Winning once is hard.

Doing it again—and again—is something else.

David Wiens won the Leadville Trail 100 MTB six times in a row.

He’s one of the few riders to beat Lance Armstrong at the height of his comeback.

And now, approaching 60, he’s still riding, still building, still showing up.

But this conversation isn’t really about winning.

It’s about what lasts.

We talk about:

•  What it takes to stay consistent over decades—not just seasons 
•  How injury changes the way you train, think, and move 
•  Why mindset matters more the longer you stay in the game 
•  The role of community—and building something beyond yourself 
•  What “success” starts to mean as you get older 

David also reflects on his time leading International Mountain Bicycling Association—and how his focus has shifted from competition to creating access for others.

This one is about longevity—but not in the abstract.

It’s about staying in something long enough to see what really matters.

### **References:**

- Learn more about David Wiens' role as Executive Director at the [International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)](https://www.imba.com).
- Check out David Wiens' **Mountain Bike Hall of Fame** profile [here](https://mmbhof.org/david-wiens).
- Explore the history of the Leadville Trail 100 MTB race [here](https://www.leadvilleraceseries.com/mtb/leadvilletrail100mtb/).
- Read more about the impact of doping in cycling during the Lance Armstrong era [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_in_sport).

### **Sponsors:**

A special thanks to David's sponsors, whose gear and support have been crucial to his success:
- [Canyon Bicycles](https://www.canyon.com)
- [Ergon Bicycle Ergonomics](https://www.ergonbike.com)
- [Topeak](https://www.topeak.com)
- [Shimano](https://www.shimano.com)
- [Fox Suspension](https://www.ridefox.com)
- [DT Swiss Wheels](https://www.dtswiss.com)
- [Maxxis Tires](https://www.maxxis.com)
- [Sportful Apparel](https://www.sportful.com)
- [Limar Helmets](https://www.limar.com)
- [GU Energy](https://www.guenergy.com)

This episode is packed with wisdom, insights, and inspiration for anyone looking to thrive in their sport—or life—at any age!

💜 Want to stay strong, mobile, and capable for decades?
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Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Get up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it 

If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Ageless Athlete is a podcast about healthy aging for people who want to stay strong, active and capable for life. Conversations explore strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, VO2 max, muscle and bone health, and what it takes to keep doing the things you love as you get older.

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

Who gets to belong in the outdoors?

For a long time, the answer was… not everyone.

Katherine Hayes Rodriguez has spent nearly 50 years changing that.

What started with a small group of Vietnam veterans in Lake Tahoe grew into something much bigger—helping shape adaptive sports programs that now exist all over the world.

But this isn’t just a story about programs or progress.

It’s about one person deciding that access shouldn’t be limited—and doing something about it.

We talk about:

•  What the outdoors looked like in the 1970s—and who was excluded 
•  The early days of adaptive skiing, and what it took to make it real 
•  Why access isn’t just physical—it’s cultural 
•  The role of community in helping people see what’s possible 
•  What decades of this work teaches you about persistence and purpose 

Katherine also shares stories from the early days—moments that were messy, uncertain, and far from guaranteed.

This one is about inclusion, but also about something deeper:

👉 What it takes to create change that lasts longer than you do

💜 Want to stay strong, mobile, and capable for decades?
Join the Ageless Athlete newsletter — one useful email a week on how to build and protect strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, and the physical capacity to keep doing what you love as you get older.

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Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Get up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it 

If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Ageless Athlete is a podcast about healthy aging for people who want to stay strong, active and capable for life. Conversations explore strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, VO2 max, muscle and bone health, and what it takes to keep doing the things you love as you get older.

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

I spend most of my time asking the questions.

In this episode, I had to answer them.

I joined Heather Heynen on her podcast—and for the first time, I shared more of my own story.

How I found my way into the outdoors.
 The injuries that forced me to rethink everything.
 And the quiet shifts that changed how I see performance, aging, and what actually matters.

This isn’t a polished story.

It’s a look at the parts I don’t usually talk about.

We get into:

•  Losing motivation—and what brought it back 
•  How injury reshaped my relationship with movement 
•  What I’ve learned from talking to dozens of athletes still pushing in their 40s, 50s, and beyond 
•  Why community ended up mattering more than performance 
•  And how my definition of “progress” has changed over time 

If you’ve been listening to the show, this is a bit of a behind-the-scenes episode.

If you’re new, it’s probably the clearest window into why this podcast exists in the first place.

💜 Want to stay strong, mobile, and capable for decades?
Join the Ageless Athlete newsletter — one useful email a week on how to build and protect strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, and the physical capacity to keep doing what you love as you get older.

Join here → https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Get up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it 

If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Ageless Athlete is a podcast about healthy aging for people who want to stay strong, active and capable for life. Conversations explore strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, VO2 max, muscle and bone health, and what it takes to keep doing the things you love as you get older.

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

Before the big waves, there were long days washing dishes.

Yuri Soledade didn’t grow up in the world of elite surfing. He built his way into it—step by step—after moving from Brazil to Hawaii and chasing something that didn’t come with a clear path.

Eventually, that path led him to Peahi (Jaws)—one of the most powerful waves on Earth.

He’s ridden waves over 70 feet. Won the biggest wave award. And spent decades operating in an environment where mistakes have real consequences.

But this conversation isn’t just about surfing.

It’s about what it takes to build a life from the ground up—and stay grounded once you get there.

We talk about:

•  What fear feels like when the stakes are real 
•  The long, unglamorous path before anything “works” 
•  Balancing risk in the water with responsibility in real life 
•  Building businesses while still chasing something uncertain 
•  Why staying present matters more than being fearless 

Yuri also shares stories from years spent surfing at Jaws—what it’s like to paddle into something that big, and what keeps him coming back.

This one is about risk, humility, and the kind of persistence that doesn’t always look impressive—but changes everything over time.

💜 Want to stay strong, mobile, and capable for decades?
Join the Ageless Athlete newsletter — one useful email a week on how to build and protect strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, and the physical capacity to keep doing what you love as you get older.

Join here → https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Get up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it 

If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Ageless Athlete is a podcast about healthy aging for people who want to stay strong, active and capable for life. Conversations explore strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, VO2 max, muscle and bone health, and what it takes to keep doing the things you love as you get older.

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

Most people spend their lives trying to avoid pain.

Marshall Ulrich went the other way.

He’s run across the United States. Multiple times. Completed more than 20 Badwater Ultramarathons. Climbed the Seven Summits, including Mount Everest.

And at 73, he’s still going.

But this conversation isn’t really about achievements.

It’s about what happens when you stop resisting discomfort—and start listening to it.

We talk about:

•  What pain actually feels like when you stop labeling it 
•  The strange, almost spiritual moments that show up in extreme endurance 
•  Why persistence matters more than talent over a lifetime 
•  How big goals shape decades—not just seasons 
•  What changes (and what doesn’t) as you get older 

Marshall also shares stories from running across the country—long stretches of isolation, moments of clarity, and the mental space that only shows up when you’ve been moving for days.

This one is about endurance—but not in the way most people think.

It’s about staying in something long enough to see what’s on the other side.

**References & Resources:**
- **Marshall Ulrich’s Website**: [MarshallUlrich.com](https://marshallulrich.com)
- **Route 66 Ultra Run**: Learn about Marshall’s 140-mile ultra marathon [Route 66 Ultra Run](https://route66ultrarun.com)
- **Marshall’s Books**: Check out his inspirational books on endurance and adventure. [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com)

💜 Want to stay strong, mobile, and capable for decades?
Join the Ageless Athlete newsletter — one useful email a week on how to build and protect strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, and the physical capacity to keep doing what you love as you get older.

Join here → https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Get up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it 

If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Ageless Athlete is a podcast about healthy aging for people who want to stay strong, active and capable for life. Conversations explore strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, VO2 max, muscle and bone health, and what it takes to keep doing the things you love as you get older.

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

Some people visit the mountains.

Others build their entire life around them.

Heidi Wirtz—known to many as “Heidi Almighty”—chose the second path.

She didn’t come up through a traditional system. At times, she was literally living in a tent, finding her way into climbing, into community, and into a world that doesn’t always make it easy to belong.

Over time, she became one of the most respected big wall climbers in Yosemite National Park—while also building a life shaped by mentorship, travel, and a deep connection to the outdoors.

But this conversation isn’t really about climbing.

It’s about something more fundamental:

👉 How do you find your place in a world that doesn’t automatically make space for you?

We talk about:

•  What “belonging” actually feels like—and why it’s not given 
•  The role of mentorship (and how it changes your trajectory) 
•  Navigating gender dynamics in male-dominated spaces 
•  Lessons from living simply, traveling widely, and staying open 
•  Why the unconventional path is harder—but often more meaningful 

Heidi also shares stories from years spent climbing, guiding, and building community in the mountains—along with the moments that shaped how she sees the world today.

This one is about identity, community, and choosing a life that doesn’t always come with a clear roadmap.

References & Resources Mentioned:

• Earth Play Retreats: Discover Heidi’s retreats
• Girls Education International: Learn more
• Follow Heidi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidiwirtz/

💜 Want to stay strong, mobile, and capable for decades?
Join the Ageless Athlete newsletter — one useful email a week on how to build and protect strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, and the physical capacity to keep doing what you love as you get older.

Join here → https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Get up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it 

If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Ageless Athlete is a podcast about healthy aging for people who want to stay strong, active and capable for life. Conversations explore strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, VO2 max, muscle and bone health, and what it takes to keep doing the things you love as you get older.

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

You can train your body for years.

And still freeze when it matters.

Hazel Findlay has spent decades climbing at the highest level—on some of the most dangerous routes in the world. She’s climbed El Capitan multiple times, pushed the limits of traditional climbing, and built a career around performing under pressure.

But what makes her interesting isn’t just what she’s climbed.

It’s how she thinks about fear.

In this conversation, we explore something most athletes—and most people—get wrong:

👉 The goal isn’t to eliminate fear
 👉 It’s to understand what it’s trying to tell you

We talk about:

•  Why fear never really goes away (even at the top) 
•  The difference between real danger and perceived threat 
•  Why trying to “be confident” often backfires 
•  How to stay present when everything in you wants to pull back 
•  What changes as you get older—and why the mental side matters more 

Hazel also shares stories from her own climbing career—including moments where fear showed up in unexpected ways, even after years of experience.

This isn’t just about climbing.

It’s about what happens in your mind when something matters—and you’re not sure you can do it.

💜 Want to stay strong, mobile, and capable for decades?
Join the Ageless Athlete newsletter — one useful email a week on how to build and protect strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, and the physical capacity to keep doing what you love as you get older.

Join here → https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Get up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it 

If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Ageless Athlete is a podcast about healthy aging for people who want to stay strong, active and capable for life. Conversations explore strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, VO2 max, muscle and bone health, and what it takes to keep doing the things you love as you get older.

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

""Seeing the transformation in the inmates, from despair to determination, reminds us of the profound impact running can have on someone’s life." 🏃🏽‍♂️🙌🏽

Diana, and Tim Fitzpatrick, are accomplished ultrarunners who’ve not only achieved remarkable personal feats but also transformed lives through their work at San Quentin State Prison. They've marathon PRs of 2:37 and 2:35 respectively, and multiple finishes at the Western States 100, where at 60, Diana was the oldest to complete the run in sub-24 hours. Diana and Tim exemplify resilience, both in their athletic pursuits and their commitment to giving back.

For the past eight years, they’ve coached a running club at San Quentin, where they’ve seen firsthand the power of running to restore hope, build community, and offer a sense of purpose to inmates. Their story is a powerful reminder of how sport can change lives, even in the most challenging environments.

Key Takeaways:

• Resilience in Ultra-Running: Lessons from their ultrarunning careers, nutrition strategies, training routines, periodization, including the importance of pushing through limits.
• The Power of Community: How the San Quentin running club offers support and belonging to inmates.
• Giving Back: The fulfillment Diana and Tim find in using running to make a difference.

References:

• San Quentin Running Club: Featured in 26.2 to Life. More info here: https://www.sanquentinmarathon.com/
• Western States 100: Where Diana and Tim have competed multiple times and where Diana is the President https://www.wser.org/
• The Dipsea Race: https://www.dipsea.org/

💜 Want to stay strong, mobile, and capable for decades?
Join the Ageless Athlete newsletter — one useful email a week on how to build and protect strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, and the physical capacity to keep doing what you love as you get older.

Join here → https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Get up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it 

If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Ageless Athlete is a podcast about healthy aging for people who want to stay strong, active and capable for life. Conversations explore strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, VO2 max, muscle and bone health, and what it takes to keep doing the things you love as you get older.

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

"Even as life changes, keeping a playful spirit is essential. That’s what keeps me coming back to the rock, year after year." 🤾🏻‍♂️🌟

At 53 years young, Chris Kalous has spent over three decades dedicated to rock climbing, evolving from a dirtbag climber living out of his van to a house painter, and ultimately becoming the voice behind the legendary Enormocast podcast.

With nearly 300 episodes of the Enormocast under his belt, Chris has captured the heart of the climbing community through his relatable stories and easygoing nature. In this episode, he shares insights on how he has maintained his love for climbing and stayed connected to the sport, even as life’s responsibilities have grown.

Key Takeaways:

Staying Connected: Chris emphasizes the importance of staying connected to the climbing community, which has helped him keep his passion alive and vibrant as he’s aged.

The Power of Play: No matter your age, maintaining a playful spirit is key to staying youthful and enjoying the things you love.

Adaptability: Chris’s ability to adapt to new challenges—whether in climbing, work, or life—has been crucial to his longevity and continued success.

Chris Kalous's Enormocast: https://enormocast.com/

💜 Want to stay strong, mobile, and capable for decades?
Join the Ageless Athlete newsletter — one useful email a week on how to build and protect strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, and the physical capacity to keep doing what you love as you get older.

Join here → https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Get up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it 

If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Ageless Athlete is a podcast about healthy aging for people who want to stay strong, active and capable for life. Conversations explore strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, VO2 max, muscle and bone health, and what it takes to keep doing the things you love as you get older.

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.

At 63, Tinker Juarez is still racing—and still beating athletes half his age.

He’s been competing since he was 13. From the early days of mountain biking to representing the U.S. at the Olympics, to 24-hour solo races that push the limits of endurance, Tinker has spent over five decades in motion. And somehow, he hasn’t slowed down.

But this conversation isn’t about nostalgia or past results. It’s about what it actually takes to keep showing up—year after year—with the same hunger.

We talk about:

•  What consistency really looks like over 50+ years 
•  How he trains now—and what’s changed (and what hasn’t) 
•  Competing against younger athletes without losing confidence 
•  The role of identity, routine, and community in staying in the game 
•  Why he still lines up at the start—and what keeps it meaningful 

There’s something deeper here than fitness. Tinker’s story is about staying connected to the thing you love—and finding a way to keep going, even as the years add up.

💜 Want to stay strong, mobile, and capable for decades?
Join the Ageless Athlete newsletter — one useful email a week on how to build and protect strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, and the physical capacity to keep doing what you love as you get older.

Join here → https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/

Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Get up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE

🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it 

If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Ageless Athlete is a podcast about healthy aging for people who want to stay strong, active and capable for life. Conversations explore strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, VO2 max, muscle and bone health, and what it takes to keep doing the things you love as you get older.

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.