Chrissie Wellington is a four time Ironman World Champion. She won all 13 of the 13 Ironman races she entered and set an incredible World Record, which stood for 12 years until it was beaten by Daniela Ryf. Since retiring, Chrissie has become a Mum and continued to inspire people around the World by dedicating herself to improve people's health and wellbeing through Parkrun.

You'll hear:

07:00 We talk about the pie of life, taking different paths in life, choice and compromise

10:00 Listening to your gut to explore new things

13:00 What does Chrissie mean by her book title 'A Life Without Limits'?

19:00 Does Chrissie remember the first time we met? Oh there are some good stories in this section!!!

34:00 Why Chrissie enjoyed doing endurance challenges when she retired from professional sport, to avoid having an outcome goal.

38:00 The satisfaction of helping others, which can be more enjoyable than going for a certain time yourself. And why Chrissie took so much from being part of a team to help Sam Perkins cross the finish line in a marathon.

43:00 The bigger picture of being able to inspire others through sport. 'We can each pay it forward and that's the beauty to me of sport, much less about your own achievement. There's a deep satisfaction of achieving your goal, but there is so much more to it."

47:00 Why it can be hard to step away when you have a platform and you are good at something.

58:00 Knowing that there's life beyond triathlon for professional sports people and that your self worth is more spacious than you as swim bike run.

1.00:00 What was it like seeing Daniela Ryf breaking Chrissie's World Record?

1:06:00 Out of change comes opportunity.

Find out more about this week's guest:

Chrissie Wellington Twitter

Chrissie Wellington website

Joanne Murphy Tri Talking Sport Podcast with Helen, October 2023

skimarathon.ch/en/">Engadin Cross Country Ski Marathon, Switzerland!!!!

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A note from Helen

This is the last episode of the Inside Tri Show. This conversation with Chrissie sums up so much of why I am stopping. I have done more than I thought possible and I am signing off with a very happy heart. This podcast would never have got to twenty two episodes, let alone two episodes, if it wasn't for you listening and supporting me and for my guests taking the time to talk to me.

I am so grateful for the friendships the podcast has brought me, the connections I have made and the life lessons I have learnt. It's been an absolute pleasure and I hope it will continue to inspire people in the world of endurance sports. Thank you xx

Laura Siddall has been a professional triathlete since 2013. She is a multiple Ironman Champion and although she comes from Great Britain, she lives and trains abroad and has spend time in the USA, New Zealand and Spain. At the age of 42, Laura finished twice in the top ten at the Ironman World Championships in 2022.

You'll hear:

05:00 Laura talks through the tough time she has had since an accident during the bike leg of Ironman Brazil 2023, which resulted in a head injury. She doesn't remember what happened, and while she didn't break any bones, a CT scan showed she had a bleed on the brain.

11:00 Some of the side effects of the traumatic injury Laura sustained and how she has been dealing with those and why it's been so challenging.

15:00 Why saying to people 'I have a brain injury' is so hard.

26:00 Sharing her recovery journey Vs not sharing her recovery journey

30:00 We talk about meeting for the first time and why Sid has a heart of gold and always does stuff for other people.

37:00 Some of the ways that I've been inspired to do adventures following the podcast.

39:00 Some of Sid's highlights of her career as a professional triathlete.

42:00 How does Sid find life in Boulder?

45:00 DNF and DNS

48:00 Sid asks which have been the hardest interviews for me to do?

50:00 How do we think triathlon has changed in the past decade?

Find out more about this week's guest:

Laura Siddall Instagram

Laura Siddall website

MOVE Charity website

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Lucy Gossage and Nikki Bartlett don’t need much of an introduction to triathlon audiences. They’ve both regularly been on the podium across Ironman and 70.3 races over the last decade, Nikki won Ironman Wales 2023, Lucy won in Wales three times. While Nikki is still competing, these days Lucy works as an Oncologist and loves doing endurance adventures in her spare time.  She also dedicates lots of time to MOVE Charity, to help and inspire people to move against cancer.  

You'll hear:

00:00 Where the mind goes during an Ultra marathon and an Ironman triathlon.

05:00 Lucy tells a story about Nikki's first trail race, when she didn't have GPS on her watch.

07:00 Lucy talks about the first time she and Helen met... when Helen was making a radio documentary about Ironman in 2013. And then Nikki recalls meeting Helen for the first time, just before her pro debut in 2015.

11:00 How their friendship has grown stronger over the years, especially more since Lucy has retired.

14:00 How daunting it is turning pro and how Lucy emailed Nikki just before her first pro race.

15:00 Imposter syndrome for professional athletes.

17:00 "It's crazy that people put professional athletes on pedestal"

18:00 Does Lucy miss anything about racing as a professional?

21:00 Why Lucy and Nikki get sad when they see age groupers being really strict with their training and not keeping it fun.

25:00 The feeling of things just flowing and feeling fun and enjoyable.

28:00 Things that Nikki's looking forward to once she finishes racing and why she doesn't intend to swim when she doesn't need to.

33:00 The timing of making a change. When is the right time to let go?

38:00 We talk about some of the episodes that have made an impact on us. We also talk about Inside Tri Show, putting together a podcast, the work involved.

52:00 The most chopper thing Nikki and Lucy have done!

Find out more about this week's guest:

Nikki Bartlett Instagram

Lucy Gossage website

MOVE Charity website

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After 9 months of training, a group of female listeners aka 'The Dream Team' head to North Wales, to take on THE ROC triathlon to inspire other women and raise money for MOVE Charity. THE ROC Wales offers a unique race format, involving a sea swim, cycling to the bottom of the highest mountain in Wales, a run up and down Yr Wyddfa, cycling back to the start and a 1km run on the beach to finish. How did they get on? Plus host Helen has some big news to share.

You'll hear:

• An update from Beth, Millie, Nia, Ceri and Meg ahead of the race
• Mixed feelings on race day morning
• Post-race elation from The Dream Team and other Inside Tri Show listeners
• Relatable stories from normal women doing amazing things
• Some huge news from Helen - keep listening!

Find out more about this week's guest:

Sponsor The Dream Team and raise money for MOVE Charity

THE ROC Instagram

THE ROC website

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Listener Discounts

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Hannah Saitch took the female win at Ironman Wales in 2022, she's notched up two top five finishes at Norseman and has qualified for Kona. She's also done some of the toughest triathlons and events in the World, from riding Wales in Day, to doing extreme triathlons. All while juggling training with her job as an anaesthetist and having adventures with her husband Matt.

You'll hear:

06:00 Hannah explains how she used to be a rower but struggled to mix rowing with training to be a Doctor, and dipper her toes into triathlon in 2008, borrowing her Father in law's bike!

09:30 How Hannah's childhood shaped her love for sport, especially for rowing.

12:00 Who was the outdoorsy one when Hannah met her husband Matt? Was it Matt or Hannah who had the huge love of the mountains and the outdoors?

13:00 Why Hannah was happy 'winging it' didn't get a coach for a few years and what made her want to get a coach to help her with her training.

16:00 How Hannah manages to train around her job as an anaesthetist, and how she juggled training in the past with tough working hours and shift patterns.

21:00 We talk about training guilt and balancing the selfishness with that sense of happiness and enjoyment too.

23:00 Why enjoyment goals are so much more important to Hannah than time goals and why enjoying the process is really crucial to her.

29:00 How Hannah ended up entered into Patagonman and what the experience was like.

37:00 Hannah talks about her progress from an average age group finish at Ironman Wales, to winning the women's race nine years later. Hannah explains why getting a coach and learning how to cycle properly were key to her success as well as working on her run.

42:00 Some of the changed that Hannah's seen in triathlon since she first started it in 2008 - the good and the bad.

43:00 What is it that makes Ironman Wales so special for Hannah?

Find out more about this week's guest:

Hannah Saitch Instagram

Justgiving THE ROC - Support Ceri, Millie, Nia, Beth, Meg and MOVE Charity

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Natalie Lawrence swam competitively until she was 15, when she fell out of love with swimming, before being invited onto the development programme by British Triathlon. She competed at the World Junior Triathlon Championships and then moved to Loughborough to study and start her journey on the World Class Programme. But she soon developed an eating disorder which led her to leaving the elite set-up. But Natalie still wanted to do triathlon and got her pro license for the first time in 2011. She's since had four children, all the time staying fit between her pregnancies and competing as an age grouper. But now at 36 she's gained her pro card again and says there's nothing to lost by giving it a crack.

You'll hear:

02:00 Heather from The Lake District got in touch to talk about having a larger body in triathlon. How there is a lack of support, equipment and information out there for plus size triathletes and the struggle to find triathlon suits and wetsuits for larger bodies.

19:00 Natalie talks about her background in swimming and triathlon

25:00 Natalie says she didn't fall in love initially with triathlon, it found her. She talks about her time at Loughborough University and being part of the British Triathlon set-up.

27:00 The moment of being weighed on the scales which Natalie was "the beginning of the downwards spiral." Natalie went on to develop an eating disorder 'that was my coping mechanism, but I was in total decline.'

34:00 Developing an exercise addiction. 'If I felt like I hadn't exercised then, I'd punish myself through not eating.'

37:00 The devil Vs the angel and how Natalie felt like she had to change her mindset when she became pregnant for the first time.

38:00 Natalie talks about being a mum to four children. she had four under four at one point!

40:00 How does Natalie fit her own training and work in around being a Mum?

41:00 How Natalie can currently get away with not swimming!

45:00 Why Natalie still wanted to be in triathlon, even once she left Loughborough.

46:00 Why Natalie has decided to go pro again at the age of 36 after winning Outlaw triathlon 2023. 'I'd rather do it and get my answer because life is too short. You don't know when life is up. If I can do it and I can do it alright, I'm going to give it a go.'

Find out more about this week's guest:

Natalie Lawrence Instagram

Natalie Lawrence coaching and athlete website

Heather Good Instagram

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Listener Discounts

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Ruth Astle started triathlon in 2013 when she was working in the city. Still while holding down her corporate job, she became overall age group world champion at Kona in 2019 before turning pro. She got her first pro ironman win at Mallorca on 2021, she came 5th at the ironman world championships in 2022 in St George. 2023 has been hampered by injury but Kona remains the aim. We talk about the mental ups and downs of being a pro triathlete, the need to just switch off and the support team around her …

You'll hear:

05:00 Start of the interview with Ruth

07:00 The need to take a break, go on holiday and switch off from triathlon and remind yourself there is a bigger world out there.

11:00 Why in her mind, 2023 has been a 'sh*t show'

17:00 The guilt and pressure of being injured and not being able to show sponsors your value.

20:00 John's question: Dealing with injury. Why it's okay to take an opportunity away from triathlon and training when you're injured. 'Don't bother with one-armed swimming, just take a break.'

25:00 Sarah's question: What's Ruth's set up and support crew like in Leeds? Who is in her corner? How does she train in Leeds?

30:00 Freddie's question: How should someone in their early 20s who is into triathlon approach triathlon and divide their time?

32:00 Has Ruth's passion for triathlon changed at all since she first started it in 2023? 'Looking back, I don't think I did the best job of mixing work and triathlon when I was an age grouper, but if I had done it differently, would I have got to the point of being good enough to be able to turn pro?'

36:00 Ruth's thoughts on Ironman struggling to fill slots for Kona and how they even offered any female who had raced at Ironman Tallinn a Kona slot.

43:00 Anne's question: What's it like dating Ali Brownlee? 'It's like dating any other guy. There are good times, there are times when he is really annoying. He is a human, people might be shocked to know this, but he is a human.'

Find out more about this week's guest:

Ruth Astle Instagram

Ruth Astle Youtube

Ruth Astle website

Tri Talking Sport website

Tri Talking Sport podcast on spotify - Helen recorded an interview with Joanne Murphy, so go and check it out when it's out!

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In 2019 John Haywood was diagnosed with two different types of cancer at the age of 45. The gym lover was told he may never be able to run again. So John brought a bike to build up his fitness. Three years later he cycled from Lands End to John o'Groats. The following year he completed Ironman Bolton, despite being knocked off his bike by a car during the cycle leg. John's message is simple, life is for living.

You'll hear:

06:00 John talks about being diagnosed with a very rare form of Sarcoma in September 2019 and then Hodgkin's Lymphoma a month later. He explains how he had his first surgery at the end of 2019.

09:00 John explains how he deals with things and how he tried not to overthink things after he was diagnosed with cancer.

12:00 How did John and his wife Claire deal with the fact that she works in cancer services and knows a lot about cancer.

14:00 John talks about the moment when he was told he might not ever be able to run again after sarcoma in his ankle, which he initially thought was a bruise.

19:00 John explains how he was treated for Lymphoma with radiotherapy while he was on crutches following two operations on his ankle for the sarcoma.

23:00 John talks about some of the side effects of his initial radiotherapy, which included fatigue and how he dealt with it.

26:00 The bike purchase in May 2020 that gave John a completely new direction in life.

28:00 What made John want to ride from Lands End to John o'Groats and how he turned it into a family adventure with his wife and daughter.

31:00 How a double cancer diagnosis gave John a clarity and a perspective that he didn't previously have.

35:00 Why did John want to enter Ironman Bolton?

37:00 How John's race nearly ended on the bike leg, due to a car driver turning onto the course and hitting John.

42:00 The Cancer support network that John has set up at work with Greater Manchester Police. 'It's like being in a club that nobody wants to be a member of"

44:00 We talk about cardio Vs strength workouts and how physical activity has helped John with his mental wellbeing. And why he's so passionate about MOVE Charity.

Find out more about this week's guest:

John Haywood Twitter

John Haywood Justgiving

MOVE Charity website

Sponsor the Inside Tri Show team taking on THE ROC

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Listener Discounts

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Lizzie Richardson is a runner from North Wales. She broke the women's record for the Paddy Buckley round in 2022, previously held by Jasmin Paris. Lizzie grew up in mid-Wales, with six sisters and had a very active childhood. At University she focussed on partying rather than running. In 2018 she supported her sister doing the Bob Graham round which planted a seed that she'd like to do a round of her own one day. This is the story of a normal woman doing amazing things. PLUS ! You'll hear Helen and Lowri Bowen talking about the practical side of taking on the Pan Celtic Race, what do you take, how much training do you need to do, how much planning is involved?

You'll hear:

05:00 What her childhood was like, growing up in rural mid-Wales.

09:00 Her sister's Bob Graham round that sparked her interest in doing a round of her own one day .

11:00 Signing up for a 75mile ultra on a whim, without doing much training. she finished first woman and second overall, despite doing it after a few too many rums the night before.

16:00 How does she keep pushing herself during ultras and rounds?

17:00 Lizzie explains what the Paddy Buckley is, how it works and what her experience of doing it was like.

23:00 How much training did Lizzie do for it? You might be surprised to hear the answer to this - lower volume, including speed work. Max 80-100km a week, only just before her taper.

27:00 How did the feel the morning of taking on the Paddy Buckley round and once she had completed it? 'The night before I was in bed and I told my husband I'm not doing it, I can't do it.'

32:00 Lizzie reveals she actually found out she was pregnant the week after doing the Paddy Buckley round, and she thinks she was 6 weeks pregnant when she did it.

35:00 Would Lizzie like to do more events and running when the time is right?

37:00 Lizzie says she finds Jasmin Paris and other female running friends really inspiring about the realities of becoming and mum and running. 'sometimes you do measure yourself up against other people but everyone's experience is so different and I'm just trying to prepare my body as much as possible.'

39:00 Lizzie opens up about her struggles with performance anxiety 'I'd be sick with nerves on the start line and it definitely holds me back. I'd perform so much better in a more relaxed setting.'

44:00 Hear from Lowri Bowen and Helen as they reflect on the practicalities of taking on The Pan Celtic Race as a pair in 2023. What did they pack, how did they plan their race, what sort of training did they do?

Find out more about this week's guest:

More about the Paddy Buckley Round

Lowri Bowen on Twitter

Pan Celtic Race website

Sponsor the Inside Tri Show team taking on THE ROC for MOVE Charity

Nicky Keay's Fuelling Your Health and Athletic Performance

Like what you heard?

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Listener Discounts

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Jess Learmonth is a firm fan’s favourite in triathlon. She swam until she was 15, but only came back to sport after taking time out to go travelling. She’d come home, was working in a supermarket and did a triathlon for charity. Little did she know how much that would change her life. Jess has gone on to become an Olympic gold medallist in the mixed relay, two time commonwealth silver medallist and World Triathlon Championship series runner up. And you can guarantee she’ll make you laugh too.

You'll hear:

• How Jess is continuing to train during her pregnancy
• Why her Paris Olympic dreams remain very much alive.
• Why she loves coaching
• Her passion for supporting people with dyslexia
• How sport gave her confidence
• Her go-to Lunch. It might not be what you think.
• About her laid back approach to life

Find out more about this week's guest:

Jess Learmonth Instagram

Jess Learmonth website

Justgiving link: Support and sponsor the fab 5 on their ROC journey for MOVE Charity

Like what you heard?

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GET YOUR HANDS ON AN EXCLUSIVE EPISODE!

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Or just support the show by buying Helen a coffee every month by becoming a coffee buddy Patreon of the Inside Tri Show.

Listener Discounts

For 15% Discount on FORM Swim goggles: https://www.formswim.com/pages/insidetrishow