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The Be Fierce & Tri(athlon) Podcast
The Be Fierce & Tri(athlon) Podcast
Be Fierce & Tri is a triathlon and runDisney podcast for everyday endurance athletes pursuing extraordinary goals. Hosted by coach, business owner, Kona qualifier, and seven-time Dopey Challenge finisher Jill “The Tri Mom” Bartholomew, the podcast combines practical coaching advice, race recaps, and inspiring conversations with athletes balancing big dreams with work, family, and real life. Whether you're training for your first sprint triathlon, preparing for an IRONMAN, tackling the Dopey Challenge, or chasing a personal best, you'll find expert insights, honest stories, and actionable strategies designed to help you train smarter, race stronger, and enjoy the journey. From course previews and race recaps to age group athlete stories and conversations with coaches, professionals, and everyday endurance athletes, Be Fierce & Tri celebrates the people who prove that extraordinary accomplishments are possible at every stage of life. Real athletes. Real stories. Real inspiration.
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The Be Fierce & Tri(athlon) Podcast

Welcome to the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast

Big goals. Early mornings. Long rides. Finish lines that once felt impossible.

The Be Fierce & Tri Podcast is a triathlon and runDisney podcast for everyday endurance athletes who are chasing extraordinary things while balancing careers, families, and real life. Hosted by coach, business owner, Kona qualifier, and seven-time Dopey Challenge finisher Jill Bartholomew, each episode brings together practical coaching advice, honest conversations, and inspiring stories from athletes proving that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

Whether you're preparing for your first sprint triathlon, dreaming of crossing the finish line at an IRONMAN, training for the Dopey Challenge, or simply looking for motivation to keep showing up, you'll find a community that understands the journey.

From race recaps and course previews to inspiring athlete stories and expert interviews, Be Fierce & Tri is here to remind you that your biggest goals may be closer than you think.

Because being fierce isn't about being the fastest. It's about having the courage to chase what excites you.

Recent Episodes

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The Results Say Fourth: Carolyn Olsen on Ironman Maryland
51
Sept. 27, 2026

The Results Say Fourth: Carolyn Olsen on Ironman Maryland

The results page says fourth. It never tells the whole story. Pro triathlete Carolyn Olsen joins Coach Jill to break down Ironman Maryland: her third full-distance Ironman of the year after a four-year break, and her best professional finish yet. She finished in 9:22 with bike and run PRs, despite racing with no support crew and cramping her way through the final miles. We get into the brutal, choppy swim, riding blind with no splits, the mental coaching mantra that carried her through 112 miles
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From a Fatal Plane Crash to Kona: The Promise Scott Christmas Kept
50
Sept. 20, 2026

From a Fatal Plane Crash to Kona: The Promise Scott Christmas Kept

Thirty years ago, Scott Christmas survived a plane crash that killed his best friend, Captain Owen “Wynn” Duke. Doctors gave Scott less than a 3% chance of surviving—and even less chance of fully recovering. While lying in the hospital, Scott made three promises to Wynn: return to racing, complete the Marine Corps Marathon and bring the medal to Arlington National Cemetery, and one day race the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona. In this episode, Scott takes us through the crash, the extraordina
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Mike Reilly: What Happens After the Finish Line?
49
Sept. 8, 2026

Mike Reilly: What Happens After the Finish Line?

For more than three decades, Mike Reilly stood at some of the most emotional finish lines in endurance sports, welcoming athletes home with four words that became synonymous with IRONMAN: “You are an IRONMAN.” But what happens after the finish line? In this episode, Jill sits down with the legendary Voice of IRONMAN to talk about the lessons Mike learned from a lifetime spent watching people chase extraordinarily difficult things—and the ideas behind his new book, Finding Your Finish Line. Mike
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You Belong Here: Meet Coach Nicki & What We’re Building at Be Fierce
48
Aug. 30, 2026

You Belong Here: Meet Coach Nicki & What We’re Building at Be Fierce

After a few unexpected weeks away, Jill is back—and this time she’s sitting down with Be Fierce Multisport’s new assistant coach, Nicki Atkinson. They talk about Nicki’s unlikely introduction to triathlon, why coaching is about far more than a training plan, women and belonging in endurance sports, where AI can help (and where it can’t), and the bigger vision behind Be Fierce. From coaching and bike fitting to the bike shop, endurance training center and Be Fierce & Tri Club, this episode is rea
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From Age Grouper to Pro: Carolyn Olsen on DNFs, Kona & Chasing the Dream
47
Aug. 5, 2026

From Age Grouper to Pro: Carolyn Olsen on DNFs, Kona & Chasing the Dream

Professional triathlete Carolyn Olsen joins Jill Bartholomew for an honest conversation about what it's really like racing at the professional level—and why, despite the podiums and pro card, the same challenges every age grouper faces still exist. Carolyn shares her journey from completing her first IRONMAN® 70.3 to qualifying for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, winning IRONMAN Texas as an amateur, and ultimately earning her professional license. Along the way, she opens up about mechan
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Inside IRONMAN Lake Placid: Course Strategy, Equipment, Lessons & Race-Day Stories
46
July 28, 2026

Inside IRONMAN Lake Placid: Course Strategy, Equipment, Lessons & Race-Day Stories

From smoky skies and changing weather to crowded swims, fast descents, equipment failures, and the mental challenges that come with racing 140.6 miles, Coach Jill Bartholomew sits down with fellow coach Thomas Skelton to break down one of the most memorable IRONMAN Lake Placid races in recent memory. Together they discuss what athletes experienced throughout race week, how the course actually rode on race day, what surprised them most, and the lessons they believe every long-course triathlete ca
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