Couch to Kona Podcast

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Todd is stepping to the line solo this weekend for Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga, and this episode breaks down everything you need to know heading into race day. We cover the unique dynamics of the Chattanooga course, from the current-assisted swim to the rolling bike terrain and a run course that can get punishing in the heat.

There’s also a discussion around race entry and field dynamics, including how competitive the field is shaping up and what that means for pacing and positioning. With temperatures expected to be high, we spend time on heat management strategies, hydration, and how conditions could impact overall performance.

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In this episode of Couch to Kona, we kick things off with a quick preview of Todd’s upcoming 70.3 in Chattanooga. How training’s shaping up, expectations going in, and what success looks like on race day.

Then we shift gears into a full deep dive on Drew’s knee injury, breaking down exactly what happened, the diagnosis, and the surgical plan ahead. We walk through the full timeline: from injury → decision-making → surgery → recovery expectations → and what this means for the 2026 season.

If you’ve ever dealt with injury (or just want a real look behind the curtain of balancing performance and setbacks), this one is for you.

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Joined by 5th place finisher from the 35-39 AG, Matt Engle, we review our 70.3 Oceanside races. Described as many as the best non-world championship field ever assembled in Ironman, Todd battled back from a slow start to place 45th out of 70 starters. 

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With IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside just two weeks away, we jump on the mic for a quick training and race prep update. In this episode we talk through where our fitness is right now, the key workouts we’ve been hitting, and how the final stretch of training is shaping up before we start tapering.

We also get into race expectations, how we’re thinking about the Oceanside course this year, and what we’re hoping to execute on race day. With one of the biggest early-season races on the calendar coming up, it’s time to sharpen things up and get ready to go.

If you're racing Oceanside or building toward your own early-season race, this episode is a look at what the final couple weeks of preparation actually look like.

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Episode 50! We review our 5 day training camp/ family vacation in Arizona, discussing sickness & are we in better shape than last year? 

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New year, new us! JK. We discuss our offseason, new sponsorships, first half of the season schedule & new rules of engagement. How do we think the 20m draft will impact us? Positively!

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Drew is joined by Kyle Lampi and Matt Engle just hours after the finish. Todd is off this week and he welcomes the newest addition to the Wakefield family, baby James! We discuss the highs and lows of a marathon, as they did not disappoint. All members of the squad beat their goals times as CIM lived up to the hype!

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We finally recap our first professional triathlon season. We analyze our ups & downs, what has been happening over the past 8 weeks & Drew's racing a marathon? 

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Drew places 14th in the 2025 edition of Ironman Chattanooga. Crossing the line in 8 hours, 16 minutes he finished 44minutes faster than when he won the age group race in 2023. He recaps the race, including 2 crucial moments and how he navigated them to end up finishing the 4th best American across the line. 

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7 days out from Ironman Chattanooga, Drew and Todd preview our first foray into Professional Ironman racing. We break down the last few weeks of training, the start list, and how we expect the race to play out.

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