Unstoppable With Shangrila Rendon

Shangrila Rendon

What if you could train smarter, race stronger, and still have energy for your family, career, and dreams while staying injury free? This show is for working parents, busy triathletes, marathoners, and endurance athletes who are chasing big goals and want to push past their limits and inspire others by how they show up in sport and life. Whether you're a first-timer, a comeback athlete, or someone who’s been stuck in burnout or injury, you belong here.  No matter your age, past injuries, time off, or current limitations, this podcast will help you go farther than you thought possible. Inside every episode, you’ll get: - Proven strategies from the Smart Training Method™  covering training, nutrition, injury prevention/body maintenance, mindset, and race prep - Inspiring interviews with everyday athletes and elite performers - High-impact lessons from experts in endurance, mental fitness, and performance - Raw stories of struggle, resilience, and transformation in the world of triathlon and running I’m Shangrila Rendon, 2x Guinness World Record holder, 48-time Ironman distance finisher, Ultraman and IM Kona finisher, keynote speaker, author, creator of Smart Training Method and Founder of Feisty Fox Coaching. But I didn’t start this way. At 24, I couldn’t swim, didn’t own a bike, and could barely run for 15 minutes. I battled depression, PTSD, addiction, eating disorder and the lasting scars of childhood abuse, sexual assault.  Endurance sport became the path I used to rebuild myself. I trained hard, failed often, and never gave up. And now I help others do the same. I created this podcast to help you go farther, inspire others, and become unstoppable. Subscribe now and join our community of athletes who are learning to be Unstoppable

  1. From Runner To Triathlete: Why Swimming Feels So Hard & How To Fix It

    19 Jun

    From Runner To Triathlete: Why Swimming Feels So Hard & How To Fix It

    From Runner To Triathlete: Why Swimming Feels So Hard & How To Fix It If swimming feels harder than running, it’s not you. It’s how you’re training. Most runners bring this into the water: push harder go longer / do more fight through it And that’s exactly why they end up here: “After 150 or 200 meters I feel like the CO₂ is building up…” They're out of breath, gasping and have no control. Even if they can swim 1000 meters or more in the pool… on race day, everything falls apart. And they're left wondering: “I thought I was ready. Where did all that training go?” What most athletes don’t realize is this: 📍 Swimming doesn’t reward effort or just show up the way running does. It backfires. Together with Coach Vineta and Valerie, in this epsiode, I’ll break down: Why swimming feels so hard, especially coming from a running background Why doing more yards isn’t fixing it What’s causing that “out of breath” feeling and how to fix it so you can finally feel in control in the water Using Valerie’s story as an example: After a year of swimming and being able to do ~1000 meters nonstop… she still felt like she was “gasping” after 150–200 meters. As soon as she took action and dialed in the way she trains, she was able to swim non-stop 1500 meters continuously feeling “relaxed and strong.” Her confidence went up. Swimming started to feel easier and she got faster. But this episode is not just about Valerie. It’s about understanding why you can do the distance but still feel out of control. If that’s you, this episode is for you.

    1hr 5min
  2. Finish Your 1st Olympic Triathlon Strong

    13 Jun

    Finish Your 1st Olympic Triathlon Strong

    3 Key Strategies from a Busy Single Mom Who Trained for Her 1st Olympic & Full Marathon, in Just 7 Weeks Most athletes know the feeling. Balancing training with real life, wondering if the big goal is just too far out of reach. Kristen, a single mom with two kids and a full-time job, had her eye on finishing her first full marathon this year and was already planning to race a 70.3 next year. When she told me her 70.3 goal, I said: "Let’s boost your confidence for that by getting you a strong Olympic finish this year." Then I asked, “If it were possible, would you want to do both this year?” She hesitated, unsure if she could handle an Olympic distance on top of full marathon training. Then she said yes. Before we started, the Olympic was in her “maybe someday” category. In only 7 weeks, using 3 key strategies, Kristen was able to: 🏁 Finished her first Olympic triathlon with hilly bike course. 3h 21m, 5th in her division 🏅 PR’d her half marathon 🏃‍♀️ Her run threshold pace is 8:15 min/mile 🏆 Won her sprint triathlon 🚴 Biked 40 miles for the first time 🏊 Swam 2 miles for the first time Crossing the finish line, she said: "I didn’t feel like I was dying. I feel great.” She’s feeling confident and strong The biggest difference: She stopped guessing and started training with a plan built for her busy life. If you’re ready to see what’s possible for you, no matter your schedule listen to this episode.

    47 min
  3. How She Went From 5 Minutes to 40 Minutes Nonstop Swimming in 30 Days

    9 May

    How She Went From 5 Minutes to 40 Minutes Nonstop Swimming in 30 Days

    “For 38 years this goal haunted Teddi.” Not the bike. Not the run. The SWIM. 😟 She wanted to complete a triathlon for decades, but one lap left her exhausted. During our first conversation, she admitted:  🗨 “I’ve been too afraid to swim and honestly didn’t think I could do this.” That’s where many adult athletes get stuck. They’re disciplined, active, and mentally tough in every other area of life. Some have finished marathons, ultras, long hikes, or feel strong on the bike. But once they hit the water, it feels like all their endurance suddenly disappears. In the pool, they’re stopping every 25, 50, or 100 yards depending on the day. Some can push through 500 or 1k but deep down something still feels off with their breathing.  They fatigue so fast that a short swim session can leave them completely drained afterward. Breathing feels chaotic, the heart rate spikes, and confidence disappears. So they try harder… and usually end up even more exhausted. Most beginner triathletes don’t need more distance or speed work first. They need to first feel calm, safe, and in control in the water. That’s exactly what we’re teaching in this episode. You’ll learn: ➡ Why swimmers gas out after 25–50 yards ➡ How beginners build endurance without overexhaustion ➡ How to stay calm instead of panicking mid-swim Using Teddi's story as an example: she initially worried she’d be expected to swim long distances or push hard right away. Instead, we met her where she was. She started by swimming one lap at a time, needing rest after every 25–50 yards just to recover. Thirty days later, she swam 40 minutes nonstop and completed roughly 1,350 yards continuously with controlled pacing. This isn’t just about Teddi. There are thousands of adults avoiding triathlon because swimming feels overwhelming, and most are far more capable than they think.

    1hr 2min

About

What if you could train smarter, race stronger, and still have energy for your family, career, and dreams while staying injury free? This show is for working parents, busy triathletes, marathoners, and endurance athletes who are chasing big goals and want to push past their limits and inspire others by how they show up in sport and life. Whether you're a first-timer, a comeback athlete, or someone who’s been stuck in burnout or injury, you belong here.  No matter your age, past injuries, time off, or current limitations, this podcast will help you go farther than you thought possible. Inside every episode, you’ll get: - Proven strategies from the Smart Training Method™  covering training, nutrition, injury prevention/body maintenance, mindset, and race prep - Inspiring interviews with everyday athletes and elite performers - High-impact lessons from experts in endurance, mental fitness, and performance - Raw stories of struggle, resilience, and transformation in the world of triathlon and running I’m Shangrila Rendon, 2x Guinness World Record holder, 48-time Ironman distance finisher, Ultraman and IM Kona finisher, keynote speaker, author, creator of Smart Training Method and Founder of Feisty Fox Coaching. But I didn’t start this way. At 24, I couldn’t swim, didn’t own a bike, and could barely run for 15 minutes. I battled depression, PTSD, addiction, eating disorder and the lasting scars of childhood abuse, sexual assault.  Endurance sport became the path I used to rebuild myself. I trained hard, failed often, and never gave up. And now I help others do the same. I created this podcast to help you go farther, inspire others, and become unstoppable. Subscribe now and join our community of athletes who are learning to be Unstoppable