Tri Beginner‘s Luck

Every triathlete has a story.  Every triathlete has a reason. Every triathlete begins a journey to push their limits. While we never really know exactly where that journey will take us, Tri Beginner’s Luck is here to uncover these stories and share them with you. 

This week we interview two beginners with incredible stories.  Tata Velayo turned the big 4-0 and wanted a new challenge to help her stay competitive and healthy while recovering from knee discomfort while playing frisbee and tennis during the pandemic.  Jayden Sampson took his show on the road at 50 years old and completed an 80-day 4300-mile bike ride across the country. As if that wasn’t challenging enough,  he traded his trike 3-wheeled bike for a 2-wheeled roadie. And his tri journey begins! 

For both athletes, the journey started with a question: “How hard can Triathlons be?” Well, let’s listen and find out!

These stories are what Tri Beginner’s Luck - and the triathlon lifestyle - is all about.  We hope that once you listen, you are encouraged, empowered, and ready to tri! 

Don’t forget to leave a review, share it with your friends, and follow Tri Beginner's Luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  [email protected].  

This week, prepare yourself for an explosive and impactful conversation that will transport you to Cloud 10 ( See what I did there - lol). We have gathered three extraordinary guests: Kimberly Clark from Impact Multisport, Lisa Marshall from Team Explosion, and Christine Palmquist from Cloud10 Multisport to discuss pathways and pipelines for high-performance youth. 

Our guests, who are all powerhouse coaches in their respective areas, will share their invaluable insights and expertise on nurturing and guiding the next generation of athletes.

In an era where the growth and prosperity of sports hinge upon engaging young people, the time has come for us to take action. These remarkable coaches possess the knowledge and skill to propel our youth to extraordinary heights, ensuring they reach their maximum potential.

If you want to connect with any of the coaches,  find their website below: 

It’s never too late to tri - or tri again. This week, we talked with Drew Wilson, who initially decided he wasn’t much into triathlon. But, then, 10 years later, he returned to level up his multisport game. 

A former collegiate basketball player, Drew Wilson, found himself unwittingly signed up for his first triathlon by a co-worker. Although he completed it, the experience didn’t ignite a strong desire in him to try another triathlon. 

However, things turned to the tri-side when Drew started running with local run crews and curating yoga experiences.  He met a fellow triathlete who encouraged him to give triathlons another shot during this time.  Not only did this reignite Drew’s passion for triathlons, but it also led him to venture into the exciting world of criterium racing. 

Tune in to learn about the journey that is endurance sport! 

Don’t forget to leave a review, share it with your friends, and follow Tri Beginner's luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  [email protected].  

Every triathlete has a story.   We set out on a journey that takes us to many places. We may have different reasons for why we push their limits, but we all understand what it means. We desire, at Tri Beginner’s Luck, to uncover it all and share the stories and the why behind the tri-ing. 

This week, we interviewed Stefanie Welsch, who won the Fund Her Tri x TBL contest by participating in the Mighty Mujer Triathlon.  

Fund Her Tri is a 501C3 Nonprofit Organization chartered to bring more women to every triathlon start line. They bust down the financial barrier by reimbursing the race registration fees for first-time triathletes that are female or identify as female. Visit www.fundhertri.org for more information.  

These stories are what Tri Beginner’s Luck - and the triathlon lifestyle - is all about.  We hope that once you listen, you are encouraged, empowered, and ready to tri! 

Don’t forget to leave a review, share it with your friends, and follow Tri Beginner's Luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  [email protected].  

You are 52 years old, and someone dares you to Tri. What to do? Well, nothing to do but the thing! She graciously accepted the challenge, adding triathlon to the list of the many things she has done. 

Valerie is an active woman. She is an executive, a yoga instructor, a personal

trainer, a fitness trainer, and a nutritionist, all while still playing tennis, roller skating, skiing, and attending aerobic classes. But most importantly for our discussion, Valerie is a Triathlete and a successful one at that. She is an Ironman finisher, placing second in her age group.

She works the life-training balance and shares her story with all of us. 

Y'all, it’s time to listen and TRI!  Check out this article Hoka did on Sika Henry and Valerie Tyler while you are at it. 

Don’t forget to leave a review, share it with your friends, and follow Tri Beginner's Luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  [email protected].  

Sami Winter knows triathlon inside and out. She’s an athlete, coach, and race director. She has completed more than 100+ Triathlons, including 24 Ironman and 5 Xtreme Triathlons. In 2014, she earned USAT All-American honors.  She was also the 2019 Outspoken Women in Triathlon Coach of the Year. 

Over the years, Sami has grown as an athlete and overall in her career. Her passion has become seeing more women thrive in sports. As a modern-day Every Woman, Sami is more than sport; she is a woman of many talents, including being a veterinarian! 

Lucky for the women who tri, Coach Sami has teamed up with USA Triathlon to lead a series of incredible educational sessions as a part of the USA Triathlon Women’s Series! The final one is: Balancing Life, Family, and Training for our Sport, and she’ll be hosting that on Wednesday, June 7.  See Details below:  

Balancing Life, Family, and Training for our Sport

Wednesday, June 7 5:00 PM MST/7:00 PM EST/4:00 PM PST

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUudO-vqTwoGNEZK-r32lN0cagtdqWSDEEW

This episode is packed with energy! Ready, Set, Listen!   

Don’t forget to leave a review, share it with your friends, and follow Tri Beginner's Luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  [email protected].

Looking for mental health relief from the pandemic and medical school, Kaylee Slade turned to triathlon, thanks to the 2020 Summer Olympics. You may have guessed it, but Kaylee is new to the sport, and after a rocky first race, the competitor inside awakened, and Kaylee experienced a breakout first year, qualifying for her professional card. 

Recently, Kaylee raced her first professional race at Clash Miami, where she ran down everyone with the fastest run split of the day.  

Kaylee is the quintessential covid triathlete. She entered the sport, struggling to find a bike with a limited supply chain. She learned how to train via virtual coaching while teaching herself to swim and shaving over 40 seconds off her 100 time. And, at the end of her beginning: she became a professional triathlete! You are thinking what I am thinking:  Kaylee is superhuman, with triathlon as her superpower.

Let’s Listen!

Sometimes you just have more to say after you’ve lived through an experience.  That was the case with Laura and I.  We recently worked on a race together and had to share the behind the scene on the scene action with you.  Enjoy!

More so than your average athlete, Laura Ragucci knows that timing is everything. As a race timer, she knows that so much rides on the accuracy of time.  We all want our proper placement, and Laura is the woman who makes sure that happens. 

In this episode, we talk with triathlete and timer Laura Ragucci, who shares the importance of a timer's role. And, because this is Tri Beginner’s Luck, we learn about her first triathlon experience as well. 

Laura believes that timing is the linchpin of ensuring a race is not only fun but fair and accurate.  Timers are a dedicated group of people working under stressful conditions to solve any chip or timing issue in real time.  They are the folks who make sure time is on your side! 

Laura also shares with us her journey in triathlon from Sprint to Ironman, and there is no distance she hasn’t conquered.  

It’s time to listen,  Let’s Tri this! 

Don’t forget to leave a review, share it with your friends, and follow Tri Beginner's Luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  [email protected]. 

An accomplished distance runner and multisport athlete, Keshia Roberson knows how to empower athletes by organizing and getting communities to move. She is a member of the Artemis Racing Team and a run ambassador for Pacers Running. She is filled with radical joy - and wants to share that with everyone.    

Keshia is a multisport athlete who has participated in duathlon and triathlons and is now exploring cycling racing.  There are no limits to what Keshia can accomplish, and she continues to push the boundaries to create a legacy through sport.  

Like many of us, 2020 was a pivotal year, and we had lots of time to think and get creative. While researching the history of Black cyclists, Keshia learned about five black women who took a bicycle trip in 1928 from New York to Washington, DC. This inspired Keshia to do her own tour, and the 1928 Legacy Tour was born, which sparked the creation of Major Knox Adventures. 

Keshia says she is committed to using movement as a way to empower people's growth, healing, and joy. 

Let’s get into this! 

Don’t forget to leave a review, share it with your friends, and follow Tri Beginner's Luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  [email protected].