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Fitspeek 172 Susie + Mikey

This week we have 30 minutes of information + inspiration to keep you motivated through our Canadian winter. First off on the show is Susie Ernsting. After a few years of cancelled races due to Covid, Susie finally got to experience what it was like to be the race director of Ironmman Canada.

Being any race director is not for the feint of heart and being the race director of the most anticipated race in years is even moreso. Susie has some interesting behind the scenes stories from the event. She also lets us know about next year’s bike course as well as what other things are brewing in the M1 Sports Management camp.

Also on the show is ATC Coach Mikey Ross. We are excited about his new series the 3 Rs. As endurance athletes, we are pretty addicted to going hard. In this week’s segment, Mikey explains not only the physical but the psychological benefits of interval training. The Susie + Mikey show starts with the press of the button below.

https://a2bikes.com/

As y’all know A2 bikes (that’s A Squared) is our sponsor. They have the stuff that will get you to the finish line in record time without draining your bank account. And with the Fitspeek 22 discount code you can save even more. Click on the picture above to check out their selection of road rockets.

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It’s the gateway drug you were looking for. (Fitspeek 171)

Chances are if you are on Fitspeek, you’ve done a triathlon. Chances are also that you wish that more people would tri as well!

Chances are they want to but they can’t ________, _________________, or _______________________. (insert fear-inspiring sport of choice here).

If you are in Western Canada the excuses for not tri-ing have been reduced, thanks to Angie Woodhead. Coming up later this year is the 1st mixed relay triathlon in the country.

The distances of each leg are super-short, so almost anyone who puts in a bit of training can participate in the event. And because it is a team event, you get to watch your teammates race and cheer them on to the finish line. What a great way to get some new blood into the sport of triathlon!

Like anything in sport (& in life) the devil is in the details and to help explain exactly how the event works (& most importantly the race distances) is race organizer, Angie Woodhead.

Joining Angie on the show is Triathlon Magazine Canada editor, Kevin Mackinnon. Kevin has seen quite a few mixed relays over in Europe and he tells us about the history of the mixed relay and he offers us his perspective on this new racing opportunity. Hit the play button below to hear Angie & Kevin.

Some eye candy for you, courtesy of A2 bikes. The aero & affordable RP. Click on the bike to find out more. When you are ready to buy, use Fitspeek22 to get your special discount.
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Out of the mouths of legends (Fitspeek 170)

On the show this week are a couple of folks who speak as loudly with their legs and lungs as they do with their voices.

Steve King is the sound of the finish line for endurance events in Western Canada and around the world. If you’ve done the Sun Run, Ironman Canada, or an Ultra triathlon, you have heard his voice announcing your name.

Steve is also an accomplished endurance athlete, completing such feats as the Badwater Ultra Marathon and the Skaha Lake Ultra Swim.

And then, from Australia, (and formerly from Penticton) there is Nick Mallett, a man of many stories and even more connections. Chances are if it happened in the multisport world, Nick was there or knows someone who was. Nick is one of the true characters in triathlon and is also a champion at the ultra distance.

In the podcast we find out why Nick was cycling across Western Australia, we take a quick look at the Ultraman World Championships, and we also get their takes on some of the big stories in triathlon from 2022. Here it now by pressing play below.

Fitspeek is brought to you by A2 Bikes. Fast & afforadable, they have your next triathlon or road bike available now. Take the quiz on their website to find out your ideal ride quickly, then when you get to the check-out, use the Fitspeek 22 to get 200 dollars off your purchase.

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M of One: Fitspeek 169 with Melanie McQuaid

Paul Higgins photo

Although I knew about Melanie McQuaid from magazines and the Internet, I had never met her in person until an awards after party in Penticton. Things did not go well. I quickly learned she suffers no fools!

Paul Higgins photo

After about 5 years, and after one heck of an amazing season, I decided to approach her for a Fitspeek interview. She agreed!

As a former X-Terra World Champion, she knows how to suffer. She also knows how to make her competition suffer as well. This year she ended off the season with 3rd at Ironman Wisconsin, 4th at the Waco, Texas 70.3 and 5th in a talent-rich field at Ironman Arizona.

In our interview, Mel gives us her perspective on the 2022 season, as well as insights as to how you can CRUSH your competitors, well into your 40s & beyond.

Paul Higgins photo

Also on the program, Abbotsford Triathlon Club coach Mikey Ross is unveiling a new segment called The 3 R’s. In his program this week, he looks at data on sleep and athletic performance. Hear it all by pressing the play button below.

Aero & affordable, based in Oregon. A Squared bikes has your next triathlon or road bike available now! Check out the website for some eye candy & inspiration. Then, use Fitspeek 22 to get $200.00 off of your dream machine.

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Fitspeek 168: Live & In-Person} Santa Shuffle 2022

After having to go virtual because of Covid, the real Abbotsford Santa Shuffle is back and on the podcast is the real Marie Lashley!

On our program this week, we get you into the Christmas spirit with our annual chat with Marie. We Fitspeek about this year’s event, as well as her recent trip to Israel.

We are also excited to let you know about our bike sponsor, A Squared bikes out of Lake Oswego, Oregon.

With top-notch engineering that allows you to dial in your perfect position, you can go faster, longer. And with the FITSPEEK 22 promo code, you can go faster, cheaper. Check out their website for eye candy & inspiration.

And to register for this year’s Santa Shuffle, just click on the link below!

http://www.santashuffle.ca
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Fitspeek 167 – Movember Dodgeball & The 50/50 Challenge

This week on the show, we have (almost) everything you need to maintain your motivation as we enter the dark season on the West Coast. We kick off the podcast with a short chat featuring Kiefor Ziefflie of the Mission Firefighters. Kiefor is one of the head organizers for the Movember Dodge Ball Tournament being held on Saturday November 26th in Mission.

Also on the program is Mikey Ross from the Abbotsford Triathlon Club & Tri*Joy. Our annual 50/50 Workout Challenge is back for another year & we are happy to say that it is bigger than ever! We have well over 100 folks who have committed to doing 30 minutes of exercise for 50 consecutive days. You can hear about the challenge and the prizes below.

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A good enough training day. Fitspeek 166 with Barry Berg.

A few weeks ago, Vancouver’s Barry Berg participated in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. He qualified for the championship race at what has been called the toughest Ironman in St. George, Utah.

Although he had a pretty good swim & an ok bike in Kona, heat & humidity got to him on the run and he slowed down a lot. Barry took the disappointment in stride, as his real goal for the year is another triathlon world championship, which is also in Hawaii. Any guess as to what it is?

Being in the same age-group as me, I was interested in what made this guy so fast. I got the answer! In addition to being an ultra and an iron-guy, Barry is also one of the few folks around that participates in the newest type of multisport event – the swim / run. In our 30 minute chat we talk about his progression as an athlete from a swim kid in Fort Mac to a Vancouver realtor & age-group dominator!

Also on the show this week is Mikey’s Top Five List. This one is geared toward friends and families of athletes.

Just like me, I guess, Mikey has been asked “did you win.” one too many times after a race weekend. Mikey offers some better questions for friends or family members to ask you after your next race.

42 minutes of fall-approved Fitspeek begins with the click of the button below.

And what multisport athlete isn’t a bike geek? Introducing A2 bikes! They are a relatively new bike company located just down the I-5 in Lake Oswego, Oregon and our new Fitspeek sponsor. Take a look at the super fast SP tri-bike. Then look at the price! Then subtract 200 dollars when you punch in the Fitspeek 22 code.

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Rain Man, Pain Man – Fitspeek 164 with Jordan Bryden

Yesterday in Madison, Wisconsin, Jordan Bryden from Canmore came 4th overall at the Ironman race. The conditions were brutal with crazy winds, downpours, and cold conditions (in other words – Jordan’s forte).

A few weeks before his trip to Madison, I had a chance to chat with Jordan about his race preparation, as well as about his 2nd overall performance at the Canada Man extreme triathlon at Lac Megantic, Quebec.

In addition to being a pro triathlete and a coach, Jordan is also a race organizer and we talk about the state of triathlon in Alberta and Western Canada.

Finally, if you know what this logo is, you are not alone. For many runners and cyclists in North America is a big deal. For some perhaps it is too big of a deal. In this week’s Top Five List, ATC head coach, Mikey Ross addresses the problem of Strava-Itis and how to overcome it. Press play below for this week’s show.

Also this week, we are excited to announce Fitspeek22. That is the code that you can use when you are ready to save $200.00 on your next tri-bike or road bike from our new sponsor at A2 Bikes. Check out their aero and affordable lineup of bikes by using the link below.

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Membership has its benefits…and requirements. Fitspeek 163 – “The Club”

This time on the show we meet an extraordinary group of folks who are part of a group that they like to call “The Club.”

Pictured above from left to right are Luis Alvarez, Jeff Jonas, Kevin Heinze (host), Elizabeth Model, and John Wragg.

Membership into this international club is simple, complete 50 Ironman-distance races and you are in! At the very top of the list, the guy they call the Chairman (John Wragg), has completed a mind-bending and record-setting 265 Ironman Triathlons.

Yes, an Ironman is an almost 4 K swim, a 180 K bike, then you get to do a full marathon after that, but you knew that, as a Fitspeek listener!

After I asked them all if they were crazy (and they all said “yes”) – I delved deeper into their motivations for doing so many of these races. Also, as I saw no evidence of wheelchairs or walkers, I had to also ask how they take care of their bodies in order to survive the demands of club membership. Fountain of youth secrets are revealed!

And speaking of clubs… Abbotsford Triathlon Club head coach, Mikey Ross stops by for another Top 5 List.

Every time you hit the finish line of a race, it is also a start line – for recovery. Coach Mikey explains the best practices for enhancing your post-race recovery. 45 minutes of awe-inspiring athletes begins with the click of the play button.

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The Usual Place, the Usual Suspects. Ironman Returns to Penticton.

What better way to welcome back the Ironman Canada Triathlon to Penticton than a fun-filled interview with local legend Jeff Symonds.

In his 2 decades-long career in the sport, Jeff has enjoyed success at both the national and international levels and has motivated and inspired a new generation of Canadian endurance sports athletes.

In the podcast, our 1st as a partner with A Squared Bikes, we chat about his race week preparation, his motivation to do this race, as well as some unfinished business that he has in the sport. 45 minutes of non-stop smiles begin with the press of that button below.