Show Notes
One Ironman. One debut. One Kona slot.
Chloe Dooley turns the usual “just finish it” mindset on its head by qualifying for the World Champs in Hawaii on her very first full-distance race, and she reveals exactly how she did it.
Steph sits down with Chloe for a raw, uplifting conversation about the leap from swimming to running to short-course racing to the full Ironman distance, the mental shift that comes with longer racing, and the reality of balancing elite age-group triathlon with a demanding NHS physio job. You'll discover: how Chloe went from childhood triathlon, to swimming, to running, and back into multisport through injury and lockdown what the British Triathlon Super Series is really like, and why draft-legal racing can feel like “baptism by fire” the training and logistics of fitting swims, rides, runs, strength work, and a full-time NHS schedule into one week the pacing, nutrition, and mindset tweaks that helped her turn a feared 180K bike into a controlled, confident bike leg why her marathon finally clicked on race day, and how she stayed strong all the way to a sub-10-hour finish We also talk candidly about the sacrifices age-group athletes make, why training has to stay fun, and what it means to chase a world championship slot when the clock, the cost, and the logistics all say “maybe later.”
Chloe also shares what she’s most excited for about Kona, from the iconic race-week atmosphere to the unforgettable extras that make Hawaii feel like more than just a start line. If you’ve ever wondered how people make a first Ironman look effortless, or if you’re balancing big training goals with real life, this episode will hit home. Perfect for age-group triathletes, anyone considering their first Ironman, and listeners who love stories of grit, community, and a breakthrough performance that changes everything.
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*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.