The Triathlete Hour

This week we talk to pro triathlete turned Fastest Known Time record holder Alyssa Godesky.

Alyssa is known for her Ironman finishes and back-to-back Ironman top tens on consecutive weekends, but a few years ago she was looking for a new challenge. That's when she found Fastest Known Times—FKTs. First, she took the fastest known time on the Vermont Long Trail and then this year she went after the Adirondack High Peaks. FKTs exploded in popularity this year and Alyssa explains to us all the logistics and the fun, and why triathletes should tackle one.

Here's everything you need to know about triathletes and FKTs—and why you should try one.

And first, we want to make sure you aren't missing out on our training and gear podcast, Fitter & Faster, which has moved to its own feed. We share a short excerpt from last week's episode on training zones, but be sure to subscribe to get all our training and gear info at:

What are training zones? Why are they important? How do you establish your own training zones?

Join host Emma-Kate Lidbury as she uncovers all you need to know on the subject, starting with the basics of training zones across all three sports (and how they differ!) and then getting into the weeds with coach and Olympian Ryan Bolton. Ryan shares his preferred benchmark tests, how to establish training zones from those tests, and common mistakes he sees athletes making when it comes to training zones. Bolton also answers questions from listeners.

Then, we're joined by Triathlete's senior editor and resident gear guru Chris Foster, who talks through all the must-have gear for using training zones while running, biking, and swimming. 

This week, we talk to a very special guest, Todd Crandell. An addict, who hit rock bottom, Todd found redemption in exercise and, ultimately, in Ironman. He's gone to help and inspire thousands of others. Though his story's been told many times before—including by us—he opens up here about some of the aspects of founding Racing for Recovery, training addicts and some of the specific issues they face.

He tells us about the things he's learned over the year, the power of Ironman, and some advice that's good for anyone.

We also open with our Sid Talks segment with Laura Siddall, chatting about building habits and resolutions. We also talk about Ironman being sold out in North America and what we expect this year.

It's a show about how to find a healthy life and the role triathlon can play for all of us.

Barry tells us all about how he first got into triathlon in the 80s in Omaha, how he left a job as a top exec in the food industry to start a multisport company, and how he found adventure racing — and some of his craziest hallucinations during multi-day races.

Barry has been in the sport for a long time, and he has a lot of insight about it what triathlon gets right and what it gets wrong. While he's waiting for inspiration for his next adventure, he's also been writing columns for us. Check them out here: https://www.triathlete.com/byline/barry-siff/

And Laura Siddall joins us again for Sid Talks. She'll be giving us the fun breakdown and the gossip from around the world of tri every week. This episode, we talk about this time of year when sponsorship contracts all come up, what companies are looking for from pro athletes, and what fans want to see from their pros. Plus, what we think are the off-season trends.

We mention Renee Kiley's story, which you can read here: https://www.triathlete.com/culture/people/how-renee-kileys-weight-loss-journey-became-a-pro-tri-career/

In episode 12 of Fitter & Faster, Selene Yeager joins host Emma-Kate Lidbury to talk all things menopause. As a writer, author, athlete and coach, Yeager has an impressive background in the endurance sports world, but she says it's only in recent years—since devoting much of her work to the impact of menopause on athletic women—that she has truly found her life calling. As the host of the podcast Hit Play Not Pause, she has helped thousands of women learn more about the previously-ignored and taboo topic of menopause—and in this episode of Fitter & Faster she talks in detail about its far-reaching mental, physical, and emotional consequences and how best to mitigate them. There's plenty for women and men of all ages to learn from.

Fan-favorite, Ironman champ, and Kona podium finisher Heather Jackson joins us for Triathlete Live—where she answers questions from listeners about her training, gravel racing, favorite movies, and plans for next year. This Triathlete Live is presented by Tonal, the smartest home gym: https://www.tonal.com/?utm_source=trimag&utm_medium=display Watch all the Triathlete Live episodes here: triathlete.com/ama