The Triathlete Hour

Latest Episodes:

The Triathlete Hour: ep. 60 - The Age-Group Special Jun 09, 2021

Show notes

We have a fun episode today: the Age-Group Special, with lots going on. We’re talking to the woman who won USA Triathlon’s most inspirational comeback award for the year. Tracy Kochian is just a regular age-grouper, mom, and lawyer, who went through one setback after another. She shares some tips, insight, and talks about what it’s like for so many of us when we just have one thing go wrong after another.

We’re calling this our Age-Group Special because we’ll also talk with Nicola Dick, who chairs the World Triathlon Age Group Commission. She tells us what exactly that is and how they’re trying to get more age-groupers out at World Triathlon races.

(A note: We recorded this before the World Triathlon Championship series race in Leeds happened this past weekend, which is a big deal to Nicola in the UK and which we talk about coming up in the podcast.)

So first, to break down that Leeds race this past weekend, where everything and anything happened, we talk with Laura Siddall in our regular Sid Talks segment to dissect the Olympic chances now that we’ve seen the big names on the race course, what Lucy Charles-Barclay’s 5th place debut means, and what is going on with COVID and race restrictions.

All of that in this week’s episode.

The Triathlete Hour: Ep. 59 - Kirsten Kasper lives the dream Jun 01, 2021

Show notes

This week, we're talking to Olympic hopeful Kirsten Kasper. Kirsten took up triathlon after swimming in high school (and winning a state championship) and running at Georgetown. She was recruited as part of the college recruitment program, took 4th in the U23 World Championships in her first elite race, and was 4th overall in the World Triathlon standings in 2017 and 2018.

Then she got injured. Then, she crashed at the Tokyo Olympic qualifying test event—but finished the race before going to get 15 stitches in her hip.

Since then, she's been building back up and was 3rd at a World Cup two weeks ago.

She tells us what it's like trying to make one of the most competitive teams in triathlon (the U.S. women's squad), how she and her finance manage both competing for different countries, and the tricks to juggling a constant travel schedule. Plus, she gives us an inside look at the World Triathlon Championship Series race in Leeds this weekend.

What's on the line at Leeds? Olympic spots!

Laura Siddall helps us break down the race, how the British men are fighting it out, what to expect from Lucy Charles-Barclay's debut, and the drama with the last American women's spot and three women vying for it.

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Ep. 17: Fitter & Faster Podcast - Mastering the Dark Art of Tapering May 28, 2021

Show notes

In Episode 17 of Fitter & Faster, we explore all aspects of peaking and tapering to help you arrive at the start line of your next race in the best shape yet.

Most coaches advocate trying to peak twice a year, but if you don't know how to nail your taper you risk reaching race day feeling flat and sluggish. Understanding the physiological and psychological aspects of peaking and tapering can help you avoid the common mistakes and pitfalls. In this show, we chat with coach Jim Vance, who talks about the many different ways he's helped his athletes find their best form and avoid "the abyss" that can come from getting your taper wrong. We also uncover the "secret sauce" that can truly help athletes hit their peak on race day—and it's not so much about physiology, rather psychology.

On that theme, we also hear from Vanessa Foerster, a mental endurance coach who has helped many athletes work on their approach to race day, including their taper. She has some unique perspectives on how to handle it all, which includes writing letters to your future self.

And, of course, it wouldn't be Fitter & Faster without our Gear Up section with our resident gear guru Chris Foster. We chat through the intricacies of heart rate variability, percussive devices, and plenty more.

The Triathlete Hour: ep. 58 - Emma Pallant doesn't miss being a pro runner May 26, 2021

Show notes

This week we’re talking to Emma Pallant. The runner-turned triathlete and duathlon world champ has made a home in South Africa. She talks to us all about what it’s been like during COVID and how tri training differs from running—she had to learn to eat while she races, and she tells us how that lesson required passing out once or twice. Plus, why she turned to tri in the first place after what she thought would be a career-ending injury and why she loves the atmosphere more than track and field.

Plus first Laura Siddall and Kelly O'Mara dissect the North American Ironman Championships in Tulsa this past weekend and discuss why was the race dominated by Europeans. Are we about to hit a lull in this weird racing season?

We had a few technical difficulties, as is so often the case in the age of Zoom, but just stay tuned and it's worth it.

The Triathlete Hour: ep. 57: Why Matt Hanson quit a career in academia six months shy of tenure May 19, 2021

Show notes

This week we talk with five-time Ironman champ Matt Hanson. He's one of the fastest runners in the sport and one of the smartest guys. He tells us all about how he only did his first triathlon because it was on a list of '50 Goals in the Next 10 Years' his wrestling coach in high school made him write, how he qualified for Kona in that first race, and how he fell in love with the sport. Six months shy of tenure, but burning the candle at both ends, he gave up his job as a professor of exercise science to go all-in as a pro triathlete. Now he's won five Ironmans—but he still has one big goal: Kona.

As a former professor of exercise science, Matt also knows a lot about, well, exercise science. He shares some insights he's learned and fine-tuned. Plus, why it's OK to heel strike when you run—and how he's put down the fastest Ironman marathon doing it.

Check out our article on Matt's run form: Yes, Matt Hanson Heel Strikes (And Maybe You Should Too)

But first, Laura Siddall joins us to chat about the craziness that was the last Olympic auto-qualifying event this past weekend and why it's a blessing and a headache for U.S. triathlon.

You can see all our coverage of the race:

Ep. 56 - What it's like to chase the Olympic dream May 12, 2021

Show notes

This week our own editor, Chris Foster, tells us how he got into triathlon, raced on the U.S. National Team, flew around the world chasing Olympic qualifying points, and just how hard that is. He shares some stories about the crazy travel and tough lifestyle–and about why you should watch the World Triathlon racing this weekend. Hint: It's going to be high drama!

If you're looking for more insight into the World Triathlon Championship Series race in Yokohama this weekend and more about the athletes vying for spots on the Tokyo team, check out:

Ep. 55: The St. George Show May 06, 2021

Show notes

Instead of an interview this week, we have a short fun episode with Laura Siddalll—consider it an expanded Sid Talks—where we dissect the first big BIG weekend of racing in North America, what people can expect from the St. George 70.3 Worlds course this fall, who’s peaking a little early and who to watch. And then we get into what else is on the calendar coming up, ie. Olympics qualification.

Get excited for triathlon again! We’ll be back with regular interviews next week.

Ep. 16: The Open-Water Swimming Special Apr 30, 2021

Show notes

In this episode of Fitter & Faster, we dive into all aspects of open-water swimming, including the key skills you need, such as sighting, drafting, and pack swimming, as well as how to overcome that all-too-familiar anxiety that so often is part of swimming in the open water, and how to find the right wetsuit for you.

We chat with coach Megan Melgaard, from triathlon swim program Tower 26, and she highlights the importance of learning the key open-water skills in the pool first before transferring them to the open water. She advises that regularly practicing these skills in training will help lessen the nerves that so many triathletes often feel standing on the start line on race day. We also talk about swim safety and all the things you need to know about swimming in a wetsuit.

We wrap up the show with our gear guru Chris Foster who gives us the lowdown on wetsuits: what to look for in a wetsuit, the best ones he's tested, as well as the other gear you need for open-water swimming, such as goggles (and choosing the right ones for the conditions) and safety buoys. Like Megan, he also talks about the importance of training in all the gear you'll be using on race day.

Be sure to check out some of our other open-water swimming resources too:

How Can I Stay Safe Open-Water Swimming?

Learn to Love Open-Water Swimming

Triathlete Live: Open Water Guru Gerry Rodrigues Shares Swimming Tips

Ep. 54: Melissa Stockwell has done it all Apr 28, 2021

Show notes

Today we’re chatting with paratri world champion and Paralympic bronze medalist Melissa Stockwell. Melissa was the first female soldier to lose a limb during the Iraq War—though, as she jokes, that wasn’t a goal she set out to achieve. She talks to us about coming back from that, being selected as the flag bearer at the closing ceremonies in the 2008 Paralympics, which she competed in as a swimmer, and then finding triathlon. And now she's going for another shot at the team this summer as a 41 year old.

Plus first, Laura Siddall is back with Sid Talks and we dissect the wins of another pair of nearly 40-year-olds this past weekend, we try to explain the Pro Triathlete Organization’s rankings, and we preview the stacked field at St. George this weekend.

This episode is sponsored by the New York City Triathlon. Enter the lottery by tonight, April 28.

Ep. 53: Starky Explains How Pneumonia Got Him a Doping Sanction Apr 22, 2021

Show notes

This week’s conversation has a been a little while in the making. We’re talking to the one, the only Andrew "Starky" Starykowicz. The popular athlete was the first American to break 8 hours in an Ironman and is known for his blistering bike splits, but maybe most importantly he’s also known for his openness and for always saying what he thinks.

In December, it was announced that Starky had received a 13-month sanction from Ironman for using a banned inhaler after getting pneumonia—and much of our conversation today is understandably about the circumstances around his use of the prescribed inhaler and how the process worked, or didn’t, for him.

You can read more about the fight over the sanction here.

It's important to note that Ironman has said they followed all rules and regulations laid out by the World Anti-Doping Agency and by the US Anti-Doping Agency.

It's also important to note that no one involved is disputing the basic facts of what happened: Starky got pneumonia and was prescribed an inhaler in order to recover from the illness, and then raced Ironman Florida. No one appears to think or suggest that he was attempting to cheat. What is at question is if the letter or the spirit of the rules were broken.

As promised in the episode, we're including more links for information on the sanction and process:

This episode is sponsored by the New York City Triathlon. Visit nyctri.com for more information about the race and entering the lottery.

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