Seasoned Athlete

This week we talk to Erica McClurg of Scottsdale, Arizona. She is a high school science and swim teacher and triathlete. She has been doing triathlons for about 26 years and has completed 15 Ironman distance races - 5 of which were at the World Championships in Hawaii. Over the course of her career, she estimates that she’s completed approximately 300 triathlons of various distances. More recently, she’s been focusing more heavily on the Ironman distance, and she came in the top 3 in the three half Ironmans and one full Ironman she finished in the last season.

In the episode, we discuss her time college at the the forefront of the triathlon movement, her best and worst racing experiences, and her advice for people interested in getting into the sport.

SEASONED ATHLETE STATS - ERICA MCCLURG

Age: 47

Sport: Triathlon

Quote: You learn to worry about the things you can control and not the things that you can't.

Website: ericamcclurg.com

EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE - KRISTA ALDERDICE

Each week, we start our show with our featured EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE. In this segment, we shine the spotlight on athletes over age 40 from a variety of backgrounds and skill levels.. Our Everyday Seasoned Athletes will be sharing why they do what they do and what they’ve learned along the way – all in their own words. This week, we feature ultra runner Krista Alderdice.

EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE STATS - KRISTA ALDERDICE

Age: 42

Sport: Ultra Running

Quote: Running was and still is my savior.

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This week we talk to Julio Anta of Miami, Florida. He is a grandfather, martial arts and fitness school owner and instructor and competitive bodybuilder. In 2017, after 32 years since his last bodybuilding competition, he became the NPC South Florida Bodybuilding Championships Over 60 overall and light weight winner, and placed second in the over 50 physique category. He is also the author of “Anta’s Ageless Warrior Fitness” and believes that age is just a number and that the martial arts and bodybuilding lifestyle is the fountain of youth.

In the episode, we discuss getting into bodybuilding during what is considered the golden age of the sport, practicing martial arts when beginning when it was very unknown in the United Sates, and coming back many years after an injury and the challenges of training for competition in your 60s.

SEASONED ATHLETE STATS - JULIO ANTA

Age: 60

Sport: Competitive bodybuilding/martial arts

Quote: Sometimes negative things end up a blessing in life.

Website: http://antamartialarts.com

EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE - JILL PLAMONDON

Each week, we start our show with our featured EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE. In this segment, we shine the spotlight on athletes over age 40 from a variety of backgrounds and skill levels.. Our Everyday Seasoned Athletes will be sharing why they do what they do and what they’ve learned along the way – all in their own words. This week, we feature ultra runner Jill Plamondon.

EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE STATS - JILL PLAMONDON

Age: 45

Sport: Ultra runner

Quote: If you fall, get up again. It really is about how many times you get up.

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This week we talk to Liz Sharp of Monroe, Louisiana. Growing up, she dreamed of competing in the Olympics in Track and Field, and at one point even qualified for the Olympic Trials. But a freak accident derailed that dream. Now, over forty years later, she's been able to rekindle she athletic spirit via the Senior Games, earning three medals in the 2017 National Senior Games, proving that with a little faith and determination, it's never too late to achieve your dreams.

In the episode, we discuss training for the Olympics at a time when there was no path for women, how she got back into track and field in her sixties after that experience, and she gives advice to others who may be considering trying a new sport at a more advanced age.

SEASONED ATHLETE STATS - LIZ SHARP

Age: 70

Sport: Track and Field

Quote: "You cannot be allowed to talk yourself out of the dream that's in your heart. Not until you make a 100% effort to pursue it."

EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE - RUTHIE LOFFI

Each week, we start our show with our featured EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE. In this segment, we shine the spotlight on athletes over age 40 from a variety of backgrounds and skill levels.. Our Everyday Seasoned Athletes will be sharing why they do what they do and what they’ve learned along the way – all in their own words. This week, we feature ultra runner Ruthie Loffi.

EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE STATS - RUTHIE LOFFI

Age: 55

Sport: Ultra running

Quote: "I like to say that DNF is a Did Not Fail."

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This episode is a little different than what we normally do here at Seasoned Athlete. I recently had the opportunity to bring the Seasoned Athlete Podcast to the Celebrity Sweat Wellness Day in Downtown Los Angeles. Celebrity Sweat is a television show on Discovery Life Channel that features interviews with celebrities and athletes and is all about motivating and inspiring people to live their best lives. Kind of like what we do around here.

This episode will feature interviews with three people who are all over 40 and represent different specialties in the fitness and wellness arena. The first interview is with Tae Bo creator, fitness legend and Celebrity Sweat co-host 62-year old Billy Blanks. The second is with martial arts athlete and qigong expert 47-year old Chris Shelton. And the last interview of the episode is with Hollywood physique expert and Celebrity Sweat co-host 49 (aka forty-fine) year old Eric The Trainer. In these three interviews, you’ll hear three distinctly different stories but some common threads, as well, such as taking care of yourself from the inside out and the importance of getting rest. All three are over 40 and have some fantastic advice for the over 40 athlete.

Visit https://seasonedathlete.me/episodes/030 for a full list of links to learn more about Billy Blanks, Chris Shelton and Eric The Trainer!

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This week we talk to masters distance runner Brian Pilcher of Kentfield, California. He has been named male masters runner of the year in 2012 and 2013, he was the overall masters athlete of the year in 2013. He currently holds the 60-64 age group world record in the half marathon, 25K and 30K distances, all of which were earned on the same day during the 2016 Chicago Marathon, where he also tied the full marathon record set by Clive Davies in 1979. Just one week earlier, he broke the 5K world record for his age group at the Syracuse Festival of Races with a time of 16:38, a record he still holds to this day.

In the episode, we discuss how he got back into running in his fifties after a long break and what advantages can come from having a late start as a runner, and he gives advice to others who may be considering getting into running at a more advanced age.

SEASONED ATHLETE STATS - BRIAN PILCHER

Age: 61

Sport: Masters distance running

Quote: "It's about YOU. It's not about anybody else."

EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE - MIKE BRAWER

Each week, we start our show with our featured EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE. In this segment, we shine the spotlight on athletes over age 40 from a variety of backgrounds and skill levels.. Our Everyday Seasoned Athletes will be sharing why they do what they do and what they’ve learned along the way – all in their own words. This week, we feature all-around athlete and competitor Mike Brawer.

EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE STATS - MIKE BRAWER

Age: 45

Sports: Krav maga, crossfit, obstacle racing, swimming, biking, hiking

Quote: "I feel as improve my body, it helps improve my mind - and improving my mind helps improve my body."

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This week, we talk to Kevin Donoghue from Monroe, New York. Kevin has been a Spartan Race Pro Team member since 2015 and holds multiple Spartan Race records. These records include 102 combined masters and overall Spartan Race podiums, 50 1st place finishes, and 71 1st place age group finishes. He's the host of Daily Burn Spartan, the first ever workout video series for obstacle racing and he's been a two-time team captain on NBC’s Spartan Ultimate Team Challenge. In addition, Kevin is Spartan Master Trainer, Obstacle Specialist Coach and one of the founding Spartan Course Officials.

In this episode, we discuss the challenges and benefits that Kevin experiences as an older athlete who has been in the Spartan Race game since the beginning, he gives advice for anyone looking to get started in obstacle racing, and we talk at length about the new competitive age group division that Spartan is introducing this year and what that means for him in particular.

SEASONED ATHLETE STATS - KEVIN DONOGHUE

Age: 43

Sport: Spartan Race

Quote: "The fact that we get to suffer voluntarily is a tremendous gift."

Instagram and Twitter: @kdonoghuelives

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This week, we talk to Libby James of Fort Collins, Colorado. She's a mother of four and a grandmother of 12 ranging in age from 8-24 years old. Libby is a writer, a teacher, and long distance runner. And that is an understatement, because she may just be the fastest woman her age in the world. Libby holds the current USA Track and Field world records for her age group in the 5K and 15K distances. In 2012, she was inducted into the Colorado Running Hall of Fame and in 2016 she was inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame. And this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to her running accomplishments, which all came after age 40.

SEASONED ATHLETE STATS - LIBBY JAMES

Age: 81

Sport: Long distance running

Quote: "The worst thing about running is...not running."

Contact: LibbyJames.net

EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE - BILL PROVINS

Each week, we start our show with our featured EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE. In this segment, we shine the spotlight on athletes over age 40 from a variety of backgrounds and skill levels.. Our Everyday Seasoned Athletes will be sharing why they do what they do and what they’ve learned along the way – all in their own words. This week, we feature obstacle racer Bill Provins.

EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE STATS - BILL PROVINS

Age: 51

Sport: Spartan Race/running

Quote: "Get out there and do it - whatever sport you want to do."

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This week we take a look back and celebrate our first year by sharing some of our best moments on the show so far. You'll hear clips about meaningful competitive moments, advice for fellow Seasoned Athletes and words of wisdom from Seasoned Athlete alums like triathlete Cherie Gruenfeld, rower Allison Hunt, speed skater Melissa Koenig, obstacle racer Heather Gollnick, roller derby athlete Halee Daily, Crossfit Games masters athlete Diane Stuart and women's running pioneer Kathrine Switzer, among others. It's like a big ol' inspiration Greatest Hits show!

Big thanks to all of the athletes who shared their stories on the show, and to YOU for listening and making this an amazing first year. I can't wait to bring you more stories from inspiring Seasoned Athletes in 2018!

- Robin

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This week, we talk to 48-year old Deanna Blegg from Melbourne, Australia. Deanna is the definition of tough. She is a mother, HIV and AIDS survivor, breast cancer survivor and an adventure racer, obstacle racer, Crossfitter, and by all accounts, all around awesome athlete. Deanna won the overall women’s title in the 2013 World’s Toughest Mudder, a 24-hour obstacle racing event where competitors run continuous 5-mile loops in an attempt to complete as many miles as possible. Just last month, she took 4th place overall in the women’s division of that same race after taking the previous year off to fight breast cancer. As we mentioned...definition of tough. Deanna is also the creator of the Bleggmit, a lightweight neoprene glove designed for cold weather races. And she help others prep for endurance events with her Bleggfit training programs.

SEASONED ATHLETE STATS - DEANNA BLEGG

Age: 48

Sport: Adventure racing, obstacle racing, Crossfit

Quote: "Look forward - don't look back."

EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE - REGINA ANDLER

Each week, we start our show with our featured EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE. In this segment, we shine the spotlight on athletes over age 40 from a variety of backgrounds and skill levels.. Our Everyday Seasoned Athletes will be sharing why they do what they do and what they’ve learned along the way – all in their own words. This week, we feature obstacle racer Regina Andler.

EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE STATS - REGINA ANDLER

Age: 54

Sport: Obstacle racing

Quote: "There's not just one cookie-cutter way to get over obstacles."

 

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In this episode, we talk to Adrienne Leblanc, a mother of three, physical therapist and triathlete based out of Scottsdale, Arizona. She's a five time age group national champion for short course racing triathlon. She earned the World Champion Sprint distance triathlon title in 2015 and are the 2017 World Champion in the Olympic distance triathlon. She also earned Arizona State Champion titles in 2016 and 2017 in the 40K women’s road cycling Time Trial Race. In 2018, Adrienne plans on competing at the ITU Age Group World Championships for Triathlon in Australia, where she hopes to defend her winning title from this year.

We talk about the ups and downs of being a part of a family of athletes, how she found her way into competing in and winning triathlons in her forties, and some of the key things she does to stay at the top of her game as she gets older.

SEASONED ATHLETE STATS - ADRIENNE LEBLANC

Age: 47

Sport: Triathlon

Quote: "You may not be as talented as the person sitting next to you...but if you work hard at something and really give it your all, you can succeed at it - at a very good level."

EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE - PAMELA NEIMETH

Each week, we start our show with our featured EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE. In this segment, we shine the spotlight on athletes over age 40 from a variety of backgrounds and skill levels.. Our Everyday Seasoned Athletes will be sharing why they do what they do and what they’ve learned along the way – all in their own words. This week, we feature ultra runner Pamela Neimeth.

EVERYDAY SEASONED ATHLETE STATS - PAMELA NEIMETH

Age: 59

Sport: Ultra distance trail running, road racing, triathlon

Quote: "For me, ultra running is my temple. It’s my opportunity for activism and kindness. It’s my connection to the natural world. To my Gods, Goddesses, angels and the divine. On the trails, I find peace of mind and connection to my wholeness."

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