Health Wellness and Endurance

If you were to ask Vancouver's Gerard Charton, if he was a Canadian hero, he'd tell you no, but on Fitspeek 136, we'll let you decide. As an air force pilot, he has helped protect our country, keep peace around the world, and train a new generation of “Top Guns.” As a philanthropist, he has raised awareness and thousands of dollars for places like Covenant House and Canuck Place. As a triathlete, he was a trail-blazer on the Canadian scene in the 1980's. On Fitspeek 136, we spend close to an hour taking a mini-history lesson on Canadian triathlon, featuring Gerard's adventures from the training grounds of Moose Jaw to the homes of grateful families in the Middle East to the roads of Death Valley. Although Gerard's competitive spirit has diminished, his passion and energy has matured. Now when you see him at a start line, chances are he won't be gunning for personal glory but for a local charity instead. 1963 was a fine vintage indeed. Hear his engaging and inspiration story by pressing play below. The post Iron/Ultra/Uber: Fitspeek 135 with Gerard Charlton first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.

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 […] 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 […]  The post Peter Filice: Digs deep into the psyche of multisport athletes first appeared on www.fitspeek.com.  triathlon, run ,bike ,swim , endurance 

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"

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"