Tri Beginner‘s Luck

TIME TO TRI: PART 1 with Madison Milbert and Ronnie Ham

It’s beginner’s season.  Well, actually it’s always beginner season for us because there is always a race to learn to TRI.   For the month of June, we will highlight beginners as they share their stories.  It’s the modern day race report if you digg.  

This week’s featured beginners are: Madison Milbert and Ronnie Ham.

Madison Milbert is a recent graduate of the Naval Academy and after her NCAA Division 1 swim career she was looking for a way to stay active during her transition season: graduation and soon medical school.  Madison’s story is fun, fast, and fierce! 

Ronnie Ham  was born to overcome.  From being premature to almost drowning 6 times when he was younger to now starting his journey to become a triathlete.  Ronnie understands that to realize his dreams he must overcome his fears. This story is great with lots of extra miles and turns.  The vulnerability is striking and will tug on your heart while leaving you inspired to be grounded in gratitude because after all we are privileged to Tri. 

Don’t forget to leave a review, share it with your friends, and Follow Tri Beginner's luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  imreadyto@tribeginnersluck.com.  

Cheers to defying the odds and being trailblazers,  Let’s Tri this! 

 

Get your mind right with Vanessa Faye Foerster

This week’s episode hits differently. We talking about training, it’s just a different kind of training. 

If we don’t train well, we won’t perform well. This goes for our BRAINS as much as our bodies. You wouldn’t skip a physical workout - so don’t skip on the mental training either! The body won’t achieve what the mind can’t conceive. So, this week, we talk about how to get your mind on board for the ride!   

We talk with Vanessa Faye Foerster, who is known for training well physically and mentally.  She is a mental endurance coach and the podcast host of Train Your Mind. 

We chat about Vanessa’s introduction to the sport,  how she borrowed her dad’s bike (envision a bike for a 6’3” man yet a 5’6” woman),  is a certified public accountant, coached for Orange Theory, and then made the leap to follow her passion. 

This episode is full of gems and wisdom.  I would like to think of it as a master class.  Get your mind right for this episode! Run to listen/ view on your favorite listening platform. 

Don’t forget to leave a review, share it with your friends, and Follow Tri Beginner's luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  imreadyto@tribeginnersluck.com.  

Cheers to defying the odds and being trailblazers,  Let’s Tri this! 

Bonus Miles Conversation: Michanda’s start as an announcer

In the beginning... there is always a story about one's start. Here is a highlight conversation of my start as an endurance race announcer.

Talking A Good Race with Ken Berger

Some talk a good game and some talk a good race.  Ken Berger can do both!  As a former collegiate athlete,  a triathlete, and a race announcer, Ken knows how to bring the energy to a race.  

Where do we begin with Ken’s extensive career?  When he was a beginner triathlete of course! As a Captain in the US Marines stationed in Pensacola, Florida the triathlon bug bit him.  He was an early participant in some of triathlon’s most classic races, such as the Bud Light tri-series, and announcing Olympic races. 

At 71 years young, Ken Berger is still at it, bringing his years of experience to be better than ever.  During our conversation, you’ll hear some amazing stories and learn some triathlon history.  

Ken loves to teach and mentor as he shares his gifts with others.  Michanda, the host of  Tri Beginner’s Luck, has had the privilege of studying under his mentorship.  Ken has always been ahead of his time and for that, we honor his contribution to ensuring access to announcing and welcoming diversity with open arms.  Without Ken, we might not even have a Tri Beginner’s Luck podcast!  

Don’t forget to leave a review, share it with your friends, and Follow Tri Beginner's luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  imreadyto@tribeginnersluck.com.  

Cheers to defying the odds and being trailblazers,  Let’s Tri this!

Brilliant on the Basics with Mangai Hosang

This episode may hurt a little. We chat about the training we love to hate: Strength, Flexibility, and Mobility. 

Mangai Hosang is a certified Strength and Conditioning coach, USA Triathlon Level 1 Coach and level 3 official,  and USA Weightlifting Level 1 coach to name a few of his credentials.  He knows body mechanics and geeks out on the science of it all.  

If you don’t have a strong foundation,  you can kiss longevity goodbye in any sport.  We come to fully understand his favorite phrase “ Brilliant on the Basics.”   Mangai gives it to us straight with no chaser.   It’s up to you to bring the ice when you listen/view if you want this episode chilled.

Cheers!!!

 

Don’t forget to leave a review, share it with your friends, and Follow Tri Beginner's luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  imreadyto@tribeginnersluck.com.  

Let’s Tri this! 

Give back, Tri Forward with Jocelyn Wong Neill

Advocate. Activist. Athlete. A Mother. The First Asian-American Professional Triathlete, Jocelyn Wong Neill.   

At 18 years old, life for Jocelyn was full of adventure and trying new things.  After a college injury, Jocelyn pivoted, and her athletic career truly began.  A friend challenged her to join the cycling team, which meant she needed a bike.  So,  Jocelyn did what any 18-year-old would do. She used her scholarship money to get a beautiful new road bike.  Responsible right? 

Well, that decision was just the beginning of what would become a new athletic pursuit and career.  Along the journey, Jocelyn decided to  volunteer at Ironman California, which is now Ironman 70.3 Oceanside and this ultimately started her Tri journey. At 20, she did her first Ironman in Wisconsin and earned her pro card in 2009.   

Currently, Jocelyn is living her best life as a mother,  training for the next adventure, working as a certified prosthetist-orthotist, advocating for more Asians in sport, and curating the perfect team for the JFK 50 miler - “Crazy Fit Asians”. 

Jocelyn is hilarious and this episode will surely entertain and inform you. 

Don’t forget to leave a review, share it with your friends, and Follow Tri Beginner's luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  imreadyto@tribeginnersluck.com.  

Let’s Tri this! 

 

The Future Awaits with Soj Jibowu

We’ve heard Gandhi’s advice to, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”.”  Well,  I would like to adapt that a bit:  “ If you want to see a change, create the change you want to see!”  This challenge is accepted by the Founder of Varlo Apparel, Soj Jibowu, presenting the fastest growing apparel company in multisport.  

Soj started his triathlon journey circa 2016. At TBL we’ve always advised that you don’t have to buy fancy clothing or equipment to get started. Varlo Apparel agrees! Soj is very resourceful and made every penny count to create this exciting brand.  He has over 60 races under his belt, and he is a former Division 1 athlete,  with many school records. As a younger athlete, he could not have imagined that everything he had learned would be challenged someday.   

After a few years in sport, Soj researched everything he could about apparel brands because he knew he would only have one shot to get it right.  Soj’s vision is not just to have the best apparel company, but to change the landscape of the sport and introduce it to as many people as can be reached. Varlo is not just apparel. It’s a lifestyle!

This apparel brand sponsors pro athletes and supports a growing team of ambassadors. So, what’s next for Varlo? Anything they can dream about, as the future awaits. 

Don’t forget to leave a review, share it with your friends, and Follow Tri Beginner's luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  imreadyto@tribeginnersluck.com.  

Let’s Tri this! 

Life without Compromise with Bill Shufelt

When you wake up at 4 am to work out and create significant gains, you don’t want to ruin that with empty calories. What we put into our bodies as athletes matters! 

But, what you don’t expect is to be put in the penalty box when you turn down a drink at happy hour.  Well,  “Nobody puts Bill in a corner”, and Bill was having none of it!  

Bill Shufelt created Athletic Brewing Company to promote community, health, and fitness so athletes can live life without compromise.  Then, he continued to give back to the  multisport community through the robust ambassador program and ABC has become the Official Beer of Ironman as the Global Sponsor.  Please get into this! 

The conversation has range, depth, and so much wisdom! So Let’s go ALL OUT and  RUN WILD as we turn UPSIDE DAWN on the FREE WAVE of life and listen to this podcast episode!  

Don’t forget to leave a review, share it with your friends, and Follow Tri Beginner's luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  imreadyto@tribeginnersluck.com.  

 

Let’s Tri this! 

The Golden Rule with Doc Halliday Golden

Doc Halliday Golden is a woman of many talents. She is a motivational speaker, coach, and triathlete who has completed over 90 races during her athletic journey.    

Volunteering has its benefits and Doc learned early about the power of volunteerism and how it can lead you to a hobby you didn’t know you needed. As a result of volunteering with Lifetime’s NYC Triathlon, she was granted free entry to race the following year.  Good thing she had  12 months to get her act together and learn the sport. 

Doc takes us on her triathlon journey, the importance of a tri team/club/community, and how she started coaching.  This episode doesn’t disappoint. 

Don’t forget to leave a review, share it with your friends, and Follow Tri Beginner's luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  imreadyto@tribeginnersluck.com.  

 

Let’s Tri this! 

Y Tri - Why Not? With Larry Atkins

Saying  YES to trying a triathlon can be a scary choice to make.   Once you commit, you start to ask so many questions:   Where do I start?  How do I train?  What do I need? How long should I train?  Can I really do this? Why did I say yes? 

Then you start to feel all the feels like you can conquer the world!  You feel happy, excited, scared, uncertain, and confused, but deep down you are proud of yourself for stepping up to a new challenge. 

That’s when it’s time to find a club to help you reach your goals.  In this episode, we talk with the Head Coach of the Capital Y-Tri Triathlon Team, Larry Atkins.   We learn about Larry’s journey and why having a strong community is so important.    We discuss the difference between a club and a team.  We break down how Y-Tri has been so successful over the years with the all-volunteer coaching staff.  They have introduced over 1,000 newbies to the sport and we couldn’t be more excited for you to hear for yourself and perhaps decide to Tri! 

Don’t forget to leave a review, share this with your friends, and Follow Tri Beginner's luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  imreadyto@tribeginnersluck.com.  

Let’s Tri this!