Unstoppable With Shangrila Rendon

Why do swimmers with “bad” technique still beat you?

Because you’re focusing on the wrong things.

Most athletes judge what they see above the water and completely miss what actually makes someone fast.

If you’ve been doing drills, cleaning up your stroke… and still feel slow, this is why.

In this episode:

If you’ve been training hard but your pace won’t improve, this explains it.

From swim panic & old injuries to Boston Marathon + 1st Triathlon... yes, even in your 50s

You’re signed up for races but part of you is scared.

“What if I panic again in open water?”

Whether it’s your first triathlon or your 10th marathon training while dealing with fear, injuries, and a busy schedule isn’t easy.

But it’s possible to finish strong, pain-free, and confident even with:

In this episode, we’ll walk through how to:

This is for runners, triathletes, and late starters who want to do hard things without falling apart.

"How do I fix my swim technique?" 🤔🏊‍♂️

It’s a question many athletes ask themselves. 

Thinking about working on your technique this off-season?

Does it feel like hitting fast paces is just luck, not consistency?

But what if you could fix it... in just ONE month?

Join me for a FREE training breakdown of how to fix your swim technique!

This episode will give you clarity & the exact steps to:

✅ Fix your technique

Don’t miss out. This is your chance to swim smarter and finally make real progress.

Think your goals are too far away?

Jeremy started in construction, became an Ironworker, then moved up to Foreman and jobsite leader. And one day, he looked in the mirror and said:

“Wow, I’ve made it into the office, but physically, I have let myself go.”

He was overweight, out of shape and unhealthy then. He made a detour and got into Spartan Ultras.

“Do you think I can do an Ironman? "I’m not a pure runner.”

The answer was “YES.”

He had no triathlon background.

And the rest is unstoppable.

🔥 7 months later that year: Jeremy became an Ironman.

🔥 And on September he did something HUGE:

ZERO injury

This is your invitation to see exactly how he did it.

💬 “This was one of the hardest things I’ve ever attempted to do... but I kept pushing.”

This episode is for you if you're:

“I’m pretty fit. I’m confident on the run. I’ve got decent speed on the bike. I swim regularly and follow the plan to the T. I put in the work.

So why do my legs drop the moment I turn to breathe?”

I’ve heard some version of that question over and over again from experienced, disciplined athletes.

Everything feels fine at first. The stroke feels smooth, the pacing steady, and there’s even a sense of control. And then the breath happens.

The hips sink just enough to notice. The kick speeds up, heart rate spikes and the effort suddenly feels higher than it should.

Not because the entire stroke fell apart. But because balance shifted.

Most athletes assume they just need more swim days. If they keep showing up, logging yards, and building fitness, it will eventually fix itself.

But often it doesn’t 

Some think it’s a breathing issue because they feel exhausted. What they don’t realize is that the legs are sinking, creating more drag, forcing the kick to work harder than it should.

So the focus shifts to the kick. Kick harder or stop kicking. Or rely more on the pull buoy, buoyant pants or snorkel. Even choosing races where swims are assisted or wetsuit-legal because they feel safer. 

Distance gets logged on their Garmin/Apple watch, Strava or Training Peaks. Confidence feels temporarily restored.

But the real issue is still there.

And that’s the part that frustrates them the most.

At some point, it becomes clear that just showing up and working harder isn’t the answer.

This episode breaks down:

Stuck at 2:35 pace with sinking legs?

Carlos was too.

But that didn’t stop him.

✅ He finished his first full Ironman swim in 1 hour 34 minutes, even though 2.4 miles was the longest distance he’d ever swum at the time.

Then, just 3 months later…

🔥 He swam 8.5 miles around Mackinac Island, solo and self-supported, with total confidence.

📌 During Training:

🔥 Not only he gained endurance, he recently held a 1:47 pace on a 700-yard TT, and now crushes 1:30–1:40 pace on shorter intervals, with ease.

If you’ve been logging laps, grinding through drills, but still feel slow, stuck, or unprepared for race day...

This episode will show you exactly how athletes like Carlos unlock massive gains, even when time, coaching, and open water are limited.

You were ready. So why did it feel like you were drowning 300 meters in?

You showed up to race day prepared. You did the work, followed the plan and hit your paces in the pool. You also finished the distance in open water. Training felt controlled, predictable and solid.

And then the gun goes off, and suddenly your breathing spikes, your stroke shortens, your heart rate shoots up, and the swim feels twice as hard as it ever did in practice. It doesn’t make sense.

You were ready. So why does it unravel when it actually counts?

This episode is for the athletes who walked away from a race surprised and disappointed because the swim didn’t reflect their training.

And it’s also for those preparing for their first triathlon... because you don’t know what you don’t know, and understanding this now could completely change how you train and how you show up on race day.

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

It’s not just about fitness and it's definitely not about “just relaxing.” It’s about understanding what breaks and why, so you can stop guessing and start fixing the right thing.

If you’ve ever felt calm in training but overwhelmed on race day, this episode is for you.

“I’ve always wanted to do a 10K swim, but…”

“I’m too old to start now.”

Sound familiar?

If you’ve ever dreamed of finishing a marathon swim but life, doubt, or the voice in your head keeps stopping you, this episode is for you.

Because what if…

That’s exactly what Becka did.

3 months before the 10k race, she asked me:

“Is that enough time to train?”

Upon finishing, she said:

💭 Shangrila Thank you! I definitely would not have attempted this without your prodding and amazing coaching! Having someone suggest that this may be for you, then encouraging and giving a clear plan to the goal that you thought may be out of reach, is huge asset. Especially for this 54 yro women! Getting me way out of my comfort zone! Also introducing me to a new sport and a great group of people! Coach Jeffrey you both are the bombdiggity!!! Thank you!"

Together with Coach Jeffrey, we built a plan around her life, not the other way around.

She didn’t just finish, she found a whole new level in herself. She even brought her friends along.

But this episode isn’t just about Becka.

This is about what’s still possible for you. 🔥🏊‍♀️

“I can’t translate my swimming training into the race.”

If that hits a little too close to home… keep reading 👇

We’re diving into why this keeps happening and what you can do to fix it, once and for all.

Because for one athlete, Manuel none of this was enough:

And yet, his swim still falls apart on race day.

We’re talking 55-minute 70.3 swims, anxious, overwhelmed, and off pace every single time...

... despite riding 21.6 mph on 56 mile bike & 7:37 min/mile on half marathon.

And this wasn’t a beginner.

He’s a multi-time 70.3 World Championship finisher, qualified for Nice, Taupo, and PR’d at Worlds 2025.

But he couldn’t shake the pattern:

🎯 If that sounds like you... if you’re training hard but not seeing it show up on race day, this episode is for you.

We're unpacking why this happens… and what to do when “just swim more” stops working.

Or when you feel like you're doing everything yet you still don't see the results of your hard work on race day.

What if you could thrive in open water even when it gets rough?

What if it wasn’t something to avoid, but your greatest teacher? 

Pamela wasn’t trying to prove anything.

At 55, she works full-time and doesn't have access to the ocean.

Days when the heat index hit 100°F and the only open lake felt like a hot tub.

Sometimes she was tired or doubting. 

Pamela just wanted to see how far she could go without hurting herself.

🔥 In July alone, she swam 101,500 yards (almost 58 miles), her biggest month ever.

🔥 Then in September, she took on her boldest challenge yet:

Day 2 nearly broke her.

But she reminded herself:

So she kept going, stroke after stroke.

Here's day-by-day breakdown (actual distance often more than official due to ocean conditions + GPS drift)

"I don’t really feel sore. just like I had a good workout. Most days I felt like I could have kept swimming." -  Pamela 

Most athletes train to hit the distance. But distance alone doesn’t guarantee a strong finish.

And many worry about not having open water access… 

Pamela didn’t. 

With her “I’ll do whatever it takes” mindset, she relied on strategy, the same principles we’ll share in this episode:

Pamela proved that your best years don’t have to be behind you.

This isn’t just about Pamela.

Besides, rough water will always be there.