This week’s episode is focused on all things swim-bike and run and more specifically How To Train For Your First Ironman Triathlon

And to lead that discussion, I’m super pumped to have triathlon coach Eric Kenney back on the show

On this episode, Eric gives great advice on what triathletes should think about when considering racing their first full-Ironman

And we are not talking about expensive bikes or fancy gear, we are talking about consistency, efficiency, being dynamic and more. Eric summarizes his advice in 4 KEY THINGS during this conversation.

Also, towards the end of this episode, Eric and I talk about a training camp that we are doing early next year that will be focused on How To Train For Your First Ironman. I can’t wait!

If you are considering doing your first 140.6 mile race, I strongly recommend you listen to today’s episode and also sign up for updates.

You can contact coach Kenney on his website ekendurancecoaching.com and also on Instagram and Facebook, (@ekendurance)

My guests this week are the amazing Addie Bracey and Corey Conner

Both Addie and Corey are professional trail runners, coaches and partners.

Corey and Addie have similar stories, they both have a strong background in professional road running, they found success, but then got burned out, to a point where they stopped or almost stopped running all together, and not just because of the stress that came from training and racing at such competitive level but also because of the burden that they were carrying within themselves: struggling with their own identity and sexuality

Addie almost quit running. Actually, Weeks after a disappointing performance at the 2016 olympic trials in the 10k she entered her first ever trail race, the US Mountain Running Championships, which she won. That experience gave her a different perspective about her future in running.

She also decided to come out to her friends and family, and also publicly in a blog post, lifting a burden that had weighted her down for so long.

Corey stopped running for 4 years and it was after reading that blog post that she reached out to Addie, they reconnected, Corey moved to Colorado and they’ve been together since then. Corey has also found in trail running the passion and drive that she thought she lost years ago.

Both of them are building amazing careers as professional trail runners and coaches.

Actually they are my coaches!

I started working with them a few months ago. I’m really enjoying working with them. They are helping me to find back the joy in training, setting goals and racing as well.

They also recently launched Out Run, a new initiative meant to empower and connect LGBTQ+ individuals within the running community to create an environment that is encouraging, supportive and inclusive to all individuals

Rob is a regular person, like you, like me.  He is a dad, he has a full-time job, he has responsibilities, but he has a strong passion for running long, really long distances on trails. 

How long? 

How about doing 200-mile ultras? And he is not just doing one, he is attempting to complete 3 in a three-month period (one of these races is 240 miles long!)

Rob’s life before running was very stressful, he worked 80-hr weeks, he was unhappy, he didn’t exercise at all. One time at a doctor’s visit, he was told that he had such high blood pressure and high cholesterol that he was seriously considering him to start taking Lipitor.

One day, Rob got a “wake up call” when his dad told him that he almost died of a heart attack. Rob needed a change, so he started running. That was about 4 years ago

When he first started running, he couldn’t complete a mile, but that didn’t deter him, instead he focused on goals, on reading as much as possible about running, on taking it one step at a time, on making changes like eating healthier. And it paid off 

Rob’s mission is not just to push himself to see how far he can run, he also wants to inspire people, make them realize that if a “normal” person like him can run these distances, anybody can too. He shares this mission on several platforms like Instagram, his podcasts, he even recently released his first book where he shares his personal journey.

I can’t wait to see him crush his “Triple-crown of 200s” attempt which starts on August 9ththrough October 17th. GO ROB!

Follow Rob on Instagram (@trainingforultra). You can visit his website (www.trainingforultra.com)where you cn buy his book and contact him.

Matt Daniels recently had one of the best race performances that the ultra trail running community has seen in a while. He finished 4that the most competitive 100-miler in the US: The Western States 100. This was his 100-mile-ultra debut.

Matt’s running journey began when he was 11 years old. He first started running track, then started running longer and longer distance, all on road. 

While in college, Matt ran a sub-4-minute mile. He also qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials in the marathon. The guy is fast!

But after years of focusing on roads and dealing with burnout and life, Matt realized that running trails is what he was meant to do, it’s where his passion is. 

On this conversation, Matt talks about his first trail races and how his training and racing philosophy and mindset changed when he started working with his current coach David Roche.

It’s very inspiring to see the positive influence that David has had on Matt’s perspective and attitude; you can see that reflected on his performance.

And Matt is in no rush. He’s being smart, he’s building a solid foundation, he wants to do this for a long time. Trust me, you’ll hear more from him in the future.

Follow Matt on Instagram (@mattdaniels480). You can also contact him at  [email protected] visit his coaching website (www.mattdanielsrunclub.com) …he’s taking on new athletes!

Ryan is a content creator, story teller and YouTuber with a strong passion for exploring Colorado, the US and the world; and he does that by riding his bike or on his feet. 100% human powered!

Ryan chronicles his adventures on his YouTube Channel called Duzer TV where you can see him supporting local causes in Boulder one day, then going on a bike ride across the country the next one, to then interviewing his favorite professional runner the next one.

I’ve been wanting to interview Ryan for a while. His personality and positive attitude are contagious. He is a super nice dude!

On this conversation, Ryan talks about growing up in Boulder, his first adventures, how he started travelling abroad and bikes..specially gravel bikes!

We also talk about endurance sports. Ryan is a strong runner and cyclist. He’s ridden his bike across the country 4 times, he’s done popular races like the famous Caballlo Blanco 50-mile trail run a couple of times and the Javelina Jundred 100 miler twice as well, he’s done the rim-to-rim-to rim across the grand canyon, he has ridden his bike to Burning Man, and so much more!

Follow Ryan's adventures on YouTube and also on Instagram (@duzer) 

Alli is a well-known local hiker, who’s personality, charisma and weirdness (in a good way) has made her become a local legend in Boulder, Colorado

She is the co-founder of a group called The Boulder Hiker Chicks(BHCs), a group of hikers who go on all kinds of adventures, mostly in the Boulder area.

I’ve really enjoy following them on Instagram; they always go on epic adventures, they like to challenge themselves and also have fun, not to mention that they do crazy things, like wearing funny costumes when hiking, and other funny stuff. They don’t take themselves seriously at all; that's one of the reasons why I think they rock.

When I think of  how the BHCs operate, them I think of the following:

1. set a big goal
2. push yourself
3. have fun while doing it
4. achieve
5. celebrate big time

On this conversation, Alli talks about how she discovered her passion for hiking and the outdoors, how moving to Boulder, moving away and then moving back to helped her realize that she was meant to start something like the Boulder Hiker Chicks.

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is when she talks about that one time when she carried a 15 lb. block of ice on a hike just to surprise a good friend on her birthday. And what was the ice for? Well..you have to listen to this episode to understand more about her personality.

But Alli is not just about hiking and having fun. One of her roles as one of the leaders of Boulder Hiker Chicks is to empower women, especially everyday hikers, like she would say; make them feel welcomed and feel that they are part of a special group of strong and badass women who can do anything that they set their minds to.

As part of the Global Running Day activities that took place a couple of weeks ago, my friends at the Boulder Running Company and New Balance hosted a Q&A session with professional track athlete Cory McGee. They invited me to join and record this conversation.

On this short Q&A (about 20 minutes), Cory talks about several things such as: 

• How moving to Boulder has helped her to take her training and racing to another level.
• What are her short and long term goals
• Her experience training with runners like world champion Emma Coburn and also being coached by Joe Bosshard, etc.

My favorite part is probably when she talks about what she thinks or focuses on before a big race. Most of us like to get pumped up. Not Cory, she does something else.

My guest this week is professional ultrarunner Joshua Stevens

This is the second time that I have Josh on the show, he was actually my very first guest, back in February of last year

This time we talked about 2018, not only the races that the participated in..but also crazy stuff like him running 24 hours on a treadmill to raise awareness for a non for profit organization called the Herren project

We also talked about 2019, the races that he’s done so far and the ones that he has ahead, like running the grueling Badwater 135 miler in July, and then running the prestigious Leadville 100 miler a month later, in August

One of my favorite parts is when Josh talks about this idea that a good race has to tell a good story. He’ll talk more about that

I was on Instagram one day and saw a video where this guy was talking about creating a better cycling and triathlon shoe. That got my attention 

That guy was Ed O'Malley, founder of Velovetta, company that’s developing an aerodynamic cycling shoe. Yes, a shoe that will help you go faster!

Now...Velovetta is still in its early stages. Ed is in the process of creating and testing a prototype shoe. it’s such an INTERESTING concept!

I love these type of stories, when a person finds a gap or an opportunity based on their own experiences or needs: Ed is a competitve triathlete and he is always looking for ways to improve his performance. He noticed that cycling shoes had room for improvement, so he decided to look into that

That led him to combine his engineering background and curiosity with his passion for cycling and triathlon to create a better cycling shoe. That’s his goal. Genius

What I also like about Ed’s vision is that he doesn’t want Velovetta to just be the most aerodynamic shoe. He wants to create the best shoe in the market. Period.. what doest that mean? Well, the shoes need to be comfortable, have great fit and made with the best materials

On this conversation Ed talks about his journey so far, the highlights and challenges, how he came up with the idea for Velovetta, what inspired him to study mechanical engineering (I thought that was such a cool story you’re a gonna like it) and more