Average Age Groupers

Holly, Laura, and Maggie
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Fitness
  • Weekly

Welcome to Average Age Groupers, the podcast for the athlete who has a goal and a grocery list. Hosted by Holly, Maggie, and Laura, we’re diving into the world of cycling, running, triathlon, and everything in between. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or your tenth IRONMAN, we talk about how to crush your goals without losing your job, your friends, or your mind. From fueling on a budget to navigating the mental highs and lows of the "middle of the pack," we’re here to prove that you don't have to be a pro to have a powerful story.

  1. 2d ago

    Ep. 31: Moab 240 Canceled Mid-Race: Tarah’s 144-Mile Recap, Storm Chaos, and What Happens Next

    On Average Age Groupers, Laura, Holly, Maggie, and Tarah recap Tarah’s Moab 240 experience in the historically chaotic year the race was canceled mid-event. Tarah describes travel delays, extensive drop-bag prep with help from crew chief Bob, and a confusing but friendly check-in. She details early singletrack congestion, extreme heat and dust, fueling shifts from gels to solid foods (Oreos, PB&J, instant noodles), night running, foot care, and brief sleep while hallucinating before Bridger Jack. Severe weather escalates into hail, flooding, and dangerous mud on the way to Shay Mountain, where Maggie meets and paces Tarah through cold, wind, falling trees, and exhaustion. After two hours of sleep in Monticello, Tess paces Tarah through “peanut butter” mud to Dry Valley at mile 144, where she’s told the race is canceled. Tarah reflects on feeling surprisingly strong, possible top-15 women placement, uncertainty about future races, concerns about drop-bag retrieval, and minimal post-race soreness. 00:00 Back With Tarah 00:46 Moab Race Chaos 01:37 Storm Forecast Talk 03:52 Travel To New Mexico 05:17 Altitude And Sleep 06:17 Drop Bag Prep 11:13 Check In Confusion 15:23 Race Morning Buzz 17:31 Early Miles Singletrack 22:18 Heat Dust And Water 23:58 Fuel Switch To Solids 27:25 Night Running Oasis 34:03 Indian Creek Pit Stop 37:30 Blister Scapel Mishap 39:21 Bridger Jack Sleep 42:49 Hailstorm Wash Trek 43:57 Storm Turns to Flooding 45:10 Slip and Slide Climb 46:59 Burn Scar Reality Check 47:48 Mud Road to Shay 49:53 Two Hours at Shay 54:27 Decision to Push On 59:18 Windy Summit and Treefall 01:00:47 Creepy Encounter Descent 01:08:35 Monticello Reset and Pacer Swap 01:10:11 Peanut Butter Mud Miles 01:12:06 Race Canceled at 144 01:17:01 Aftermath and Whats Next 01:21:41 Body Check and Wrap Up Listen to the Pod here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/average-age-groupers/id1889949099 https://open.spotify.com/show/2LJ6G7l1oIRZUIa3lo7NFp https://www.pandora.com/podcast/average-age-groupers/PC:1001121141 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw https://www.instagram.com/averageagegroupers/

    Ep. 31: Moab 240 Canceled Mid-Race: Tarah’s 144-Mile Recap, Storm Chaos, and What Happens Next

  2. Oct 23

    Ep. 30: How Our Triathlon Goals Keep Changing (and Why That’s Okay)

    Laura, Holly, and Maggie introduce Average Age Groupers as a human-side endurance sports podcast and discuss how “average” can still mean doing triathlons without being fast, sharing 5K times and zone-setting tests. The main topic is how goals evolve: starting endurance sports to stay active, shifting away from time goals after injury, and wrestling with fantasies like qualifying for Kona or 70.3 Worlds versus the life alignment and compliance required. They emphasize race-day mindset, controlling what you can (nutrition, execution, enjoyment), and how varying courses and conditions complicate time-based goals. They talk about savoring the experience, returning from injury, headwind stories, and prioritizing durability through strength work despite limited time. Laura decides not to race Ironman Wisconsin due to the short gap before Ironman California, while Holly considers flexibility, local races, and longer running challenges. They invite listeners to share goals, questions, and guest ideas, and close with a call to like, subscribe, and follow on major platforms. 00:00 Cold Open Banter 01:01 Human Side Triathlon 02:12 Average Runner Reality 04:05 5K Tests And Zones 07:11 Goals That Evolve 10:59 Worlds Dreams And Tradeoffs 12:48 Race Day Mindset 18:07 Process Goals Over Time 19:51 Enjoy The Suffering 22:50 Headwinds And Comebacks 27:21 What If We Were Normal 29:50 Why Endurance Matters 30:38 Zone Two Gains 32:07 Bike Zone Two Setup 33:18 Dropping Wisconsin Plan 35:48 Durable Athlete Goal 37:18 Fitting Training In 40:03 Race Prep Logistics 41:33 Goggles And Gear Hoarding 43:34 Fear After DNF 45:11 Flexible Goals And Ultras 48:57 Avoiding Burnout Long Term 51:45 Traveling For Races 52:59 Wrap Up And Listener Call Listen to the Pod here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/average-age-groupers/id1889949099 https://open.spotify.com/show/2LJ6G7l1oIRZUIa3lo7NFp https://www.pandora.com/podcast/average-age-groupers/PC:1001121141 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw https://www.instagram.com/averageagegroupers/ https://averageagegroupers.substack.com/

  3. Oct 16

    Ep: 29: Our Favorite Pros

    IRONMAN’s New Women’s Community… and Our Real Kona Podium Picks Laura, Holly, and Maggie introduce their podcast Average Age Groupers and react to IRONMAN’s new women-focused community, “Woven,” describing its Strava/Instagram presence, member events, race meetups, and perks while questioning what concrete support it will provide beyond connection. They discuss how women-only racing (like IRONGIRL/Wisconsin Women’s Tri and separate-day 70.3 Worlds) can feel more positive and could boost women’s participation, and note Kona will be back to men and women racing the same day. The conversation shifts to favorite endurance athletes and why they’re fun to follow, including Heather Jackson, Paula Findlay and Eric Lagerstrom, Kat Matthews, Jenna & Logan, Justin R., India Lee, Jason West, Gustav Iden, Lionel Sanders, Nick Chase, Matthew Marquardt, Cam Wurf, and others across gravel, road cycling, and ultrarunning, plus playful, “emotional” Kona podium picks and a brief tangent on frequent collarbone breaks. 00:00 Ironman Woven Email 01:55 Skepticism and Real Support 03:35 Meet the Hosts 04:29 Women Only Racing Vibes 07:44 What Woven Should Do 10:37 Kona Format Changes 13:59 Pros We Love Following 14:17 Heather Jackson Spotlight 17:29 Triathlon Life and Kat 22:59 More Favorites and Norwegians 28:49 Lionel Sanders and RTS 30:27 Pro Favorites Rundown 31:47 Sam Long Spotlight 32:27 Racing With The Pros 34:17 Collarbone Season Talk 35:18 Cam Wurf Fan Moment 37:13 Dream Kona Podiums 40:37 Gravel Riders To Follow 44:26 Road Worlds And Cycling Crushes 46:54 Ultra Legends And Mindset 51:41 More Tri Names And Injury Wave 55:00 Wrap Up And Next Episodes Listen to the Pod here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/average-age-groupers/id1889949099 https://open.spotify.com/show/2LJ6G7l1oIRZUIa3lo7NFp https://www.pandora.com/podcast/average-age-groupers/PC:1001121141 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw https://www.instagram.com/averageagegroupers/ https://averageagegroupers.substack.com/

  4. Oct 9

    Ep. 28: She’s Attempting Moab 240 Next. But the Real Challenge Might Surprise You (Ultra Prep + Crew Secrets)

    Laura, Holly, and Maggie welcome returning guest Tarah to discuss her upcoming Moab 240 ultramarathon in Moab, Utah, including how she’s training, fueling, and planning logistics with her crew. After a light intro about keeping too many browser tabs and saving Instagram posts, Tarahh shares that her Leadville Silver Rush 50 was canceled due to fires and low ferritin, but she’s stayed healthy by stacking 2–3 long run days on weekends, relying on her strength-training base, and listening to her body. She details race fueling goals (up to 90g carbs/hour), homemade gels, aid-station foods, and her UltrAspire 14L pack for mandatory gear and up to 3–5L water. They cover mandatory kit, pacing plans (90/100/112+ hours), sleep strategy, fears (feet, gut, darkness), excitement about the community, travel timeline, live tracking, and plans to recap post-race. 00:00 Tabs and Screenshots Chaos 02:00 Saved Reels and Organization 02:52 Meet the Guest Tarah 04:17 Moab 240 Mindset 05:21 Training After Cancellations 08:25 Staying Healthy and Strong 11:00 Fueling Big Mileage 12:56 Race Nutrition Strategy 16:14 Gear and Water Carrying 22:05 Crew Rules and Pacer Plan 24:48 Altitude Fears and Unknowns 28:09 Sleep Strategy and Minivan Crew 33:24 Pacing Calculator and Cutoffs 36:01 Foot Care and Aid Station Routine 36:52 Mouth Care And Hygiene 38:14 Coke Pickles And Fuel 38:39 Dust Throat And Bandanas 39:49 What Excites Her Most 41:47 Will She Be Alone 43:38 Music Or Silence At Night 47:02 Midnight Calls And Games 50:18 Braids For Moab 53:48 Travel Plan And Race Timeline 55:42 Live Tracker And Updates 56:56 Wrap Up Wishes And Next Races 01:03:02 Final Sign Off Connect with Tarah: https://www.instagram.com/tarahinturquoise?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Listen to the Pod here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/average-age-groupers/id1889949099 https://open.spotify.com/show/2LJ6G7l1oIRZUIa3lo7NFp https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw https://www.instagram.com/averageagegroupers/ https://averageagegroupers.substack.com/

    Ep. 28: She’s Attempting Moab 240 Next. But the Real Challenge Might Surprise You (Ultra Prep + Crew Secrets)

  5. Oct 2

    Ep. 27: She Entered a Cyclocross Race on 50mm Tires… Then Took On Chequamegon

    Hosts Laura, Holly, and Maggie reintroduce themselves as the Average Age Groupers and catch up on Maggie’s two recent bike races. Maggie describes trying a Tuesday-night Minneapolis cyclocross race after winning a free entry, riding her gravel bike with 50mm tires on a grassy, switchback-heavy course, finishing mid-pack, and noting the high-intensity effort, timing chips, and playful “hand ups.” She then recaps the point-to-point Chequamegon mountain bike race weekend in Hayward, including logistics, a hummingbird in a bike shop, a neutral rollout, constant short climbs, and how a poorly fitting saddle caused significant pain and affected performance. Maggie highlights key course features like the Fire Tower climb, a man revving a chainsaw, the “Seven Sisters” hills, and a fast, more technical final section, praising the race’s marking, volunteers, aid stations, and finish-line food compared to Unbound. Laura shares she signed up for the Madison Half Marathon, Holly mentions recovery and returning to swimming, and Maggie discusses upcoming Moab pacing and off-season plans. 00:00 Riffing and Introductions 01:09 Voices Versus Faces 02:21 Maggie Tries Cyclocross 04:32 Cyclocross Course and Chaos 08:13 Cyclocross Vibes and Snacks 08:46 Fat Bike Race Shenanigans 15:32 Chequamegon Grand Prix Setup 18:44 Race Weekend and Logistics 23:08 Start Line and Early Miles 26:24 Relentless Climbs and Saddle Pain 32:28 Gravel vs MTB Debate 33:24 Ideal Bike Setup 34:45 Fire Tower Climb Chaos 37:38 Seven Sisters Sendfest 39:12 Final Miles Favorite 40:26 Bike Buying Banter 42:13 Race Organization Praise 44:10 Lifetime Series Talk 46:45 SoCal Hurricane Surf 47:42 Half Marathon Plans 50:06 Moab Pacing Nerves 53:58 Offseason and Yoga 56:42 Wrap Up and Plugs Listen to the Pod here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/average-age-groupers/id1889949099 https://open.spotify.com/show/2LJ6G7l1oIRZUIa3lo7NFp https://www.pandora.com/podcast/average-age-groupers/PC:1001121141 Follow Us: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw https://www.instagram.com/averageagegroupers/ https://averageagegroupers.substack.com/

  6. Sep 25

    Ep 26 : Pushing Limits: Nick's Endurance Evolution

    On Average Age Groupers, hosts Laura, Maggie, and Holly welcome guest Nick, previously referenced for mishaps that inspired lessons like leaving a cellphone in transition, to share his endurance sports journey. Nick describes not playing organized sports as a kid, being inspired at 12 by watching Kona on TV, serving eight years in the Army, then impulsively training five weeks for his first half marathon in 2009, learning hard lessons about hydration, shoes, and nutrition. He starts triathlon with Devil’s Lake in 2012 on borrowed gear, progresses through local races, wins novice and age-group finishes, and learns in-race nutrition after bonking at an Olympic before completing Racine 70.3 and Ironman Wisconsin (2015) and Lake Placid (2016). He recounts a 2018 Ironman derailed by poor pre-race fueling and a dead watch, a 2019 My Team Triumph relay raising about $25,000, a 2023 Boulder swim DNF from back spasms that panicked his wife due to tracking confusion, and a hot 2024 Waco 70.3 (about 6:02) via an Invictus Games Foundation program, while balancing CrossFit, future racing goals, and family. 00:00 Meet Nick Again 01:45 Early Life No Sports 02:26 Kona Dream Sparked 03:24 Army Years Fitness Base 04:03 First Half Marathon Chaos 07:12 Runner Gear And Solo Grind 08:17 Devils Lake Signup Surprise 09:51 Borrowed Bike Trailer Epic 12:15 First Sprint Tri Lessons 13:46 Why Triathlon Matters 15:21 Fat Bike Devils Lake Detour 17:39 2013 Breakthrough Races 19:38 Olympic Bonk Nutrition Wakeup 21:52 Racine 70.3 And Going Full 25:07 Coaching Team And 2015 Full 26:51 Craigslist Bike Hunt 28:33 Tri Bike Upgrade 30:04 Lake Placid Highs And Lows 34:50 Spectating Sparks Comeback 35:24 Milk Man Course Rant 36:55 Ironman 2018 Taper Troubles 37:59 Carb Loading Chaos 38:34 Kaizen Training Gains 39:42 Race Day Breakfast Fail 41:02 Watch Dies Mid Bike 43:55 Run Crash And Coke 45:46 My Team Triumph Relay 50:16 Invictus To Waco Heat 55:39 Boulder DNF And Panic 01:06:57 CrossFit Balance Plans 01:14:11 Choosing Races Wisely 01:17:20 Wrap Up And Plugs Listen to the Pod here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/average-age-groupers/id1889949099 https://open.spotify.com/show/2LJ6G7l1oIRZUIa3lo7NFp https://www.pandora.com/podcast/average-age-groupers/PC:1001121141 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw https://www.instagram.com/averageagegroupers/ https://averageagegroupers.substack.com/

    Ep 26 : Pushing Limits: Nick's Endurance Evolution

  7. Sep 18

    Ep. 25 Ironman Wisconsin Weekend Magic

    In this episode of Average Age Groupers, Holly, Maggie and Laura open with winter fat-tire biking gear talk (ski helmet/goggles, bar mitts, socks/boots, flat pedals, and the “N+1” bike problem) before debriefing Ironman Wisconsin weekend. They recap Saturday’s Madison 70.3 (cool and windy, choppy swim, a reported athlete death believed to be a cardiac event, a faster new bike course with less technical climbing, and a modified run), plus concerns about blatant drafting and frustration with the 70.3 Worlds performance pool system after a teammate’s 5:43 debut placed seventh in her Age group yet dropped to 72nd overall when adjusted. Sunday’s full Ironman spectating focused on teammate Paul, tracking him across multiple bike and run viewing spots; they note Emily received a three-minute drafting penalty while passing. They praise the improved athlete experience under Ironman’s new CEO (start buildup, upgraded finish line, first-timer bell) and share how Wisconsin reignited motivation to race again while they stress about Oregon 70.3 selling out and begin sketching expensive, shifting 2027 plans including potential Worlds qualification, Steamboat, California, and community/podcast growth. 00:00 Cold Weather Bike Gear 01:04 N Plus One Bike Talk 02:53 Podcast Intro and Ironman Plans 03:11 Oregon Registration Panic 04:34 Ironman Wisconsin Setup 06:05 70.3 Saturday Recap 06:36 Swim Tragedy Discussion 08:14 New 70.3 Course and Drafting 13:22 Performance Pool Confusion 15:57 Ironman Sunday Spectator Plan 17:45 Chasing Paul on the Bike 22:12 Old Sauk and Timber Loop 25:55 Cheering on the Climbs 27:35 Downtown Run Course Changes 30:22 Dead Shifting Battery 31:25 State Street Noise 33:00 Chasing the Finish 34:06 Spectating Reflections 35:23 New Ironman Experience 39:06 Madison Magic Returns 43:55 Planning 2027 Season 44:43 Local Winners Shoutout 46:05 Next Year Race Puzzle 50:12 Budgeting and Sponsors 53:35 Upcoming Races Updates 56:02 Cyclocross Tomorrow 57:40 Guests and Support 58:53 Wrap Up and Follow Listen to the Pod here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/average-age-groupers/id1889949099 https://open.spotify.com/show/2LJ6G7l1oIRZUIa3lo7NFp https://www.pandora.com/podcast/average-age-groupers/PC:1001121141 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw https://www.instagram.com/averageagegroupers/ https://averageagegroupers.substack.com/

    Ep. 25 Ironman Wisconsin Weekend Magic

  8. Sep 11

    Ep. 24: From Mexico City to Unbound: Hector’s DIY Path Through Gravel, Triathlon, and Resilience

    On Average Age Groupers, hosts Holly, Maggie, and Laura welcome Waterfall Racing teammate Hector to share his endurance story, from always having bikes as a kid in Mexico City to moving to Michigan at age nine and later riding and commuting by bike in Chicago. He describes how his mom’s breast cancer shaped his early exposure to charity endurance events, then progressing from 5Ks to the Chicago Marathon, where personal loss and an empty finish-line experience contributed to stepping away from running for years. After moving to Florida, Hector returns to sport through triathlon, teaching himself swimming via observation and YouTube, and completing a challenging first 70.3 at Clash Daytona while learning fueling and pacing through trial and error. He then enters the gravel scene, completes Unbound 50 on a modified cruiser, upgrades to a gravel bike, prepares for Unbound 200, later supports teammates at Unbound, and discusses future goals including returning to Unbound and possibly tackling Georgia’s Six Gap. 00:00 Last Minute Guest Intro 02:05 Meet Hector via Waterfall 03:07 Early Bikes and Family Roots 06:30 Moving to Michigan 09:14 College Crash and First 50 11:48 City Riding and Close Calls 14:11 Cancer and Charity Endurance 17:20 Chicago Marathon Heartbreak 19:37 Disney Marathon and Hiatus 22:25 Florida Reset and First Tri 26:52 Self Coached Training Approach 28:45 Clash Daytona Chaos 31:47 Cramp To Finish Line 33:08 Joining Waterfall Racing 33:49 Unbound Signup And DIY Bike 36:18 Racing The Unbound 50 38:57 Pikes Peak Climb Lessons 41:36 Training For Unbound 200 43:38 Crash And Concussion 47:30 Haines City 70.3 Recap 50:16 Six Gap Mountain Challenge 53:37 Future Plans And Wrap Up Follow Hector: https://www.instagram.com/hector.hmx23?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsi=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Follow us: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/average-age-groupers/id1889949099 https://open.spotify.com/show/2LJ6G7l1oIRZUIa3lo7NFp https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw https://www.instagram.com/averageagegroupers/ https://averageagegroupers.substack.com/

    Ep. 24: From Mexico City to Unbound: Hector’s DIY Path Through Gravel, Triathlon, and Resilience
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About

Welcome to Average Age Groupers, the podcast for the athlete who has a goal and a grocery list. Hosted by Holly, Maggie, and Laura, we’re diving into the world of cycling, running, triathlon, and everything in between. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or your tenth IRONMAN, we talk about how to crush your goals without losing your job, your friends, or your mind. From fueling on a budget to navigating the mental highs and lows of the "middle of the pack," we’re here to prove that you don't have to be a pro to have a powerful story.

Information

  • Creator
    Holly, Laura, and Maggie
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Average Age Groupers

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