Off Course

Ben Hoffman is an American long course triathlete with many half Ironman and full distance wins under his belt and has been one of the more consistent performers in the Ironman for over a decade. Ben has been at the professional level of the sport for 15 years and has worked his way to being a contender for the win whenever he toes the line. He's been on the podium in Kona and was 4th last year and is hunting for that world championship win. 

Ben talks with me about what drives him as an athlete and as a person. He talks some tactics and a good bit about what's going on in his mind during training and racing. He also shares some of what its like to be a professional triathlete and a new dad. 

We hope you enjoy this episode of Off Course with Ben Hoffman, a great athlete and a great guy. 

In 2016, at the Rio Olympics, Mara Abbott was caught by a group of 3 less than 200m to the finish line. She took home a 4th place and in her heart she knew she gave everything she had. Little did she know this was the race that would define her racing career. Not having won the Giro Rosa twice or the National Championships, but instead having just missed out on a medal in her career's finale. 

Mara takes some time to talk about how that feel, to have people view a race you view as a disappointment as a triumph. She lets us in on here thoughts during and after that race and the ongoing process of dealing with retirement.  

In the time of COVID parents are being asked to do many things that we haven't done before. Home schooling and home coaching are now two more things on our already full plates. This week Kevin Dessart, former head of coaching for USA Cycling and the current Head Coach of University of Colorado Women's Hockey, gives some insight on what makes a great coach and what the ideal parent role is for their developing athlete.

We take that a step further as we talk about the new role for parents amid COVID, Home Coaching. How do balance being a parent, but also helping kids get their sports work done while in lockdown? He has great insight. We also talk to Sara Vaughn about how she and her husband Brent are dealing with this topic. 

From kids teaching parents to tip on keeping it fun, this is a great listen for all coaches, athletes and parents. 

This week we catch up with World Champion ITU and Xterra triathlete Flora Duffy at her home in South Africa. We talk about how the sport of triathlon has changed for her through the years and how she came to love the sport again and become a multi time wold champion. 

We talk about the struggles of expectations and how she has learned to deal with them and accept them. We talk about the mindset that Flora has when she races and trains and how it can be very different than her typical persona. 

Flora has become a mentor and a role model in the sport of triathlon and has found ways to give back to her sport and to her home country of Bermuda. Join us as we work through her amazing career, the up and downs and the pressures and the triumphs.

Kiel Reijnen joins to talk about his career as a cyclist. How it began with wins in some of the biggest American races and has morphed into that of a domestique and road captain for Trek-Segafredo. We talk about the move to the Pro Tour and what it requires. 

Kiel talks about what he would like to see cycling media focus their attention on more. From the team aspect of racing, the little shown early parts of races and to the intense rivalries that exist between riders and teams. 

We look back at Kiel's time in Boulder, his intense rivalry with good friend Alex Howes and how they settled it once and for all. Finally, Kiel talks about his decision to move back to where he grew up and his latest project to help young cyclists on the island. 

Sara Vaughn is one of my inspirations as a coach, a parent and as an athlete. She's a role model to so many athletes on how to continue to follow their dreams while being a great parent, a working professional and a partner. 

Sara talks about the journey to the World's team in 2017 and how she and her husband Brent made it all work. From late night runs, to real estate showings in her running gear, Sara has bucked the trends of professional running for a decade and is hoping to continue to do so after baby #4. 

We also talk about the struggles for female runners looking to start a family or continue running with one. Sara talks about what's changing in the running world for women and what she still grapples with as a professional. 

Maxx Chance, Heather Fischer and Eric Brunner from University of Colorado join us on the podcast to talk about their collegiate cycling experience. They tell us why they think its a crucial part of developing interest, participation and talent in the United States. 

We also talk to Neal Henderson from Apex Coaching and Wahoo Fitness, 2016 Olympian Mara Abbott and our friend Robin Carpenter from Rally Cycling to share their thoughts as well. From the introduction of cycling to athletes from other sports to the inclusive environment of club cycling, they share why it is so important to the sport in the US. 

Load up your hotel room with teammates or hunker down in a friends aunt's basement, and give a listen. Then go spread the word and let's keep getting people into cycling and developing world beating talent. 

Robin Carpenter of Rally Cycling joins us on the podcast to talk all about the artistry that is getting into the breakaway in Europe. Robin has proven himself to be quite proficient at this over the past two years and earning himself several podium finishes as well as an epic foray off the front at Fleche Wallone. 

He lets us in on the wheelings and dealings that go on in the break and how he navigates the situation to go for a classification leader's jersey or the win. 

He also tells us all about how he got into baking and the secrets to a great loaf of sourdough and how some of these upstart baker-cyclists are ruffling his feathers. 

Join me and Robin for a close look at the art of the perfect sourdough loaf and how those techniques cross over in the professional peloton. Let's go get Off Course with Robin Carpenter. 

Sharing stories of faceplants, McD's post race stops, costumes and start line dance parties, Sarah Sturm and Emily Schaldach take us into the details of their singlespeed cyclocross battles from 2019. In the process, they shed some light on what drives them to race and how they deal with the nerves of racing and balancing the results and the fun. 

Both Emily and Sarah honed their cycling craft in Durango, CO amidst the beautiful trails and amazing athletes found there. They talk about collegiate cycling, singlespeed racing and the dichotomy of racing big races to win, while in the midst of a gigantic party. 

They also share who their role models and mentors have been in the sport and reassure us that its ok to be serious about your sport, but not take your racing too seriously. 

Give a listen to two women who exemplify what cyclocross is in the States and are bad ass role models for every aspiring or veteran racer. 

We spend time talking with Cameron about life as a swimmer growing up in Boulder. How family holds a critical part of his life then and now. We talk about his professional racing career and the hair and beard that came along with. 

I truly enjoy getting Cam's take on life and racing and am sure you will too.