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This week, we’ve got a quick preview of the race in Roth this Sunday: world champion v. world champion. And then we’re talking to another world champ, the legend Nicola Spirig. Nicola talks to us from her home in Switzerland, as she nears the end of her final season and retirement. She tells us about what her goals have been in this final year, which of her five Olympics was her favorite, and how she actually never intended to be a pro triathlete for this long. The Swiss star and Olympic gold medalist started triathlon when she was just a kid; her dad coached her for 15 years and she ultimately won 6 European championships. What will she do now? And what does training look like when she’s all done with triathlon? Check out the video from On Running looking back on her three decades: Nicola's Spirit This week’s episode is brought to you by the AIRWAAV Endurance Performance Mouthpiece, which can open your airway by up to 25% for improved breathing. As a partner of USA Triathlon, AIRWAAV is offering Triathlete Hour listeners 15% off with code TH15. 

On this week’s episode of the Triathlete Hour we’re talking with the legendary Karen Smyers, who is still the only woman to win the ITU (now World Triathlon) world title and Kona in the same year—just five weeks apart back in 1995. She also overcame a string of bad luck in the late '90s: a storm window that fell and sliced her hamstring, getting hit by an 18-wheeler, being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and shattering her collarbone. But it didn’t stop her from getting to the first-ever Olympic Trials. She also talks to us about her more recent challenges with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and what she’s learned over the years. Most importably, she wouldn’t change any of it. And first a quick chat with Sid as we both prepare for Challenge Roth & the infamous Roth after-party—and we try to dissect the whirlwind season of races. Check out Karen's TEDx talk she mentions: Racing While Female This episode was brought to you by Hammerhead. Now, Triathlete Hour listeners get exclusive, limited time offer—a free heart rate monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo 2. Visit hammerhead.io, put both products in your cart, and use promo code TRIATHLETEHOUR at checkout to get yours today.

This week's guest may be familiar. Rudy Garcia Tolson's been to the Paralympics five times and won five medals, and he was the first double-above the knee amputee to complete an Ironman. Today we get to know Rudy better and understand why when he was five years old he decided to have his legs amputated just so he could finally get out of the hospital and live his life. And he tells us know many prosthetics he went through as a kid and how many celebrities he’s met over the years. Then, he shares his one piece of advice for everyone dreaming big. This week's episode is brought to you by the AIRWAAV Endurance Performance Mouthpiece, which can open your airway by up to 25% for improved breathing. As a partner of USA Triathlon, AIRWAAV is offering Triathlete Hour listeners 15% off with code TH15. 

This week we’re talking to Nikki Bartlett, fresh off her win at Marbella 70.3. She tells us how when she started out it took her hours to make it through a swim at training camp—but she was determined to become a pro triathlete, and how she’s found happiness and loves what she does now. But first, Sid Talks is back with the most important question: Laura Phillips 8:18 at Ironman Hamburg, Kat Mathews 7:31 and Kristian’s Blummenfelt’s 6:45 at the Sub 7/Sub8 project — what was the most impressive performance this weekend? And what do we want to see in the future? RELATED: Yes, Iron-Distance 'Records' Were Broken, But Was Sub7/8 A Success? What's the Ironman World Record? It's Complicated This episode was brought to you by Hammerhead. Now, Triathlete Hour listeners get exclusive, limited time offer—a free heart rate monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo 2. Visit hammerhead.io, put both products in your cart, and use promo code TRIATHLETEHOUR at checkout to get yours today.

This week we’re talking all about the Sub7/8 attempt. First Laura Siddall and I dissect the discussion around the record-breaking effort & if there are too many races this summer. Then we chat with Ruth Astle, who won the overall age group race in Kona in 2019 and then took 5th at the Ironman World Championship in the pro race in St. George a few weeks ago. Ruth will also be pacing her good friend Kat Matthews at the Sub8 project this weekend—and we talk about what that’s like. Plus, why she’s never going back to full-time banking.

This week we have a fun episode with Taylor Knibb—which she would call purposeful planned fun. She talks to us all about that plan, how she handled so many big events last year from her surprise qualification to the Olympics (which didn't surprise her friends) to the Collins Cup to her 3rd place finish at the 70.3 World Championship, and why she’s not that into social media. Plus, how she got started as a kid and what she has planned coming up next...short-course, long-course, or both? For more on Taylor's breakthrough year: We Have U.S. Olympian and Collins Cup Star Taylor Knibb's Workouts The Unusual Story (And Unusual Coach) Behind Taylor Knibb's Overnight Success

On this week's Triathlete Hour, we’re talking to Sam Renouf, the CEO of the Pro Triathletes Organization. One big note: We had some tech difficulties while recording, between internet connectivity and traveling; we still managed to put together a great episode, but there is some volume differences between Sam and our host, Kelly. Please stick with us, it'll be worth it! Sam tells us how he got started in tri, why he took the CEO job, and what the PTO is doing to try and change the sport. And first, Laura Siddall is back from her 7th place finish at the Ironman World Championship for Sid Talks. We get the inside scoop from St George: Did her glass bowl make it home? And then we chat about the PTO’s new Pro-Am format and look forward at the two big mid-distance regional championships this weekend. RELATED: PTO Tour Announces Two Majors, a Pro-Am, and Age-Group Races for 2022 Outside+ members can also watch the replay of the PTO Pro-Am here.

This is our last St. George episode of the Triathlete Hour — we’ll be back to regular interviews next week, but first we wanted to bring you the on-the-ground reports from the men's and women’s races, the best gear and things we saw in the week leading up, and we'll try to answer the big question: How did it stack up as a World Championship event? Check out all of our Ironman World Championship coverage—including: How Did the Ironman World Championship in St. George Stack Up to Kona? Commentary: The Results Don't Tell the Whole Story Ironman World Championship DNF Files: The St. George Edition Data Dive: Finishing Times, DNF Rates, and More Stats from St. George

We're bringing you a quick episode of the Triathlete Hour this week from St. George, Utah—where we're on the ground for the Ironman World Championship. We catch up with Thorsten Radde for his analysis, predictions, and the speculation the street, but first our in-house gear guru, Chris Foster, shares what new things he's been getting a sneak peek at. You can see his full take on the hottest new gear here. And see Kristian Blummenfelt's super new prototype bike we mentioned. For everything in the 2021 Ironman World Championship in St. George (in 2022), be sure to bookmark our St. George guide. And check out: How to Watch What to Know About the Course Men's Preview & Start List Women's Preview & Start List

In this month's episode of Fitter & Faster, Dr. Cory Nyamora joins host Emma-Kate Lidbury to talk about sports psychology and mental training. As a licensed psychologist and endurance sports coach, Nyamora is well versed in providing practical help and guidance to athletes of all ages and abilities, from pros to amateurs, as well as competitive high school athletes. He talks about some of the approaches he uses with clients to help them get the most not just from their training and racing, but also their enjoyment of their sports. We discuss the importance of strategies such as self talk and journaling, as well as the fact that a lot of endurance training often involves learning more about yourself and how you "tick"—it's not just about physiological training. Nyamora runs us through some of the biggest mistakes he sees athletes making from a mental training standpoint and how learning to stay present, calm, and flexible can be one of the greatest lessons. We also talk about understanding your own motivation for training and racing, and how having a "why" that is greater than yourself can be all-important.  RELATED: Use These Sport Psychology Strategies to Overcome Performance Anxiety Of course, it wouldn't be Fitter & Faster without our Gear Up section with our resident gear guru Chris Foster, and in this episode Foster and Lidbury chat about three different gear categories when it comes to the mental side of training and performance: no tech, low tech, and high tech. We talk about some of the best apps, such as Headspace, and books that can help with mental training, as well as some of the high-end gear that is creeping into this side of endurance sports of performance, such as the Mendi device and FocusCalm. This show is brought to you by Shimano. Shimano has recently released a short film, Beyond the Binary, about KC Cross, one of the members of its Shimano Road Crew. In the film, Cross shares their journey to understanding the intersections of their own identity and how they are working to create a more inclusive and accessible cycling culture.

Welcome to the all St. George episode of the Triathlete Hour. Today we’ve got everything you need to know for the Ironman World Championship in St. George next weekend. Legendary world champion Mark Allen is here to break it all down. He talks to us about what goes through a champ’s mind in the last two weeks before the big dance, how he thinks St. George will play out differently than Kona, and his very detailed background on all the top contenders. And first Laura Siddall gives us the inside look at final Worlds prep and her athlete take. We will try to bring you an on-the-ground show in St. George next week, but keep up on Triathlete with all the latest the first Ironman World Championship since 2019. Bookmark this page & here's everything you need: How to watch Pro previews: men's & women's races The pros' predictions for the race What spectators should know about the course How St. George will play out differently than Kona

This week we’re talking to Taren Gesell, better known as "Triathlon Taren," about how he got into the sport, how he got started making some of the most popular triathlon Youtube videos out there, and what he’s learned along the way. We spend a good amount of time also talking about the struggles he went through with overtraining and burnout the last few years, why he's moved away from triathlon, and what is a healthy lifestyle and a healthy version of training. That might mean different things for different people...