Pro triathlete Carolyn Olsen breaks down her 4th place finish at Ironman Maryland: the choppy swim, 112 miles on a mantra, and the mile 22 moment her body started shutting down. Carolyn joins Coach Jill Bartholomew on The Be Fierce & Tri Podcast to share what it really takes to…
Thirty years after surviving a plane crash that killed his best friend, Scott Christmas is heading to the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona to fulfill the last of three promises he made during his recovery. Scott was given less than a 3% chance of surviving. He endured a severely broken…
For more than three decades, Mike Reilly was the Voice of IRONMAN—the man behind four words that became part of triathlon history: “You are an IRONMAN.” But what happens after the finish line? Mike joins Jill Bartholomew on Be Fierce & Tri to talk about his new book, Finding Your…
We hit 700,000 downloads—and after a few unexpected weeks away from the microphone, Jill is back. For this episode, she’s joined in person by Nicki Atkinson, the newest coach at Be Fierce Multisport, for a conversation that starts with Nicki’s story and ends up getting at something much bigger: what…
Professional triathlete Carolyn Olsen joins the podcast to discuss her journey from age-group athlete to professional racer and the lessons she's learned along the way. From qualifying for Kona and winning IRONMAN Texas as an amateur to overcoming mechanical failures, DNFs, and race-day adversity, Carolyn shares the highs, lows, and…
What was it really like to race IRONMAN Lake Placid 2026? Fresh off the finish line, Coach Jill Bartholomew sits down with fellow triathlon coach Thomas Skelton to unpack one of the most memorable editions of IRONMAN Lake Placid in recent years. From smoky skies caused by Canadian wildfires to…
The IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship is returning to the United States in 2027—and specifically, to Chattanooga, Tennessee. If you've spent any time in triathlon circles recently, you've probably seen the reactions online. Some athletes are thrilled. Others are wondering why Chattanooga was selected over more "exotic" destinations. In this episode,…
In this episode: • Why IRONMAN 70.3 has become a favorite distance for many athletes • Travel, race-week preparation, and managing pre-race anxiety • First impressions of the Happy Valley course and expo experience • Swim conditions, wetsuit decisions, and navigating the long transition • Funny race-day mishaps (including forgetting…
In This Episode • Sharon's first sprint triathlon race recap • Navigating transition and race morning logistics • Pool swim challenges and crowded swim lanes • Managing race-day nerves and swim anxiety • Bike course strategy, hills, and passing athletes • Lessons learned from a first triathlon experience • Garmin…
In this episode: • Sharon shares her experience completing her first-ever open water swim event • The unexpected challenge of wearing a wetsuit for the first time • Why open water swimming feels completely different from pool swimming • Learning to sight and stay on course • Race starts, swim…
In this episode: • Jim shares his stage 4 cancer diagnosis and treatment journey • How he continued training through chemotherapy, surgeries, and setbacks • Why he believes endurance sports prepared him for the toughest challenge of his life • His philosophy of discipline, sacrifice, suffering, and pain • The…
What’s it like to race the inaugural edition of a full-distance IRONMAN? In this episode of the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast, Coach Jill Bartholomew sits down with fellow athletes Dawn Edens and Belinda DeWitt to break down their experience racing IRONMAN Jacksonville 2026 — from the unusual tidal swim…
Have you ever had a race that didn’t go the way you imagined? Coach Jill Bartholomew welcomes fellow coach and athlete Erin Byrge to the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast for an honest conversation about what happens when months of preparation collide with unexpected setbacks on race day. After crashing…
Have you ever wondered what the IRONMAN Foundation actually does? In this episode of the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast, Coach Jill sits down with Shane Facteau (President) and Audra Tassone (Executive Director & VP) to pull back the curtain on one of the most impactful—but often overlooked—parts of the…
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 about 90 days out from race day. This episode is a…
You’ve been consistent all winter — on the trainer, treadmill, and in the pool. So why does your first outdoor ride, run, or open water swim feel so much harder? In this episode, Coach Jill Bartholomew explains why your fitness hasn’t disappeared — but your body has lost something else.…
In this episode of the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast, Coach Jill sits down with Julie and Tony from Team No Coasting to unpack one of the most talked-about races of the season — the inaugural Little Elm 70.3. What was supposed to be a fast early-season race quickly turned…
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,…
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, and race outcomes. How much does corral placement really affect your time? Is…
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 — to unpack what most runners never see. We talk about: The origin story…
Welcome to another episode of the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast — where endurance sport meets real talk. In this episode, Coach Jill sits down with experienced runDisney athletes to break down the recent Disneyland race weekend — including the final races (for now), expo experiences, corrals, race logistics, and…
n this episode of Be Fierce & Tri, Coach Jill sits down with former professional triathlete and creator Carolyn Carter for a candid conversation about life after racing as a pro. Carolyn shares what it was really like earning her pro card, racing alongside the sport’s fastest women, and eventually…
Countdown to Dopey Day 1 focuses on the final day before the Dopey Challenge begins — and how to approach it with calm, confidence, and intention. The day before your first runDisney start line can feel overwhelming. There’s excitement, nerves, doubt, and a strong urge to do something more. In…
Countdown to Dopey Day 2 focuses on marathon day — and why the marathon doesn’t actually start at the start line. In the Dopey Challenge, the way you recover after the 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon determines how your body shows up for 26.2 miles. In this episode, Coach Jill…