Feisty Triathlon

Another year, another BONKERS Women's race at the IRONMAN World Championship.

In a day that saw women working their way up from 10:00 min gaps to those at the front doing whatever it took to hold on, this year's edition brought ALL of the drama that kept Sara and Carrie bouncing about the course so as not to miss a minute of the action.

In the end, though, it was Taylor Knibb who claimed her first IRONMAN World Championship after last year's champ, Solveig Løvseth, faltered with just one kilometer to go. (and you'll hear the horrifying reaction from the announcers' booth and the crowd at the finish line as it was unfolding in real time).

We also hear from our new 2026 Ironman World Champion, Taylor Knibb," as well as the rest of the top 5 podium at the post-race press conference.

• Imogen Simmonds explains the rookie mistake she made the day before the race, which almost cost her a start.
• Kat Matthews shares what it meant to support others who were struggling on the Queen K
• Julie Derron unpacks her rookie debut, including a bout of walking during the marathon
• Laura Philipp cringes at her swim, but explains why second place is a gift
• Taylor tells the crowd how she "took care of herself" when she hit the inevitable dark place

Both the island and the athletes delivered on another unforgettable day.

Thanks to our sponsors:

Hettas.com use code: stayfeisty for 20% off at https://hettas.com/

Orca.com: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYo

Wahoo: Use the code FEISTY2026 to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr

Train with Feisty this Winter! https://livefeisty.com/training/feisty-winter-training/

Nerves are wracked. Bikes are racked. The expo is coming down. And now? It's GO TIME in Kona!

We're previewing the women's race with two legends who know exactly what it takes to crush it on the Big Island: three-time World Champion Mirinda Carfrae and five-time top-10 finisher Belinda Granger.

Lucy Charles-Barclay is a favorite, but what about Taylor Knibb? Has she raced too much this year, or is she ready to prove the doubters wrong? And don't count out Kat, Laura, or Solveig. If Kona has taught us anything, it's to expect the unexpected. (2025 memories, anyone?)

We also catch up with pro Danielle Lewis, whose road to Kona has been anything but smooth as she's navigated recovery from RED-S. Her race may not look like the one she originally envisioned, but she's here, she's grateful, and she's ready to embrace the gifts of the island.

The predictions are in. The finish line is set up. And it's time to find out who shows up when it matters most.

Enjoy the race, and we'll be back on Sunday with a post-race show wrap-up.

Thanks to our sponsors:

Hettas.com use code: stayfeisty for 20% off at https://hettas.com/

Orca.com: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYo

Wahoo: Use the code FEISTY2026 to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr

Train with Feisty this Winter! https://livefeisty.com/training/feisty-winter-training/

We are another day closer to the 2026 IRONMAN World Championship, and it's starting to feel real. The finish line barriers are up, the nervous energy is palpable, and the press conference brought its usual non-relaxed banter.

We had another fun morning in the Feisty tent, selling HERE FOR THE WOMEN'S RACE shirts and chatting with all kinds of people. Then we headed over to the Lu'au grounds at the King Kamehameha Resort for the press conference.

Ironman had set up a red carpet for the athlete entranceway, so of course we asked the athletes to give us a little catwalk swagger. Some of them jumped right in, hitting their stride like pros (I'm looking at you, Solveig, Laura & Julie ). Special shout-out to Martin Van Riel, who gave us a twirl without prompting.

On today's podcast, we share clips from the press conference. We hear from:

• Julie Derron on her first Kona experience
• Taylor Knibb about her recovery from last year's collapse here in Kona and her 2nd-place finish in Texas.
• Why Lucy Charles-Barclay feels like she still has a lot to learn about this race
• The mindset Laura Philip has about this race and the potential IRONMAN Pro Series Win.
• Why "35 seconds" haunts (and fuels) Kat Matthews
• We also learn what was going through last year's winner Solveig Løvseth's head when she broke away on the bike, and the athletes joke about what really happens in the group chat.

Thanks to our sponsors:

Hettas.com use code: stayfeisty for 20% off at https://hettas.com/

Orca.com: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYo

Wahoo: Use the code FEISTY2026 to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr

Train with Feisty this Winter! https://livefeisty.com/training/feisty-winter-training/

Two triathlon legends. One incredible friendship. And decades of stories from the sport they love.

We're LIVE from Kona with 1995 Ironman World Champion and new Hall of Fame inductee Karen Smyers and three-time Ironman champion Dede Griesbauer.

What started with DeDe asking Karen for a little race advice turned into a lifelong friendship, a professional racing career, and plenty of laughs along the way.

From legendary Kona moments and questionable pre-race rituals to competing well into their 50s, these two share lessons on longevity, mentorship, and never letting age define what's possible.

Together, they discuss:

• The mentorship and friendship that shaped their careers
• Karen's unforgettable 1995 Kona victory
• Racing into their 50s and refusing to let age define what's possible
• How triathlon has changed over the decades
• Their best advice for women tackling Kona

True legends of the Queen K!

Thanks to our sponsors:

Rudy Project for sponsoring our brunch https://www.rudyproject.com/

Hettas.com use code: stayfeisty for 20% off at https://hettas.com/

Orca.com: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYo

Wahoo: Use the code FEISTY2026 to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr

Train with Feisty this Winter! https://livefeisty.com/training/feisty-winter-training/

It's Day 2 for Feisty here in Kona and Ali‘i Drive has become a full-time triathlon runway with athletes, cruise ship passengers (who just landed on the fittest island on the planet right now), and plenty of people who are "Here for the Women's Race."

Today, Sara and Carrie are digging into women’s innovation with three brands that had the radical idea to actually study women, test on women, and ask women what they actually need.

We talk:

• female specific running shoes with Lindsay Housman, founder and CEO of Hettas
• hydration with Sarah Shah, founder and CEO of Dynasty hydration
• wetsuits and swim apparel with Ander Lopez, product manager of Orca —

All three are pushing past the tired “shrink it and pink it” formula and getting into the stuff that actually matters: female anatomy, hormones, biomechanics, fit, comfort, and performance.

A few takeaways:

• Women have different feet, sweat patterns, hormones, body shapes, and biomechanics.
• Designing for women works better when women are actually involved in the design process.
• The real innovation here isn’t just a shoe, drink, or wetsuit. It’s finally asking better questions.

Plus, you'll meet Renee Noronha, a 20-year-old athlete from India chasing the record to become the youngest person to complete an Ironman on all six continents that host one. She learned to swim at 16. Four years later, she’s racing Kona. No big deal.

Thanks to our sponsors:

Hettas.com use code: stayfeisty for 20% off at https://hettas.com/

Orca.com: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYo

Wahoo: Use the code FEISTY2026 to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr

Train with Feisty this Winter! https://livefeisty.com/training/feisty-winter-training/

We're back on the Big Island for the IRONMAN World Championships!

Today, Feisty CEO Sara Gross and co-host Carrie Barrett dig into Woven, IRONMAN’s new multi-year initiative to get more women to the start line — and keep them there.

We hear from Ironman’s Managing Director of North America and Senior Vice President of World Championship Events, Diana Bertsch, and Woven expert ambassador Dr. Erin Ayala, about what it actually is, the short and long term goals of this initiative, and why a little healthy skepticism is very much warranted.

A few takeaways:

• Women make up just 27% of the field in Kona this year. So yeah…there’s room to grow.
• Woven says it’s playing the long game: test, learn, fix what doesn’t work, and scale what does.
• This has to be about more than tampons in porta-potties. Think childcare, cost, flexibility, race-day support, access, and real inclusion.
• Ironman can’t fix the patriarchy. But it can stop adding to the barriers.

Look, we’re spicy optimists over here. We want Woven to work. But - we’re also going to keep asking the hard questions. That's how Feisty started, after all.

Thanks to our sponsors:

Hettas.com use code: stayfeisty for 20% off at https://hettas.com/

Orca.com: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYo

Wahoo: Use the code FEISTY2026 to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr

Train with Feisty this Winter! https://livefeisty.com/training/feisty-winter-training/

This week, we have some news: This will be the last Feisty Tri episode for awhile and the last one from Kelly, Katie, and Joanne.

To mark the occasion, the hosts all pick what they're most looking forward to this season and then catch up on the news: Paula Findlay's dominating debut at Ironman Lake Placid, the latest Kona qualification updates, and what it means to be two years out from the L.A. Games.

And then we hear from Catherine Breed, who is now in the middle of a four-month swim along the entire California coast. We talked with her back before she headed out on the boat, and she answers all of our logistical questions — plus offers some long-distance swimming advice for triathletes.

You can follow along with Catherine's swim on Allez! Sports.

Courses and Coaching: https://livefeisty.com/courses/

Follow us on Instagram:

@feistytriathlon

Feisty Media Website:

Feisty Media Website: https://livefeisty.com/

Support Feisty Triathlon Partners:

Momentous: Use the code FEISTYTRI for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com.

Wahoo: Learn more about Wahoo bike computers at this link https://wahoofitness.pxf.io/OYz79W

Orca: Use the code FEISTYTRI15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYo

Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at hettas.com

The last time Kelly caught up with world championship podium-finisher Heather Jackson was in the hotel just past the finish line of Kona three years ago. What has she been up to since? Becoming a professional gravel racer and ultra-runner!

Today we catch up with the fan favorite, Heather Jackson, before she heads out on her big Tour Divide bike ride from Canada to Mexico. But first, Joanne and Kelly catch up on the news from the last two weeks: What's to be done about all these heat cancellations.

Then, Heather tells us:

• How she ended up with a second pro athlete career
• What her training looks like now with just biking and running
• The hardest parts of gravel racing and ultra-trail running
• Can she survive this mega-summer schedule?!

Follow along with Heather's Tour Divide FKT attempt.

Courses and Coaching: https://livefeisty.com/courses/

Follow us on Instagram:

@feistytriathlon

Feisty Media Website:

Feisty Media Website: https://livefeisty.com/

Support Feisty Triathlon Partners:

Momentous: Use the code FEISTYTRI for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com.

Wahoo: Learn more about Wahoo bike computers at this link https://wahoofitness.pxf.io/OYz79W

Orca: Use the code FEISTYTRI15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYo

Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at hettas.com

This week we're replaying an episode with Feisty's resident sports psychologist Dr. Erin Ayala, who joins the pod to answer all of our questions about mental performance, mental training, and tips for dealing with the mental stress of the world right now.

First, the team tackles the latest news and the question: How do we keep the booming 20- to 29-year-old age group in the sport?

Then:

• What mental skills you can practice on the treadmill or trainer
• Why a race isn't a test — and staying curious will actually help you perform better
• Ditching the comparison game
• And is the correlation between mental health issues and endurance sports a coincidence?

Dr. Ayala is also the host of the re-launched Feisty Women's Performance podcast, where she talks to experts each week on health and performance questions about women and for women.

Courses and Coaching: https://livefeisty.com/courses/

Follow us on Instagram:

@feistytriathlon

Feisty Media Website:

Feisty Media Website: https://livefeisty.com/

Support Feisty Triathlon Partners:

Momentous: Use the code FEISTYTRI for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com.

Wahoo: Learn more about Wahoo bike computers at this link https://wahoofitness.pxf.io/OYz79W

Orca: Use the code FEISTYTRI15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYo

Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at hettas.com

To continue our theme of giving you coaching advice for your own racing, we sit down with renowned strength and mobility coach Erin Carson to talk about how strength training and mobility should support your triathlon performance, not hurt it!

And first she helps us dissect the news around heat race cancellations, why she loved being on the ground at Ironman Texas, and her predictions for Challenge Roth.

Erin shares:

• How she got started working with endurance athletes,
• The importance of sports-specific strength training and mobility
• Why you should periodize your strength work, too, and how to balance it with the rest of your training
• Practical exercises for triathletes: deadlifts, goblet squats, and upper back mobility drills
• The most common mobility and strength issues triathletes deal with — and how everything can get locked up from all that biking

Check out Erin's Monday Mobility on Youtube.

Courses and Coaching: https://livefeisty.com/courses/

Follow us on Instagram:

@feistytriathlon

Feisty Media Website:

Feisty Media Website: https://livefeisty.com/

Support Feisty Triathlon Partners:

Momentous: Use the code FEISTYTRI for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com.

Wahoo: Learn more about Wahoo bike computers at this link https://wahoofitness.pxf.io/OYz79W

Orca: Use the code FEISTYTRI15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYo

Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at hettas.com