Month: February 2019

As I’ve said before in the podcast, we in the Lower Mainland are truly fortunate. Not only do we get to be part of this amazing country called Canada, we get to live in an area where the climate is (usually) un-Canadian. We know that white stuff that has been falling will be gone in a matter of days, not months. And even if there is a bit of snow around, it really doesn’t seem to fave local crazies like Brandon Jones.

In addition to our wet but wonderful climate, we have some of the most beautiful scenery & riding terrain in the world. While you are working your butt off grinding up a grade like Majuba or Frog, you also can’t help but be inspired by the environment around you. Something that still can’t be replicated on Zwift!

Thirdly, in our area we have incredible people who contribute to our athletic community, inspiring others through coaching or by creating events to participate in. This week we have a person who has organized amazing things for cycling in BC, Mark Ernsting.

Mark, who is an accomplished cyclist with an impressive pedigree has been at the helm of BC Cycling’s Superweek for almost a decade. In our podcast this week we speak with Mark about the history of the event, his role in bringing cycling to the youth of Vancouver, and his vision for the future of his newest venture the Valley Granfondo. 36 minutes with Mark Ernsting all begins with the press of a button below.

To sign up for the event http://www.valleygranfondo.com

Sign of the Times? Chilly Chase 15 K podium. And Brentwood Bay’s Robert Johnson. Fitspeek 60 is Family Friendly!

We here at Fitspeek are always doing our best to notice trends developing in endurance sports and in fitness. And whether this is the start of a trend or just a blip, we couldn’t help notice and let you know about it. The top 5 overall finishers at this year’s Chilly Chase 15 K division were female!

In Fitspeek 60 we give you the race results including the female domination of that distance. Of course there was another big race we’re reporting on. The Pacific First Half was held a little while back in Vancouver and we have your overall winners. It was a fast field!

And speaking of fast, Fitspeek 60 features an in-depth interview with one of BC’s fastest triathletes, Robert Johnson. Originally from Chilliwack, Robert tells us about his journey from being your all-Canadian hockey playing kid in Chilliwack to his hammer fests in Stanley Park with Canada’s elite triathletes. Robert is part of a triathlon racing team sponsored by a US men’s grooming products company called Every Man Jack and is one fast dude! Listen to the interview and the rest of the podcast by pressing play in that little box right here.

Being fast is fun, and to be the fastest version of you, Tri*Joy can help! Based in Mission, we can meet you in-person to discuss your athletic goals. With a low client to coach ratio and regular performance assessments, we optimize your training time and keep you motivated.

Whether you are interested in getting to your first finish line or fastest finish line, Tri*Joy is your local coaching company. E-mail us at kknnheinze@yahoo.com to meet and map out your journey to an amazing season.

We’re trying something new here at Fitspeek, our first feature-length interview, and we dive right in with a piece on one of the most influential people in the sport of triathlon, Dan Empfield.

You’ll hear about Dan’s beginnings as a runner and a junior lifeguard in Huntington Beach, California, and  then his life-changing experience at the 1982 Hawaii Ironman.

Also in the interview is a neat little segment that I call A Day in the Life where you’ll get a chance to find out how Slowman fills his days (spoiler alert: more coffee, product testing, gravel bike). Of course being the visionary that he is, we end off the interview with his thoughts on the future of the sport. Hear all 100 minutes of our time with Dan Empfield by pressing play in that little box below.

And if your future involves swimming, biking, and running, Tri*Joy can help. We offer in-person consultations, relevant training plans, and regular progress assessments to keep you on track. Get going by e-mailing me at kknnheinze@yahoo.com