Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn your love for endurance sports into a sustainable, full-time coaching business?

In this episode of Real Fuel with SLS, host Stevie Lyn Smith is joined by 20-year industry veteran and endurance coach Michelle Lake. Michelle has coached athletes to world-class achievements—including coaching the oldest female Ironman Kona finisher in history—and now helps coaches transition from hobbyists to thriving "coachpreneurs."

Stevie and Michelle walk down memory lane, reminiscing about the "good old days" of mass starts, non-wetsuit-legal swims at Lake Placid, and tracking race progress by hand on paper. They dive into how communication technology like TrainingPeaks and Zoom revolutionized the coaching landscape, the common pitfalls modern coaches face, and why being a fast athlete doesn’t automatically make you a great coach.

Whether you're an athlete curious about coaching or an established coach looking to streamline your systems and set better boundaries, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and business strategy.

Learn more about Michelle and The Dream Programs: www.coachmichellelake.com

Follow Michelle on Instagram: @coachmichellelake

Follow Stevie on Instagram: @stevielynlyn

Learn more about Stevie: https://stevielynrd.com/

In this episode of Real Fuel with SLS, host Stevie Lyn Smith is joined by sports dietitian, run coach, and mother of five, Erin Kesterson. They dive deep into the world of sports nutrition, the evolution of the field, and how to properly fuel growing youth and high school endurance athletes.

Erin is a mom of five, runner, sports dietitian, and running coach with a MS in Exercise Science. She has been a dietitian for 22 years and running coach for 7 and loves working with runners because they are goal-driven, hard-working, and generally awesome people! She also work for an organization called Run Hard which seeks to teach life skills to children through the sport of running.

They chat more about:

• Erin’s Dietitian Journey: How Erin transitioned from clinical settings and dialysis centers to specializing in sports nutrition and run coaching.
• The Evolution of Sports Nutrition: Reflections on how the profession has grown and why younger dietitians are stepping into sports nutrition right out of college.
• Run Hard Program: An overview of the 8-week youth running and character-building program for grades 2-8 in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
• Building a Healthy Fueling Mindset: Practical advice for parents on how to talk about bodies, food, and calories around children without promoting diet culture.
• Practical Fueling for Teen Athletes: How to handle the massive energy demands of high school runners and swimmers who practice multiple times a week.
• Cooler Strategies & Snack Ideas: Real-world tips for keeping high-energy and nutrient dense accessible snacks on hand for busy adolescent athletes on the go.

Mentioned Resources & Links:

• Connect with Erin Kesterson: Fuel Your Sport
• Follow Erin on Instagram
• Youth Running Program: Run Hard
• Erin's book recommendation for the division of responsibility and tips for feeding your children
• Follow Stevie on Instagram

On this episode of Real Fuel with SLS I am joined by professional triathlete and endurance coach Lisa Becharas. We dive deep into the hilarious realities of racing, share unforgettable Ironman race-day blunders, and break down how the sport of triathlon has evolved over the years.

From navigating race announcer mispronunciations (and accidental identity swaps at the finish line!) to debating the true value of carbon-plated shoes and expensive bike gear, Lisa brings a grounded, refreshing perspective to endurance sports.

Whether you’re a seasoned age-grouper, a novice triathlete, or a seasoned pro, this conversation is packed with relatable insights, race-day banter, and practical wisdom on balancing training, injury recovery, and race expectations.

Key Takeaways & Highlights

• Race-Day Mishaps & Announcer Blunders: Hilarious finish line stories, including announcer name mishaps, AI jingles, and the iconic energy of Ironman Lake Placid.
• The Evolution of Triathlon: How the sport has shifted from grassroots, budget-friendly racing (aluminum frames and basic setups) to high-tech gear, carbon-plated shoes, and rising race entry fees.
• Smart Fueling & Gear Debates: Lisa shares her early triathlon days (and infamous "sports bean" fueling strategy) versus modern nutrition and equipment trends like aero bottles and carbon shoes.
• Training Philosophy & Expectations: Why peak training volume doesn't always need to be extreme to yield high-performing results—and how to avoid over-investing in gear over fitness.
• Overcoming Setbacks & Injury Recovery: The mental shift required when coming back from injury and finding gratitude in the process.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Welcome back to Real Fuel & introducing Pro Triathlete Lisa Becharas
• 01:00 – The hilarious truth behind Ironman finish line announcers & name mix-ups
• 03:10 – SLS returns to triathlon: Returning to 70.3 racing after 7 years
• 04:40 – The endless gear chase: Aero testing, bike gear, and round bottle debates
• 06:20 – Swimming vs. Biking: Overcoming the cold pool struggle & training dynamics
• 11:15 – Lisa’s journey into triathlon: From sports beans and aluminum bikes to going pro
• 15:00 – The humbling reality of jumping from elite amateur to professional racing
• 18:20 – Grassroots triathlon vs. today’s high-tech, expensive race culture
• 23:30 – The competitive surge in age-group racing & the impact of carbon shoes
• 26:38 – Running form, injury prevention, and building consistency on the run

Links & Resources

• 📱 Follow Lisa on Instagram: @lisabecharas
• 📱 Follow Stevie on Instagram: @stevielynlyn
• 🌐 Learn More / Services: Stevie Lyn Nutrition
• 🎧 Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!