Show Notes
The biggest mistake age group triathletes make after a season? Jumping straight back into hard training. Matt and Steph break down why the reset matters more than the grind—and how the smartest athletes use the off-season to come back fitter, fresher, and actually ready to race. Steph shares hard-won lessons from burnout, injury, and finally learning how to stop properly after a big block, while Matt pushes the conversation into the practical stuff that matters right now: how to structure winter training, keep easy days truly easy, and build toward next season without wrecking your body or motivation.
Steph also opens up about the psychological side of missing Kona this year, the FOMO of watching world champs from afar, and why that disappointment is now being turned into a focused plan for 2027. From pool racing and CTTs to run blocks, fitness benchmarks, and race-day durability, this episode is packed with honest, practical advice for anyone trying to stay motivated when the next big race is still months away.
Matt and Steph also react to the 70.3 World Championships, including Hayden Wilde’s huge win, Kristian Blummenfelt’s terrifying run, Taylor Knibb’s dominant weekend, and what those performances could mean for Kona.
More from Buck the Trend Pod
Winter's arrived, the Kona blues are real, and it's time to set some goals. We chat about picking a big scary goal for 2027, testing it before you hit enter, and why Steph reckons motivation is a total myth. Plus our Watt the Buck moment of the week, and a chance for you to feature in our next series. Grab a brew and get your goals ready.
*WARNING* this episode contains voice notes/memos and therefore the audio is not necessarily perfect. Please persevere, the stories are incredible, raw and immediately following their finish lines in Kona! Eight athletes. One brutal Kona. All in their own words. In the final episode of our Stories Behind the Start Line series, the eight athletes we followed to the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona send us voice notes about how race day really went. Choppy swims, crosswinds up to Hawi, the heat of the Energy Lab – and the moments that kept them moving. You'll hear a podium decided in the final mile, a finish seven minutes inside the cut-off, a pro battling imposter syndrome, a near-DNF that turned out to be a too-tight shoe, and plenty of Coke at the aid stations. Whether you're dreaming of Kona or just your first finish line, there's something here for you.
Forget the race recap. You’ve seen it. This week we’re talking about the Kona moments that got us: Kat stopping to lift Paula on Palani, Solveig’s collapse and who’s actually allowed to help, Gustav racing in pink for his mum, and Vincent bowing out on top. Plus, all eight of our Stories Behind the Start Line athletes finished. Eight from eight! Steph also shares a big health update and why she’s itching to race again. Grab a coffee and come hang out.
Kona is shaping up to be a test of grit, strategy, and survival. Steph and Matt breaks down how choppy water, fierce winds, and brutal heat could shake up the Ironman World Championship, and who might come out on top. From Lucy Charles-Barclay’s position as the woman to beat to the contenders chasing the men’s title, this is your informal preview of a race where quite literally anything can happen!
If you're a triathlon fan, you've probably come across Kellie on Instagram. She has created her brand making inspirational and SUPER engaging content on her journey through triathlon and today we dig a little more into who she is and how on earth she found herself in the world of swim, bike and run. Kellie went from a non-sporty drama kid to Kona first-timer in just a few years, and the path here is messier, funnier, and more inspiring than you’d expect. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re "too late" to start triathlon, this one will change your mind. From running as a lockdown coping mechanism to entering Ironman with zero clue what a DNF was, Kellie tells the story of learning the sport the hard way - then turning that late start into momentum, confidence, and qualifying for Kona. Then the conversation goes deeper into something bigger than racing. Kelly shares how she and her friend Pippa built For The Girls, a women’s triathlon community designed to remove the barriers that stop women from showing up, signing up, and staying in the sport. They talk about group rides, beginner training plans, race recce rides, bike maintenance sessions, and why support matters just as much as the event itself. If you’re heading to Kona, chasing an Ironman slot, or trying to find your place in triathlon, there’s a lot here to take with you.