What happens when the race you trained months for suddenly goes sideways? In this episode of the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast, Coach Jill Bartholomew sits down with fellow coach and athlete Erin Byrge to unpack her experience racing IRONMAN Texas — including a bike crash at mile 60, back spasms during t…

What is the IRONMAN Foundation—and why should you care as an athlete? Coach Jill sits down with leadership from the IRONMAN Foundation to break down how racing can directly give back to communities around the world. From funding local nonprofits to getting bikes and swim lessons into the hands of k…

Are you training for your first sprint triathlon—or getting back into the sport after some time away? In this episode of the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast , Coach Jill Bartholomew walks through exactly what to focus on when you’re ...

Your first outdoor workouts of the season feel harder than expected — but it’s not your fitness. In this episode, Coach Jill breaks down what’s really happening and how to transition back to outdoor training faster.

A race unlike any other. From a last-minute swim cancellation to 50 mph wind gusts, Little Elm 70.3 delivered chaos, challenge, and unexpected lessons. We break down what happened, how athletes handled it, and what it means for your racing and training.

If you’ve ever looked at your training plan and thought, “How am I supposed to fit all of this in?” — this episode is for you. In this solo episode, Coach Jill breaks down how to realistically balance endurance training with work, family, and everything else life throws at you. Because the truth is…

This week on the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast, we’re breaking down the 2026 runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend — from expo surprises to rainy race conditions and everything in between. Joining Jill are Tony, Sharon, and Greg to talk about the full race weekend experience: the 5K, the 10K, and the …

In Part 2 of our conversation with data analyst Brian Davis, we dive deep into one of the most debated topics in endurance racing — corrals, course congestion, and what race data actually reveals about performance, safety, an...

What really happens at the back of a runDisney race? In this episode, I sit down with Brian Davis — physics professor, long-time runDisney athlete, and the unofficial statistician behind the Dead Last Start (DLS) movement — t...

The Disneyland RunDisney races may be gone (for now), so we’re breaking down the final race weekend — from expo madness and merch sell-outs to corral strategy, course experiences, and why this race feels completely different ...

In this episode of Be Fierce & Tri, Coach Jill sits down with former professional triathlete and content creator Carolyn Carter for an honest, relatable conversation about life after racing as a pro. Carolyn shares her journey from earning her pro card in 2022 to transitioning back to age group rac…

In this episode, Jill sits down with Sharon of Bib and Tiara to unpack imposter syndrome — where it shows up, why it’s so common, and how it impacts athletes, professionals, and especially women who are pushing into new spaces. From first triathlons and runDisney races to Ironman World Championship…

One week after Dopey, many runners are surprised by how they feel — sore, tired, unmotivated, or emotionally flat. In this episode, Coach Jill Bartholomew of Be Fierce Multisport checks in with Dopey and Disney Princess athletes to talk about what post-race recovery really looks like, what’s normal…

The 2026 runDisney Marathon Weekend has officially wrapped — and we’re breaking it all down while it’s still fresh. Recorded just hours after the final runners crossed the finish line, this in-person roundtable brings together experienced runDisney athletes to reflect on their Marathon Weekend expe…

Race day is finally here. In Race Day of the Countdown to Dopey, Coach Jill Bartholomew offers calm, grounding guidance for athletes standing on the brink of the first start line of the Dopey Challenge. Whether you’re listening on the bus, in the corrals, or the night before, this episode is a remi…

The day before the Dopey Challenge begins can feel overwhelming — excitement, nerves, doubt, and anticipation all collide at once. In Day 1 of the Countdown to Dopey, Coach Jill Bartholomew walks athletes through exactly how to approach the final day before the first start line with calm, confidenc…

Marathon day during the Dopey Challenge isn’t just about the 26.2 miles — it’s about everything that happens before you reach the start line. In Day 2 of the Countdown to Dopey, Coach Jill Bartholomew breaks down how to properly recover after the 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon so your body is ready to …

Day 3 of the Dopey Challenge is where many weekends quietly unravel — not because athletes feel bad, but because they feel great. In Day 3 of the Countdown to Dopey, Coach Jill Bartholomew breaks down how to approach both the 10K and the Half Marathon with discipline, patience, and intention so you…

The 5K is the most underestimated race of the entire Dopey Challenge weekend. In Day 4 of the Countdown to Dopey, Coach Jill breaks down why the runDisney 5K deserves far more respect than most athletes give it — especially if you’re racing all four events. While experienced runners may feel tempte…

Expo day is exciting — but for Dopey Challenge athletes, it can quietly become one of the biggest energy drains of the entire weekend. In Day 5 of the Countdown to Dopey, Coach Jill breaks down how to approach the runDisney expo strategically so you protect your legs, your nervous system, and your …

Carb loading is one of the most misunderstood — and most stressful — parts of race week. In Day 6 of the Countdown to Dopey, Coach Jill Bartholomew breaks down what carb loading actually is, what it isn’t, and how to approach it calmly and intelligently without panic, force-feeding, or scale obsess…

With just one week to go until the Dopey Challenge, the focus shifts from training to execution. In this episode of the Countdown to Dopey, Coach Jill dives into one of the most overlooked — yet most powerful — race-week strategies: packing early and packing smart. We break down how early packing r…

Race week is here, and if your runs feel slow, awkward, or unimpressive — you’re doing it right. In Day 8 of the Countdown to Dopey, Coach Jill Bartholomew breaks down exactly what race-week runs should feel like and why pushing the pace now can sabotage your performance later. This episode explain…

At nine days out from the Dopey Challenge, many runners start to feel unexpectedly tired, emotionally flat, or overwhelmed — even though training volume is lower. In Day 9 of the Countdown to Dopey, Coach Jill Bartholomew explains why this is normal and why it doesn’t mean you’re losing fitness. Th…