Kona qualification after a bike crash, a surgically repaired shoulder, and a brutally short Ironman build - Kate Curran’s path to the World Championships is anything but ordinary.

Buck the Trend’s Matt and Steph unpack the full story with Kate from Lanzarote, where she’s dialling in the heat, humidity, and race-specific prep for her first Ironman World Championship in Kona. If you’re an age-group athlete dreaming of going pro, coming back from injury, or trying to turn a derailed season into something bigger, this one is packed with perspective.

Kate shares how she went from starting triathlon at eight years old, stepping away for university and a corporate legal career, and then finding her way back to the sport as a 70.3 athlete. She explains why her father’s Ironman journeys inspired her, how her corporate life gave her resilience and discipline, and why racing again felt like starting from scratch in the best possible way.We break down the difficult year that changed everything - the high-speed crash that put her out of action, the mental and physical grind of recovery, and the race in Western Australia that became a turning point.

Kate also opens up about what it took to balance an early Kona qualification with the demands of the Pro Series, why Hamburg, Texas, and Nice all shaped her season differently, and how she’s building toward Kona with steady consistency rather than hero sessions.

You’ll also hear the hosts and Kate dissect the upcoming 70.3 World Championship fields, including who looks most dangerous in Nice, who could make a breakthrough, and why racing in championship conditions always creates surprises. Along the way, they dig into pacing, heat management, nerves, and the unique challenge of Kona’s infamous run out of town. Essential listening if you love elite triathlon, comeback stories, or the behind-the-scenes reality of preparing for the biggest race in the sport.

Hosted by Matt Hnatiw and Steph Clutterbuck
Featuring Kate Curran

Kona is brutal at the front, but Sam Skold is arriving with the kind of wild-card background that could shake up the race. The Air Force physician assistant turned first-year pro has already gone from injured runner to age-group champion, and now she is taking on the biggest stage in triathlon with almost no room in her life for error.

Matt Hnatiw and Steph Clutterbuck unpack Sam’s unlikely path from Colorado running talent to military doctor in Anchorage, Alaska, where an unpredictable active-duty schedule, deployment readiness, and a winter that delivers only a few hours of sunlight force her to train differently than almost anyone else on the start list. She shares how she rebuilt after years of injury, why sprint triathlon pulled her back into the sport, and how long course racing changed her perspective on what triathlon can offer.

You’ll discover:

• Why her swim has become the biggest mental test in the jump from age grouper to pro
• How military life changes everything about planning, recovery, and consistency
• The exact adjustments she’s making for Kona, including more swim volume, bigger bike intensity, heat prep, and sauna work
• Why missing sessions is no longer a disaster if the base is there
• What it actually feels like to race the Queen K when you’re miles from the next competitor

Sam also breaks down the tactics pros have to think about now that Race Ranger, drafting dynamics, and sponsor pressure make every surge matter more. From chasing power numbers on the bike to learning when to trust pace on the run, she explains why Kona rewards athletes who can stay calm, race smart, and not get trapped by everyone else’s chaos. If you’re fascinated by what it takes to race Kona without a normal life, or you need proof that triathlon can fit around the most demanding schedules, this one delivers. Sam’s perspective is equal parts practical, honest, and quietly fearless—and it makes for a powerful preview of what she could do on the Big Island.

One Ironman. One debut. One Kona slot.

Chloe Dooley turns the usual “just finish it” mindset on its head by qualifying for the World Champs in Hawaii on her very first full-distance race, and she reveals exactly how she did it.

Steph sits down with Chloe for a raw, uplifting conversation about the leap from swimming to running to short-course racing to the full Ironman distance, the mental shift that comes with longer racing, and the reality of balancing elite age-group triathlon with a demanding NHS physio job.

You'll discover:

• how Chloe went from childhood triathlon, to swimming, to running, and back into multisport through injury and lockdown
• what the British Triathlon Super Series is really like, and why draft-legal racing can feel like “baptism by fire”
• the training and logistics of fitting swims, rides, runs, strength work, and a full-time NHS schedule into one week
• the pacing, nutrition, and mindset tweaks that helped her turn a feared 180K bike into a controlled, confident bike leg
• why her marathon finally clicked on race day, and how she stayed strong all the way to a sub-10-hour finish

We also talk candidly about the sacrifices age-group athletes make, why training has to stay fun, and what it means to chase a world championship slot when the clock, the cost, and the logistics all say “maybe later.”

Chloe also shares what she’s most excited for about Kona, from the iconic race-week atmosphere to the unforgettable extras that make Hawaii feel like more than just a start line. If you’ve ever wondered how people make a first Ironman look effortless, or if you’re balancing big training goals with real life, this episode will hit home. Perfect for age-group triathletes, anyone considering their first Ironman, and listeners who love stories of grit, community, and a breakthrough performance that changes everything.

In this episode of Buck the Trend, we speak to Gaby in our first Stories behind the Start line chat!

Your first Kona is always extra special and Gaby shares with us her journey over the last few years to get there. As is so typical with endurance athletes, its full of setbacks and challenges that only fuelled the fire for performance and has ended with a KQ she never really expected to get.

And it's not just Kona, she's headed to Nice 70.3 worlds too! Listen along to hear how Gaby has set herself up in her second year of triathlon for a double championship season.

In this episode of Buck the Trend, Steph and Matt discuss their recent rebranding, Matt's journey to improve his 5K running time, and the training strategies he employed.

They explore the importance of mental resilience, pacing strategies, and the significance of understanding one's limits in training. The conversation emphasizes the need for a structured approach to training while also highlighting the benefits of confidence and positivity in achieving personal goals.

They also introduce a brand new series highlighting inspiring stories from athletes participating in the Ironman World Championships. Tune in to future episodes to hear some of the amazing stories behind the athletes at the Kona start line!

Tune in to hear about 70.3 Northern California and Hradec Kralove, T100 Vancouver and Ironman Kalmar. A HUGE weekend of racing and we talk about it all!! Each one of these could have had a pod all to itself so strap in, it's a whistlestop tour!

This week we're diving into one of our FAVOURITE races! We talk through everything we know about the course, pacing and our experiences racing here. Our tips cover race day morning, understanding transition, pacing the swim, bike and enjoying the run to the MAX.

We also give you some unfiltered thoughts on the Pro Series Ironman Kalmar this weekend!

Every time we think "that has to be it", we're proved wrong. But, every time Steph keeps on showing up with a smile and ready to give it everything. Tune in for an update on what happened at Swansea 70.3, another diagnosis Steph's had and what this means for the rest of 2026.

Thank you, as ever, for all of your support. I know I WILL be back out there racing to the best of my ability, it's just taking longer than I imagined for it to happen.

Steph x

While it may not LOOK like a great result, let us break down the successes we took from Elsinore and the learnings we're putting into play for the next one!

Racing is important but it only happens a few times a year. Just as important are the debriefs so you learn and grow as an athlete ready for the next start line.

This week we have a FULL debrief from Ironman Lanzarote, burned feet and all. We run you through the race right up until the floor turned to lava and Steph ended in the medical tent.

DNF's aren't easy and we've had a run of them, so we'll be working through the processing of and moving on from disappointing race "finishes" over the next few episodes

Race announcements coming soon! We aren't done yet! The Kona dream lives on...

Thank you all for your support. We always said this would be the good, bad and ugly but we never realised how bad and ugly it would get. Our time is coming, we can feel it.