Simply Triathlon with Dina & Chris

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we have some fun with "hot takes" related to triathlon (i.e. running in extreme heat is more fun than running in extreme cold). We each give a few and chat about them! What did we miss? What's a thought or belief you have about triathlon that could be considered a hot take? Questions for us related to triathlon, fitness, nutrition, anything? Topics...

Send us Fan Mail Chris raced Ironman 70.3 Boulder! She takes us through her experience including a tougher-than-usual swim, a solid bike and run up at altitude, and an overall strong performance.  Plus, being out in Colorado, she got to see Dina on course twice! Dina chats a bit as well about the race from a spectator's perspective, and we talk about the value of having support out there on r...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we catch up a little bit after a busy couple of months! Chris has been training for the Boulder 70.3 and talks about how her prep has been going, and Dina just did the Ragnar Trail Colorado race and recaps how it went! We also discuss the Enhanced Games, the recent competition that allowed the use of performance-enhancing drugs that are typically banned. We give o...

Send us Fan Mail We asked y'all for some short topic ideas that Dina & Chris could chat about and record separately, and you came up with "bad food ideas pre/mid race"! Due to scheduling constraints, this time we each recorded separately, without discussing the topic beforehand. You get to hear Chris's and then Dina's thoughts, recorded solo, on what we think might not...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode largely featuring Chris's cat, we chat about several random topics including: -The new world record and sub 2-hour marathon at the London Marathon -A women's only world record and what that means -Chris's track coaching and the struggles to pick and dedicate to ONE activity as a kid -Dina's big race goal for the year -And more! Questions for us...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we talk about consistency vs perfection, and how the two can often be conflated, especially among athletes. We chat about how, actually, part of consistency IS falling off track, and persistence despite inevitable adversity is much more important and realistic than perfection. We also chat about some recent racing including the Boston Marathon, recap Chris's annual Dis...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss a recent article centered on a large number of age-group triathletes finishing Ironman 70.3 Oceanside faster than professionals. We chat about the backlash from these pros, why it isn't a fair comparison, and how the criteria to obtain a pro card might be changing. We also chat about professional runner Emma Bates' claim that her sponsor UCAN...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss AI in triathlon training. Yes, like in many other aspects of life, AI is writing training plans. What do we think about them? What are they lacking that human coaches can still provide? Why might athletes still choose to hire a coach over using these services? Anyone out there use or have used AI for a training plan? We'd love to know what you thin...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we talk about growth as an athlete. Often, we want to figure everything out and have all the answers, whereas the reality is that there is no ceiling on growth and we can always strive to learn more and make progress. We talk about how this presents specifically for athletes, getting out of our comfort zones, and the power of consistency and habits! Questions for...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we talk about the recent LA marathon, for which runners were offered the option to end their race early at mile 18...and still get a finisher's medal? We give our thoughts on how we feel about this. We also discuss the USATF half marathon championship drama in which the lead runners were led off course by the official course vehicle, as well as the first Iron...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we give a tribute to Jeff Galloway, who passed away recently. He brought great popularity to his Run-Walk-Run method, helping runners use a run/walk interval technique to make running more accessible and enjoyable, and to minimize fatigue and lessen recovery times. His work and contribution to the running community has undoubtedly changed hundreds of thousands of...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss three very specific pieces of gear we recommend athletes invest in prior to completing their first triathlon. Check out the episode to hear what they are! (Hint - not ALL of them are gear to use during an actual race!) We also chat a bit about some upcoming pro triathlon races - the season is starting! Questions for us related to triathlon, fitness, nut...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, in light of an announcement that the Professional Triathletes Organization combining forces with the Challenge Family, we chat about fun local race organizations and races.  We've probably all got our local races we love - examples from CT include the Griskus race series (shoutout Tom Wilkas), the Hammerfest triathlon (RIP), and the Colchester Tough As Nails...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we talk about the Winter Olympics thus far and Lindsey Vonn's devastating crash and injuries. We discuss when to push the limits, how to assess the risk and if it's worth it, and staying focused and living in the present moment. We also discuss the midwinter blues and how to stay motivated, especially in a place like CT where Chris has been experiencing...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we talk about the struggle between getting enough sleep and getting workouts in. Many of us find that our schedules need us to sometimes pick one or the other - for example, we might only have time to get in a morning workout, but it would mean only getting 7 hours of sleep. How do we navigate this? How do we know which one to choose? How can we better prioritize...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss the benefits of triathlon clubs and why folks might want to join one. Chris shares the excitingly high number of new athletes at the club she runs, the Valley Shore YMCA Triathlon Club, and we talk about what clubs typically offer for athletes, especially newer athletes, such as: -Organized workouts with coaches -A mentorship program -Various clinics -A...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss the potential changes to Ironman's draft zone, from 12 meters to 20 meters. We chat about what the professional triathletes think about this, what the ramifications could be, and how Ironman handles change and their business in general when it comes to including professional athletes and their opinions. Questions for us related to triathlon, fitnes...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we catch up a bit after our holiday break and share some stories - Dina's trip to CT, some bizarre stuff Chris has seen while out running, Dina's 100x100 swim and Chris's 108 sun salutations challenges, and a surprise event that happened to Chris. We also touch on "staying in your own lane." It can be very easy, especially at the start of...

Send us Fan Mail We shoot the breeze in this episode on a variety of topics today: -Christmas cookie baking -Chris's new bike fit -Different breathing patterns in the pool -T100 and Ironman recent news -Training-related Christmas presents We hope everyone has a safe and excellent holiday season! Questions for us related to triathlon, fitness, nutrition, anything? Topics you'd like us to...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we talk about how to moderate training during the off-season, when training structure is loose and baked goods are abundant. We discuss the all-or-nothing mindset, how to choose whether to do a workout or skip it, reviewing priorities during the holiday season, looking at the big picture and your goals next year, and more! Questions for us related to triathlon, fi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we take strength training back to the basics. We go over six foundational movement patterns: -Squat -Lunge -Hip hinge -Push -Pull -Carry/core For each of these, we give examples of a super beginner bodyweight exercise, a slight progression, and another slight progression above that. We hope this helps athletes get started in the gym with the fundamentals, and that...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we speak with a special guest, Karen Mastella, who recently participated in Trek Travel's coast-to-coast bike adventure from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine! The journey took 47 days, covered 15 states, and averaged around 88 miles of cycling per day with the longest ride being 127 miles. Karen shares all about her journey - the training, the hardest parts, the men...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss supplements in light of a recent Consumer Reports article that supposedly revealed dangerously high levels of lead in many popular protein powders. We discuss the fact that supplements are currently NOT regulated by the FDA, what's best to look for in supplements as an athlete as far as third party certifications, and whether or not supplements are...

Send us Fan Mail In light of the recent time change, today we discuss running safety as we get into the time of year when many of us might be running in the dark.  We give tips on how to be SEEN, be ALERT, and be PROTECTED, in terms of apparel, lights, cars, animals, and much more. Questions for us related to triathlon, fitness, nutrition, anything? Topics you'd like us to cover on the podcas...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we recap a race...for Dina! Throughout over a year of dealing with the ramifications of her initial bone stress injury, she's finally been able to train for a race, and her first trail race at that! Dina recaps the race, discusses her preparation and how surprisingly great she felt during the race, and talks about what it has meant to work through this injury...