Show Notes
Our first guests of 2026 are familiar names in endurance sport here in Ireland; Rob Cummins and Aisling Coppinger who share with us an honest and inspiring conversation about life, love and longevity in sport.
Owners of Wheelworx, they are well known faces at triathlon and multisport events as both athletes and event support. In this episode, Rob and Aisling reflect on their individual paths into triathlon, from early beginnings as novices to competing on the world stage.
Rob shares his long journey through IRONMAN racing, including early doubts and how his training approach has evolved over time, whilst Aisling shares insight into her transition from running into triathlon and the challenge of overcoming a deep fear of open water swimming.
A key focus of this episode is their 2025 season, where they embraced a whirlwind World Championship Tour that saw them race and support each other at the IRONMAN World Championship in Nice where Rob raced, Kona where Aisling raced and Marbella with both of them racing the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship where their season culminated in the Costa Del Sol.
They offer insight into the demands of each event, from race conditions and strategy to the emotional impact of lining up in Kona. Both Aisling and Rob reflect on what these experiences mean to them beyond results, highlighting gratitude, perspective, enjoyment and the journey to the start and finish line of each race they embraced.
The conversation also explores how they balance commitment to their training with running a successful and busy business whilst maintaining a strong personal relationship. Training together, supporting each other through setbacks and simplifying routines have become central to their approach.
This is a great chat with Aisling and Rob, with reflections on what triathlon has given them and how they look ahead to future races with curiosity rather than pressure, emphasising teamwork, resilience and the importance of enjoying the journey. This renewed energy and perspective on triathlon racing, a far cry from the years of 'Chasing Kona' as detailed in Rob's book published almost a decade ago.
More from Tri Talking Sport
Jen Done didn't grow up sporty. She swam a bit as a youngster, tagging along to galas beside a sister who was the 'sporty one of the family' and other than a handful of pre-baby marathons, a life in sport was never really part of her master plan. Seven years ago, after the birth of her daughter, she found herself in a very different kind of race, a race against postnatal depression so severe she could not get out the front door, convinced her husband and daughter would be better off without her. Dismissed as "baby blues" by three separate doctors before a female GP finally gave her the diagnosis and help she needed. Somewhere in the middle of it all, her husband suggested she try running again; she managed 30 seconds out the door and back. It was enough to change everything. That 30 seconds became a habit, and the habit snowballed; an IRONMAN 70.3 in Weymouth, her first full IRONMAN in Hamburg, the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona in 2023 racing with the IRONMAN Foundation. She launched her own podcast, 'The Toughest Finish Line', to share other people's stories of using sport to fight through trauma and mental health struggles and she is also a triathlon coach. A little over three weeks ago, Jen took on her biggest challenge yet: two full IRONMAN races, on consecutive days, in two different countries. IRONMAN Kalmar in Sweden on Saturday and IRONMAN Copenhagen in Denmark 24 hours later. In this episode Jen recalls and shares insight into her Viking IRONMAN adventure, the highs and the lows, the chaos to the calmness, from lost luggage, to the hectic hours before the race weekend even started and the nausea that almost derailed her ambitious racing plans which saw her become an eight time IRONMAN. Jen talks openly about her postnatal depression and the transformational journey she has been on since that 30 second run seven years ago. She reflects on what she's learned about her own capacity to cope, how strong she is and how far removed this version of herself is from the woman who once couldn't leave the house. This is a lovely episode centred on courage, resilience, self-belief and the importance of a loving support crew to help you take one small step at a time, even when that small step seems impossible.
British professional triathlete Harry Palmer recently took the title for the third year in a row at IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea, an accomplishment that is not often achieved in sport.
Aisling Wyer is an Irish triathlete and member of Naas Triathlon Club who has achieved impressive results at home and abroad all whilst working full time as a solicitor.
Endurance adventurer Sean Conway has lived a life defined by adventure, resilience and a relentless desire to do hard things. Driven by curiosity and an appetite for pushing beyond what most consider possible, Sean has built a career out of testing the very edges of human endurance.
Natalie Grabow made history by becoming the first woman ever to finish the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona at the age of 80, a milestone that stands as a powerful testament to resilience, determination and passion.