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 Finish Line, and what more than 30 years around endurance athletes taught him about purpose, motivation, identity, resilience, family, coaching, and figuring out what comes next.
This conversation goes far beyond triathlon.
Mike opens up about his decision to step away from IRONMAN announcing and why leaving his “second family” of athletes was harder than he expected. He explains why achieving the goal we think will make us happy sometimes doesn't, why our “why” changes throughout our lives, and why he believes we are ultimately responsible for how we respond to the things life throws at us.
We also get into some incredible stories from Mike's years at the finish line—including the greatest call he ever made, the first athlete he ever called across an IRONMAN finish line, the coaches who left an impression on him, and one four-legged finisher who completely stole the show at IRONMAN Arizona.
IN THIS EPISODE
00:00 — What happens after the finish line?
01:25 — How Mike Reilly found endurance sports
03:15 — When the finish line becomes the next starting point
04:43 — Mike's most memorable finish lines
05:45 — Finding Your Finish Line
10:05 — Hearing “You are an IRONMAN” for the first time
10:30 — Life after stepping away from IRONMAN
13:31 — Mike's “why”
17:00 — How our why changes throughout life
18:47 — What makes a great coach?
22:34 — The most underrated IRONMAN courses
24:51 — Athletes Mike will never forget
26:27 — The first athlete Mike ever called across the finish line
27:01 — The dog who finished IRONMAN Arizona
28:53 — What athletes get wrong—and why human connection matters
32:30 — Why reaching the goal doesn't guarantee happiness
34:17 — Take time to celebrate what you've accomplished
38:22 — Finding your next finish line
40:01 — “You are the cause of your own experience”
42:14 — Where are you afraid to go?
43:41 — Why showing up and failing can be better than never starting
45:46 — Mike's message for listeners
48:13 — Be Fierce. Be You.
ABOUT MIKE REILLY
Mike Reilly is known around the world as the legendary Voice of IRONMAN. During more than three decades behind the microphone, he welcomed hundreds of thousands of athletes across IRONMAN finish lines around the world.
His newest book, Finding Your Finish Line: Lessons in Discovering Hope, Heart, and Yourself in Life's Toughest Miles, explores what endurance sports can teach us about navigating the challenges, transitions, and start lines we encounter throughout life.
Learn more about Mike and Finding Your Finish Line:
https://mikereilly.net/
ABOUT BE FIERCE & TRI
Be Fierce & Tri explores endurance sport through the athletes, coaches, experts, and personalities who make this community what it is.
Hosted by endurance athlete and coach Jill Bartholomew.
Learn more about Be Fierce Multisport, coaching, training plans, professional bike fitting, the Be Fierce & Tri Club, and more:
https://befiercemultisport.com/
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Be Fierce. Be You.
