The Triathlete Hour

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Triathlete Hour: Ep. 68 - Amy Dixon has reinvented herself more than once Aug 18, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to the Triathlete Hour. As part of Paralympics Month today we’re talking to Amy Dixon, who started to lose her vision in her 20s as a byproduct of her juvenile rheumatic arthritis. By her 30s, she had lost 98% of her vision and had to reinvent herself—so she did.

She’s now a para cycling and paratriathlon national champion and is headed to Tokyo at the age of 45. After another bout of debilitating health problems last year nearly killed her, she’s excited just to be racing against kids half her age—and then she’s going to celebrate with a vacation in Hawaii.

Amy tells us all about how she’s changed her perspective and overcome obstacles along the way, and what it takes to train and make the Olympics while on chemo.

But first, Laura Siddall is with us from Japan, where she’s already landed for a Team GB pre-Paralympics camp as a guide. She gives us the scoop and dissects the other race happening next weekend: the Collins Cup. Plus, final Kona qualification spots.

Fitter and Faster, Episode 19: How to Stay Injury-Free Aug 13, 2021

Show notes

In this episode of Fitter & Faster we dive into all aspects of injury prevention to help you understand how best to stay injury-free. Physical therapist and athletic trainer Dr. Shefali Christopher joins host Emma-Kate Lidbury to talk about the common causes of injuries among triathletes and what you can do to prevent them. Dr. Shefali is also the PT for the U.S. Paratriathlon Team, a position she's held since 2018, and is a triathlete herself, so has that perfect blend of academic and in-the-field experience.

We talk through the injuries she sees triathletes presenting with most frequently as well as the obvious—and not so obvious—causes of them. Dr. Shefali tells us that your history of injury is the biggest predictor of future injury occurrence—so the obvious advice is to try to stay injury-free in the first place, and we talk through how to make that goal a reality. Spoiler alert: it includes good sleep, nutrition, gear selection, and more.

And talking of gear selection, it wouldn't be Fitter & Faster without our Gear Up section with resident gear guru and Triathlete executive editor Chris Foster. Chris talks us through some of his favorite gear and gadgets that can help you stay injury-free.

In the show, we reference this Ask A Trainer article from strength and conditioning coach Kate Ligler on How to Use a Foam Roller During Race Season as well as this video: What's the Best Way to Recover from Tri Training and Racing?

Triathlete Hour: Ep. 67 - Allysa Seely doesn't give up Aug 11, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to the start of Paralympics month on the Triathlete Hour. The Paralympic Games start next week and after all the excitement in Tokyo we’re ready to keep it going. Allysa Seely kicks things off today with her fascinating and inspiring story. After getting into triathlon while in college, she started experiencing symptoms that didn’t make sense: extreme fatigue, passing out when standing up, an inability to walk. It took two years to finally get a diagnosis. And after surgery, she went back to Collegiate Club Nationals and became the first athlete with a disability to compete in the able-bodied race.

Allysa talks to us about the challenges of invisible v. visible disabilities, how her amputation was a good thing, how she won gold in Rio at the debut of paratriathlon in the Games, and what the media frenzy was like after.

Last year, months of life-threatening infections in her bloodstream again left doctors stumped and had her in and out of the hospital. Now, she’s been panic training for Tokyo, but don't bet against her.

A Day in the Life of Paralympic Triathlete Allysa Seely

Triathlete Hour: Ep. 66 - From the Ground in Japan Aug 04, 2021

Show notes

For our last Olympics show we’re talking to our reporting team on the ground in Japan: Brett Larner and Mika Tokairin are a husband & wife reporting duo who cover running and triathlon—and race themselves.

They’ve been doing some interesting work in English and Japanese during these Games, so they can give us the on-the-ground scoop here on how it’s going on Japan, what the crowds and reception in Tokyo are like, and how the triathlon races went down in person. Plus, we talk some about why running is so popular in Japan and what we can learn from making it a spectator sport, and how triathlon has grown over the years there. There were some audio issues, but stick with us, the insight they have is worth it.

You can also check out all their stories from the Tokyo Olympics here:

And first, Laura Siddall and I answer the two big questions coming out of the Olympics: Was mixed relay’s debut a success; Can Kristian Blummenfelt win the Olympics and Kona in the same year?

Triathlete Hour: Ep. 65 - The Olympics Episode Jul 28, 2021

Show notes

Spoiler alert: This week's episode is all about the men's and women's Olympic triathlon races.

Laura Siddall joins us to dissect the races, analyze what went well and what didn't, and look ahead to first-ever Olympic mixed team relay at the end of this week. Don't forget: here's how to watch.

Triathlete Hour: Ep. 64 - Post-Cancer Kevin McDowell is Finally Headed to the Olympics Jul 21, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to the last Triathlete Hour episode before the Olympics! For our final Olympian interview we’re chatting with Kevin McDowell, the cancer survivor and ice cream aficionado. You might not know Kevin’s name but you should. He’s been racing triathlon since he was a kid and had some impressive junior results—but the day after his first pro race at 18, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

He tells us all about how it took him years to finally hit his stride in tri after he was recovered, how he thinks he tried to come back too fast and caused more issues, and how his body requires extra love and attention now. That’s why he eats ice cream almost every night and he has an ice cream shop as a sponsor.

Kevin also gives us the inside scoop on what to expect in the Tokyo race and in the new and exciting mixed relay…

And before we chat with Kevin, Laura Siddall and I give you a breakdown of the individual Olympic races, our picks, and a preview of what to look for. It all starts this weekend!

Triathlete Hour: Ep. 63 - Having Fun Prepared Summer Rappaport for the Olympics Jul 14, 2021

Show notes

This week we're talking to Olympian Summer Rappaport. Two years ago, Summer locked down her Tokyo Olympic qualification and since then has had to wait...and wait.

She tells us how last year, during the pandemic, she re-found her love and fun of the sport, got out mountain biking with her husband, and actually stayed in one place for multiple months. She found triathlon post-college with the help of USAT's College Recruitment Program and hasn't looked back.

Now, she's ready for Tokyo—if only she can figure out what to do with her eight suitcases and two bikes.

And first, we chat with Ryan Frankel, who founded the app This App Saves Lives. He explains how using carrots, not just sticks, is helping prevent accidents and how he was inspired after his own close call while biking.

You can read all our Olympics coverage as we gear up with Olympics month here. Get excited!

Fitter & Faster Podcast, Episode 18: Training and Racing in the Heat Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

In this episode of Fitter & Faster, we chat with Dr. Stacy Sims about the physiological and psychological factors surrounding successful performance in the heat. There's no escaping the fact that races are getting hotter and it's never been more important to arrive at the start line of a race feeling prepared to tackle the heat and humidity. Dr. Sims—whose own interest in thermoregulation resulted from struggling at hot races one too many times—chats with us about what happens to your body (and mind) as temperatures rise, and the best ways to prepare yourself for this. We discuss different approaches to acclimation, including a sauna protocol which she uses with many top athletes, and common symptoms you might see and feel.

We chat through different race day options for keeping yourself cool, including hydration and fueling, ice sponges (where to put them and where not to put them!), and cooling vests. And ultimately, we conclude that racing well in the heat isn't all about physiology, as Dr. Sims puts it: "It's not always the fastest, fittest athlete that wins in the heat—but the smartest, most intelligently prepared one."

Later in the show we chat with our resident gear guru Chris Foster about the gear and gadgets he believes can help you train and race well in the heat, some of which is high tech, but some of it will surprise you. He also gives us insights into gear he knows helped some athletes execute great performances at the recent Ironman Coeur D'Alene, where temperatures hit triple digits and there was a marked difference in performances between those who were well prepared for the heat—and those who were not.

Triathlete Hour: Ep. 62 - Morgan Pearson is ready for Tokyo Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to our all Olympics month. For the next few weeks, we have interviews lined up with multiple Olympians leading into Tokyo—starting today with up-and-coming U.S. star (and the cover model on our current Olympics issue) Morgan Pearson.

Morgan was second at the World Triathlon race in Leeds earlier this year, third in Yokohama, and has now propelled himself to the front of the list of favorites going into the Games. But four years ago he had never done a triathlon before!

He talked to us about what he learned coming from pro running, what’s the hardest part of triathlon, becoming an Olympian (and seeing your friends become Olympians), and how the U.S. men are upping their game…and working together. Will the U.S. win the mixed relay in Tokyo? We say yes.

Be sure to check out all of our Olympics coverage:

And Laura Siddall is back for Sid Talks—we recorded literally hours after her second place at Ironman Lanzarote to answer the question: Is it really the toughest Ironman in the world? Then we dissect what's going on with Kona spots this year, why some pros are very angry about rankings, and the Olympic drama around that mixed team relay...

Triathlete Hour: Ep. 61 - Clarice Lorenzini is ready to speak out Jun 16, 2021

Show notes

Clarice Lorenzini is the only Asian-American female pro on the circuit right now. She tells us what it's like managing the stress of her husband being deployed, working a full-time job in a Naval rehab center, and making her pro debut at Ironman Tulsa.

She actually kept her training and her husband’s deployment a secret most of last year—but now she's ready to be a face of the sport and speak out about why it's important for representation. She also talks to us about how she manages stress, how she got into tri in the first place, and her tricks for making it all work.

Read more about Clarice: “I Am Ready To Help Change the Face of the Sport”

And first, Sid & Kelly dissect everything about the U.S. Olympic selection announcement and get excited for the Games. Are you ready?

We'll be taking a two-week break and will be back in early July with new episodes.

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