We hit 700,000 downloads—and after a few unexpected weeks away from the microphone, Jill is back.

For this episode, she’s joined in person by Nicki Atkinson, the newest coach at Be Fierce Multisport, for a conversation that starts with Nicki’s story and ends up getting at something much bigger: what exactly are we building at Be Fierce?

Nicki shares how watching Julie Moss crawl toward the Ironman finish line planted the seed for triathlon, how she eventually found her way into the sport herself, and why helping athletes accomplish things they didn’t think were possible pulled her toward coaching.

Jill also talks about the cycling crash and concussion that kept her away from the podcast for a few weeks, including the strange process of figuring out a return to training and the role AI played in helping her organize the questions she needed to answer. That leads to a bigger conversation about AI and coaching: a training plan is relatively easy to generate. Understanding the human being trying to execute it is something else entirely.

They also dig into women’s participation in endurance sports, some of the barriers that keep people from getting started, the increasing cost and complexity of triathlon, and why creating access and community matters.

And then there’s everything happening at Be Fierce: coaching, bike fitting, the bike shop, an endurance-focused training space, group cycling, the podcast, and the growing Be Fierce & Tri Club. They may look like separate things, but they’re all being built around the same idea.

You don’t have to be the fastest person in the room. You don’t have to have the perfect equipment. You don’t even have to know exactly what you’re doing yet.

If there’s something hard you want to take on, yes, you can.

Be Fierce. Be You. You Belong Here.

In this episode:

Meet Coach Nicki Atkinson

The moment that made Nicki want to become a triathlete

Jill’s return after her cycling crash and concussion

Why a coach is more than a training plan

ChatGPT, AI and the limits of automated coaching

Women, confidence and participation in endurance sports

Making triathlon and endurance training more accessible

The Be Fierce training center, cycling studio and bike shop

Why bike fitting belongs in the same ecosystem

Nicki’s road to her first Ironman at Lake Placid

Why we created the Be Fierce & Tri Club

What “You Belong Here” means to us

The discussion of Jill’s concussion and return to training reflects her personal experience and is not medical advice.

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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Professional triathlete Carolyn Olsen joins the podcast to discuss her journey from age-group athlete to professional racer and the lessons she's learned along the way.

From qualifying for Kona and winning IRONMAN Texas as an amateur to overcoming mechanical failures, DNFs, and race-day adversity, Carolyn shares the highs, lows, and realities of competing at the highest level of long-course triathlon.

Jill and Carolyn also dive into:

• What separates professional racing from age-group competition
• Why a DNF is not the end of your story
• Managing open-water anxiety
• Building confidence through experience
• Why coaching matters more than simply training harder
• Finding perspective when races don't go according to plan

This episode is a reminder that every finish line—and every setback—has something to teach us.

🌐 https://befiercemultisport.com

📸 Instagram: @thetrimom

🎙️ Be Fierce & Tri Podcast

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What was it really like to race IRONMAN Lake Placid 2026?

Fresh off the finish line, Coach Jill Bartholomew sits down with fellow triathlon coach Thomas Skelton to unpack one of the most memorable editions of IRONMAN Lake Placid in recent years.

From smoky skies caused by Canadian wildfires to surprisingly windy bike conditions, crowded swims, mechanical mishaps, and the mental challenges of adapting when race day doesn't go according to plan, this episode is an honest conversation between two experienced coaches who also happened to be racing.

Whether you're preparing for your first Ironman, chasing a Kona qualification, or simply love hearing behind-the-scenes stories from one of triathlon's most iconic races, you'll come away with practical lessons that apply well beyond Lake Placid.

• Race week in Lake Placid, including wildfire smoke, changing weather, and race-day conditions
• Why this year's swim felt more physical than previous editions
• Swim pacing, drafting, and navigating crowded open-water starts
• The Lake Placid bike course, including the Keene descent and changing wind conditions
• Equipment decisions and the challenges of racing on new equipment
• Common race-day mechanical problems and how to prepare for them
• Racing while simultaneously coaching athletes
• The value of volunteering at triathlon events
• Mental strategies for adapting when your race doesn't unfold as planned
• Lessons both coaches will take into future races

🌐 Be Fierce Multisport
https://befiercemultisport.com

🎙️ Follow the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast for weekly conversations about triathlon, endurance sports, runDisney, cycling, training, coaching, nutrition, and the stories that inspire athletes to chase big goals.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a training partner—it helps us reach more athletes every week.

Be Fierce. Be You.

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.