297 - Alan Ford

This week on The Everyday Ironman Podcast, returning guest Colin Lord is back to share his road to the 2026 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Nice. Colin is the perfect example of determination, and he doesn’t sugarcoat the journey.We hear the good, the bad, and the ugly: the injury that threatened his season, the PRs that made the hard work worthwhile, and the bad races where absolutely everything went wrong. Colin breaks down what he learned from each one and how he kept showing up, even when it would’ve been easier not to.If you’ve ever battled an injury, bombed a race you trained months for, or wondered if the work is worth it, Colin’s story will remind you why you started. Qualifying for a World Championship takes more than fitness. It takes grit.Support the show

Damien Black is back on The Everyday Ironman Podcast, and this time he's bringing some serious race-day stories! Damien joins us less than two hours after crossing the finish line at Ironman Australia. Talk about fresh off the course! We catch up on his latest Ironman adventure, hear about the experience, and discuss what it takes to tackle one of triathlon's ultimate endurance challenges. Of course, no conversation with Damien would be complete without a little fun, and he has a familiar target for his running shoe addiction: Ashley! Is she really responsible for Damien's growing collection of running shoes, or is he just looking for someone to blame? Join us for a post-race conversation filled with triathlon stories, laughs, and plenty of age-group athlete camaraderie.#EverydayIronman #IronmanAustralia #Triathlon #AgeGroupAthlete #IronmanJourney #TriathlonPodcastSupport the show

This week on The Everyday Ironman Podcast, we sit down with Alan Ford to talk about his journey through marathons, triathlons, and all things endurance sports. Alan takes us back to where it started and how one race led to the next, building the kind of passion most age groupers know well.Then Alan gets candid about something every athlete fears but few talk about openly: his DNF at the 2026 Ironman Chattanooga. He shares what happened on race day, how it felt to walk away from the course, and what he’s taken from the experience since.If you’ve ever had a race go sideways, wondered how to bounce back from a setback, or just love hearing the real story behind the finish-line photos, this episode is for you. Sometimes the toughest lessons come on the days that don’t go to plan.Support the show

What does it take to tackle two Ironman-distance challenges in one weekend? 💪 This week on The Everyday Ironman Podcast, Les Shaeffer joins the conversation to share his endurance journey, competitive mindset, and experience completing the incredible Wisconsin Double!Les and Ashley both race for Team Heartland in the Ozarks, bringing a shared team connection to the discussion. Although Les grew up playing sports, including contact sports, his endurance journey began early when he started distance running at just nine years old. That early introduction to running helped lay the foundation for the competitive spirit that continues to drive him toward ambitious goals.Les recently completed the Wisconsin Double, taking on a 70.3-mile race on Saturday followed by a full Ironman on Sunday! We explore what motivates athletes to pursue extraordinary challenges and how a competitive mindset can push age-group athletes beyond what they thought possible.Tune in for inspiration to dream big and keep chasing your goals!#EverydayIronman #Triathlon #AgeGroupAthlete #Ironman #WisconsinDouble #TeamHeartland #EnduranceSportsSupport the show

This week on The Everyday Ironman Podcast, we welcome Jason Aarhus fresh off the Barkley Fall Classic, one of the most brutal and legendary trail races in the world. Jason gives us a vivid breakdown of the course, including the infamous off-trail climbs known as Rat Jaw, Meth Lab, and Testicle Spectacle, and what it really feels like to claw your way up them.Here's the part that will make every age grouper pay attention: Jason completed the marathon distance with only six weeks of training. We dig into how he approached such a short build, what he'd do differently, and what his endurance base from triathlon did for him when the terrain turned nasty.If you're looking for a new challenge beyond the Ironman finish line, or need proof that you're capable of more than you think, this episode is for you.Support the show

On this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, Pam and Kevin Coleman join the conversation. Kevin, an active poster in the Pathetic Triathletes Group, and Pam bring plenty of personality—and an impressive collection of endurance experiences—to the show.Kevin shares how he turns the stress of teaching Pre-K through 5th grade music into energy for leading high-energy Latin dance classes, teaching Zumba, and eventually hitting the track for speed work. Pam, a pathologist, jokes that she’s the kind of doctor nobody wants to see, sharing her past experience performing autopsies and her current work diagnosing disease.The couple talks about Kevin’s 50-mile race in Daytona, their long-distance swimming experiences, what actually qualifies as a marathon swim, and how they met after their Ironman races were canceled in 2020. They also open up about loss, grief, healing, and the importance of having someone beside you through life’s toughest miles.#TheEverydayIronman #Triathlon #AgeGroupAthletes #Ironman #EnduranceSports #MarathonSwimming #Ultrarunning #Triathlete #PatheticTriathletesSupport the show

This week on The Everyday Ironman Podcast, we sit down with Kyle Berry — Instagram personality and one of the most refreshingly honest voices in the triathlon space. Kyle doesn't post the highlight reel. He shares the good, the bad, and the genuinely hard parts of training when the goal isn't a podium, it's just showing up and doing the work, even while carrying a few extra pounds along the way.Kyle takes us through his race history, including Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga and Ironman 70.3 Boulder, and gets real about what those races taught him. Now he's deep into training for Ironman 70.3 Haines City, and we talk about what's different this time around.If you've ever felt like you don't look like the "typical" triathlete, this conversation is for you. Kyle's story is proof that consistency and honesty matter more than having it all figured out.Support the show

In this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, Ana Stevens and Olivia Camp join the conversation to share their recent experiences at the Chicago Triathlon! Ana, daughter of previous guest John Stevens, and Olivia have been friends for years and grew up participating in sports together, making their journey into triathlon a natural extension of their shared athletic backgrounds.We talk about their Chicago Triathlon experience, including the important race-day decision of dropping off your gear the morning of the race versus getting everything set up the day before. They share the pros and cons of both approaches, along with practical advice for anyone preparing for their first triathlon.Most importantly, this conversation is a reminder that triathlon doesn't have to take over your life. Whether you're chasing a PR, completing your first race, or simply trying something new, it's perfectly OK not to become obsessed with the sport. Find what works for you and enjoy the journey!#TheEverydayIronman #Triathlon #AgeGroupAthlete #ChicagoTriathlon #TriathlonTraining #FirstTriathlon #TriathlonTips #EverydayIronmanSupport the show

This week on The Everyday Ironman Podcast, we welcome Eren Hasan to talk about his journey into the sport and his race at Ironman 70.3 Duisburg — a race he won't fully remember, and not by choice.Eren opens up about learning to swim as an adult and making the leap from a road bike to a TT bike, sharing what surprised him along the way. He's also honest about breaking one of triathlon's cardinal rules — trying new things on race day.But the real story here is what happened on the bike course. Eren crashed during the ride and has zero memory of it — over 40km is simply gone. He only realized something happened when he noticed the scratches on his legs afterward. We talk through that experience, what it's like to piece together a race you can't remember, and what it means for how he approaches training and racing now.Support the show

Sean Duffey joins Mike and Ashley for a conversation that blends family, youth sports, and the journey into triathlon! 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♂️🏃‍♂️Sean grew up playing baseball and basketball and now coaches his own children in youth sports. That leads the crew down an interesting rabbit hole: Why is youth soccer so popular in America, yet the U.S. hasn’t embraced the sport quite like the rest of the world? ⚽️🌎Sean also shares how he made the decision to enter the world of triathlon and what drew him toward the sport. And, of course, Mike finds a reason to question Ashley’s secret identity when he discovers Sean’s wife is also named Ashley! 😂With an 11-year-old son, Liam, who plays soccer and swims, there may already be another future endurance athlete in the family.It’s another fun, relatable conversation about family, sports, and finding your way into triathlon!#TheEverydayIronman #Triathlon #Ironman #AgeGroupAthlete #YouthSports #TriathlonJourney #EnduranceSports #Swimming #Cycling #RunningSupport the show