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:

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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:

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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:

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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

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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==

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Laura, Maggie, and Holly reunite in person on Average Age Groupers, first joking about Maggie’s nonstop travel and their strong opinions on socks, then shifting to open-water swimming tips ahead of Ironman Wisconsin. They discuss why wetsuits can feel safer, how a wetsuit should fit (tight, worked up around shoulders), sleeved vs sleeveless options, buoyancy shorts, caring for gear, and using Body Glide or TriSlide to prevent chafing and help with donning. They share sighting strategies like “crocodile eyes,” handling chop, drafting, avoiding traffic when stopping, staying wide for space, and using swim buoys for visibility and flotation. They briefly cover Ironman Wisconsin’s two-loop swim and strong water support, note current-assisted swims like Oregon 70.3, and update that Aaron is out of Ironman Wisconsin after re-breaking his collarbone and seeking a deferral.

00:00 Reunited In Person

00:12 Maggie Travel Chaos

01:31 The Great Sock Debate

03:34 Podcast Intro Updates

04:49 Open Water Swim Basics

07:47 Wetsuit Safety And Fit

10:57 Sleeves Brands And Care

14:51 Buoyancy Shorts Option

15:38 Sighting Like A Crocodile

19:50 Race Navigation And Drafting

24:24 Swim Buoys And Visibility

25:32 Chafing Lube And Comfort

29:28 Fear Creatures And Confidence

32:04 Swim Fears and Motivation

33:16 Ironman Wisconsin Swim Breakdown

36:57 Ocean and Choppy Swim Tips

40:22 Current Assisted Swim Hype

42:20 Oregon 70.3 Beginner Friendly

44:39 Aaron Injury Wisconsin Update

47:06 Spectating Plans and Games

50:16 Chequamegon MTB Prep Talk

54:03 Guests Team Updates and Wrap

Listen to the Pod here:

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

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

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#triathlon #unboundgravel #podcast #gravelbiking #gravelride

On Average Age Groupers, hosts Laura, Holly, Maggie, and Alyssa (returning guest) talk with Alyssa about how she became an endurance athlete, starting with swimming in Kansas, dabbling in college swimming and ultimate Frisbee, then discovering cycling during her LDS mission in California. She recounts buying her first road bike in 2015, doing an early sprint triathlon and multiple century rides, and learning race basics the hard way, including bonking, cramping, and her now-signature mustard packets. After moving to the DC area in 2017, she completed Ironman 70.3 Eagleman in 2018 and later shifted away from triathlon toward cycling. She shares how riding supports her mental health, how her friend Brian’s death shaped her motivation, and why she rode Unbound in his honor, including a stormy 200-mile experience. Alyssa also discusses run-club community, marathons, favorite places to ride, and possible future races like Steamboat.

00:00 Mic Stand Banter

00:19 Meet Alyssa

01:15 Swim Roots

03:16 Mission Bike Life

07:03 First Real Road Bike

08:43 First Tri And Century

13:02 Mustard Cramp Hack

16:24 Solo Riding Era

20:05 Move To DC Eagleman

25:25 Half Ironman Lessons

26:53 Cycling Focus And Loss

29:21 Unbound For Brian

32:41 Racing Mindset Wins

35:04 Racing With Friends

36:32 Cyclist Not Triathlete

37:42 Run Club Origins

39:20 Marathon Misery Lessons

43:38 Run And Raft Plans

45:55 Favorite Places To Ride

50:45 Kansas Gravel And Storms

54:01 Cold Weather Training Hacks

57:56 Next Season Race Calendar

01:00:58 Unbound Short Course Dreams

01:02:12 Wrap Up And Farewell

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The Average Age Groupers share a race recap from Ironman 70.3 Northern California in Redding, California, noting early recording technical issues. Laura describes her first-ever DNF, exiting the non-wetsuit-legal swim (78.1°F) after repeated stops, chaotic contact, difficulty sighting into the sun, and limited visible water support; she’s extracted by paddleboard/boat, returns barefoot to spectators, and later spectates with help from Casey’s VIP access. Holly, Laura and Claire recount a disorienting swim with left turns and a “gate” between red buoys, sun glare, heavy contact, and a possibly long course. Holly details a scenic but hard bike with steep descents, wind, crashes, poor etiquette, false flats, and hot conditions, then a hilly, hot run with walk-run strategies, ibuprofen, and a hamstring cramp near mile 10 before finishing. Claire finishes strong, meets the mayor mid-run, chases a sub-six, but gets severe chafing from peeing while running; Casey medals her. They criticize the new 70.3 Worlds slot “performance pool” math after Claire’s rankings drop despite a small age-adjustment, and they discuss upcoming plans including Maggie’s Chequamegon mountain bike race and recovery goals.

00:00 Welcome and Audio Disclaimer

01:08 Race Recap Setup

02:09 Laura DNF Swim Story

09:16 Tech Fix and Pre Swim Vibes

10:31 Swim Course Chaos and Sun Glare

18:11 Swim Contact and Wetsuit Traffic

21:22 DNF Logistics and VIP Help

24:02 T1 Moments and Heading Out

26:21 Bike Course Beauty and Early Descent

31:44 Bike Etiquette and Course Difficulty

35:10 False Flats Steep Turns and Taking Souls

37:43 Women Finishers and Awards Questions

39:04 Bike Course Highlights

40:12 Urban Roads and Underpass

41:09 T2 Troubles and Blisters

45:49 Run Start and Survival Mode

49:48 Claire Run Strategy and Mayor

54:42 Cramping and Aid Stations

58:21 Finish Line and VIP Medal

01:00:47 Chafing Confession and Sub Six Push

01:04:44 Would We Race Again

01:05:17 Slot Allocation Controversy

01:11:24 Next Races and Wrap Up