Everyday Ironman Podcast

In this episode, we hear from Ironman in training Andy Manning. Andy and his wife have three children above the age of 18, three grandkids all below the age of 10, and a 6lb miniature dachshund chihuahua mix.  Andy works full-time and currently lives outside of Seattle, Washington.While Andy is just getting started in his Ironman journey, he confesses that he learned to swim at 4, started swimming competitively at 7, and was on the swim team in high school.He shares that he also tried his hand at track, specifically cross-country, but claims it wasn’t his thing. He also got into Mountain Biking as a teenager so it’s no surprise that he found his way to triathlon.Having spent time both as an active duty member and in the Navy Reserve, Andy explains how he would take is bike with him when deployed over-seas so that he could explore the different cities visited while in-port. Andy definitely has some road biking experience as he provides some details around a few of the longer distances bike rallies he has participated in recently.I ask Andy to provide some details around the Sprint distance triathlons that he completed last year in Raleigh, North Carolina. Andy completed 2 races that both consistent of a 750 yard open water lake swim, a 14 - 15 mile bike course, and the standard 5k run. Andy sets me straight on my belief that anyone that has a history of competitive swimming is automatically naturally good at long distance swimming. We talk about the importance of form and open-water sighting.We spend some time comparing notes on our training program and we talk about the benefits of technology and analyzing data. Andy mentions that he builds workouts that can be downloaded to his smartwatch which allows him to stay organized while training. We also get the hear how he fits his scheduled workouts around his work and home life.Andy gives an overview of this coming season. He has his eye on both a Sprint distance and an off-road triathlon. He plans to ride 206 miles from Seattle to Portland over 2 days as part of an organized event. In September Andy is signed up for Ironman 70.3 Maple Valley. Of course, we talk about bikes. We talk about some old heavy mountain bikes that we own, Andy shares what he was able to purchase recently that serves as his road bike and we compare experiences on power meter pedals.Andy shares that he had the opportunity to train with one of my previous guests and that he started following another guest on Instagram after hearing their story.Support the show

In this episode, we hear from a non-traditional track athlete. During his time at the University of Norte Dame, Denes Veres threw shot putt. At one particular event, he threw a distance of 18.57 meters which earned him the school’s record. That record held from the time he graduated in 2011 with a degree in Finance until April 2021. We spend a few minutes talking about the sport of Shot Putt. Denes explains that it is a 16 lb. steel ball. He clarifies the requirement for the windup. He educates me on how the measurement is taken. And we talk about what the record was before he set it and what it is now that it’s been broken.Denes shares how it transitioned from a shot putter to Ironman. Several years ago, while living in Wisconsin it was announced that “Ironman was coming to town.” After learning that there was no chance of getting Robert Downey Jr’s autograph, Denes signed up to volunteer for the late shift at the finish line in Capitol Square. It was there that 260 lb. Denes decided that he was too competitive not to try the sport of triathlon.Denes quickly learns that he will need a few things before getting started. His wife points out that he will need a bike and to learn to swim. Having been an assistant coach on a track team 2 years out of college he is reminded of something that he learned through that program, “Just showing up and doing the workouts will make your better.” We spend a few talking about the discipline that Denes has made recent progress in. Denes shares his recent Marathon finishing times, and he confesses that he is looking forward to seeing how his faster run translates to his overall race experience.Being someone how loves to analyze data, we talk about some technology that provides real-time feedback. And we compare recent swim start experiences. We eventually get around to talking bike and Denes makes a strong recommendation on a piece of equipment that can affect overall comfort on a long ride.Support the show

In this episode we hear from Sam and Billy Crozier who are the current Guinness World Record holders for most 70.3 triathlons completed in 1 year. They have currently completed thirty-seven 70.3 triathlons and have until May 23, 2022 to add to that number.The are bothers who are separate by 10 years and 2 states but are participating in this adventure together. Sam shares how the idea to break the previous record of twenty-four 70.3 triathlons came to be. And Billy explains the record is listed as “long distance triathlons defined as 113km” which is the equivalent of 70.3 miles.Having raced both Chattanooga, Augusta, and Waco (all “downriver” swims), Sam provides some perspective on how the 1.6 mile swim feels in Tennessee. And Sam gives a quick Math lesson when I ask how many races they have currently completed. They share a few stories of the weekends that they raced on Saturday and Sunday. We joke about how they have become very good at taking their bikes apart for transport. Sam acknowledges that they have been very lucky to not have had any bike delays before any of the races thus far.I take to opportunity to ask their thoughts on Waco 70.3 starting at 12:30pm instead of 7:30am because of the full distance race the day before. We compare thoughts about the Central Texas roads. Billy provides some hope for the future and speaks highly of the Chattanooga bike course condition.Because they have competed in so many races in a 6 month time frame, I ask Billy how they were able to stay healthy. I was surprised to hear they both have had some level of adversity to overcome. I did know that Billy had broken his collar bone as the result of a bike wreck, but I was surprised by some of the details as Billy gave an account of his incident at Challenge Daytona a few weeks ago. They give some insight into their racing schedule this spring. Billy shares how many races they plan to complete before the May 23rd deadline. I ask what some may think is a rude question. And Billy asks me “What would you pay for a World Record?”The guys share that they are using the attention they are receiving to raise money for a great cause. Tri for the Future is a non-profit that provides triathlon gear for underprivileged children. And I get them to talk about the race venue that they feel played to their individual strengths.If you would like to follow Sam and Billy as the finish up this crazy adventure or if you would like to donate to a very worthy cause, follow them on Instagram @iron.famSupport the show

In this episode we hear from Lauren LeBlanc. Lauren in a Physician Assistant in Cardiology. She is a partner in a single doctor private practice in Michigan. She and her husband currently have 2 active boys Arlo and Fin.Lauren shares that while in high school she ran track and competed for her school’s swim team. She explains that she rode her bike when recovering from injury to keep her fitness up during track season.In college she was a member of the rowing team at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. As part of the crew team, she was able to compete in the Henley Royal Regatta in England. Lauren explains that she would connect with one of her teammates and get married several years after graduation. Lauren explains that after experiencing some success after being introduced to triathlon, she took a break to focus on starting her family. Upon returning to the sport, two years ago, she joined the TriDot training program as part of their yearly pre-season project. Lauren jumped right into the deep end of the pool and signed up for her first 70.3 race at Ironman Steelhead. Due to the weather the swim was cancelled. Even though Lauren acknowledges the swim is one of her strengths, she shares that she finished in 10th place in her Age Group and was able to claim a rolldown spot for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships.Lauren revels that she has already qualified for the 2022 Ironman 70.3 World Championships with her 4th place Age Group finish in Hanes City, Florida in December of last year. While I know that she has worked very hard for her success, she does acknowledge that she had a great year in 2021.When asked if she has plans to take in the full distance race, Lauren explains that she and her husband have talked about it but know that the time commitment is more that they are prepared for at this point. Lauren gives her take on the 70.3 World Championships taking place in St. George, Utah for the 2nd straight year. She acknowledges that New Zealand would have been incredible, but she has plans to take her family this year and the race being in St. George will allow that to happen.Because she is an ambassador for several triathlon related products and services, I ask Lauren to provide some insight into what that entails. She sums it up as basically being a good person and being helpful to others. Lauren shares how she is able to fit training into her schedule. We discuss the noise that is created by riding a bike indoors. And I ask her which of the 3 disciplines she had made the most improvement in since returning to the sport.We spend a few minutes talking about how to reduce the chance of injury. We agree that stretching and focused strength training should not be neglected. I ask Lauren to identify her favorite race. She hasn’t picked a favorite race yet but did say that the Finish Line is her favorite part of the race. We take a few minutes to talk about the weather conditions in St. George this year and I ask Lauren her thoughts on talking to other athletes on course.Lauren shares that both her boys are showing interest in triathlon. Beside riding their bikes, she has introduced them to treadmill walking, and they have learned to swim already. Since her husband is a cyclist, she has joined him on a few outdoor rides but admits that she refers the safety of her indoor trainer.After talking bikes, Lauren talks through her race schedule for 2022. She has several races already planned and looking to schedule something else. Support the show

In this episode we hear from Ryan Stephens. Ryan recently earned his PhD and works as a Nurse Practitioner specializing with cardiac patients. Ryan and his wife Laura have two beautiful children together and are currently living in Memphis, Tennessee.Ryan shares that he was born with a heart condition that required corrective surgery at 9 months old. Because of this there were certain sports that he was not allowed to participate in when he was younger. In particular, Ryan was not allowed to play football or basketball in middle school. He was, however, allowed to play baseball. Ryan played from the time he could walk all the way into college.After college, Ryan tried several popular exercise programs to keep himself in shape. Because of his work schedule he was left to training by himself. Through encouragement of a friend, he stared running half-marathons and in early 2018, he set his sights on running a full marathon.Prior to the COVD lockdown, Ryan was introduced to F3 which was is a faith based organization that runs outdoor bootcamp type workouts that are self-lead. After getting to know several of the other participants, Ryan quickly discovered 6 of them lived in his neighborhood so when most of the world shutdown, they were able to continue to workout while maintaining the required social distancing.Ryan got interested in triathlon when Ironman announced they were bringing a 70.3 to Memphis. Ryan knew they he could run the distance, got a used road bike from a friend, and decided that he could get good enough to at least compete the swim. Unfortunate, because of the pandemic, he would have to wait until the following year to compete.Ryan spends a few minutes explaining what diagnosis is and identifies a well-known athlete that has the same condition. He provides a timeline for how he got his start in the medical profession to where he currently is. And we discuss the belief that once there’s hope there’s is possibility.We compare stories on how bad we were at swimming when we started. Ryan talks me through the 1st race that he was able to participate in, an endurance distance put on by a local group. The endurance distance covered a 1600 meter open water swim, 38 miles on the bike, and a 15K run. When 2021 came around and Memphis was able to host the Ironman 70.3 race, Ryan was finally able to enjoy that hometown race experience. He shares some history of how the city was picked and gives us some insight into the venue itself.I take the opportunity to ask how Ryan’s training is going as he is signed up for what will be his 1st full distance race. Ryan is currently training for Ironman Tulsa. He acknowledges that training is going well, and that the realization is setting in that his sessions need to be more intentional in regard to effort. I ask him about the Instagram photos that show him swimming in an outdoor lap pool. Ryan explains that the pool he regularly uses is in fact an outdoor pool that is covered with a temporary structure in the winter for year-round use. Ryan provides a “pro tip” that has not come up on the podcast before. There’s a benefit to being a volunteer that is not talked a lot about. And… we talk bikes. Ryan talks me through what he’s using for a race bike, how he got such a great deal on it and even how he acquired his budget race wheels.Support the show

In this episode I introduce my teammates for Ironman 70.3 Texas. In April Eric Horton, Lindsay Klimek and I will be taking on the relay in Galveston, TX.We get to hear how both of their backgrounds and how they are approaching training. While Eric, Lindsay and I come from different backgrounds we feel that our balance is our strength.We discuss which of the 3 disciplines we personally consider to the be easiest and which do we believe are the hardest. Because I have raced Galveston before I give them a little insight to the course, and we talk about Lindsay’s bike and Eric’s shoes.While we have no idea of how fast or slow we will be on race day, we invite you to follow along on this journey with us. Support the show

In the episode we hear from Chris Tubbs who is a husband, father and has a PhD in Biochemistry. If that wasn’t enough, Chris also invests in real estate, has started a charity walk that grew to the point he had to enlist help to manage it and is a Prostate Cancer survivor. After being diagnosed with cancer, Chris started journaling as a way to document his thoughts and emotions. After Chris shared his journal with a few close friends they encouraged him to transition to blogging so that he could share his experience publicly in the hopes that someone who might be facing a similar situation would find comfort in the knowledge they aren’t only facing adversity.Chris shares that during his junior and senior years of high school in Los Angeles, CA he was ranked in the Top 25 swimmers in the city. He then took a 25 year hiatus before finding Triathlon in his mid-40s. We spend a few minutes talking about family, high school swimming, and Chris sets me straight on how long it takes to get a PhD. I ask Chris if Ironman would allow my idea on how to get faster in the pool by getting cosmetic surgery. We talk about Chris’ blog journeyto140. Chris reminds us of the importance of documenting our progress as most progress comes in small incremental steps that are more obvious when viewed over a longer period of time. Chris a 2X Ironman Finisher with both of his races being at Ironman Florida. Chris explains how he came to race Florida twice through a series of deferrals and needing time for his body to recover. Being completely open about all things, Chris shares that he was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and had a complete Prostatectomy just weeks after completing Ironman Florida in 2020. Chris acknowledges that considers himself lucky as his Cancer was initially discovered through a blood test when he went in for a “regular” physical.Because Chris raced Ironman Florida in back to back years, I take to opportunity to ask him to compare the differences from one year to the next. Chris walks me through his experience this year on the swim. At one point he thought he might have been swept out to sea as he lost sight of all the buoys and the pier that the swim course follows. Chris is very honest about how his body is still recovering from surgery and spent more time than intended off the bike. Because of his experience with the change in weather the days leading into race weekend, I agree to pack a light jacket regardless of the venue moving forward.After getting distracted talking about Ironman 70.3 Texas, Chris explains how he had planned to attack the run course this year with a much different plan than in 2020. Chris’ plan to run at a slower pace while walking the Aid Stations got him to mile 18 but soon found himself walking more than running. Luckily for Chris, another athlete whom he had run with earlier in the day, provided the encouragement that was needed to finish strong.We discuss the benefits of talking to others on the run course. Chris admits he enjoys the connection he is able to make through the community that is triathlon. Because I follow Chris on Instagram, I know that he has added Yoga to his workout routine, so I put him on the spot and ask him to share his favorite yoga pose. Because the Warrior pose is what gives him the most challenge, Chris list it as his favorite at this moment. We agree that adding yoga to your triathlon training is key to developing core strength.We talk about Chris’ customized QR tri bike, and I ask him his thoughts on those athletes that ride a non-traditional bike to increase the difficulty of the race. We laugh at the notion of someone riding a bike from the early 1900s. And Chris share what’s on the race schedule for 2022.You can follow Chris on Instagram @journeytoironmantexasSupport the show

In the last episode of 2021, I had the opportunity to speak to Lissette Mares. Lissette currently works full-time in hospitality and lives in Yosemite National Park in California. Through the conversation she reveals that she grew up swimming, though conversation I determine that she may or may not have been an Olympic hopeful. She is also very open about living with Multiple Sclerosis. She was diagnosed in 2013 and has chosen to live her life as an example and to inspire others to reach their full potential.Once again, because I didn’t graduate Doctor school, I had to get a high-level overview of an autoimmune disease. Lissette shares that MS attacks the Myelin Sheath, the protective coating that covers nerve fibers between the brain and the rest of the body. While she is currently in remission, she explains that heat, humidity, and stress can cause her symptoms to flare up.Recently Lissette completed her 1st full distance Ironman race in Cozumel, Mexico. We discuss her decision to race Cozumel in spite of the heat and humidity, Lissette revealed she intentionally choose to subject herself to the toughest environment that she could.Before talking about her training to prepare for Ironman, we discuss the 10 days that she spent in Mexico before and after the race. Lissette took the opportunity to arrive several days in advance to acclimate to the local climate which allowed her time to see family and explore. Being in hospitality, she provides some travel advice, rent through Airbnb and get a car.Lissette trained for 1 year to prepare for the full Ironman distance. Living in Yosemite National Park there were plenty of opportunities to run and bike, but she didn’t have access to a lap pool, so she had to overcome her fear of open water to get ready for the ocean swim.Because Ironman Cozumel is on my personal race bucket list, I was excited to hear her firsthand account of the race. She was so gracious to break the race down for me discipline by discipline. We start by talking about this year’s swim. There has been online conversation of how fast the swim was this year and if there was an advantageous current. Being an extremely strong swimmer, Lissette preferred the warmer water of Cozumel and the fact that she didn’t need to wear a wetsuit. While she personally didn’t feel she benefited from a current, she does point out that the clear water made for a fast and fun swim.After exiting the water 50 minutes faster than she had projected, Lissette celebrated with a chocolate bar and dancing to a song being played in the background. She had time to double-check her bike and nutrition before heading out onto the bike course.Lissette gives a thorough account of her on-bike nutrition. We agree that no loosing water bottles on the bike course is better than loosing bottles on the bike course and we talk about the rain that fell race day and the impact that it made on the bike portion of the race. Because heat and humidity is her kryptonite, Lissette believes the rain helped cool her core temperature which was a welcomed relief.Before talking about the run, I take the opportunity to ask Lissette about the actual bike course surface. The majority of the bike course takes place on the original highway that circles Cozumel island. While in Cozumel over the summer I was able to drive on the new highway that was installed several years back but was curious how well the original road is maintained.After discussing how she grossly overestimated how long it would take her to swim and bike, we talk a little transition before breaking down the run course. Lissette confesses that she had a panic attack in T2 but was comforted by two other athletes assuring her that everything was going to be OK. After heading out on the run course a little faster than she wanted she was able to slow dSupport the show

In this episode, I speak to triathlete and author Brock Gibbs. Brock is a 2 time Top 10 Finisher, in his Age Group, at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. Recently, Brock released My Coworkers Think I’m a Pro which provides a witty and entertaining account of how Brock got started in the sport of triathlon.During the day Brock is a Physical Educator teacher in Montreal, Canada. He was introduced to triathlon in his 40s. Growing up in Canada, Brock played hockey through school as well as football and baseball. He started running in college, even participating on his school’s Cross Country team.I spend a few minutes complementing Brock on his book, specifically on his ability to paint a vivid picture with his words. Brock shares the story of how he met Lionel Sanders at an Ironman 70.3 early in both of their careers and he explains the metaphor that he uses for the times in your life when “bad stuff happens and you gotta to let it go.”While being very close in age and physical appearance, we talk about some similarities that we share and some of our differences. Brock gives some context into the cover photo for his book. After acknowledging that he has always been a “fast runner,” Brock talks about his 1st marathon; one in which he would qualify for the Boston Marathon. We talk about how Brock has always trained by feel as opposed to a structured pace and he shares how he has modified that over the years. He acknowledges that he no longer runs everyday and breaks down his approach to his two sessions per day training regimen.I ask him about his thoughts on triathlon being the only sport where an amateur can complete on the same course at the same time as the pros. We discuss our thoughts on why triathletes, even professional triathletes, are more approachable than in other sports. Brock even points out that you can pick up a good amount of race strategy while standing in line at the porta potty, pre-race.I get the opportunity to share some of my favorite quotes from Brock’s book and there are a bunch in there. And Brock explains what prompted him to write the book and talks us through some of the process it took from initial though to publication.We spend a few minutes talking about some of the childhood stories that Brock included in the book. Growing up in a small town in the 1980s allowed he and his friends plenty of opportunity to do fun stuff. We agree that most of the time fun stuff means the same as dangerous stuff. That conversation transitions nicely into Brock sharing about his most recent mishap.During this year’s Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Brock was involved in a single bike accident that would leave in with a compound fracture of his collar bone and broken pelvis. Rob acknowledges that this incident placed him in a situation where he was forced to accept help from others, something that he is not normally comfortable doing.After getting Brock to acknowledge is a fast runner, I ask him to rate his swim and bike performance. Brock recommends that seeking out specialized coaching if you’re struggling with one particular discipline. And of course, we talk bikes. Brock shares he has future plans to ride a traditional road bike versus a TT bike due to certain advantages.If you haven’t already, be sure to get your copy of Brock’s book My Coworkers Think I’m A Pro. You can order online by using following link:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/1777147301/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_BTAYB794TZ87MDS2W8WTSupport the show

In this episode I get the opportunity to thank a volunteer!In my Ironman Waco 70.3 race recap, I told the story of how I met someone in the Ironman store the day before the race and during conversation he said that he would make plans to present me with my medal when I crossed the finish line. True to his word, he encouraged me during the last mile of the course and greeted me at the finish line to place my medal around my neck. Through the power of Social Media, I tracked him down and he agreed to be a guest on the show.Nathan Jones shares how he came to be a volunteer during Ironman weekend in Waco, TX and we talk about some of the areas he was able to serve. Nathan is on staff with Fellowship of Christian Athletes whose mission is to lead every coach and athlete to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. FCA, as an organization, has a world-wide reach and they have the opportunity to work with everyone from the local “pee-wee” to the professional level. We discuss how important the role a coach can play in a young person’s life and Nathan shares how working with coaches at the Junior High, High School and Collegiate level is his “bread and butter.”We talk about the role of the volunteer and the impact that is made by giving of your time. Nathan shares a biblical verse that he believes really captures the “heartbeat” of the volunteer. During the two day weekend, Nathan spent 20-24 hours working at different stages of the race. Beside working the finish line on Sunday, he shares that he was able to provide support on the swim and we discuss a few of our previous swim misadventures.Nathan is currently on his own Ironman journey. He is currently training for Ironman 70.3 Texas in April 2022 and Ironman Maryland in September 2022. We talk about how his training is going so far and he even shares if he has plans to get the M-Dot tattoo.And we of course talk about bikes. I even try, unsuccessfully, to get Nathan to agree he needs the custom painted Ventum bike that we both admired in the Ironman store.  Support the show