On Average Age Groupers, Laura, Holly, Maggie, and Tarah recap Tarah’s Moab 240 experience in the historically chaotic year the race was canceled mid-event. Tarah describes travel delays, extensive drop-bag prep with help from crew chief Bob, and a confusing but friendly check-in. She details early singletrack congestion, extreme heat and dust, fueling shifts from gels to solid foods (Oreos, PB&J, instant noodles), night running, foot care, and brief sleep while hallucinating before Bridger Jack. Severe weather escalates into hail, flooding, and dangerous mud on the way to Shay Mountain, where Maggie meets and paces Tarah through cold, wind, falling trees, and exhaustion. After two hours of sleep in Monticello, Tess paces Tarah through “peanut butter” mud to Dry Valley at mile 144, where she’s told the race is canceled. Tarah reflects on feeling surprisingly strong, possible top-15 women placement, uncertainty about future races, concerns about drop-bag retrieval, and minimal post-race soreness.

00:00 Back With Tarah

00:46 Moab Race Chaos

01:37 Storm Forecast Talk

03:52 Travel To New Mexico

05:17 Altitude And Sleep

06:17 Drop Bag Prep

11:13 Check In Confusion

15:23 Race Morning Buzz

17:31 Early Miles Singletrack

22:18 Heat Dust And Water

23:58 Fuel Switch To Solids

27:25 Night Running Oasis

34:03 Indian Creek Pit Stop

37:30 Blister Scapel Mishap

39:21 Bridger Jack Sleep

42:49 Hailstorm Wash Trek

43:57 Storm Turns to Flooding

45:10 Slip and Slide Climb

46:59 Burn Scar Reality Check

47:48 Mud Road to Shay

49:53 Two Hours at Shay

54:27 Decision to Push On

59:18 Windy Summit and Treefall

01:00:47 Creepy Encounter Descent

01:08:35 Monticello Reset and Pacer Swap

01:10:11 Peanut Butter Mud Miles

01:12:06 Race Canceled at 144

01:17:01 Aftermath and Whats Next

01:21:41 Body Check and Wrap Up

Listen to the Pod here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/average-age-groupers/id1889949099

https://open.spotify.com/show/2LJ6G7l1oIRZUIa3lo7NFp

https://www.pandora.com/podcast/average-age-groupers/PC:1001121141

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw

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Laura, Holly, and Maggie introduce Average Age Groupers as a human-side endurance sports podcast and discuss how “average” can still mean doing triathlons without being fast, sharing 5K times and zone-setting tests. The main topic is how goals evolve: starting endurance sports to stay active, shifting away from time goals after injury, and wrestling with fantasies like qualifying for Kona or 70.3 Worlds versus the life alignment and compliance required. They emphasize race-day mindset, controlling what you can (nutrition, execution, enjoyment), and how varying courses and conditions complicate time-based goals. They talk about savoring the experience, returning from injury, headwind stories, and prioritizing durability through strength work despite limited time. Laura decides not to race Ironman Wisconsin due to the short gap before Ironman California, while Holly considers flexibility, local races, and longer running challenges. They invite listeners to share goals, questions, and guest ideas, and close with a call to like, subscribe, and follow on major platforms.

00:00 Cold Open Banter

01:01 Human Side Triathlon

02:12 Average Runner Reality

04:05 5K Tests And Zones

07:11 Goals That Evolve

10:59 Worlds Dreams And Tradeoffs

12:48 Race Day Mindset

18:07 Process Goals Over Time

19:51 Enjoy The Suffering

22:50 Headwinds And Comebacks

27:21 What If We Were Normal

29:50 Why Endurance Matters

30:38 Zone Two Gains

32:07 Bike Zone Two Setup

33:18 Dropping Wisconsin Plan

35:48 Durable Athlete Goal

37:18 Fitting Training In

40:03 Race Prep Logistics

41:33 Goggles And Gear Hoarding

43:34 Fear After DNF

45:11 Flexible Goals And Ultras

48:57 Avoiding Burnout Long Term

51:45 Traveling For Races

52:59 Wrap Up And Listener Call

Listen to the Pod here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/average-age-groupers/id1889949099

https://open.spotify.com/show/2LJ6G7l1oIRZUIa3lo7NFp

https://www.pandora.com/podcast/average-age-groupers/PC:1001121141

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw

https://www.instagram.com/averageagegroupers/

https://averageagegroupers.substack.com/

IRONMAN’s New Women’s Community… and Our Real Kona Podium Picks

Laura, Holly, and Maggie introduce their podcast Average Age Groupers and react to IRONMAN’s new women-focused community, “Woven,” describing its Strava/Instagram presence, member events, race meetups, and perks while questioning what concrete support it will provide beyond connection. They discuss how women-only racing (like IRONGIRL/Wisconsin Women’s Tri and separate-day 70.3 Worlds) can feel more positive and could boost women’s participation, and note Kona will be back to men and women racing the same day. The conversation shifts to favorite endurance athletes and why they’re fun to follow, including Heather Jackson, Paula Findlay and Eric Lagerstrom, Kat Matthews, Jenna & Logan, Justin R., India Lee, Jason West, Gustav Iden, Lionel Sanders, Nick Chase, Matthew Marquardt, Cam Wurf, and others across gravel, road cycling, and ultrarunning, plus playful, “emotional” Kona podium picks and a brief tangent on frequent collarbone breaks.

00:00 Ironman Woven Email

01:55 Skepticism and Real Support

03:35 Meet the Hosts

04:29 Women Only Racing Vibes

07:44 What Woven Should Do

10:37 Kona Format Changes

13:59 Pros We Love Following

14:17 Heather Jackson Spotlight

17:29 Triathlon Life and Kat

22:59 More Favorites and Norwegians

28:49 Lionel Sanders and RTS

30:27 Pro Favorites Rundown

31:47 Sam Long Spotlight

32:27 Racing With The Pros

34:17 Collarbone Season Talk

35:18 Cam Wurf Fan Moment

37:13 Dream Kona Podiums

40:37 Gravel Riders To Follow

44:26 Road Worlds And Cycling Crushes

46:54 Ultra Legends And Mindset

51:41 More Tri Names And Injury Wave

55:00 Wrap Up And Next Episodes

Listen to the Pod here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/average-age-groupers/id1889949099

https://open.spotify.com/show/2LJ6G7l1oIRZUIa3lo7NFp

https://www.pandora.com/podcast/average-age-groupers/PC:1001121141

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw

https://www.instagram.com/averageagegroupers/

https://averageagegroupers.substack.com/

Laura, Holly, and Maggie welcome returning guest Tarah to discuss her upcoming Moab 240 ultramarathon in Moab, Utah, including how she’s training, fueling, and planning logistics with her crew. After a light intro about keeping too many browser tabs and saving Instagram posts, Tarahh shares that her Leadville Silver Rush 50 was canceled due to fires and low ferritin, but she’s stayed healthy by stacking 2–3 long run days on weekends, relying on her strength-training base, and listening to her body. She details race fueling goals (up to 90g carbs/hour), homemade gels, aid-station foods, and her UltrAspire 14L pack for mandatory gear and up to 3–5L water. They cover mandatory kit, pacing plans (90/100/112+ hours), sleep strategy, fears (feet, gut, darkness), excitement about the community, travel timeline, live tracking, and plans to recap post-race.

00:00 Tabs and Screenshots Chaos

02:00 Saved Reels and Organization

02:52 Meet the Guest Tarah

04:17 Moab 240 Mindset

05:21 Training After Cancellations

08:25 Staying Healthy and Strong

11:00 Fueling Big Mileage

12:56 Race Nutrition Strategy

16:14 Gear and Water Carrying

22:05 Crew Rules and Pacer Plan

24:48 Altitude Fears and Unknowns

28:09 Sleep Strategy and Minivan Crew

33:24 Pacing Calculator and Cutoffs

36:01 Foot Care and Aid Station Routine

36:52 Mouth Care And Hygiene

38:14 Coke Pickles And Fuel

38:39 Dust Throat And Bandanas

39:49 What Excites Her Most

41:47 Will She Be Alone

43:38 Music Or Silence At Night

47:02 Midnight Calls And Games

50:18 Braids For Moab

53:48 Travel Plan And Race Timeline

55:42 Live Tracker And Updates

56:56 Wrap Up Wishes And Next Races

01:03:02 Final Sign Off

Connect with Tarah: https://www.instagram.com/tarahinturquoise?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Listen to the Pod here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/average-age-groupers/id1889949099

https://open.spotify.com/show/2LJ6G7l1oIRZUIa3lo7NFp

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw

https://www.instagram.com/averageagegroupers/

https://averageagegroupers.substack.com/

Hosts Laura, Holly, and Maggie reintroduce themselves as the Average Age Groupers and catch up on Maggie’s two recent bike races. Maggie describes trying a Tuesday-night Minneapolis cyclocross race after winning a free entry, riding her gravel bike with 50mm tires on a grassy, switchback-heavy course, finishing mid-pack, and noting the high-intensity effort, timing chips, and playful “hand ups.” She then recaps the point-to-point Chequamegon mountain bike race weekend in Hayward, including logistics, a hummingbird in a bike shop, a neutral rollout, constant short climbs, and how a poorly fitting saddle caused significant pain and affected performance. Maggie highlights key course features like the Fire Tower climb, a man revving a chainsaw, the “Seven Sisters” hills, and a fast, more technical final section, praising the race’s marking, volunteers, aid stations, and finish-line food compared to Unbound. Laura shares she signed up for the Madison Half Marathon, Holly mentions recovery and returning to swimming, and Maggie discusses upcoming Moab pacing and off-season plans.

00:00 Riffing and Introductions

01:09 Voices Versus Faces

02:21 Maggie Tries Cyclocross

04:32 Cyclocross Course and Chaos

08:13 Cyclocross Vibes and Snacks

08:46 Fat Bike Race Shenanigans

15:32 Chequamegon Grand Prix Setup

18:44 Race Weekend and Logistics

23:08 Start Line and Early Miles

26:24 Relentless Climbs and Saddle Pain

32:28 Gravel vs MTB Debate

33:24 Ideal Bike Setup

34:45 Fire Tower Climb Chaos

37:38 Seven Sisters Sendfest

39:12 Final Miles Favorite

40:26 Bike Buying Banter

42:13 Race Organization Praise

44:10 Lifetime Series Talk

46:45 SoCal Hurricane Surf

47:42 Half Marathon Plans

50:06 Moab Pacing Nerves

53:58 Offseason and Yoga

56:42 Wrap Up and Plugs

Listen to the Pod here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/average-age-groupers/id1889949099

https://open.spotify.com/show/2LJ6G7l1oIRZUIa3lo7NFp

https://www.pandora.com/podcast/average-age-groupers/PC:1001121141

Follow Us:

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On Average Age Groupers, hosts Laura, Maggie, and Holly welcome guest Nick, previously referenced for mishaps that inspired lessons like leaving a cellphone in transition, to share his endurance sports journey. Nick describes not playing organized sports as a kid, being inspired at 12 by watching Kona on TV, serving eight years in the Army, then impulsively training five weeks for his first half marathon in 2009, learning hard lessons about hydration, shoes, and nutrition. He starts triathlon with Devil’s Lake in 2012 on borrowed gear, progresses through local races, wins novice and age-group finishes, and learns in-race nutrition after bonking at an Olympic before completing Racine 70.3 and Ironman Wisconsin (2015) and Lake Placid (2016). He recounts a 2018 Ironman derailed by poor pre-race fueling and a dead watch, a 2019 My Team Triumph relay raising about $25,000, a 2023 Boulder swim DNF from back spasms that panicked his wife due to tracking confusion, and a hot 2024 Waco 70.3 (about 6:02) via an Invictus Games Foundation program, while balancing CrossFit, future racing goals, and family.

00:00 Meet Nick Again

01:45 Early Life No Sports

02:26 Kona Dream Sparked

03:24 Army Years Fitness Base

04:03 First Half Marathon Chaos

07:12 Runner Gear And Solo Grind

08:17 Devils Lake Signup Surprise

09:51 Borrowed Bike Trailer Epic

12:15 First Sprint Tri Lessons

13:46 Why Triathlon Matters

15:21 Fat Bike Devils Lake Detour

17:39 2013 Breakthrough Races

19:38 Olympic Bonk Nutrition Wakeup

21:52 Racine 70.3 And Going Full

25:07 Coaching Team And 2015 Full

26:51 Craigslist Bike Hunt

28:33 Tri Bike Upgrade

30:04 Lake Placid Highs And Lows

34:50 Spectating Sparks Comeback

35:24 Milk Man Course Rant

36:55 Ironman 2018 Taper Troubles

37:59 Carb Loading Chaos

38:34 Kaizen Training Gains

39:42 Race Day Breakfast Fail

41:02 Watch Dies Mid Bike

43:55 Run Crash And Coke

45:46 My Team Triumph Relay

50:16 Invictus To Waco Heat

55:39 Boulder DNF And Panic

01:06:57 CrossFit Balance Plans

01:14:11 Choosing Races Wisely

01:17:20 Wrap Up And Plugs

Listen to the Pod here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/average-age-groupers/id1889949099

https://open.spotify.com/show/2LJ6G7l1oIRZUIa3lo7NFp

https://www.pandora.com/podcast/average-age-groupers/PC:1001121141

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw

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https://averageagegroupers.substack.com/

In this episode of Average Age Groupers, Holly, Maggie and Laura open with winter fat-tire biking gear talk (ski helmet/goggles, bar mitts, socks/boots, flat pedals, and the “N+1” bike problem) before debriefing Ironman Wisconsin weekend. They recap Saturday’s Madison 70.3 (cool and windy, choppy swim, a reported athlete death believed to be a cardiac event, a faster new bike course with less technical climbing, and a modified run), plus concerns about blatant drafting and frustration with the 70.3 Worlds performance pool system after a teammate’s 5:43 debut placed seventh in her Age group yet dropped to 72nd overall when adjusted. Sunday’s full Ironman spectating focused on teammate Paul, tracking him across multiple bike and run viewing spots; they note Emily received a three-minute drafting penalty while passing. They praise the improved athlete experience under Ironman’s new CEO (start buildup, upgraded finish line, first-timer bell) and share how Wisconsin reignited motivation to race again while they stress about Oregon 70.3 selling out and begin sketching expensive, shifting 2027 plans including potential Worlds qualification, Steamboat, California, and community/podcast growth.

00:00 Cold Weather Bike Gear

01:04 N Plus One Bike Talk

02:53 Podcast Intro and Ironman Plans

03:11 Oregon Registration Panic

04:34 Ironman Wisconsin Setup

06:05 70.3 Saturday Recap

06:36 Swim Tragedy Discussion

08:14 New 70.3 Course and Drafting

13:22 Performance Pool Confusion

15:57 Ironman Sunday Spectator Plan

17:45 Chasing Paul on the Bike

22:12 Old Sauk and Timber Loop

25:55 Cheering on the Climbs

27:35 Downtown Run Course Changes

30:22 Dead Shifting Battery

31:25 State Street Noise

33:00 Chasing the Finish

34:06 Spectating Reflections

35:23 New Ironman Experience

39:06 Madison Magic Returns

43:55 Planning 2027 Season

44:43 Local Winners Shoutout

46:05 Next Year Race Puzzle

50:12 Budgeting and Sponsors

53:35 Upcoming Races Updates

56:02 Cyclocross Tomorrow

57:40 Guests and Support

58:53 Wrap Up and Follow

Listen to the Pod here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/average-age-groupers/id1889949099

https://open.spotify.com/show/2LJ6G7l1oIRZUIa3lo7NFp

https://www.pandora.com/podcast/average-age-groupers/PC:1001121141

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw

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https://averageagegroupers.substack.com/

On Average Age Groupers, hosts Holly, Maggie, and Laura welcome Waterfall Racing teammate Hector to share his endurance story, from always having bikes as a kid in Mexico City to moving to Michigan at age nine and later riding and commuting by bike in Chicago. He describes how his mom’s breast cancer shaped his early exposure to charity endurance events, then progressing from 5Ks to the Chicago Marathon, where personal loss and an empty finish-line experience contributed to stepping away from running for years. After moving to Florida, Hector returns to sport through triathlon, teaching himself swimming via observation and YouTube, and completing a challenging first 70.3 at Clash Daytona while learning fueling and pacing through trial and error. He then enters the gravel scene, completes Unbound 50 on a modified cruiser, upgrades to a gravel bike, prepares for Unbound 200, later supports teammates at Unbound, and discusses future goals including returning to Unbound and possibly tackling Georgia’s Six Gap.

00:00 Last Minute Guest Intro

02:05 Meet Hector via Waterfall

03:07 Early Bikes and Family Roots

06:30 Moving to Michigan

09:14 College Crash and First 50

11:48 City Riding and Close Calls

14:11 Cancer and Charity Endurance

17:20 Chicago Marathon Heartbreak

19:37 Disney Marathon and Hiatus

22:25 Florida Reset and First Tri

26:52 Self Coached Training Approach

28:45 Clash Daytona Chaos

31:47 Cramp To Finish Line

33:08 Joining Waterfall Racing

33:49 Unbound Signup And DIY Bike

36:18 Racing The Unbound 50

38:57 Pikes Peak Climb Lessons

41:36 Training For Unbound 200

43:38 Crash And Concussion

47:30 Haines City 70.3 Recap

50:16 Six Gap Mountain Challenge

53:37 Future Plans And Wrap Up

Follow Hector: https://www.instagram.com/hector.hmx23?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsi=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Follow us:

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