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Fitspeek 182: Penticton roundtable

Penticton has long been known as one of Canada’s multisport capitals and it’s not just because of the geography. The city has a tireless army of volunteers that get behind everything that a race organizer could want whether that’s an ultra swim, gravel race, fondo, or triathlon.

In addition to the volunteers, Penticton is home to numerous multisport personalities. In this week’s show, we have a chat with locals Steve King, Jen Annett, and Jeff Symonds. They all played a major role in the latest Peach Classic Triathlon. We talk about that, as well as what’s been going on in their non-tri-lives. Hear about it now by pressing play below.

Aero + affordable, based in Oregon,A2 has your next aero road bike available now. Click on the red RP above to find out just how easy building your dream machine is.

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Like a Rolling Stone. Fitspeek 181 – reintroducing Simon Whitfield

This week on the show we have another person originally from Kingston, Ontario. And unlike Mitchell Kirby, this guy has kinda already done everything there is to do in triathlon.

There was this moment (and the paycheque), there was that Olympic gold medal back in 2000, and there was that quarter-century-long career in swim bike run.

But Whitfield isn’t a WAS guy, he’s more of an IS guy, and as you’ll find out in the show, more of a WHAT’S NEXT guy. And while the latter is still being written, the IS consists of salt water and fresh air.

It seems to me sunrises give Simon more pleasure than sunsets but when you ARE a triathlon legend there’s gotta be some baggage you take along with you for the rest of your life’s journey. We deal with that stuff in the interview. We also talk about how ex-Olympians FEED themselves (or more importantly to Simon, sleep well)

Finally, in the show Simon goes Tri-Yoda and offers up insightful advice for today’s pro-triathletes and age-groupers. The advice involves what to do with your cell phone and what to bring to the pool, the next time you go. Hear the show now, by pressing that play button below.

It’s aero, it’s adjustable, it’s available. It’s the SP, the black missile disguised as a tri-bike by A-Squared. To ride it is to love it. Take it from one who knows! Click on the bike to check for available builds and prices.

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Yeah, I guess I won. Fitspeek 180 – introducing Mitchell Kirby

For most people, success in triathlon, especially at longer distances, is the result of toiling + training for years, essentially, “paying your dues.”

That doesn’t seem to be the case for Kingston’s Mitchell Kirby. He’s been in the sport as an adult for less than a year and already he has had some eye-opening results, including a top 5 finish overall at the Victoria 70.3 race back in the spring. Then, after he borrowed some race wheels from a family friend, he did even better at the Muskoka 70.3. He won the race, even though he had made some big-time rookie mistakes in the swim.

So, how is a tri-newby with a lot to learn able to crush his competition? As it turns out Kirby is an experienced runner, competing for Queen’s University in cross-country for years. I think that his “engine” is just about as big as his current learning curve in triathlon.

In the podcast, we find out more about his athletic back, his takeaways from his recent races, and his future plans in endurance sports. Join us now for 40 minutes with a bright new star on the Canadian triathlon landscape.

Now available in new colours, the SP is the tri-bike by A Squared. It’s aero, it’s affordable, it’s available now. Crush your competition, not your bank account. Click on the bike for more details.

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Fitspeek 179: Mark Klassen

In this week’s show, we ditch the goggles and aerobars and focus on running shoes, or more accurately, a guy who wears running shoes – in a very big way.

Mission’s Mark Klassen used to run cross country while in school but life changed and he stopped running. Then, about 8 years ago, he and a friend decided to take up running again. Without any “serious training,” as he puts it, he reeled off a sub-35-minute Sun Run.

Now that he knows how to train his times have been dropping, as have the jaws of his competitors. He’s gone from being a local fast guy to one of the fastest in the province at most distances of running races – that is except for the marathon!

In this week’s show, we go deep with Mark and find out why he is so fast, get his not-so-secret training secrets, and find out what is on the running horizon for this humble + inspirational athlete.

What you are looking at is the aero road bike the RP. It’s made by A Squared Bikes out of Lake Oswego, Oregon. Think of it as your Swiss Army Knife with wheels.

As is, it is ready for road races, fondos, crits, and coffee rides with your buddies. Slap a pair of aerobars on it and it becomes a speedy triathlon bike. It’s plenty adjustable for you to get your position dialed in just right to keep you comfortable and your competition behind you. Click on the bike for more details.

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Fitspeek 178: The collaboration episode

In a first for both of us, fellow podcaster Larry Ryan and I do a joint program. Fitspeek listeners will be introduced to one of the most important folks in the Canadian ultra-triathlon community.

Larry and I ask each other how we became interested in endurance sports, how we became podcasters, and how all roads seem to lead to this guy!

Near the end of the podcast, Larry announces some very exciting news for ultra-distance athletes from Canada and the rest of the world. A new ultra-distance race event!

Listeners will be given an opportunity to get to the front of the registration line for the new 515! That can be you! Hear the details and the stories behind the details by pressing play right here.

Tested in the tunnel and on the race course, the SP by A2 bikes delivers! It’s aero. It’s affordable. It’s available! Click on the bike to read more about your next tri or aero road bike.

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The Purple Tiger gets Unbound: Fitspeek 177 with Rach McBride

Time has been kind to Vancouver’s Rach McBride.

Not only did Rach emerge from the Covid-Era heathier + wiser, 2022 turned out to be a most amazing year.

Though we are only half done, 2023 has been an exceptional year for McBride as well, with an exciting finish to the Half Ironman distance race in St. George. You can see some heart-palpitating numbers here.

Numbers can be pretty boring stuff on a podcast, so I get Rach to tell the story behind the numbers.

As you can imagine, there was an abundance of drama playing out during the last few miles of the run at the North American Championships.

So what’s with the “Unbound” part of the title of this podcast? As it turns out Unbound is one of North America’s premier gravel races. Rach tells the story of a purple tiger (not a cowardly lion) and the Kansas mud and muck, exciting listening for sure! Hear it now by pressing play below.

If you are an all-rounder, who enjoys competing in triathlons as well as fondos and road races, the RP is your Swiss Army Knife of bicycles.

Tackle the mid-week roadie ride, then slap on a pair of clip-on aerobars to race triathlon on Sunday. The RP does it all, and at a price you can afford.

Use our Fitspeek 22 code to save an extra $200.00 on your next purchase.

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Fitspeek 176: The local roundtable with Thomas, Roy, Mikey, + Dr. E

4 guests with 1 thing in common – all are Ironman finishers! It’s been a long time since we’ve had so many folks in the studio + it’s always a blast when we do.

This week on the show Roy McBeth gives us his take on all of the big news in pro cycling + triathlon and Mikey Ross updates us on what is happening this summer for the Abbotsford Triathlon Club.

Making his Fitspeek debut is local triathlete and adventure-seeker Thomas Hekl.

We also do a recap of some of our guest’s recent racing experiences, and to end off the program, we delve into their inner fears and find out what still scares them when it comes to racing. 45 minutes of local news, insights, + laughs is yours with the press of the button below.

Tested in the wind tunnel, on the Matsqui Flats, + on the Ironman Canada Bike Course, the SP bike is uber aero + adjustable. It checks in at under $3,000, so you can add some aero wheels and kick some serious butt at your next time trial or triathlon. Click on the bike to customize your dream ride today!

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Fitspeek 175: Sliding into Spring with Nathan Killam

From sharing the podium with Cody Beals and Lionel Sanders at Mount Tremblant to battling the short course speed demons in Superleague to melting the snow at Cypress, North Vancouver’s Nathan Killam always comes to a race with an abundance of positive energy.

In our latest podcast we catch up with Nathan and are happy to hear that those injuries from last year are healed up and he is ready to “SEND IT!” We talk about his schedule for this year, his newly found passion for cross-country skiing, and we end the show with tips from “Coach Nathan” for your 2023 multisport season.

Whether your jam is single sport or multisport, the A2 roadbike, the RP is your multitool. With an aero frame + hidden cables, the RP is adept at crits, road racing, and with a set of aerobars, ready to tackle your next triathlon. Pick your components and you are good to go. Check out the sizes + specs at a2bikes.com

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From phat to fab (and fast) Fitspeek 174 with Dustin Quigley

This week on the show we are excited to bring you an amazing story, as the salacious heading alludes to.

A guy who would be in the high school yearbook as voted “least likely to qualify for the Boston Marathon” defied the odds, a non-athletic past, and a hell of a lot of diversity to become an elite endurance athlete.

From being overweight (we have the story about the pants too!) to bike crashes to depression, Dustin has shown the world (and most importantly, his kids) how to rise above, and kick butt.

Not only is Dustin a top-notch triathlete + Boston qualifier, he is now also part of an elite cycling Squad called Hewdog Racing out of Burnaby. Hear Dustin’s motivating story by pressing play below.

*A note to listeners, you might have to crank up the volume on this one, we had a microphone problem.

The A-Squared SP. In stock and ready for battle, whether your field is a club time trial, or triathlon. Pick your size, components, and you are off to the races! And remember to use the Fitspeek 22code to get $200.00 off of your bike!

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Boston Bound With Kelly Kallevig: Fitspeek 173

People participate in long-distance running for many reasons, there’s both the mental + physical benefits, as well as (for some runners) the social aspects.

For some runners who get into competing, one of the big deals in the sport is of course the Boston Marathon. But unlike most running events, you need to qualify for the race by finishing under a certain time. Chilliwack’s Kelly Kallevig came very close a couple of times but fell short of the mark. A new race strategy + a new race course was the approach that succeeded for Kelly in her third attempt to qualify for Boston. On the show this week we get to know Kelly’s progression as a long-distance runner and her advice for 1st – time marathoners.

Also on the show the latest episode of The 3 Rs with Abbotsford Triathlon Coach Mikey Ross. Just how much time should you be investing into your weight-lifting routine? Mikey gives us the latest research! Hear it all by pressing play below

Tested in the tunnel, aero + affordable here’s the RP of your dreams. And remember to use the Fitspeek 22 code to save $200.00 of your bike.