Miles From Ordinary Podcast

Two weeks away and we’ve somehow both forgotten how calendars work. We’re back! 😂

Jess has been ill, we’ve both lost track of what day it is, Jess nearly misses a good friend’s christening, and Bex turns up on the wrong day for a run with friends… only to accidentally run 50km solo in the Peak District. Standard.

We also catch up on the latest backyard ultra adventures, including Cameron Main completing an incredible 34 yards and raising £4,000 for Abbie’s Sparkle Foundation. We share our thoughts on World Triathlon’s new partnership with HYROX and what it could mean for the future of our sport.

Then, for the main event, we’re talking sports documentaries and films we love watching on the turbo. From real-life sporting stories to feature films, we share our favourites to keep you entertained when the hours on the bike start to drag.

Whether you’re looking for your next watch, a bit of inspiration or just some company on a long training session, we’ve got you covered.

The Tri Project links

Website - https://thetriproject.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the.triproject/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@The.triproject

Miles from Ordinary links

Miles from ordinary Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/Milesfromordinarypodcast

Jess's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jesslearmonth/?hl=en-gb

Bex's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bexmilnescoaching/

Stick the kettle on, get comfortable and join us for another episode of Miles from Ordinary.

🎧 Listen now and let us know: what’s your favourite sports documentary or film to watch while training?

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Why Do We Train Well but Race Below Our Potential? | Sports Psychologist Chris Gunn

Why can you nail session after session in training, only to find yourself struggling to perform when race day arrives? And what does self-control actually mean when you're pushing your physical and mental limits?

This week on Miles from Ordinary, we're joined by sports psychologist Chris Gunn to explore the mental side of endurance performance and how we can get better at training it.

We unpack what self-control really means in sport, how motivation influences our training, and what to do when race-day anxiety starts to creep in. We also discuss why acknowledging how you're feeling in the moment can be more useful than trying to ignore or fight it.

Plus, we get into the gap between training performance and race-day execution. What might be holding athletes back from delivering when it matters, and how can we start to bridge that gap?

And the big takeaway? There's no life hack for mindset. Just like your fitness, strength or technique, the mental side of performance is a skill that needs to be practised.

Whether you're chasing a PB, preparing for your next triathlon or trying to understand why your performances don't always reflect your training, this one's for you.

🎧 Tune in and train your mind alongside your body.

In this episode:

• What self-control really means in sport
• Motivation and how it affects training
• Managing anxiety and emotions on race day
• Why acknowledging how you feel matters
• Bridging the gap between training and racing
• Why mindset is a skill, not a quick fix

Chris Gunn Links

Website - https://www.chrisgunnpsychology.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisgunnpsych/

The Tri Project links

Website - https://thetriproject.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the.triproject/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@The.triproject

Miles from Ordinary links

Miles from ordinary Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/Milesfromordinarypodcast

Jess's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jesslearmonth/?hl=en-gb

Bex's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bexmilnescoaching/

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Tech We Actually Use: From Swim Toys to Rider Safety

What bits of tech are actually worth the money when you’re a triathlete or endurance athlete? And what’s just another gadget to add to the drawer?!

This week on Miles from Ordinary, we’re talking all things tech, sharing our favourite bits of kit, the tools we rely on, and the recommendations you’ve sent in.

From swim toys and training platforms to wearables, gadgets and rider safety, we cover the tech that’s making a difference to how you train, race and go about your everyday lives.

We also share your favourites, because who better to recommend a bit of kit than the people actually using it?

Whether you love a new gadget, want to train a little smarter, feel safer on the bike or simply want to know what’s worth investing in, there should be something for you.

As always, we’re keeping it practical, honest. Because sometimes the best bit of tech is genuinely game-changing… and sometimes it’s just another thing to charge.

🎧 Tune in, steal some recommendations and let us know what’s your favourite bit of tech right now?

The Tri Project links

Website - https://thetriproject.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the.triproject/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@The.triproject

Miles from Ordinary links

Miles from ordinary Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/Milesfromordinarypodcast

Jess's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jesslearmonth/?hl=en-gb

Bex's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bexmilnescoaching/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're Back! Baby Updates, Kona & Listener Q&A

We're back! After a two-week break to give Jess some very good reasons to be otherwise occupied, Bex and Jess are back behind the mics and there's plenty to catch up on.

First up, we welcome little Orla into the world and hear how life has been since her arrival. Then it's time to turn our attention to the Big Island for a Kona debrief, sharing our thoughts on the Ironman World Championships and everything that makes Kona such a unique race.

And, of course, we finish by answering your listener questions. Because you never disappoint when it comes to giving us things to discuss!

A bit of life lately, a bit of triathlon, and a good old catch-up. Just how we like it.

Welcome back to Miles from Ordinary!

The Tri Project links

Website - https://thetriproject.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the.triproject/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@The.triproject

Miles from Ordinary links

Miles from ordinary Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/Milesfromordinarypodcast

Jess's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jesslearmonth/?hl=en-gb

Bex's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bexmilnescoaching/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The season is over. The races are done. The training plan has disappeared… so what exactly are we supposed to do now?!

This week, Jess and Bex are talking all things end-of-season breaks. What they actually look like, what we love about them, and the bits that can be surprisingly difficult.

From eating everything in sight and rediscovering your social life, to the guilt of not training, worrying about losing fitness and wondering who you are when you don't have a race to train for, we dive into the very different ways athletes approach their time off.

We also share some of your listener experiences including the people who genuinely embrace doing absolutely nothing, those who can't resist picking up another sport, and the ones who say they're taking two weeks off… before sneaking out for an "easy" run four days later.

Because sometimes the hardest part of training is knowing when to stop.

The Tri Project links

Website - https://thetriproject.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the.triproject/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@The.triproject

Miles from Ordinary links

Miles from ordinary Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/Milesfromordinarypodcast

Jess's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jesslearmonth/?hl=en-gb

Bex's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bexmilnescoaching/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jess and Bex cover a bit of everything in this episode, from Lanzarote training conditions and Jess’s latest pregnancy update to a wide-ranging discussion on viral sports controversies and what injuries really mean. The main thread is a thoughtful conversation about how much control athletes actually have over injury, and how the mental side of rehab can be just as important as the physical side.

Bex is in Lanzarote with athlete Kate Curran, training at Club La Santa ahead of Kona-style conditions. They discuss the heat, wind, rolling hills, and the value of training alongside other people, including Jess’s first test ride on the Tri-Project virtual riding platform. Jess shares an update on her pregnancy after a stretch and sweep, explaining that she was 2 centimetres dilated but still managed a 40-minute run the same day.

From there, the conversation moves through a series of sports stories and controversies, including a Hyrox athlete who continued after soiling herself, the Putney pusher incident, the backlash around a Sydney Sweeney betting advert, and Raheem Sterling’s laughing gas case.They also reflect on performances at the 70.3 World Championships, including strong results from Georgia Taylor-Brown and Sam Dickinson, before turning to the episode’s main topic: injury. Inspired by Mark Matthews’ discussion of training load, recovery, nutrition, and responsibility, Jess and Bex explore where the blame for injuries should sit and how athletes can learn from them.The conversation looks at the difference between a niggle and an injury, using practical examples from Bex’s recent adductor and knee problems. They discuss when pain requires a change in training, the risks of ignoring worsening symptoms, and why athletes can sometimes understand their own bodies better than the experts treating them.

Finally, they explore the psychological impact of injury, including fear of re-injury, loss of confidence, Googling symptoms, and rebuilding trust in medical staff. They also talk honestly about how being unable to train can affect mood, identity, and relationships, and whether becoming grumpy and antisocial while injured is simply normal athlete behaviour or a sign of a more difficult relationship with exercise.

The Tri Project links

Website - https://thetriproject.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the.triproject/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@The.triproject

Miles from Ordinary links

Miles from ordinary Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/Milesfromordinarypodcast

Jess's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jesslearmonth/?hl=en-gb

Bex's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bexmilnescoaching/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jess and Bex return with an honest conversation spanning pregnancy, ultra-running, triathlon, and the realities of endurance sport.Bex shares the behind-the-scenes story of crewing Lucy Gossage’s 238-mile Pennine Way FKT attempt, including the last-minute logistics, sleep deprivation, pacing, fueling, route strategy, and the team effort required to support an athlete through two nights of relentless running. They explore how Lucy recovered from an early calf injury, switched from a self-supported to a supported attempt, and continued through pain, swelling, and exhaustion to break the record.The episode also covers the realities of late pregnancy, disrupted sleep, and preparing for life with a second baby. Jess and Bex answer listener questions about cold-water preparation, rebuilding confidence after a difficult race, recurring calf problems, mobility, strength training, and finding your motivation again.They also discuss the latest triathlon news, including 70.3 Worlds, Kona, race predictions, and the debate around Joe Skipper and anti-doping administration. With practical advice, strong opinions, and plenty of humour, this episode offers an honest look at what it takes to keep showing up in endurance sport.

T

he Tri Project links

Website - https://thetriproject.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the.triproject/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@The.triproject

Miles from Ordinary links

Miles from ordinary Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/Milesfromordinarypodcast

Jess's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jesslearmonth/?hl=en-gb

Bex's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bexmilnescoaching/

Drop us a voice note here - https://www.speakpipe.com/milesfromordinary

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joseph Yee joins us for a fascinating conversation about his love-hate relationship with endurance sport, the all-or-nothing mentality that can see him push himself to the absolute limits of human endurance, and the days when he struggles to motivate himself to do anything at all.

We start with his most recent Pan Celtic Challenge a brutal 2,200km ride with 24,000m of elevation, completed over five days with just nine hours of sleep. Joseph takes us inside what it actually feels like to push your body that far, including the hallucinations, sleeping in flower beds and the increasingly blurred line between determination and madness.

But the conversation goes much further than one epic challenge.

Joseph talks openly about his impulsive approach to training and racing, his tendency to go all in when something grabs his attention, and why the same person capable of extraordinary endurance can sometimes find it incredibly difficult to get out the door for a training session.

We also go back to his childhood and discover how he started triathlon at just seven years old through his dad's involvement in the local triathlon club. Despite admitting he didn't particularly enjoy it, he somehow just kept turning up, a theme that has followed him throughout his relationship with endurance sport.

Finally, we look ahead. What's next for someone who seems drawn towards increasingly ridiculous challenges? And what might the ultimate test of human endurance look like?

A conversation about endurance, motivation, identity, obsession and the strange things that make us want to keep going when every rational part of us is telling us to stop.

Joseph Yee links

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@JosephYeee

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joseph.yee_/?hl=en

The Tri Project links

Website - https://thetriproject.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the.triproject/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@The.triproject

Miles from Ordinary links

Miles from ordinary Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/Milesfromordinarypodcast

Jess's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jesslearmonth/?hl=en-gb

Bex's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bexmilnescoaching/

Drop us a voice note here - https://www.speakpipe.com/milesfromordinary

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jess, Bex, and Sam introduce The Tri Project and explain why they built it around community, support, and making triathlon less intimidating for newcomers. They also walk through the platform features, the research behind it, and how it aims to help athletes at every stage, from first swim lessons to race-day prep.

In this episode, the trio discuss how the idea started from Sam’s own Ironman journey, why training with friends often becomes the best part of endurance sport, and how the project was shaped by looking at what already exists in the market. They also talk about launch plans, member perks, and the kinds of events and challenges they want to create next

Miles from Ordinary links

Miles from ordinary Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/Milesfromordinarypodcast

Jess's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jesslearmonth/?hl=en-gb

Bex's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bexmilnescoaching/

Drop us a voice note here - https://www.speakpipe.com/milesfromordinary

www.thetriproject.com

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Is social media making us better athletes — or making us feel like we're never doing enough?

This week we're diving into the influence of social media on athletes, and we've handed the conversation over to you. Listeners have written in with a huge breadth of opinions: from those who barely notice its influence, to those who find it motivating and inspiring, and others who feel the comparison, pressure and constant stream of achievement can have a much more negative effect.

We chat about why social media can be such a brilliant part of the sporting community while also exploring the potential downsides of always seeing other people's training, racing, results and seemingly perfect lives.

Plus, there are plenty of life updates along the way — Jess's house move, Bex's weekend in the Peaks and all the other things keeping us busy away from triathlon.

A conversation about comparison, motivation, perspective and finding your own version of enough.

And, as always, we'd love to hear your thoughts: how does social media affect you as an athlete?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.