What does it take to tackle two Ironman-distance challenges in one weekend? 💪 This week on The Everyday Ironman Podcast, Les Shaeffer joins the conversation to share his endurance journey, competitive mindset, and experience completing the incredible Wisconsin Double!

Les and Ashley both race for Team Heartland in the Ozarks, bringing a shared team connection to the discussion. Although Les grew up playing sports, including contact sports, his endurance journey began early when he started distance running at just nine years old. That early introduction to running helped lay the foundation for the competitive spirit that continues to drive him toward ambitious goals.

Les recently completed the Wisconsin Double, taking on a 70.3-mile race on Saturday followed by a full Ironman on Sunday! We explore what motivates athletes to pursue extraordinary challenges and how a competitive mindset can push age-group athletes beyond what they thought possible.

Tune in for inspiration to dream big and keep chasing your goals!

#EverydayIronman #Triathlon #AgeGroupAthlete #Ironman #WisconsinDouble #TeamHeartland #EnduranceSports

Support the show

This week on The Everyday Ironman Podcast, we welcome Jason Aarhus fresh off the Barkley Fall Classic, one of the most brutal and legendary trail races in the world. Jason gives us a vivid breakdown of the course, including the infamous off-trail climbs known as Rat Jaw, Meth Lab, and Testicle Spectacle, and what it really feels like to claw your way up them.

Here's the part that will make every age grouper pay attention: Jason completed the marathon distance with only six weeks of training. We dig into how he approached such a short build, what he'd do differently, and what his endurance base from triathlon did for him when the terrain turned nasty.

If you're looking for a new challenge beyond the Ironman finish line, or need proof that you're capable of more than you think, this episode is for you.

Support the show

On this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, Pam and Kevin Coleman join the conversation. Kevin, an active poster in the Pathetic Triathletes Group, and Pam bring plenty of personality—and an impressive collection of endurance experiences—to the show.

Kevin shares how he turns the stress of teaching Pre-K through 5th grade music into energy for leading high-energy Latin dance classes, teaching Zumba, and eventually hitting the track for speed work. Pam, a pathologist, jokes that she’s the kind of doctor nobody wants to see, sharing her past experience performing autopsies and her current work diagnosing disease.

The couple talks about Kevin’s 50-mile race in Daytona, their long-distance swimming experiences, what actually qualifies as a marathon swim, and how they met after their Ironman races were canceled in 2020. They also open up about loss, grief, healing, and the importance of having someone beside you through life’s toughest miles.

#TheEverydayIronman #Triathlon #AgeGroupAthletes #Ironman #EnduranceSports #MarathonSwimming #Ultrarunning #Triathlete #PatheticTriathletes

Support the show