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This week we have an in-depth conversation about all things triathlon with our guest, the editor of Triathlon Magazine Canada, Kevin Mackinnon. From the return of Ironman in Penticton, to Canada’s Olympic hopefuls to the shores of Lake Ontario, we cover it all. The post Return of the Mack: Fitspeek 135 with Kevin Mackinnon. first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

Or… everything you wanted to know about Nick Patenaude but were afraid (or too slow) to ask. What is in that water bottle? Why so happy? How did that MA make you a better/faster athlete? All these (and more) will be revealed in Fitspeek 134. Also on the show our Fitspeek Roundtable is back. Join Roy McBeth, Kevin Watt, and myself as we chat about some of the big local and international happenings in the world of endurance sports. 55 minutes of solar-inspired Fitspeek flows at the press of this button. The post Nick & His Tri-Nerds first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

This week on Fitspeek we celebrate the number 3! It is our 133rd podcast and we have a 3 ring circus to entertain and motivate you this weekend. First off, ATC is back in business. We have head coach Mikey Ross in for his Top Five List. Mikey gives advice about how to adapt those workouts you are scheduled to do, whether the source is from your coach, an Internet – based source, or a training app like Training Peaks. Up second on the podcast, is the first part of our conversation with one of the most colourful & charismatic folks in West Coast Multisport, Victoria’s Nick Patenaude. If you’ve ever been to a triathlon in BC and have seen the guy with the colour and crazy hair…. this is him. We Fitspeek about his transition from video game geek to duathlon dude, to representing Canada at the World Championships. We leave the last word to Dr. E on Between the Ears. If you are one of those folks who can talk the talk, but sometimes can’t follow through, the doc has some tips on how to “git-er-dun.” Do it now! 44 minutes of Fitspeek is here at the press of THIS button. The post The Power Trio: Fitspeek 133 first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

Although the authorities have said there is no travel between the different health districts in the province, Zoom knows no bounds, and neither does Fitspeek. In this week’s show the Abbotsford Triathlon Club’s head coach, Mikey Ross stops in for another Top Five List. He offers run pacing tips designed to help you go the distance. And for our interview segment We go the distance (in this case 50 minutes) with 2 of Canada’s age-group triathletes, Dave Matheson and Martin Caron. Although these guys were not your typical jocks growing up, after they discovered the sport of triathlon, they found their inner-athlete. We talk about their impressions on the new Ironman Canada course, how they spent the summer of 2020, and what they are looking forward to this summer. 60 minutes of Okanagan infused Fitspeek is available at the press of THIS button. The post Okanagan Bound! Fitspeek 132 with Martin Caron & Dave Matheson first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

With the latest travel restrictions imposed by the provincial government, we can see just how wise most race directors in the province were by cancelling events for 2021. As of April, we are in a holding pattern, with numbers of Covid still at a serious level but with vaccination rates skyrocketing weekly. There’s no bringing back a race, once it has been cancelled, but could you, would you, participate in a do it yourself event if travel restrictions were rescinded? That is the question we put to Fitspeek members Mikey Ross, Kevin Watt, & Roy McBeth. Hear the discussion question, as well as an update on the cycling and triathlon scene by pressing play below. The post Fitspeek 131: The Roundtable first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

Join us for a very entertaining hour this week on Fitspeek as we interview Australia’s “man of all things painful” – Cam Wurf. Talk about adaptability, this former Olympian rower, turned pro-cyclist (Ineos Grenadier), turned pro-triathlete, turned pro poop-disturber, turned father, is living in Andorra and making the most of the Covid 19 disruption. In our chat, we Fitspeek about why is living in Andorra, his return back to pro cycling, his distaste for blending social media with training, the importance of rivalries in endurance sports. And we end of the interview with some advice for you, the age group athlete, after all he is the Kona bike course record-holder. Doing what Aussies do best! Making sport interesting.Also on this week’s show, if you prefer running by yourself, you are in good company and in Mikey’s Top Five List we here about why that ain’t necessarily a bad thing. Hear it all now by pressing that play button below. The post Lungs & Legs for Hire: Fitspeek 130 with Cam Wurf first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

The post It’s coming to Fitspeek. Wurfspeeks. first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

and yes, Cam is talking Koalas here and not his competition in Kona.The post Coming soon to Fitspeek first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

The ingredients of a great swim session, eager swimmer, fins, world champion coach, and a medium double-doubleWe’re back with the second half of our interview with Mission’s Golden Boy, Brent Hayden. In this podcast we chat about his retirement from competitive swimming, his Swimming Secrets Program, and his not-so-secret comeback. Have TRON, will gloat!Also on the show this week, we are keeping it local and heading off to Maple Ridge for another CycloCentric conversation with Roy McBeth. The newsmaker this week, is the dedicated fella in the middle of this picture. And, oh yeah, we also talk about Lionel Sanders and Jan Frodeno. The perfect thing to listen to on the trainer during an easy ride, or as a companion for that weekend commute to ____________, Fitspeek 129 delivers another Olympic-sized dose of information & inspiration. Get your dose by pressing play below. The post Brent’s Back! Fitspeek 129: Brent Hayden & The Roundtable first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

DELHI, INDIA – OCTOBER 07: Brent Hayden of Canada celebrates finishing the Men’s 100m Freestyle Final in first place and wins the gold medal at the Dr. S.P. Mukherjee Aquatics Complex during day four of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games on October 7, 2010 in Delhi, India. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)On the program this time, our Olympic juggernaut continues from the world of swimming. Mission’s Brent Hayden has proven to be one of Canada’s outstanding athletes of the past 25 years. Not only is he a multiple Olympian and a world record-holder, he also has a burger named after him in a Mission pub! In part one of our interview with Brent, we find out about his journey from failing swimming lessons to the world championships and Olympics. Of course like any good story, Brent’s story is not paved with silk and he’s certainly had his share of potholes along the way including the unfortunate Athens Incident. Brent explains what happened that night in Fitspeek 128. Also on the show this week, Abbotsford Triathlon Coach, Mikey Ross stops by for another Top Five List. He’ll be giving us some timely advice on the benefits and the challenges of exercising with a new friend. Here it all by pressing play below. The post From Mission, With Love: Fitspeek 128, Brent Hayden first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

New blood is good for the soul. Even better when the new blood is an old buddy. This week Victoria’s Kelly Gleeson makes his Fitspee… er, Jag @ Henny’s debut to participate in a discussion of cover songs. Our newly crowned King of Rock Trivia (Conan) examines successful covers of Beatles songs. The rest of us … don’t. Hear it now by pressing play below. The post Jag @ Henny’z 23: Covers first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

First, the apology. The sound quality on this one is lacking, a poor connection, may make for tough listening at times. Blame me! The interview however, is great. I spend 25 minutes chatting with Brent about drywalling. Well, not quite, we do however see what one of Canada’s most versatile and speedy triathletes is doing other than training during this whole Covid thing. We also talk, in detail, about rivalries in triathlon. They are good for the sport but triathlon hasn’t had many. Brent & I discuss the topic from all angles including the hospital. Also on the program, we have another episode of Mikey’s Top Five List. This time Mikey gives us some helpful hints to keep us motivated and engaged in our training during the last gasps of our West Coast Winter. Hear it all by pressing play below. The post Awful Audio~Great Interview: Fitspeek 127 with Brent McMahon first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

Start off your shortened work week with 57 minutes of inspiration on Fitspeek. We kick things off with a review of pro cycling & triathlon as Roy McBeth joins host Kevin Heinze for the roundtable. After that our feature interview, is with one of the folks bound to make a difference on the multisport scene in BC this year. When Ironman decided to discontinue the 70.3 race in Victoria, local tri-coach and race organizer Paul Regensburg came to the rescue and the Victoria Half was reborn. This locally-based race features all the things that you came to love about one of the best half-Ironman distances races on the planet including the famed hoodie! We chat with Paul about his decision to put on the race again, the steps he is taking to making a Covid-compliant event, as well as some training tips to ensure your success on race day (Sunday July 18). To end the show off, ATC head coach Mikey Ross reflects on some of the good things that are happening in his home swimming pool in Mission, as he dives into another edition of his Top Five List. Hear it all now by pressing play below. The post Return of the Hoodie: Fitspeek 126: Paul Regensburg first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

Having been in almost every aspect of multisport (including being a 9 hr. Ironman guy), Steve Fleck knowns a thing or two about triathlon. He’s been an advocate of endurance sports for years. On Fitspeek 125 we talk with “Ontario Steve” about his experiences behind the announcer’s microphone and what makes him uniquely qualified to do what he does. The post Have mic, will travel. Fitspeek 125: Steve Fleck first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

Calgary’s Angie Woodhead made the most of her unwelcome time off during Covid-19. She took time to think about how to better serve the athletes who do her races, all of them. Her actions are revolutionary and bound to challenge other race operations and sanctioning bodies such as Triathlon Canada. Starting this year, Dynamic Race Events will be offering a third option, when you choose gender on your race registration. Hear about how she made that decision and how it will be implemented on this episode of Fitspeek. The post Option C: The Dynamic Gambit (Fitspeek 124) first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

Ok, ok, so that’s a hell of a long title. Fitspeek 122 captures quality time and insightful moments with 2019 Triathlon Magazine’s Athlete of the Year, Cody Beals, who I think has a lot in common with this other dude from Ontario. Not your average tri-joc interview, we cut through the crap of “I train because I wanna win Kona some day” bravado and try (successfully?) to find out what leads folks like Cody into trying to eek out a life as a pro triathlete. We talk Guelph, Queen’s, rivalries, fears, dreams, beers miles, what pisses him off, and of course the animal question. Also on the program, fresh from his pain cave, Abbotsford Triathlon Club coach, Mikey Ross drops by for his Top Five List. Kick off your 2021 with 46 minutes of sugar-free Fitspeek by pressing play below. The post Fitspeek 122: Perfectionism – a double-edged sword (in conversation with Ironman Champion Cody Beals). first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

If they do, they will know who our next guest on the podcast is. Can you recognize the voice? The post Do people read tags? first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

On Fitspeek 121 our guest is University of Victoria Master’s student Peter Filice. He is doing research for his thesis and his topic is “How Covid-19 is influencing the minds of triathletes.” With the death of the 2020 racing season, did it mean we were destined to become lovers of Netflix or guzzlers of endless IPA? Peter is going to touch on that in our interview. Also, with only days until Christmas, we know that there are at least 4 or 5 of you out there who have yet to begin your shopping. For those well-meaning but tardy Santas out there, we have some excellent suggestions, courtesy of Roy McBeth. Abbotsford Triathlon Coach, Mikey Ross rounds out the program. On this week’s Top Five List, Mikey gives some timely pointers on how to take care of your treadmill and your pave cave, so it can last longer and provide a great training environment. Here it all now. You know the drill. Press that button! The post Peter Filice: Digs deep into the psyche of multisport athletes first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

Fitspeek 120 is an episode I’ve wanted to do ever since the podcast started. I’ve assembled a group of business owners, coaches, club presidents, and athletes from across the Lower Mainland. The purpose? To see how their athletic, professional, and personal lives lives have changed due to Covid-19. It’s a conversation about adaptability, resiliency, and […] The post Fitspeek 120: The 2020 Year In Review Roundtable first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

As we know all of Canada has been impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. Ontario is no exception. And even though we are “The Fraser Valley’s Fitness, Wellness, & you know the rest podcast” we thought we would see how things in the rest of the country are going. We speak with Phil Dale, the executive […] The post Fitspeek 119: A trip out east with Phil Dale first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

Yes! It’s that time of year again. We are only days away from the annual Abbotsford Santa Shuffle. For 13 years, the main organizer has been Marie Lashley. In the podcast, we chat about the event, as well as how she has been coping with Covid. Like many running events this year, it has gone […] The post Fitspeek 118: Marie Lashley & The Santa Shuffle first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

Another one of the Canadian athletes racing the PTO Championship in December is Vancouver’s Rach McBride. Rach has been making the most of 2020 coming in fourth at Ironman New Zealand and third at the Canadian Professional Championships. Rach also rode a new gravel bike… a lot. And then there was THE VIDEO! You can […] The post Fitspeek 117: Rach McBride first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

After suffering a bike crash during a 70.3 triathlon in France last year, Vancouver’s Rach McBride needed to heal their body & fix their bike for a follow up race in Lanzarote. Some things don’t go according to plan. It was not a comedy of errors. The post Is there a French word for Shitshow? first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

We’re not sure what’s in that cool, clear, British Columbia water but it seems to have mystical qualities, nourishing & hydrating some of the fastest cyclists in triathlon. There’s Rach McBride from Vancouver who has been stomping cyclists of all genders, most recently at the Canadian Championships in Ontario. From Penticton, there is Jen Annet, […] The post Speedfreak! Angela Naeth Targets Challenge Daytona. (Fitspeek 116) first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

Calgary’s Ben Rudson is a fast learner. Only 1 year into his engineering degree at Queen’s Ben realized there were better ways to spend his Saturday and Sunday mornings than cleaning up spilled beer while being hung over. To kick start his new lifestyle he signed up for his first triathlon and he never looked […] The post From Wisconsin, With Love. Fitspeek 115: Ben Rudson first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

Penticton has always been a hotbed of triathlon & triathletes, There’s been Tom Evans, Jeff Symonds, Barb Scatchard, and Kevin Cutjar. The latest to be ripping up the triathlon scene from that city is Jen Annett. Last year, she came placed second female overall at Ironman Canada and third at Ironman Frankfort. Now with Covid … Continue reading "All Trained Up With Nowhere To Go: Fitspeek 108 Jen Annett"

We are glad to have Craig back on the podcast. He’s the guy from Burnaby who not only did the Paris-Brest-Paris 1200 KM cycling event, he also did his very first Ironman just 20 days before. Of course like any athlete, he has had challenges just making it to the starting line. But have you … Continue reading "Vaulting Ambition: Fitspeek 107 with Craig Premack"

If you are spending some time on the road this Canada Day why not take Fitspeek along with you. This week’s feature interview is with one of those rare people in our country who actually makes a living from triathlon. Calgary’s Angie Woodhead is the owner and race director for Dynamic Race Events. Of course … Continue reading "Coping With Covid – A Race Director’s Perspective (Fitspeek 106)"

Like many folks who get into triathlon, Hamilton’s Kevin Mackinnon was introduced to triathlon after a running injury. That was in 1985 and he has never looked back. Since then, Kevin has been at the right place at the right time, so much in fact that he’s been able to earn his living immersed in … Continue reading "Fitspeek 105: Kevin Mackinnon"

Fitspeek had to change the name of our Covid-19 interview series because of this guy. He’s a guy who has been to the Olympics twice, has won numerous 70.3 and Ironman distances races, and yes rode on his rollers (in the aerobars) for more than three hours. Not only is he one of Canada’s most … Continue reading "Triathletes in Basements, Riding Rollers!"

Fitspeek presents a quick update on what the Abbotsford Triathlon Club members are up to. In the absence of “in the flesh” racing for the near future, the club, lead by organizer Chris Osberg, are offering you a chance to race in a virtual duathlon race series. The first event is coming up this weekend … Continue reading "Fitspeek 103: Riding into the race season with Chris Osberg and ATC"

Being the owner of a successful construction company has got to put limits on a person’s training time but that hasn’t slowed down Abbotsford’s Russ Esau a bit. Not only is he a virtual shoo-in for the podium at any triathlon or running event in the 50-54 age group, he also can capture the overall. … Continue reading "Fitspeek 102: Russ Esau Moving at the Speed of Life"

Even though the weather has been pretty ugly out there, it has been very sunny in the Fitspeek studio. Kevin Watt and I have just completed Fitspeek Ten. It is our most ambitious podcast to date. Be listening for the Wenting’s Word of the Week in the last ten minutes of the show. You will want to enjoy the whole enchilada though, as we have episode 3 of Bob’s Bits and the great interview with Burnaby’s Craig Premack.  On his journey to do his first Ironman and Paris-Brest-Paris ride Craig had to overcome a major setback. Www.fitspeek.com

This time around Fitspeek heads back into the basement and catches up with the guy who shocked the triathlon world by; placing third in the world at the 70.3 World Championships in 2011, winning Ironman Melbourne in 2015, and finishing the 2013 Challenge Penticton after a bike crash going down Yellow Lake (yeah) he also … Continue reading "Triathletes in Basements Riding Trainers: Fitspeek 101 with Jeff Symonds & Zack Neufeld"

Fitspeek celebrates episode 100 with BC’s King of Shortcourse Triathlon, Robert Johnson. Johnson dominated every race he did last year and had a perfect track record, most impressively scoring the overall win at the National Championships in Kelowna. In our conversation we examine not only his wins but also we reflect on how he approached … Continue reading "Fitspeek 100: Robert Johnson’s Undefeated Season"

One of the groups of people in the fitness community hit hardest by the Covid-19 crisis is the race directors. In Fitspeek 99 we speak with a guy who has been a race director on Western Canada’s triathlon scene for decades. Penticton’s Steve Brown has darn near done it all, the owner of a running … Continue reading "Fitspeek 99: Steve Brown"

Ramon Lopez-Mendizabal is a civil engineer and an elite ultra-endurance triathlete from Barcelona, Spain. As you know that iconic Spanish city is one of the places hardest hit by the Covid-19 virus. In Fitspeek 98, we speak with Ramon about how he & his wife are leading their day to day lives while living under … Continue reading "Fitspeek 98: Report From Barcelona with Ramon Lopez Mendizabal"

As we continue our Fitspeek series called The Olympians, we are in conversation with Joanna Brown. Tokyo 2021 will be her first ever Olympic Games. In the meantime, she is in self-quarantine in her parent’s basement (sound familiar) in Carp, Ontario. Joanna had an amazing start to her season this year, with a win at … Continue reading "Fitspeek 97: Joanna Brown Looks at Tokyo 2021"

Fitspeek continues its series with the Olympians. This time it’s our turn to talk to Tyler Mislawchuk. At age 26, Tyler will be lining up against the best short-course triathletes in the world at the 2021 Summer Olympics. In our half-hour conversation we talk perogies, Zwift, and Super-League. We also ask Tyler THE Fitspeek question. … Continue reading "Fitspeek 96: Tyler Mislawchuk"

With the postponement of the Summer Olympics, we decided to check in with what the members of our Olympic Triathlon team were up to and how they were dealing with the news. First up on our series that I’m calling “The Olympians,” is Calgary’s Stefan Daniel. In addition to being a star runner on the … Continue reading "Fitspeek 95: Stefan Daniel"

In his over 25 years as a triathlon coach, Victoria’s Lance Watson has been helping athletes become faster and more consistent. He’s also part of the story for one of the greatest moments in triathlon ever One of the keys to Simon Whitfield’s success in the inaugural Olympic Triathlon in Sydney, back in 2020, was … Continue reading "Tapering 201 = Fitspeek 94: A Conversation with Lifesport’s Lance Watson"

Staying true to our promise of “delivering the goods” we present Fitspeek 93 a Catching Up With Nathan Killam. We have something to get your mind off of the current state of affairs and keep you grounded. Our conversation with one of our country’s fastest long-course ranges from time management skills, to what he learned … Continue reading "Spend Your Sunday With a Coffee & a Nathan"

Fitspeek 92 is all about running. We start of the program with Mikey Ross and his top five list. He’ll be telling you about his top 5 spring trail races. After that we feature an in-depth interview with Phil Ellis from Peninsula Runners. We find out the details about Phil’s past as an elite runner … Continue reading "Phil Ellis and the Heritage to Hatzic: Fitspeek 92 is the running edition"

Coquitlam’s Jim Winter knows how to throw a party! Whether that’s a hiking trip to the Grand Canyon, cross Canada cycling adventures, or something more local, Freestyle Fitness strikes a balance between high-performance athletics and fun. On Fitspeek 91 we speak with Jim about his upcoming St Patrick’s Day Race in Port Coquitlam, as well … Continue reading "That perfect blend of fun & fitness: Dragonfly Racing’s St. Patrick’s Day Run: Fitspeek 91"

This week on Fitspeek, we are pleased to give you part two of our interview with Jordan Bryden. After suffering a crash in an Olympic qualifying race in Australia a few years back, Jordan set his sights on long-course racing and is enjoying great success. One of his biggest successes, however is motivating his dad … Continue reading "2019 Ultraman World Champion Jordan Bryden Part Two: Fitspeek 90"

What better way to segue into the festive season than with some stories of motivation & gratitude. Fitspeek 87 is here and our main course is a heaping helping of the Ironman roundtable. Over the past year, Abbotsford’s Jen Burns has been in training for the Whistler Ironman triathlon. On the program we hear about … Continue reading "Fitspeek Christmas Edition (#87) Featuring Dean Scherbey, Jen Burns, & the rest of the Fitspeek gang."

With the Christmas season fast approaching, Fitspeek 86 presents a feel good story about a kind hearted overachiever. As a youth and young adult, Abbotsford’s Greg Ould was a top ranked wrestler and competed in Canada and the USA. After his career as an athlete ended, Greg gave back to the athletic community as a … Continue reading "From wrestling mats to warming blankets, the Greg Ould story. Fitspeek 86."

Not only is Ironman Canada returning to its original home of Penticton, BC, there’s a few other changes in store for this iconic Canadian sporting event. For starters, there’s a new race director, Susie Ernsting from North Vancouver. For the past dozen or so years, Susie & her husband Mark have been responsible for managing … Continue reading "New Captain at the helm of Ironman Canada: Meet Susie Ernsting"

Susie Ernsting is the new race director for Ironman Canada. We will have our complete Fitspeek interview with her in a few days, but if you just can’t wait for a nibble, chew on this tidbit. #iconicfinishline

What you are looking at is a well-adjusted 30-something dude, right? Well, maybe! It’s Abbottford’s ultra running man Ryan Shephard. As you may have heard, he had an incredible race down at the Javalina Jundred last weekend. Prior to going down to the race, Fitspeek’s Kevin Heinze had a chat with Ryan. In part one … Continue reading "Into the ultra-abyss: Ryan Shephard"

Fitness comes in all shapes and forms & Fitspeek 83 with Ryan Shepherd is proof of that. After gaining a bunch of weight in his early adult years, Ryan decided to try running to improve the quality of his life. . It worked! Although his first few races were very pedestrian, through consistent training and … Continue reading "Fitspeek 83: Ryan ShephArd – Ultra Runner"

Martin Caron from Twin Lakes, BC has been having an outstanding race season. He won his age group in the 70.3 races by whopping margins in Mexico, Idaho, and in Whistler. This Saturday Martin has his sights set on the Ironman World Championship age group title for the 40-44 division. We had a chance to … Continue reading "The athlete Formerly known as the King of Poutine is now the King of Maple Syrup and just maybe the age group king of kona: Fitspeek 82 with Martin Caron"

As you know the Ironman World Championships are being held this Saturday in Hawaii. One of Canada’s top females at the distance is Penticton’s Jen Annett. We had a chance to talk to Jen about her superbottles, preparation for the race and her lioness within! Check it out now! Tri*Joy} The Spirit of Multisport is … Continue reading "Fitspeek 81: Jen Annett"

With the Valley Vertikiller on the way we thought we’d turn our thoughts upward and into the sky. Fortunately, we have elite mountain runner Benoit Gignac to keep us from getting oxygen-deprived. Benoit is originally from La Belle Province, but like his friend Martin Caron, moved Westward in search of adventure and good times . … Continue reading "Ain’T No Mountain High Enough: Fitspeek 80 with Benoit Gignac"

In Fitspeek 79 we hear the second part of our interview with Winston Guo. He tells us about his progression as an athlete through stages he likes to call Winston 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0. We also get to find out about his favourite post-workout foods! Also in the podcast we have another edition of Fit […]

Triathlon Magazine Canada voted this guy “most likely to be seen smiling during a triathlon.” Ok, ok, maybe that part is a bit of an exaggeration but if you have ever been to a race of any distance out here in Western Canada, you are likely to have seen this guy. And of course he […]

Not to worry, neither has anyone else before! It’s a brand new running event sponsored by the Greater Vancouver Zoo to raise money for our hard-shelled friends. If you are looking for a fun event to do with your family, this is it! Hear all about it in our Fitspeek Express Interview. You can sign … Continue reading Ever do a turtledash before? →

There’s few people in Canadian Triathlon that are as well known as Penticton’s Steve King. He’s right up there with Lori Bowden, Simon Whitfield, Lisa Bentley, and Peter Reid. Of course most people will recognize Steve King’s voice from the finish line of the Granfondo Axel Merckx, Vancouver Marathon, and Ironman Canada from the 1980s … Continue reading An Audience with the (Steve) King: Fitspeek 77 →

Fitspeek 76 introduces you to Penticton’s Elise Reeh. Although active as a youngster, she was more of a nerd than a jock when it came to team sports in junior & senior high school. Elise did a lot of running in her years after high school and eventually caught the endurance sports bug and has … Continue reading Fitspeek 76: Elise Swims →

What’s a farm boy from Torrington, Alberta doing in the middle of Skaha Lake on a Sunday morning in August? Writing a new chapter in his life, of course! In Fitspeek 75, we introduce you to the Pat Landymore. Back in the 1990’s Pat re-invented himself from a 2 pack a day smoker to a … Continue reading "Pat Landymore: Fitspeek 75 – The Skaha Lake Ultra Swim"

In our first feature length interview in quite some time, we are weighing in with one of the heavies in the Canadian triathlon scene. Martin Caron is a man of many sports and talents. This weekend you can see the former Riviere Du Loup hockey player compete at the the Ironman 70.3 event in Whistler, … Continue reading "Martin Caron: Triathlon’s Poutine King"

Fitspeek 73 takes a different look at health, fitness, and wellness this week as we speak with the Mayor of Mission, Pam Alexis. Our conversation ranges from her rigorous training in classical ballet, her successful battle of the bulge, to her vision of a happier and healthier Mission. We also talk about the amazing core … Continue reading "Mission Mayor Pam Alexis Fitspeeks (Fitspeek 73)"

Fitspeek 72 is here for your Canada Day Long Weekend listening. The theme of this podcast is perseverance. In his feature Between the Ears co-host Zack Neufeld explains how the power of NOW can power you to the finish line of your next event. Guest Jen Burns is doing Ironman Canada in Whistler on July … Continue reading "Fitspeek 72: Jen Burns is doing Ironman Canada!"

Fitspeek 71 is 30 minutes of premium unleaded motivation and information and FREE stuff. We kick off the program with our Fitflop and tell you about the hilarious sweat suits that were used as part of a weight loss program back in the days of the stegosaurus. The “meat” of this week’s podcast is that … Continue reading "Is that the sweet sound of a free fondo entry?"

DC Cycling’s first year pro from Chilliwack, Thomas Schellenberg is on the road and learning about life as a pro. Earlier this year he was racing in Arkansas, most recently in North Carolina, but our feature interview focuses on the time he spent at a high altitude training camp, as he puts it “somewhere in … Continue reading "Local Cycling Desperado flees to New Mexico"

If you are new to endurance sports you may have never heard of intervals but I’ll bet you have. Maybe, however, you think that all there is to intervals is burying yourself for a minute or two, recovering, and then doing it over and over and over, until you pass out or the police are … Continue reading "Cognition Intervals: They’re a thing. Iron Will Rogers? Well, he is a thing too & Derek Duval? Maybe more of a machine."

This week on Fitspeek we feature part one of our two-part series on Titans of Triathlon. Both Iron Will Rogers (above) and Dynamic Derek Duvall have been playing the game of triathlon for a long time. In this week’s podcast we learn about how they discovered triathlon and some of their most memorable moments in … Continue reading "A Fitspeek Double – Header: Free Fondo Entry and Titans of Triathlon"

Was Dave in front of Mark or was Mark in front of Dave? No matter. Coming down the road to meet them was Fitspeek 68 guest, “Iron” Will Rogers. Listen here for more.

As I’ve said before in the podcast, we in the Lower Mainland are truly fortunate. Not only do we get to be part of this amazing country called Canada, we get to live in an area where the climate is (usually) un-Canadian. We know that white stuff that has been falling will be gone in … Continue reading "Mark Ernsting: Super Guy Super Week"

Sign of the Times? Chilly Chase 15 K podium. And Brentwood Bay’s Robert Johnson. Fitspeek 60 is Family Friendly! We here at Fitspeek are always doing our best to notice trends developing in endurance sports and in fitness. And whether this is the start of a trend or just a blip, we couldn’t help notice … Continue reading ""

We’re trying something new here at Fitspeek, our first feature-length interview, and we dive right in with a piece on one of the most influential people in the sport of triathlon, Dan Empfield. You’ll hear about Dan’s beginnings as a runner and a junior lifeguard in Huntington Beach, California, and  then his life-changing experience at … Continue reading "Triathlon Wetsuit Inventor, Triathlon Bike Inventor, & Slowtwitch website creator Dan Empfield: The Fitspeek Interview"

Fitspeek 58 is all about raising your heart rate. In his regular feature Between The Ears Zack Neufeld reports on how to use anger as a positive force in your training and racing. Also on the show, we let you know about a way to raise your heart rate and raise money for local health care at the … Continue reading "Stairway to Fitness: Fitspeek 58 with Liz Harris"

In Fitspeek 57 you’ll hear about Day Five of Chad Bentley’s experience at the Epic Five Triathlon in Hawaii. Chad will also speak about what he learned from completing such an epic event. He also has some training tips and motivation for you, if you’ve ever considered going long. Also on the program we finish … Continue reading "Fitspeek 58: Anatomy of an Ultra Guy (Chad Bentley part two)"

Happy New Year from Zack, Kevin W, and myself at Fitspeek. We kick off the year with a field goal from the 50 yard line, as we snagged the ever popular and ever motivating Chad Bentley for an in-depth interview. Chad is originally from Abbotsford, and now from North Vancouver. His story is one we … Continue reading "Fitspeek 56: Time to renew your vows with fitness, here’s some help"

It’s time to indulge in all this special season has to offer and if that means a few extra calories and a few less workouts so be it! Fitspeek 55 will prime you with ideas and motivation to carry you over Christmas. First off we have your upcoming events schedule to do some Resolution Run … Continue reading "Fitspeek 55: Our Christmas Edition"

If you have never represented Canada at the Olympics, you are not alone, however Campbell River athlete Matthew Sharpe is well on his way. In our interview we hear about how a guy who was too small for hockey and not quite fast enough to make it as a competitive swimmer found his niche in … Continue reading "Fitspeek 54: Olympics Bound With Matthew Sharpe"

The 11th annual Santa Shuffle is about to roll out their new route this Saturday in Abbotsford. In Fitspeek 53, we speak with Marie Lashley about some of the challenges and successes in her role as race director. Also in the program we help beginning runners by introducing them to simple and effective run intervals. … Continue reading "Shuffling Our Way To Fitness and Goodness"

What happens when you take 4 leaders from our local sporting community, put them in a room, and turn on a microphone? Valley Synergy 2018.  In this not-so-ordinary podcast Phoenix Velo’s man of steel – Geoff Oram, Freaks on Peaks’ beacon of zen –  Sara Elias, Fraser Valley Mountain Biking Association’s erudite yet humble – … Continue reading "Fitspeek 52: Valley Synergy 2018"

Usually Fitspeek features things like triathlon and swimming but this time we are featuring a sport that has been played by more Canadian children then those two sports EVER will be – DODGEBALL. Coming up on Saturday November 24th at the Heritage Park Middle School Gymnasium is the 4th annual Mission Firefighter Movember Dodgeball Tournament. … Continue reading "Fitspeek 50: Dodgeball Night in Canada"

If you’ve ever had a crappy race or workout, chances are, if you think about why things went wrong, you’ll learn a lot more and improve as an athlete more, than if things went wonderfully and you don’t give your race or workout a second thought. Our brains are hardwired to focus on the negative … Continue reading "Fitspeek 49 – Jen Burns Returns!"

In this Fitspeek Express interview, I speak with Alistair Kealty, he is the race director of the Mission Half Marathon. The race is in its second year and will be held at 11 on Saturday October 27. In the interview we talk about a few of the changes that he has made this year, Lionel … Continue reading "Mission Half Marathon Fitspeek Express Interview"

Unless your name is Craig Premack you’ve probably never seen more than a dozen or so sunrises while riding your bike, and doing your best to dodge owls while riding through Saskatchewan, Vancouver Island, or Finland. Come to think of it, Craig, although he has done Paris – Brest, has probably never came face to … Continue reading "She writes, she rides, she Fitspeeks, she is Meaghan Hackinen"

No Zack and Kevin H are not experimenting with acid but what they are doing is exploring the mental side to help you achieve your best performance, come race day. First off in Between The Ears, they take a page out of the Chris McCormack book, I’m Here to Win to examine what it means … Continue reading "Mind Games, Purple Tigers, and the Kona Coast: Fitspeek 47"

Fitspeek’s Kevin Watt is not only our social media shout-out guy, he is also responsible for spreading our podcast via Instagram. Through the connections he’s made, he has Fitspeek listeners in New York City and in Washington, DC. One of the folks is Diego Paul Yepez. Diego is an aspiring professional cyclist and in our mini … Continue reading "Fitspeek Goes Mini – Goes Global"

Fitspeek 46 picks up where Fitspeek 45 left off, in a room full of Ironman finishers and Jen Burns. In this laugh and wisdom packed 45 minutes you’ll glean pearls of wisdom and silliness as our Iron Panel of Zack Neufeld, Kevin Watt, Leigh Ann Parker, Elise Reeh, and myself, answer a series of tough … Continue reading "Fitspeek 46: Advices from the Ironvets"

Just like previous Fitspeek guest Dave Matheson, Abbotsford’s Jen Burns wasn’t much into regular sports when she was in high school. Instead, she focused on high level dance for over a decade. Now, a few years later Jen is getting into endurance sports in a big way. She had a great performance at the Whistler … Continue reading "Dancing Up The Endurance Sports Ladder: The Jen Burns Story (Fitspeek 45)"

One of the new multisport events to hit our area is the swim/run. It’s sort of like a duathlon but you replace the bike with a swim. One of the folks who participated in the inaugural event held at Thetis Lake in August was Mission’s Jamie Imai. In our interview we talk about the details … Continue reading "Swim – Run… it’s becoming a thing (Jamie Imai – Fitspeek 44)"

If you weren’t a “jock” in high school, take heart, neither was Dave Matheson. Although his sisters were highly successful athletes growing up in Penticton, sports weren’t really his thing. He got into body-building and then mountain biking before finding his true passion – triathlon. By surrounding himself with wise and caring people (Kevin Cutjar, … Continue reading "Fitspeek 43: Ultra 520K Canada Champion Dave Matheson"

This past July’s Ironman Canada race in Whistler was one of the toughest ever. With a new 3 loop cycling course and 37 degree heat, athletes were given a tough hand to play. And while we usually just stay “North of the border” Meghan’s story of tenacity is inspiring for all of us. If you … Continue reading "Fitspeek 42: Meghan Faulkenberry 2nd overall female at Ironman Canada"

Mission’s Sheigh Gaudette has only been in competitive swimming for about four years now but what a four years they have been. Sheigh is on the fast track to swimming awesomeness and has been going around the country competing at the Canada Games as well as all the other big meets in the hopes of … Continue reading "Fitspeek 41: Sheigh Swims, Sheigh speaks"

With the 40th birthday of the Ironman Triathlon coming up, I thought I would dip into the Fitspeek archives and unearth a neat interview I did with one of the members of the Ironman Hall of Fame. Click play below to hear the Bob Babbitt interview in its entirety. Bob talks about his life … Continue reading "Ironman Turns 40: Bob Babbitt turns a bit more than 40…"

We celebrate 40 episodes of Fitspeek by going extreme! Chad Bentley is an accomplished ultra distance triathlete from North Vancouver & originally from Abbotsford. Chad will be doing the Epic Five Triathlon which features five Ironman distance races on five Hawaiian islands on five consecutive days later this month. You can hear about his transformation … Continue reading "Epic Five, Epic Challenge, Epic Athlete: Chad Bentley (Fitspeek 40)"

Steve King is a many who wears many hats. In addition to being one of the best known voices in the world of endurance sports he is an author, clinical counsellor, Badwater Ultra Marathon finisher and as I learned, the founder of the Skaha Lake Ultra Swim. After disappearing for a few years,  local “Ultra … Continue reading "Skaha Lake Ultraswim with Steve King: Fitspeek 39"

One of the most popular open water swimming events in Canada is being held in Penticton on Sunday August 12. In this Fitspeek Express interview, Kevin Heinze chats with Skaha Ultra Swim founder Steve King about the history of the event, as well of some of the more impressive performances.

Our local sporting clubs celebrated the summer solstice with some very well-attended events this past Wednesday evening. We feature the key organizers from the the Abbotsford Triathlon Club and the Phoenix Velo Training Group talking about the night’s events. We also speak with club members at the starting line of the ATC time trial and … Continue reading "Fitspeek 38: How our local clubs salute the start of summer"

This week’s Fitspeek features top age-group athlete and firefighter, Duane Foley from Fort Langley. He did a lot of sports in school including being a high level curler (!) but he only discovered the sport of triathlon later in life. Like many of us, he paid his dues, including being near to last out of … Continue reading "As fast as a cheetah as crazy as a monkey: Duane Foley, Fitspeek 37"