Mission Kona Podcast

Send a text Another exciting Kona Build Up episode coming at you this week! Mike & Michelle had the pleasure of chatting with Lars Wichert, currently the age group record holder for the Ironman distance! Lars raced 2024 Ironman Hamburg finishing 1st overall with a time of 7:50:42! And over 5 minutes ahead of 2nd place, in a truly incredible performance! Lars lives and trains in Germany and sha...

Send a text We're bringing you another fantastic conversation with athlete Adam Holz! A now resident of Boulder, CO, Adam grew up in Pennsylvania where he began his triathlon journey less than 5 years ago. Adam secured his Kona slot at 2024 Ironman Texas finishing 7th in the 25-29 age group after an incredible performance in a very stacked field. What began as a dream 8 years prior to race on...

Send a text Mike & Michelle were excited to sit down for this conversation with Alfredo Ramirez Pinho who just won 2024 Ironman Wisconsin! This was a hometown race for Alfredo, which means the win was extra special. Not to mention the race took place just days after the birth of his 3rd child! As a 35-39 age grouper and member of the Every Man Jack team, Alfredo shares how Ironman Wisconsin wa...

Send a text The countdown is ON! The 2024 Ironman World Championship in Kona is 6 weeks away! This solo episode with podcast host Mike Payne highlights his training and racing over the past few months in his build to Kona. Fun fact: This episode is also going live on the 2-year anniversary of Mike accepting his Kona qualification slot at Ironman Wisconsin in 2022 after finishing 2nd in the 35-39 a...

Send a text We are back for SEASON 3 with a focus on highlighting the male triathletes competing in the 2024 Kona Ironman World Championships in October! Our first episode of the season features Andrew Hall , a standout athlete competing in the 35-39 age group. Andrew is by no means new to the sport of triathlon, but he has been very calm and calculated in his approach to racing and performing at...

Send a text Episode 6 of the WOMEN CRUSHING KONA Series features Kirsten Miller who competed in her first Kona this year in the 55-59 age group!  Listen in to hear: Kirsten’s dream of racing on the big island, why she thought the Ironman distance was behind her, and the mindset it required to overcome an unexpected obstacle and show up on race day despite all odds! Follow Kirsten’s journey on inst...

Send a text Episode 5 of the WOMEN CRUSHING KONA Series features Barbora Besperat of Czech Republic who finished 1st in the 30-34 age group and 2nd overall! Listen in to hear: how long Barbora has been racing the Ironman distance what she claims is her "key to success" (hint: it's a PLACE!) her run split!!! Follow Barbora's journey on instagram @barubesp Support the show Follow...

Send a text Episode 4 of the WOMEN CRUSHING KONA Series features Michelle Krebs of Switzerland who finished 2nd in the 25-29 age group and 3rd overall! Listen in to hear how: Triathlon changed Michelle's life What happened out there on the course before (ouch!) and during race day and why her nickname is now PACMAN Follow Michelle's journey on instagram @michelle_krebs94_ and check out h...

Send a text 2023 KONA SERIES: WOMEN CRUSHING KONA We are back with episode 3 of the Women Crushing Kona series featuring Vanessa Murray who finished FIRST in the 35-39 age group and 4th overall at the Women's Ironman World Championships with a time of 9:34:27. A native of New Zealand, Vanessa currently lives and trains in Melbourne, Australia. She finally had the opportunity to return to Kona...

Send a text 2023 KONA SERIES: WOMEN CRUSHING KONA Ava Warfel finished FIRST in the 18-24 age group at the 2023 Women's Ironman World Championships in Kona with a time of 9:47. In her first race on the island Ava dominated the course, finishing with a 3:10 marathon, the 19th fastest run of the day including the professional women. What an incredible performance! Hear about Ava's introduct...

Send a text 2023 KONA SERIES: WOMEN CRUSHING KONA Elyse Gallegos, a force to be reckoned with in the 35-39 age group, recently competed at the Ironman Women's World Championships in Kona, finishing 2nd in her age group and 10th female overall! As a busy mom of 2 young boys and recently relocating to Alabama, Elyse has had to adapt her training to work with her busy schedule while also finding...

Send a text In this episode, Mike shares a quick recap of his race at 70.3 Arizona (HOT!) and then we chat a bit about the 2024 Kona slot allocations at upcoming races for the men.   Some fun places to grab a coffee or bite to eat if you visit the Tempe/Phoenix area for the full ironman in November: Hava Java - Cold Foam Cold Brew in their fall flavors (YUM!) Peixoto Coffee Roasters - Best coffee...

Send a text We're back for season 2 of Mission Kona Podcast! In this episode, Mike and Michelle share some big life updates, how training and racing has looked for the past 6 months, and what's ahead for the podcast! As many know, Ironman World Championships for the women just took place in Kona on October 14, 2023. It was a fantastic race day for many ladies, a bucket list checked for o...

Send a text Jennifer Vollmann may not have been the first pick on the playground for a game of elementary school kickball, but what she (and others!) didn't know at that time was that she was BUILT FOR ENDURANCE! Jennifer is a mom, a triathlete, and a coach - residing in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona. Having entered the sport as a novice, Jennifer shares how her hands-on coach guided her to full...

Send a text On this Host Episode, Mike & Michelle share 5 Reasons to Hire a Coach . There's no doubt that triathlon is a journey. What may start as some easy cross training from a run or sport injury can lead to a full on obsession with the sport of triathlon. Somewhere in there most of us have tried to coach ourselves. We pull a plan off the internet  or piece together what we "thin...

Send a text BALANCE : an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady Eva Frieden joins us on this episode to share how she has found BALANCE in the sport of triathlon. We had an impactful discussion on all the elements that are important to finding sustainable success as an age group athlete. SPOILER! Having fun and enjoying what you do = LESS chance of b...

Send a text Nick Modrzejewski is a name you'll remember - perhaps have difficulty pronouncing (MA-JE-SKI) - but memorable indeed! Nick resides in Champaign, Illinois, is husband to Amy, father to two, a Pastor at Illini Life, a triathlon coach at SuperFly Coaching, and a competitive age group triathlete. He has completed Ironman Florida FIVE times with finishes in the top 10 of his age group...

Send a text We are bringing you a special episode this week around the 4th discipline of triathlon: NUTRITION You'll enjoy this conversation with Kathleen Oswalt, a registered dietitian who gives nutritional guidance and support to endurance athletes who want to follow a plant focused diet. Together with her husband Don, a 2x World Championship qualifier, they own eatloveTriathlon where they...

Send a text We are excited to bring you the third episode of the Couples Who Tri series where we sit down with couples who are both active in the sport of triathlon. Do they train together? Race together? Did triathlon unite them or did it come to be after the fact? And WHAT will a world championship race in 2 different locations look like for competitive triathlon couples? Amy & Seamus Woods...

Send a text Mike & Michelle share some racing highlights from the 2022 season including huge PRs and dreams reached! Listen in to hear what races went to plan and setbacks did we have to navigate over the past year. ...also - what's ahead personally AND for the podcast in 2023!!! And find out Michelle's "WORD OF THE YEAR"! Support the show Follow Mission Kona Podcast hosted...

Send a text We are excited to bring you the second episode of the  Couples Who Tri series where we sit down with couples who are both active in the sport of triathlon. Do they train together? Race together? Did triathlon unite them or did it come to be after the fact? And WHAT will a world championship race in 2 different locations look like for competitive triathlon couples? There's a TON of...

Send a text Stephanie Melkonian lives and trains in Albuquerque, New Mexico and is by no means new to Ironman. One might say she was not an overnight success in the sport - but what Stephanie DOES have is dedication, grit, and undeniable passion which FINALLY led her to earning that coveted Kona spot at Ironman Chattanooga in 2022. Stephanie shares her journey - the ups and downs and the "alm...

Send a text This episode kicks off our new series - Couples Who Tri! As Mission Kona Podcast co-hosts and a couple who does triathlon, Mike & Michelle thought it would be really interesting to hear how other couples navigate the sport together, what training looks like, how they came to the same sport... and SO MUCH MORE. Our first couple, Nicole & David Levenson, recently completed 2022 I...

Send a text Scott Iott & Mission Kona Co-Host, Mike Payne, join forces to talk through Ironman Wisconsin 2022 - the rain, the wind, the cold... but even more important the preparation, mental toughness, and fortitude to keep moving forward. Scott Iott finished 3rd in the 45-49 age group at Wisconsin. His 25th full Ironman event and 13th time qualifying for the Ironman World Championships. Scot...

Send a text There's a good chance you've heard the official news from Ironman that the men's race in Kona for 2023 will not happen on the big island in October - instead the men's race will take place in another location on another date (to be determined in January). The women's race, however, will continue to take place in Kona as originally planned. With this announcemen...