Alicia DiFabio didn't dive head-first into triathlon at the first opportunity. In fact, she figured she would be the last one to succumb to the triathlon craze. A combination of the professional curiosity and perhaps a little peer pressure from the 900-woman strong Mullica Hills Tri Club got her across the first finish line. 

In her book "Women Who Tri: A Reluctant Athlete's Journey Into the Heart of America’s Newest Obsession," DiFabio explores the explosion of popularity that triathlon has had, particularly among women. She investigates the influence of triathlon being a sport that was open to women from its founding, as opposed to many Olympic sports and marathons that discouraged or outright banned female participation. 

Between investigating the history, present and future of women in triathlon, DiFabio also profiles over a dozen women of all backgrounds and levels who have used triathlon to improve their lives and the lives of others. 

 

 

Check out Alicia's website and follow her adventures of being a special needs mother at her blog "Lost in Holland."  You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter as well. 

Where to Buy

Amazon

BN

VeloPress

Meredith Dolhare goes big in everything she does.

From the couch to an Ironman in a matter of months, to Ultraman, to some of the most challenging ultra running races in the world, including Badwater 135, the more audacious the goal, the more motivated she gets.

Meredith has tackled challenges beyond the grueling demands of racing and training at an elite level. She has broken each foot three times a piece, her dreams of pro tennis career ended with a shoulder injury, and she suffered a spinal rupture during Ironman Kona in 2011. She also battled addiction to drugs and alcohol after the birth of her second child and has faced the challenges of recovery.

The at-times difficult path she has followed has given her an incredible mental toughness and perspective that she brings to her not-for-profit "Running Works," a Charlotte, NC-based organization that uses running as a vehicle to help homeless adults and children in unstable housing situations overcome challenges in their own lives.

 

We had a great time talking to Meredith, and you can't help but catch her enthusiasm for encouraging others to use sport as a method for improving their lives.

Follow Meredith and Running Works

http://www.meredithdolhare.comhttps://www.facebook.com/MerDolhare/https://twitter.com/merdolharehttps://www.instagram.com/merdolhare/

http://www.runningworks.org/https://www.facebook.com/RunningWorks12/https://twitter.com/running_workshttps://www.instagram.com/runningworks/ 

Music Credits

Intro: "Road that Burned Our Boots" - JazzharTransition 1: "Max Flashback" - Lee RosevereTransition 2: "Run" - Double HelixClose: "Epic Song" - Boxcat Games

Now that we're seeing 80+ temps in parts of the U.S., we thought it was time to revisit the triathlete's nautical nemesis--open water swimming. 

You may have seen Jay Peluso at a Rev3 Triathlon race before (he's usually the one giving the race briefing), but he's also a  two-time All-American swimmer, seven time New England Swimming Champion and a member of the the Rhode Island Aquatics Hall of Fame.

He runs Peluso Open Water, where he coaches triathletes and open water swimmers and organizes the Swim RVA Open H20 Race Series in Richhmond, VA. 

We talked about: 

His background in competitive swimming, and how some unique skills from water polo helped his triathlon swim

How to introduce a new swimmer to open water

The differences between technique and tactics in pool swimming versus open water (including stroke length and utilization of kick)

(Almost) Everything you ever wanted to know about wetsuits (no....we didn't ask about peeing in them)

How often triathletes should swim, and what do those sessions look like? 

Benefits of open water swim races for triathletes

Al Hennigan is the Southeast Regional Officials Coordinator, and has been a certified USAT and USA Cycling official for many years. 

We talked about many topics, including: 

How do people become USAT offiicials?

What do officials get paid? Are there any benefits?

What are the most commonly violated rules?

What rules are hardest to enforce?

An official rides by me on the bike course and writes something down. Am I in trouble?

How does the overtaking rule relate to the drafting rule?

Does one athlete giving another athlete something on course (a tube, extra water, CO2 cannister) violate the "outside assistance" rule? 

 

Reading the rules is always helpful. While officials review the most important rules before the race, you may not catch all of them or may just have your mind elsewhere. Go to usatriathlon.org/rules. 

To contact Al with any questions, including how to become an official, go to 

https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Triathlon/USAT-for-Me/Officiating/Regional-Officials-Coordinators

 

Music Credits

Intro - “Roads that Burned Our Boots” - Jazzhar

Transition - “Glass Android” -Lee Rosevere

Close - “Epic Song” - Boxcat Games

Do you eat to train or train to eat? 

It's easy to fall into a "burn it to earn it" mentality and ignore the fact that your hard-working body would really like to process some healthy food after a long bike ride, run or swim. 

It's also easy to obsess about a perfect approach, track every calorie and make nutrition so stressful that even healthy eating can become a negative part of your life. 

Nutrition and strength coach Katie Dotson advocates a "B+" approach to nutrition. You don't have to track every bite. You can indulge within reason. Perfect is overrated, practical is the goal. 

We talked with Katie about her journey as an athlete and nutrition coach, her experience as a user of and certified coach with Precision Nutrition, and how athletes can change attitudes and behavior toward food in a simple, low-stress environment that will give your body the nutrients it needs to achieve your goals.

Just about everyone has had a close call biking on the road. Recreational and competitive cycling has some inherent risks. In this episode, we talk several guests from a variety of backgrounds about how to minimize risk and protect yourself physically and legally.

via LinkedIn

P Mark Taylor

Running and triathlon coach who was the victim of a hit and run accident. We spoke about the circumstances of the wreck and how his perception of risk and actions have been impacted by being involved in a wreck.

Joshua Reed

via KnoxvilleTnLaw.com

Personal injury lawyer with a specialty in bike law. We covered topics such as:

The number one thing you should do if you're hit by a car

How to gather the most compelling evidence from the scene

 How to protect yourself (both physically and legally) by going above and beyond what the law requires.

Why alleging another driver acted intentionally to hit you may by detrimental for your being made whole.

Get in touch with Joshua Reed at his website KnoxvilleTnLaw.com

Amy Johnson

Via Bike Law Network

Lawyer with the Bike Law network and advocate for Bike/Walk Knox and Bike/Walk Tennessee.

We talked about how Tennessee ranks when it comes to bike safety, what challenges and opportunities bike infrastructure and legislation present and how to get involved to create safer roads for all users. We also covered the importance of educating politicians and law enforcement on cyclist's use of the roads.

You can reach Amy at [email protected] if you have a legal question or want to learn more about getting involved in bike and pedestrian advocacy. 

Edward Wimmer

via RoadID.com

The founder of Road ID, along with his father Mike, Edward joined us to talk about the history of his company, the top reasons to carry ID (beyond just your driver's license) and how their product has made a difference in life-and-death situations. We also talked about the popular Road ID app and just how many of the delightfully whimsical eCrumb completion emails he's written.

 

Music Credits:

Intro - “Roads that Burnd Our Boots” - Jazzhar

Transition 1 - “Looking Back” - Lee Rosevere

Transition 2 - ”Late Night Tales” - Lee Rosevere

Transition 3 - “Run” -Double-Helix

Close - “Epic Song” - Boxcat Games

Charlie Engle has a hell of a story. From a serious alcohol and cocaine addiction in his twenties, to the pinnacle of the ultra running world, his thirst for challenge is insatiable. 

Charlie has dabbled in triathlon (doing Ironman Hawaii a month after another ultra where he and several hundred other races contracted leptospirosis) and cycling (Race Across America). 

We talked for nearly an hour, covering topics like his incredible Run Across the Sahara (and how inaccessible many of those countries are today). We explored his training routines and the psychology of how he approaches a race, as well as what motivates him to largely sign up for new races rather than repeat the same race year after year. 

His 2017 race calendar includes Badwater: Cape Feare, the Bethel Hill Moonlight Boogie, Run 4 Water, Badwater 135, and a run across Rwanda to raise money for Library For All .

His big project-in-planning? Run from the lowest place on earth (The Dead Sea) to the highest (Mount Everest). Because why not? 

 

Check out his memoir "Running Man" and follow him on social media and at his website charlieengle.com.

 

Music Credits:

Intro - "Roads that Burned Our Boots" - Jazzhar

Transition 1 - "Run 320" - Double Helix

Transition 2 - "Glass Android" - Lee Rosever

Close - "Epic Song" - Boxcat Games

[This show was originally aired in October of 2016]

Jaime Brede has never met a race format that she won't try. A professional on the XTERRA and mountain bike circuit, she also does adventure racing, skiing, and on-road triathlons. In her spare time, she coaches high school mountain biking and serves as a director for The Cycle Effect, an organization that introduces young women to mountain biking. Listen before your next big race or workout and let her enthusiasm inspire you!

 

Music Credits:Show Open: Jazzhar "Roads that Burned Our Boots"Transition: Lee Rosevere "Max Flashback"Show Close: Boxcat Games "Epic Song"

Kirsten Sass is fast. The West Tennessee age group triathlete turned in a time at the 2016 ITU Long Course World Championships that would have beaten the 10th-place pro. Her triathlon career had humble beginnings--a 3-hour Olympic distance race on an ill-fitting bike borrowed from her triathlete dad. 

2016 ITU Long Distance World Championships, via Facebook. Used with permission.

These days, Kirsten is a perennial favorite at that race "Memphis in May."  Her husband serves an important role in the race as well--he escorts the final finisher across the line dressed as Elvis.

Since 2009, Kirsten been a force to be reckoned with on the ITU circuit. She's been to numerous U.S. and World Championships in several distances. After an age-group win at Ironman Lousiville 2016, she's also heading to Kona for the third time later in 2017. 

Sass crossing the finish at Ironman Louisville 2016. Via Instagram. Used with permission.

With two kids and a full-time job, she's  very adept at balancing a high-performance triathlon career while keeping family first. Outside triathlon, she is also active on the bike racing circuit in West Tennessee. 

Follow Kirsten at kirsten-sass.com, on Facebook or Instagram. 

Music Credits:Show Open: Jazzhar "Roads that Burned Our Boots"Transition: Lee Rosevere "Max Flashback" Show Close: Boxcat Games "Epic Song"

How much can mental performance affect your PRs, Podiums and overall well-being?  Mental Performance Coach Emily Johnson shares her experience in coaching endurance athletes and the keys to training your brain to increase your performance, rather than drag it down. 

We cover topics such as: 

What mental challenges or issues occur at higher frequency among endurance athletes?

Just how much effect does mental state have on physical performance?

Calming techniques for racing

Addressing fears and worries

How to develop positive self-talk

How to establish a workout mentality

Establishing a purpose for the workout to make training effective

How visualization can help you keep a clear head in the middle of stressful situations (like a race)

Why does the big post-event let down occur? How can we minimize it?

How to not let sport become an unhealthy obsession  (See this quiz on Exercise Addition) 

 

For questions and coaching inquiries, you can contact Emily at [email protected]

 

 

Music Credits:Show Open: Jazzhar "Roads that Burned Our Boots"Show Close: Boxcat Games "Epic Song"