Feisty Triathlon

Kelly brings listener questions to two expert Feisty coaches, with different types of athletes and perspectives: Katie Zaferes and her Auxo Collective development squad, and Alison Freeman, a Level III USAT coach and co-owner of NYX Endurance. They bring their expertise and answers to a wide range of listener questions:How to choose the right coach — and when to leave your coachWhat data and metrics to look at, and which ones to ignoreMoving sessions around and knowing when to cut a workoutCarb guidelines and GI distressTraining through pregnancyOpen water skillsRace day advice for rolling startsJoin us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Leave us a Voicemail:https://www.speakpipe.com/feistytriathlonFollow us on Instagram:@feistytriathlonFeisty Media Website:https://feisty.co/Support Feisty Triathlon Partners:Momentous: Use the code FEISTYTRI for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com. Wahoo: Use the code FEISTY2026 to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/WVhdrOrca: Use the code FEISTYTRI15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYo

Lizzie Rayner (briefly) joins the podcast — before anti-doping knocks on her door...We then get nearly all our questions answered about what it's like for the athlete when anti-doping shows up: How long does it take to pee? Do they actually watch you? Do you get to know your testers over tea?Then we get caught up on Joanne's upcoming South Africa Cape Epic adventure. Katie explains the new Supertri qualifying series and why it's good for the development of draft-legal racers in the U.S. And the new 2026 Ironman rules.Next week: Lizzie returns to finish her story.Join us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Leave us a Voicemail:https://www.speakpipe.com/feistytriathlonFollow us on Instagram:@feistytriathlonFeisty Media Website:https://feisty.co/Support Feisty Triathlon Partners:Momentous: Use the code FEISTYTRI for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com. Wahoo: Use the code FEISTY2026 to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/WVhdrOrca: Use the code FEISTYTRI15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYo

Special guest 6x Ironman world champion Mark Allen joins the podcast this week to talk about the women who inspired him through his career and why he wanted to launch the Limitless program to get more women into triathlonBut first, we have to start by debating the latest triathlon news.Katie & Mark helped kickoff the LA28 Olympic cycleWhat could make the difference for U.S. triathletes at the GamesAre we optimistic or skeptical about the PTO acquiring Challenge Family races?And how to get more people on triathlon start linesThen, Mark gives us a full update on the year-long Limitless program — which filled up with 500 women so quickly that they expanded to 1,000. TriDot is providing free coaching, regular calls with female icons to share their insights and tips, and a community for the women in the program. How will we know if it works?Learn more about Limitless hereRead Mark's semi-weekly newsletter on triathlon and the triathlon communitySupport Feisty Triathlon Partners:Momentous: Use the code FEISTYTRI for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com. Wahoo: Use the code FEISTY2026 to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/WVhdrOrca: Use the code FEISTYTRI15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYoJoin us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Leave us a Voicemail:https://www.speakpipe.com/feistytriathlonFollow us on Instagram:@feistytriathlonFeisty Media Website:https://feisty.co/

In this special episode, your Feisty Women's Performance podcast host Dr. Erin Ayala brings together a group of experts on mental health to talk about the science and psychology of stress and collective trauma.Along with being a sports psychologist & therapist in her own right, Erin also lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota — which has been at the center of the news over the last month since it became the target of the largest immigration enforcement action to date in the U.S. Thousands of federal agents have patrolled the streets and detained residents, and, over this past weekend, shot and killed a second bystander — leading to hundreds of thousands of people protesting in Minneapolis and around the country.In this tense environment, how do we show up as athletes, as members of our community, as our best and healthiest selves?Join Dr. Tess Kilwein, Dr. Quincy Guinadi, and Christine Bright as they discuss how these experiences shape mental health and performance, and how you can respond to stress and trauma — whether you're going through it right now with the news or you're dealing with your challenges.Key Takeaways: • What is collective trauma? Learn how collective trauma impacts communities and individuals, and why this understanding is crucial for athletes and coaches.• Recognize that intentional rest in times of stress can be essential for long-term sustainability.• Know that movement and sport can be powerful tools in community healing.• Get tips on how to navigate the complexities of wanting to help without feeling performative or overwhelmed, and how to effectively engage in difficult conversations without shame or guilt.Don't be perfect. Be brave.Guest Introductions: • Dr. Tess Kilwein: A board-certified clinical, health, and sport psychologist with expertise in mental performance and athlete wellness.• Dr. Quincy Guinadi: A postdoctoral resident specializing in identity, mental health, and the experiences of marginalized communities.• Christine Bright: Lead consultant at the Center for Healing and Justice through Sport, focusing on trauma-informed coaching and community support.Resources Mentioned:• Center for Healing and Justice through Sport• Nothing Heals like Sport Playbook• "What Happened to You" by Dr. Bruce Perry and Oprah• Beyond Ally by Dr. Maysa Akbar• Find ways to help at standwithminnesota.com

Kelly O’Mara and Feisty CEO, Sara Gross, are coming to you straight from USA Triathlon's Endurance Exchange conference in Orlando, where the entire triathlon industry gets together to talk coaching, data, and where the sport is actually headed.We went for a few reasons: to run the first women-focused coaching workshop, to launch the Feisty Women’s Performance podcast, to catch up with friends and athletes, and to hear what the numbers say about the future of triathlon.And what we found? A sport in the middle of real change.Lessons from the Feisty workshop: why coaching women isn’t just about hormones, but about context, communication, and the reality of women’s lives from pregnancy through menopause and beyond.Then we head poolside to catch up with Taylor Knibb, who casually drops that she plans to race pretty much every distance this year — with Kona in the mix and the Olympics coming fast in L.A. Her coach Dan Lorang was also at Endurance Exchange, where people were (somehow) still telling him he should try heat training.We also talk with Michelle Lake, coach of 80-year-old Kona finisher Natalie Grabow, about what it really takes to train older athletes — and why gratitude, communication, and consistency beat everything else.And finally, USA Triathlon CEO Vic Brumfield breaks down the state of the sport:Membership is close to pre-COVID numbers, but race starts are downEvents have stabilized after a big dropThe 20–29 age group is surgingBut 40–49 participation is decliningWhich raises the big question:If younger athletes are showing up for short-course, one-day experiences, while older athletes used to be the repeat-racing backbone of the sport… how does triathlon evolve?This episode is part behind-the-scenes, part coaching clinic, and part reality check on where triathlon is heading — Feisty style.Join us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Leave us a Voicemail:https://www.speakpipe.com/feistytriathlonFollow us on Instagram:@feistytriathlonFeisty Media Website:https://feisty.co/Support Feisty Triathlon Partners:Momentous: Use the code FEISTYTRI for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com. Wahoo: Use the code FEISTY2026 to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/WVhdrOrca: Use the code FEISTYTRI15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYo