Professional Triathlete Katie-Treston Torney returns to the show to update on her training for Ironman New Zealand, five weeks away. Katie recaps a recent five hour trainer ride, complete with a candy salad, shares her picks for favorite Winter Olympic events, and invites Haley to help her answer questions from the crowd. Katie and Haley talk saunas and heat training, favorite ways to recover from big training sessions, tips for first time Ironman athletes, and relationship advice when you're in the thick of training and want to skip an IRL happy hour (but never the virtual version!)

Are more young people racing Ironman? Twenty-four year old Ironman athlete Ava Jih-Schiff raced her first Ironman with only two months training and a year later was targeting the Kona age group podium. She tells us what's drawing young people to the sport, the barriers that still exist, and how watching her mom race lit her endurance sport fire! Chapters00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction02:39 Youth in Ironman Triathlons06:12 First Ironman Experiences09:44 Beverage Talk and Youth Culture11:09 Training and Early Experiences16:25 Ironman Costs and Experiences21:41 Ava's Journey in Ironman Racing22:53 The Evolution of Ironman Registration24:16 Ava's First Ironman Experience26:40 The Thrill of Ironman Racing31:11 Preparing for Kona: Expectations vs. Reality36:14 Reflections on Performance and Privilege40:30 The Journey to Cozumel: A Back-to-Back Challenge46:03 Finding Balance: Racing vs. Enjoyment51:24 Ava's Relationship with Her Mother and Coaching53:26 The Journey of a Young Athlete55:18 The Competitive Landscape of Ironman56:49 Growing Up in a Triathlon Family59:41 Transitioning from Synchronized Swimming to Triathlon01:04:20 The Challenges of Racing and Nutrition01:09:40 The Possibility of Going Pro01:12:35 The Future of Triathlon and Community Engagement

We introduce another rotating co-host, Samantha Rothberg! Sam was a personal trainer and very happy with the fast and furious racing of short course triathlon. Then she watched Kona, drank half a beer, and signed up for an Ironman. Sam shares her first steps into Ironman training and her three favorite strength exercises for triathletes.Haley answers a couple mailbag questions (we didn't even realize we had a mailbag!) and does a quick Disney marathon recap.Keywords:triathlon, personal training, Ironman, endurance sports, coaching, Taylor Swift, Eras Tour, athlete journey, fitness, women in sportsChapters00:00 Introduction and Co-Host Introduction00:30 How They Met: Coaching and Friendship01:34 The Ares Tour Experience05:26 Samantha's Transition to Triathlon06:16 Personal Training Insights08:59 Samantha's Athletic Background14:48 Beverage Time: Cheers to Training!18:06 Housekeeping: Marathon Reflections24:44 Samantha's Upcoming 10-Miler29:44 Imposter Syndrome in Triathlon36:19 Training for the Ironman49:52 Favorite Exercises for Endurance Athletes

Friend of the show, Shelly Anderson, joins Haley mid Dopey Challenge to chat about the 5k, 10k, half marathon, and the upcoming marathon on consecutive days through the parks at Disney World! Haley and Shelly discuss their friendship, the unique aspects of Disney races, including costumes, race strategies, and the sense of community among runners. The conversation also touches on their personal goals, future races, and the joy of running together, highlighting the whimsical nature of Disney and the camaraderie found in endurance sports.TakeawaysShelly is excited for her podcasting debut.Haley and Shelly reflect on their long-standing friendship and shared experiences in running.Energy management is crucial when racing multiple days in a row.Costumes add a fun and creative element to Disney races.Racing is about personal goals and enjoying the experience, not just PRs.The running community at Disney races fosters camaraderie and support.Post-race reflections enhance the overall experience at the parks.Future races are a source of motivation and personal growth.Running for joy is a key reason for participating in races.The podcast highlights the importance of friendship and shared adventures in running.Chapters00:00Introduction and Setting the Scene03:02Friendship and Shared Experiences05:49The Dopey Challenge: Overview and Goals08:48Race Experiences: Courses and Challenges11:47Costumes and Themed Races15:10Camaraderie and Community in Racing21:25Celebrating Recovery and Race Experiences22:40The Magic of Disney Parks25:14Rides and Adventures at Disney27:06Family and Friends at Disney28:27The Joy of Running and Costumes30:15Training and Race Preparation32:20Fueling for Success34:10Costume Choices and Race Goals36:00Post-Race Reflections and Future Plans39:44The Community of Runners

Professional Triathlete Katie Treston-Torney makes her Happy Hour co-host debut! Katie tells us about her life as a professional triathlete, Physician Assistant, professor, mom, and huge fan of the sport! We chat about her first pro race (the stress! the camaraderie!), share New Year resolutions, and her race plans for 2026!Follow Katie on Instagram: instagram.com/katie_trestonFollow Katie on TikTok: tiktok.com/@katie.trestontorneyRead Katie's Substack: https://themiddleyears.substack.com/Takeaways- Transition from age grouper to pro- Community and camaraderie in pro-women racing pressure of racing as a pro- Impact of sponsor requirements on racing decisionsChapters- 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Origins- 05:06 Katie Treston-Torney: Introduction and Three Buckets of Life- 15:01 New Year's Plans and Transition from Age Grouper to Pro- 25:11 Racing as a Pro and Community in Pro-Women Racing- 30:01 The Pressure of Racing as a Pro- 36:34 Finding Joy in Racing- 42:44 Excitement for the 2026 Season- 49:34 Social Media and Sponsorship- 56:00 New Year's Resolutions

Why do retired Professional Triathletes make great Realtors? Jocelyn "The Wongstar" Neill joins Haley for a second week and this week we have a guest! Triathlon Legend, Mike Pigg tell us about his 17 year pro career, winning nearly every iconic race, and even finished second place at Kona in 1988. In the early 2000s Mike successfully transitioned from pro triathlete to Realtor, and he answers our burning question: Why do retired professional triathletes make great Realtors?Contact Mike for all your Humboldt County, CA real estate and triathlon needs!00:00The Early Days of Triathlon02:28Mike Pigg's Journey to Professionalism06:17The Competitive Atmosphere Among Pros10:31Memorable Races and Rivalries16:11Transitioning from Pro to Real Estate26:24Reflections on Triathlon and Life

Welcome to the first episode of Happy Hour with Haley! In this episode, hosts Haley Chura and Jocelyn Wong Neill reminisce about their professional triathlon careers, discuss the challenges of transitioning to normal life after retirement, and explore various career options for former athletes. Haley shares her recent return to work after a long hiatus, while Jocelyn talks about her recent race experience and the importance of community in sports. The podcast serves as a creative outlet for both hosts, aiming to entertain and inspire listeners with their stories and insights.TakeawaysRetirement from professional triathlonTransitioning to new careers after retirement Transitioning from a professional triathlon career to a corporate jobThe impact of a professional athletic career on future job opportunitiesChapters00:00 Introduction and Retirement08:00 Happy Hour and Career Transition15:02 Post-Retirement Career Options20:00 Returning to Previous Careers26:20 Financial Struggles as a Pro Triathlete