Have you ever wondered whether that lingering ache is just soreness—or the beginning of a real injury?

In this episode of the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast, Coach Jill Bartholomew is joined by physical therapist, triathlon coach, bike fitter, and fellow endurance athlete Dr. Steph Peterson for an honest conversation about injuries, recovery, and staying healthy for the long haul.

Steph shares her personal journey through stress fractures, underfueling, ankle injuries, and balancing triathlon through every season of life—from junior elite racing to motherhood, coaching, and opening her own physical therapy practice.

Together, Jill and Steph discuss what endurance athletes can do to reduce their injury risk, recognize warning signs before they become major setbacks, and build a training routine that supports long-term success.

• Why injuries happen—even to experienced athletes
• The difference between soreness and pain that shouldn't be ignored
• Why underfueling is still one of the biggest mistakes endurance athletes make
• How strength training helps prevent common triathlon injuries
• The importance of proper bike fit and when it's time for a refit
• How HRV and other training metrics should (and shouldn't) guide training
• The mental side of recovering from injury and disappointing race performances
• Practical strategies to stay healthy while training for marathons, IRONMAN®, 70.3, and other endurance events

Whether you're training for your first sprint triathlon, your next marathon, the Dopey Challenge, or chasing a personal best at IRONMAN, this episode is packed with practical advice you can start applying immediately.

Dr. Steph Peterson is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, endurance coach, professional bike fitter, and longtime triathlete. She works with endurance athletes to help them recover from injuries, optimize movement, and return to racing stronger than ever.

If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels.

We also specialize in training for runDisney race, as Jill is an avid runDisney fan with 7 Dopey finishes and nearly 100 Disney races under her legs - she knows the courses and how to train for them!

Click here to schedule a consultation

Tired of cycling in your basement alone? Peloton and Zwift has gotten old? Try live online group cycling with Be Fierce Multisport - now in Beta and accepting founding members!

Join our virtual group cycling beta at 👉 https://fierce.li/cycling

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