Over the weekend I had a chance to interview all the folks who made the top 3 at the Ultraman Canada Triathlon. Placing 2nd overall is a person with an interesting background in ultra-running and as an animal shelter owner, KC Northup.
In doing any endurance sports event, there’s gotta be some adversity to overcome. England’s George Hellyer was dealt MORE than his fair share of that over the weekend.
From losing luggage to flat tyres, George and his crew had to rise to the occasion more than once or thrice. Hear George’s tale of his first Ultraman .
As an endurance athlete, here’s a guy you should really get to know. He is Dr. Alex Harrison and is half of the brains and sweat responsible for the creation of the Saturday ap. It’s an ap that helps you save money on your training and racing fueling. Click on the picture to learn more about the ap and to get a free trial.
One of the thrilling aspects of Ultraman racing is the essential role played by crew members who support the athletes on the race course. Picture this: rising at the crack of dawn, around 4 or 5 AM, and dedicating the next three consecutive days to driving a sweltering vehicle, stopping every ten minutes to hand out food or beverages, and repeating this for six to twelve hours… all without any pay. Such is the exhilarating and demanding life of an Ultra Triathlon Crew Member.
Grace Brannon, hailing all the way from Arlington, Texas, has taken on this adventure in Penticton. She’s here to support Caroline Bloom, the athlete we featured on our podcast yesterday. In our brief interview, we delve into Grace’s athletic background and uncover what she gains from the unique experience of being a crew member.
As you can see in the picture below, “Team Bloom” had a pretty good day 2 out on the course yesterday. Caroline cycled a 10:07 for the 171 mile route, which places her exactly in the middle of the pack.
And there was no change at the top of the leaderboard. Jen Annett continues her domination of this race. Yesterday she broke yet another record and seems to be on her way to not only winning this whole thing but doing a “Simon Cochrane” and setting a world record for the Ultraman.
Now available in more colours, it is the aero + affordable SP. Click the bike. Check the website. Crush the competition.As endurance athletes, we are always looking to perform to our potential. Many folks underfuel while training. Don’t be that chump who gasses out in the last half of that long ride. Use the Saturday ap to dial in exactly what nutrition you need for your next long ride (or run or swim). Click on the icon above to learn more and get your free trial.
A bit of Canadian triathlon history was made yesterday afternoon, as Penticton Triathlete Jen Annett delivered on her notion she may do something “special on the bike.”
She posted the fastest-ever female day 1 bike split at Ultraman Canada. Her time of just under 4 hours and 10 minutes is now in the record books.
To put that in perspective, Jen’s time yesterday was the 3rd fastest day 1 bike split ever at the event. Impressive indeed when Ultraman has been running for 4 decades.
Also having a fine day out on the course yesterday was Caroline Bloom from Texas. We had a chance to chat with her about why she got into ultra triathlon and her favourite (and least favourite) parts about training.
When the weather warms up, salt is your friend. In this short video Dr. Alex Harrison explains why and how much you should put in your bottles. Whether it is spring, summer, or fall, the Rogue by A2 is your all-season/all-road beast to gt you down the road comfortably + quickly. Learn more and spec it out for yourself by clicking on the bike above.
Chances are if you have been reading this blog and listening to the podcast over the past few years you have noticed that many of my guests have a healthy/unhealthy obsession with “doing cardio.”
Nothing personifies this pursuit more than the picture you see above. These are the folks who are doing the Ultraman Canada Triathlon in the South Okanagan this weekend. 515 KM of moving your body under your own energy in a 3 day period. Over the course of the weekend, I’ll be posting interviews with some of the folks connected to the race.
The first person you’ll hear from is Penticton’s own Jen Annett. I first met Jen at the Ironman Awards Ceremony back in 2008. We both had great races that day. She went on to become a pro. I went on to host a podcast. The rest I guess is history. Celebrate episode 200 of Fitspeek with us by clicking the play button below.
From sprint to ultra the aero SP cuts the air and saves you watts. Click on the pic to find out more.Achieving your best race day performance is all about nutrition. Sugar, salt, and water is really all you need but getting the mix right can be tricky. That’s where the Saturday ap comes in. Click on the icon to download your free trial.
One of the things that interests me as a triathlete + podcast host is what makes an athlete fast. Is it talent? Is it training? Is it both? If so, to what extent?
Some folks I’ve interviewed in the almost 200 Fitspeeks I’ve done are examples of talent. No training. They run a 35 minute 10 K. As long as they show up to an event without crutches, they will be a contender. Then there’s the grinders. With persistence over the years and decades, they get better and better. The guy in the picture below personifies both.
Wyatt Kuntz is from Warman. Saskatchewan and has been in multisport for about 15 years. He certainly has done his training and paid his dues. When you run a “bad” 3:12 in your first Ironman you know there’s good genetics going on but before you dismiss him as a gifted genetic freak who can do no wrong, you can look at his swim splits to gain solace =).
In our interview we delve into his not-so-athletic family background, find out what motivated him to get into multisport, learn about his favourite training places in Saskatchewan (yes, we have hills here!!), and examine his prep work as he prepares for the Frank Dunn Triathlon in Prince Albert and the Ironman World Championships that are NOT being held in Prince Albert.
Whether you are commuting, exploring, or racing, the Rogue will deliver the goods. Save thousands of bucks and support your local bike maker. Click on this white beauty to learn more about A2.What does your mind and body need to deliver a peak performance at your next fondo or 10 K? Sugar, salt, and water! The Saturday app can help you dial in the right amounts. Save hundreds of dollars by making your own race-day nutrition. Try the app out for free by clicking on the icon above.
