Show Notes
Why do we put ourselves through this?
Joseph Yee joins us for a fascinating conversation about his love-hate relationship with endurance sport, the all-or-nothing mentality that can see him push himself to the absolute limits of human endurance, and the days when he struggles to motivate himself to do anything at all.
We start with his most recent Pan Celtic Challenge a brutal 2,200km ride with 24,000m of elevation, completed over five days with just nine hours of sleep. Joseph takes us inside what it actually feels like to push your body that far, including the hallucinations, sleeping in flower beds and the increasingly blurred line between determination and madness.
But the conversation goes much further than one epic challenge. Joseph talks openly about his impulsive approach to training and racing, his tendency to go all in when something grabs his attention, and why the same person capable of extraordinary endurance can sometimes find it incredibly difficult to get out the door for a training session.
We also go back to his childhood and discover how he started triathlon at just seven years old through his dad's involvement in the local triathlon club. Despite admitting he didn't particularly enjoy it, he somehow just kept turning up, a theme that has followed him throughout his relationship with endurance sport.
Finally, we look ahead. What's next for someone who seems drawn towards increasingly ridiculous challenges? And what might the ultimate test of human endurance look like?
A conversation about endurance, motivation, identity, obsession and the strange things that make us want to keep going when every rational part of us is telling us to stop.
Joseph Yee links Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@JosephYeee Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joseph.yee_/?hl=en
The Tri Project links Website - https://thetriproject.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the.triproject/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@The.triproject
Miles from Ordinary links Miles from ordinary Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/Milesfromordinarypodcast Jess's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jesslearmonth/?hl=en-gb Bex's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bexmilnescoaching/ Drop us a voice note here - https://www.speakpipe.com/milesfromordinary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Miles From Ordinary Podcast
Tech We Actually Use: From Swim Toys to Rider Safety
We're Back! Baby Updates, Kona & Listener Q&A
The season is over. The races are done. The training plan has disappeared… so what exactly are we supposed to do now?!
Jess and Bex cover a bit of everything in this episode, from Lanzarote training conditions and Jess’s latest pregnancy update to a wide-ranging discussion on viral sports controversies and what injuries really mean. The main thread is a thoughtful conversation about how much control athletes actually have over injury, and how the mental side of rehab can be just as important as the physical side.
Jess and Bex return with an honest conversation spanning pregnancy, ultra-running, triathlon, and the realities of endurance sport.Bex shares the behind-the-scenes story of crewing Lucy Gossage’s 238-mile Pennine Way FKT attempt, including the last-minute logistics, sleep deprivation, pacing, fueling, route strategy, and the team effort required to support an athlete through two nights of relentless running. They explore how Lucy recovered from an early calf injury, switched from a self-supported to a supported attempt, and continued through pain, swelling, and exhaustion to break the record.The episode also covers the realities of late pregnancy, disrupted sleep, and preparing for life with a second baby. Jess and Bex answer listener questions about cold-water preparation, rebuilding confidence after a difficult race, recurring calf problems, mobility, strength training, and finding your motivation again.They also discuss the latest triathlon news, including 70.3 Worlds, Kona, race predictions, and the debate around Joe Skipper and anti-doping administration. With practical advice, strong opinions, and plenty of humour, this episode offers an honest look at what it takes to keep showing up in endurance sport.