Episode 56: Stories behind the start line with Kate Curran AND 70.3 Worlds Preview!
Buck the Trend PodShow Notes
Kona qualification after a bike crash, a surgically repaired shoulder, and a brutally short Ironman build - Kate Curran’s path to the World Championships is anything but ordinary.
Buck the Trend’s Matt and Steph unpack the full story with Kate from Lanzarote, where she’s dialling in the heat, humidity, and race-specific prep for her first Ironman World Championship in Kona. If you’re an age-group athlete dreaming of going pro, coming back from injury, or trying to turn a derailed season into something bigger, this one is packed with perspective.
Kate shares how she went from starting triathlon at eight years old, stepping away for university and a corporate legal career, and then finding her way back to the sport as a 70.3 athlete. She explains why her father’s Ironman journeys inspired her, how her corporate life gave her resilience and discipline, and why racing again felt like starting from scratch in the best possible way.We break down the difficult year that changed everything - the high-speed crash that put her out of action, the mental and physical grind of recovery, and the race in Western Australia that became a turning point.
Kate also opens up about what it took to balance an early Kona qualification with the demands of the Pro Series, why Hamburg, Texas, and Nice all shaped her season differently, and how she’s building toward Kona with steady consistency rather than hero sessions.
You’ll also hear the hosts and Kate dissect the upcoming 70.3 World Championship fields, including who looks most dangerous in Nice, who could make a breakthrough, and why racing in championship conditions always creates surprises. Along the way, they dig into pacing, heat management, nerves, and the unique challenge of Kona’s infamous run out of town. Essential listening if you love elite triathlon, comeback stories, or the behind-the-scenes reality of preparing for the biggest race in the sport.
Hosted by Matt Hnatiw and Steph Clutterbuck Featuring Kate Curran
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