlon series in her hometown of El Paso, Texas—plus what she learned going from lawyer to race director to public health advocate. This episode was recorded two weeks ago, before the most recent USAT vote on the updated bylaws. One note: We did go back and ask Gabriela for some clarity on those proposed changes. Like we mention, you can read all the changes here on the USAT site. And if you're a current USAT member, you should have gotten an email with a link to vote by the end of the month. But we promise the rest of the conversation is more interesting than bylaw changes! And first, we chat with Laura Siddall again for Sid Talks in advance of Challenge Miami this weekend. Get all the details about how to watch (and who to watch for) here. Transcript for this episode available here.

You may heard of our guest this week, Kathryn Bertine, because she spearheaded the successful campaign to get a women's Tour de France race—now a one-day event called La Course—which she also raced in. She produced the documentary Half the Road. She's been an editor for ESPN, writing their popular column on trying to make the Olympics—in any sport, any country, just go out and make it happen. Something she tried too. She's written three books, about that experiment, about her years as a pro figure skater, and now she's here with her newest book, Stand—about how to be an activist and the behind the scenes story of the toll it took on her personal life as she fought for equality in women's cycling. But what you might not know about Kathryn is she started out as a pro triathlete before switching to cycling and she tells us what it is she still loves about triathlon, some of the details of how she worked to make change, and what it was like having a massive crash mid race that left her nearly dead in Mexico. And coming back from that. It's an interesting conversation because Kathryn is always an interesting person. You can also buy her book here. We're also back with Laura Siddall for Sid Talks. One note: we mention Ironman New Zealand, but we recorded this last week before the race was canceled! We also talk about who gets to race during COVID and what we think about indoor racing. If you want more tips on indoor cycling, be sure to go check out this month's episode of our gear & training podcast, Fitter and Faster—all about indoor cycling this month. Transcript for this episode here.

In episode 14 of Fitter & Faster, we dive into all aspects of indoor cycling—from the pros and cons of training inside, how to set yourself up for success in virtual racing, as well as all the gear and equipment you need to maximize your experience. We chat with professional triathlete and Ironman champion Meredith Kessler and hear from Joe Friel and Jim Rutberg, endurance coaches and authors of the book Ride Inside. We close out the show with our Gear Up! section with Triathlete's resident gear guru and senior editor Chris Foster. Indoor riding has undergone a huge evolution in recent years and is no longer considered something athletes do just because of adverse weather outside. It's a legitimate form of training that can lead to significant boosts in performance and can considerably help when time is tight and you're looking to balance training alongside work, family, and social commitments. Friel and Rutberg give us some insights into how they think indoor riding can work in a triathlete's training program, as well as some of the advantages and limitations of only riding inside. Kessler, a self-proclaimed "promiscuous Zwifter" who won the latest Zwift Pro Tri Series (Series 3) tells us how she's currently doing 100% of her riding indoors—and gives us some helpful tips for when you do return to riding outdoors again. She also gives us the rundown of her "She Shed"—the name she's given to her pain cave where she rides and runs throughout the winter. Our gear guru Chris Foster runs us through all the gear you need to ride inside—and it's not a short list, what with smart trainers, rolling tables, fans, waterproof earphones, and more—but if you're going to be spending significant amounts of time riding indoors, it's an investment well worth making.

This week, we're talking to age-grouper Josh Hageman, who has collected every badge on Zwift. At least he thinks he has. It's a bit of a secret, bit hard to find out for sure—so if you know of a badge he doesn't have, he wants to know about it. He tells us how he went down that hole, what tips he has for other indoor athletes, and why he started a marshmallow business. Plus, how you go about creating your own wacky challenges in real life. Hint: They usually start as bad ideas. Transcript for the episode available here.

This week, we're back with Sid Talks with Laura Siddall, who helps us dissect the 2020 prize money list—or lack of prize money—and the upcoming bombshell of a race in Miami. And then we chat with Max Fennell, who we've dubbed 'the most interesting man in triathlon.' Max is the only Black pro triathlete—and arguably the first, we discuss. He was also recruited for the TV show 'Million Dollar Mile,' and the televised Spartan Games earlier this year. Plus, he runs his own coffee company, ran for city council, recently co-founded an organization to get more athletes of color into endurance sports, and took up bow hunting as part of his 3-4 year plan to qualify for Kona. And: Why you should try sleeping outside under a tree.

This week is all about women. We talk to triathlon pioneer Sal Edwards, one of the first women to ever finish an Ironman. Sal was a pro triathlete before pro triathlon was a thing. She helped found TriFed, which became USA Triathlon. She won Western States, she wrote some of the first books on triathlon training, she served as the last finisher at Danskin's popular series for decades, she sold Fleet Feet (the popular running store) before starting her own heart rate training company. And she's still going strong. If you know Sal, then you know she doesn't hold back—and this interview is no exception. And first, Sara Gross gives us the details on a new women's performance summit, and why it's needed NOW. Get the details and link to register for the summit here.

In this latest episode of Fitter & Faster, host Emma-Kate Lidbury goes all in on training zones: What are they? Why are they important? How do you establish your own training zones? We start with the basics of training zones across all three sports (and how they differ), before diving deeper on the topic with coach and Olympian Ryan Bolton. Bolton shares his preferred benchmark tests, how to establish training zones from those tests, and common mistakes he sees athletes making when it comes to training zones. Bolton also answers questions from listeners. Then, we’re joined by Triathlete‘s senior editor and resident gear guru Chris Foster, who talks through all the must-have gear for using training zones while running, biking, and swimming. Be sure to subscribe to Fitter & Faster's new feed to get all our training & gear episodes: Apple Podcasts Spotify

This week we're chatting with the only and only Belinda Granger. The 15x Ironman champ is 50 years old now and retired in 2015—though she still works out 20 hours/week. She shares with us what it was like to make a living doing what you love, and how she thinks she won so many races using what was "upstairs" not necessarily what was "downstairs." Could you still be successful in today's tri landscape just by working harder than everyone else? If you know Belinda then you know this show could have gone on for hours, as she tells us stories of her crazy training camps and what she learned. Plus, a little gossip in her current role as the pro liaison for Challenge Family. And we put this would you rather to the well-known life of the party: Race Kona or Kona after party? And first, Laura Siddall is back to talk the latest tri news: Can four superstars break 7 hours for the men and 8 hours for the women in the Iron-distance? We've got all the details on this project, set for sometime in early 2022.