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.
Maia Watson. Luke Tasker. If you are a Canadian triathlon fan you will likely hear these names a lot in the future.
Proudest dad ever?
This A2 feels so much faster than my road bike.
We had Luke on Fitspeek a few months back after winning the half at Cultus Lake but Maia has her first appearance on the show. She’s an enthusiastic guest and our first ever who has done musical theatre!!
This week on the show, we delve into the training that propelled them to victory and break down their race day performances. Tune in by clicking the button below.
The Saturday ap. Your ticket to fueling properly for your next training session or race.
Check out the bike that Luke used during his win at the Victoria 70.3. It’s the SP by A2 bikes. Click on the picture below to price out your next tri-bike.
Abbotsford’s Mike Rauch is a successful business owner, family guy, and event organizer. He also happens to be a heck of an athlete. Mike was introduced to endurance sports in university, learned to swim, and did a few triathlons.
When the demands of family life called for more of his time, he decided to forego running and swimming for cycling. Mike has excelled on two wheels, winning rider of the year accolades with Phoenix Velo. He also embarked on organizing a cycling squad with Cahilty Racing.
Recently, Mike was invited to compete in the world’s most prestigious mountain bike stage race – Cape Epic. The problem is the race is in March in South Africa, and it is pretty hot there, certainly a lot warmer than the Fraser Valley. In our interview we learn about Mike’s path to the starting line of Cape Epic and the experiences he had during that 8-day event.
Also in our interview, Mike tells us about a unique 12-hour cycling event he is hosting in the Fraser Valley. Click on the banner above to get details on the race and click on the link below to hear our conversation.
Aero & affordable it’s the SP by A2 bikes. Click on me to learn more.
Salt, sugar, and water – all you need for your next race or training ride. Use the Saturday app to dial in exactly how much you need to perform to your potential.
As Western Canadians get ready to start another season of multisport at Westwood Lake on May 12th, it’s time to pay homage to those unsung heroes of our sport – the race directors.
This time on the show we feature the race director for Dynamic Race Events, Angie Woodhead. Angie reckons doing her job is a lot like juggling chainsaws.
As you can imagine there’s endless prep-work before the gun goes off…and then there is managing the unmanageable, the day of the race.
In our interview we get a high-definition behind-the-scenes look at what goes on to put on your local triathlons, plus we hear about some of the crazy things people in “athlete comments.” Just over 30 minutes of insight & inspiration will fill your ears at the click of a button.
Here’s half the story. But what does the cockpit of this rocket look like? Click on the bike above to learn more about the SP. It’s the tri-bike made by A2.
Saturday, it’s many folks’ favourite day of the week. And it’s also the name of an app that can save you crazy bucks on the stuff you put in your body while you train. It comes down to water, sugar, and salt. But how much? That’s where the Saturday app comes in. Click on the links above to get your free trial and more information about fueling for your next training session.
When it comes to endurance sports, how long is long enough? How long is too long? You’ll never know until you try! Penticton’s Tracey McQuair found that it was at the Ultraman Distance that she was able to really shine.
After the usual route of Standard-Distance to Iron-Distance, Tracey’s interest in doing something even longer, was piqued by her boss at Peach City Runners, Steve Brown. After serving a bit of an apprenticeship as a crew member at Ultraman, Tracey decided to give it a go herself. She had an amazing 1st experience and was hooked not only because of the race itself but also because of the very cool people in the small but very tightly knit ultra-triathlon community.
On the podcast, we hear about Tracy’s progression from being a swim club in the Lower Mainland, to bike racer in Edmonton, to Ultra-Champion and beyond.
We are excited to bring on another partner to the Fitspeek fold! Not only is Saturday many folks favourite day of the week, it’s an app that helps guide you through the sometimes murky waters of raceday and training fueling. It comes down to sugar, salt, and water… all in the right amounts. Saturday helps you dial in exactly those amounts with their app. Click on the links below to learn more about the app and sports nutition.
With spring in the air it’s time to dial back that close relationship you have with Zwift. The roads and trails are calling! Tackle them both with the Rogue by A2. Click on the bike to see your build options.
Chances are if you have ever been to this site before, you are an endurance sports enthusiast or are about to become one. One of the challenges facing many of us is how best to fuel that next training session or race.
If you don’t take enough “stuff” in you lose energy. If you take too much “stuff” in, your stomach rebels.
After listening to this week’s Fitspeek many of your questions will be answered, thanks to these folks.
Dr. Alex Harrison and Michelle Howe are some of the most knowledgeable people about sports nutrition around, and both are accomplished athletes. What gives the couple their superpowers, however is the effective way they can communicate what they know.
The key to proper fueling comes down to water, sugar, and salt…. in the right amounts. Give a listen to the podcast to find out what kinds of sugars and salts are the best to use. And after you listen to the podcast click on the picture above to learn more about their fueling app that will make preparing your next batch of training and racing fuel simpler than you thought.
Ready to tackle your next adventure on the trails or the roads less-than-perfect, it’s the Rogue by A2. Less cash. More roads. That’s the Rogue’s jam. Click on the dude and the bike to find out more.
For most folks doing their 1st triathlon, it’s not about split times, accurate course measurements, or their overall placing. It’s about finishing the darn thing….and maybe the t-shirt.
This time on the podcast we introduce you to a thing that’ll make you feel like a virgin for the very second time, when it comes to multisport.
The “thing” is Otillo, and it’s the most exciting thing to come out of Sweden since Agnetha Faltskog or Swedish meatballs, depending on when you ate last.
As our catchy title infers, it is a multisport event where you run…and swim…and repeat, all the way to the finish line.
Unlike an aquathon, there is no standard distance and you can use swim enhancers like paddles, fins, water-wings (I should check about this one). The only caveat is that what you wear in the water, you carry with you on the run (s).
Now that we have you interested (or scared?) we can tell you that the 1st Otillo official event is going to be held this summer in Whistler. And what better person to give us the details on the inaugural event than Whistler sportsman and race director, Dale Tiessen.
Dale fills us in on the sport’s history and how he brought it to Canada. Dale also gives information on the event including the cost, as well as equipment and training suggestions. Hear about this new multisport event by pressing play below.
Here’s your chance to enter and save some cash. Click on the picture above. Use the FRIENDSOFWHISTLER15 code at check out to save 15% on your race entry.
The Rogue is the new ride by A2 bikes. It’s ready for your all-road adventure. Click on the bike for more details.
As we get ready to kick off another season of multisport here in BC, I thought it would be a good idea to chat with the person whose job it is to manage and promote our sport in BC. Allan Prazsky is the Executive Director for Tri-BC.
In our conversation, we Fitspeek about the state of triathlon in the province, some of our up-and-comers, and how the Olympics influences participation.
We end the conversation with my diabolical plan to steal a PTO event away from the (former) City of Champions. If you TRI in BC, this podcast is 22 minutes well-spent! Hear it now by pressing play below.
What you are looking at it is the cockpit for the new Rogue, by A2 bikes. Comfortable, adjustable, and affordable. Pick your parts and price by clicking on the bike above.
