Average Age Groupers

Growing Curious
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Fitness
  • Updated 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. 4d ago

    Ep. 23: Open-Water Swim Anxiety, Wetsuit Fit Secrets, and a Major Ironman Wisconsin Curveball

    Laura, Maggie, and Holly reunite in person on Average Age Groupers, first joking about Maggie’s nonstop travel and their strong opinions on socks, then shifting to open-water swimming tips ahead of Ironman Wisconsin. They discuss why wetsuits can feel safer, how a wetsuit should fit (tight, worked up around shoulders), sleeved vs sleeveless options, buoyancy shorts, caring for gear, and using Body Glide or TriSlide to prevent chafing and help with donning. They share sighting strategies like “crocodile eyes,” handling chop, drafting, avoiding traffic when stopping, staying wide for space, and using swim buoys for visibility and flotation. They briefly cover Ironman Wisconsin’s two-loop swim and strong water support, note current-assisted swims like Oregon 70.3, and update that Aaron is out of Ironman Wisconsin after re-breaking his collarbone and seeking a deferral. 00:00 Reunited In Person 00:12 Maggie Travel Chaos 01:31 The Great Sock Debate 03:34 Podcast Intro Updates 04:49 Open Water Swim Basics 07:47 Wetsuit Safety And Fit 10:57 Sleeves Brands And Care 14:51 Buoyancy Shorts Option 15:38 Sighting Like A Crocodile 19:50 Race Navigation And Drafting 24:24 Swim Buoys And Visibility 25:32 Chafing Lube And Comfort 29:28 Fear Creatures And Confidence 32:04 Swim Fears and Motivation 33:16 Ironman Wisconsin Swim Breakdown 36:57 Ocean and Choppy Swim Tips 40:22 Current Assisted Swim Hype 42:20 Oregon 70.3 Beginner Friendly 44:39 Aaron Injury Wisconsin Update 47:06 Spectating Plans and Games 50:16 Chequamegon MTB Prep Talk 54:03 Guests Team Updates and Wrap 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/ #triathlon #unboundgravel #podcast #gravelbiking #gravelride

  2. Aug 28

    Ep. 22: From Kansas Swim Meets to Unbound Gravel: Alyssa’s Mustard-Fueled Endurance Journey

    On Average Age Groupers, hosts Laura, Holly, Maggie, and Alyssa (returning guest) talk with Alyssa about how she became an endurance athlete, starting with swimming in Kansas, dabbling in college swimming and ultimate Frisbee, then discovering cycling during her LDS mission in California. She recounts buying her first road bike in 2015, doing an early sprint triathlon and multiple century rides, and learning race basics the hard way, including bonking, cramping, and her now-signature mustard packets. After moving to the DC area in 2017, she completed Ironman 70.3 Eagleman in 2018 and later shifted away from triathlon toward cycling. She shares how riding supports her mental health, how her friend Brian’s death shaped her motivation, and why she rode Unbound in his honor, including a stormy 200-mile experience. Alyssa also discusses run-club community, marathons, favorite places to ride, and possible future races like Steamboat. 00:00 Mic Stand Banter 00:19 Meet Alyssa 01:15 Swim Roots 03:16 Mission Bike Life 07:03 First Real Road Bike 08:43 First Tri And Century 13:02 Mustard Cramp Hack 16:24 Solo Riding Era 20:05 Move To DC Eagleman 25:25 Half Ironman Lessons 26:53 Cycling Focus And Loss 29:21 Unbound For Brian 32:41 Racing Mindset Wins 35:04 Racing With Friends 36:32 Cyclist Not Triathlete 37:42 Run Club Origins 39:20 Marathon Misery Lessons 43:38 Run And Raft Plans 45:55 Favorite Places To Ride 50:45 Kansas Gravel And Storms 54:01 Cold Weather Training Hacks 57:56 Next Season Race Calendar 01:00:58 Unbound Short Course Dreams 01:02:12 Wrap Up And Farewell https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw https://www.instagram.com/averageagegroupers/ https://averageagegroupers.substack.com/

    Ep. 22: From Kansas Swim Meets to Unbound Gravel: Alyssa’s Mustard-Fueled Endurance Journey

  3. Aug 21

    Ep. 21: What Really Happened at Ironman 70.3 Northern California?

    The Average Age Groupers share a race recap from Ironman 70.3 Northern California in Redding, California, noting early recording technical issues. Laura describes her first-ever DNF, exiting the non-wetsuit-legal swim (78.1°F) after repeated stops, chaotic contact, difficulty sighting into the sun, and limited visible water support; she’s extracted by paddleboard/boat, returns barefoot to spectators, and later spectates with help from Casey’s VIP access. Holly, Laura and Claire recount a disorienting swim with left turns and a “gate” between red buoys, sun glare, heavy contact, and a possibly long course. Holly details a scenic but hard bike with steep descents, wind, crashes, poor etiquette, false flats, and hot conditions, then a hilly, hot run with walk-run strategies, ibuprofen, and a hamstring cramp near mile 10 before finishing. Claire finishes strong, meets the mayor mid-run, chases a sub-six, but gets severe chafing from peeing while running; Casey medals her. They criticize the new 70.3 Worlds slot “performance pool” math after Claire’s rankings drop despite a small age-adjustment, and they discuss upcoming plans including Maggie’s Chequamegon mountain bike race and recovery goals. 00:00 Welcome and Audio Disclaimer 01:08 Race Recap Setup 02:09 Laura DNF Swim Story 09:16 Tech Fix and Pre Swim Vibes 10:31 Swim Course Chaos and Sun Glare 18:11 Swim Contact and Wetsuit Traffic 21:22 DNF Logistics and VIP Help 24:02 T1 Moments and Heading Out 26:21 Bike Course Beauty and Early Descent 31:44 Bike Etiquette and Course Difficulty 35:10 False Flats Steep Turns and Taking Souls 37:43 Women Finishers and Awards Questions 39:04 Bike Course Highlights 40:12 Urban Roads and Underpass 41:09 T2 Troubles and Blisters 45:49 Run Start and Survival Mode 49:48 Claire Run Strategy and Mayor 54:42 Cramping and Aid Stations 58:21 Finish Line and VIP Medal 01:00:47 Chafing Confession and Sub Six Push 01:04:44 Would We Race Again 01:05:17 Slot Allocation Controversy 01:11:24 Next Races and Wrap Up

    Ep. 21: What Really Happened at Ironman 70.3 Northern California?

  4. Aug 14

    Ep 20: 20 Triathlon Tips We Wish We Knew

    Laura, Maggie, and Holly celebrate the podcast’s 20th episode, an above-average milestone, by sharing “20 tips” they’ve learned as non-elite triathletes balancing jobs, training, and life. They open with updates about helping a friend move and a warm open-water swim at Fireman’s Park with fewer weeds than expected, then move into practical race and training advice: find a community or team, keep a learning/beginner mindset, fuel with enough carbs and protein (including whole-food options), plan post-race meetups and phone access, and pack items like trash bags, extra water for the swim chute, safety pins for timing chips, and a small pharmacy kit. They also cover bike and race-day tactics (downshifting, tire pressure, helmet replacement, photochromic lenses), heat management with ice, transition practice, finish-chute photo plans, buying meaningful race memorabilia, and the overarching reminder to keep the sport fun. 00:00 Couchside Catchup 00:54 Open Water Weed Talk 03:38 Episode 20 Milestone 05:01 20 Tips Kickoff 06:05 Find Your Training Crew 08:59 Learning Beginner Mindset 11:50 Fueling And Carbs 16:40 Post Race Meetups 19:05 Race Day Bag Hacks 20:34 Swim Chute Hydration 22:06 Timing Chip Safety 23:00 Bike Gear Stop Signs 24:54 Beat The Heat With Ice 27:47 DIY Arm Sleeves 28:52 Stay Warm in the Chute 29:50 Race Day Pharmacy Kit 30:57 Bodily Functions Reality 33:06 Helmet Replacement Rules 34:29 Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings 35:18 Photochromic Bike Glasses 36:28 Energy Comes Back 38:20 Know When to Stop 39:24 Deflate Tires in Heat 40:44 Chamois Cream and Fit 43:50 Practice Your Transition 45:18 Finish Chute Photo Plan 47:24 Buy the Race Memento 48:32 Have Fun Not Pressure 51:36 Training for Life Sidebar 53:05 Wrap Up and Where to Find Us https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw https://www.instagram.com/averageagegroupers/ https://averageagegroupers.substack.com/

  5. Aug 7

    Ep. 19: Redding 70.3 Prep Gets Real: After Accidents, Unbound, and Burnout—Can We Still Love Triathlon?

    Maggie, Laura, and Holly open by describing nonstop summer travel and feeling perpetually packed, then shift to their upcoming inaugural Ironman 70.3 in Redding, California. They explain how their original North Carolina 70.3 plan pivoted after scheduling conflicts and Holly’s April 2 car accident, which later revealed whiplash and a concussion that derailed running and swimming for weeks. Holly describes struggling through a demanding brick-heavy build, fear riding on roads and a breakdown during a cold, rainy Lake Placid ride, and worries about finishing due to run limitations. Laura shares self-coaching with an 80/20 approach, prioritizing not burning out on biking, higher run volume, and calmer swimming confidence. The episode also focuses on mental health: winter depression, dark intrusive thoughts after a February crash, identity and grief around racing setbacks (including Aaron’s accident and missed Lake Placid), and the challenge of balancing training with full-time work, ending with plans for a post-race recap and future guests. 00:00 Travel Life Catchup 02:01 Podcast Setup And Topics 02:58 Why Redding 703 03:19 Race Switch Backstory 07:04 Course And Logistics 08:44 Redding Build Reality Check 10:23 Training After Accident 13:37 Laura Self Coaching Plan 17:12 Weather And Course Hype 21:37 Mental Health Pivot 22:55 Winter Blues And First Crash 27:16 Car Accident And Invisible Injury 30:03 Unbound Mindset And Support 31:43 Racing With Support 32:43 Unbound Aftershocks 35:06 Whiplash Recovery Timeline 36:05 Road Riding Anxiety 39:56 Lake Placid Breakdown 41:48 Pulling The Plug 45:21 Back To Familiar Routes 46:58 Running Feels Impossible 49:39 Grief And Uncertainty 53:35 Mental Health In Sport 58:27 Identity And Balance 01:02:53 What Comes Next 01:05:45 Wrap Up And Thanks 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/

  6. Jul 31

    Ep. 18: He Started Triathlon Just to Ride Far | Logan’s “Why”

    Holly, Laura, Maggie, and Logan open Average Age Groupers by restating the show’s mission to share non-elite endurance athlete stories, then dig into why Logan chose endurance sports: after college he quit hockey (which he’d played since age 3), got into road biking, and chased the longest bike race he could, landing in Ironman despite barely being able to swim. Logan recounts racing Milkman 70.3 and Ironman Wisconsin 2023, where he stopped eating on the run and finished with over 2,000 calories unused, followed by cramping and a post-race recovery led by Holly and Aaron. In 2024 he improved fueling, raced Wisconsin and then California six weeks later, struggled with wind, under-fueled again, and finished with severe blisters. He qualified for 70.3 Worlds in Spain, then in 2025 moved to Denver, had knee surgery, raced 70.3 Boise, and at Worlds dealt with lost gear, panic, crashes, and zero-carb riding. Logan closes by describing joining a Colorado cycling team, time trials, a crash, a podium, a bloody marathon, and plans to take a year off triathlon to focus on cycling. 00:00 Meet the Hosts 00:45 Why This Podcast Exists 01:28 Logan’s Endurance Origin 02:59 Minnesota Hockey Childhood 04:52 Deep End Into Ironman 06:52 First 70.3 Reality Check 09:31 First Ironman Nutrition Fail 13:40 Post Ironman Marathon Jump 14:47 Two Ironmans in 2024 16:13 Musselman Podium and Worlds Slot 17:54 Ironman Wisconsin Breakthrough 21:09 California Struggle and Blisters 28:53 California to Colorado 29:26 Knee Surgery Comeback 31:43 Worlds Travel Chaos 35:29 Race Morning Anxiety 36:28 Swim Panic Survival 37:23 Bike Crash Nutrition Loss 38:59 Run Wipeout and Grind 42:56 Cycling Team Switch 46:39 Time Trial Fitness Boom 48:28 Gravel Crash Lesson 51:42 Marathon Bloody Blisters 56:24 Going All In Cycling 58:48 Final Wrap 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.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw https://www.instagram.com/averageagegroupers/ https://averageagegroupers.substack.com/

    Ep. 18: He Started Triathlon Just to Ride Far | Logan’s “Why”

  7. Jul 24

    Ep 17: Ironman Lake Placid Debrief: The Pro-Series Start, a Broken Collarbone Pivot, and the “Fun Day” That Got Tested on the Run

    In Lake Placid at 9:34 p.m., the Average Age Groupers crew (Laura, Holly, Claire, Logan, Maggie, and Aaron) records an immediate post–Ironman Lake Placid recap after Logan and Maggie finish, while Aaron spectates due to a collarbone fracture and surgery (plate and 10 screws) from a bike crash, transferring to Ironman Wisconsin. They describe race-morning logistics, congestion at the swim start, the Pro Series hype, and the Aussie exit pause that affected swim traffic. Maggie reports an aggressive first-lap swim and a calmer second lap; Logan describes early chaos, a brief panic, and settling in. On the bike they highlight fast descents, crosswinds, drafting frustrations, a dropped bottle into a river, the Bear Hills crowd energy, and overall course beauty. On the run, both battle hills and stomach issues, find support from a fellow runner, and finishes celebratorily. They note friendly finish-line volunteers, difficult meet-up logistics, spectating challenges, Lake Placid’s strong town culture, and end with community-building calls to subscribe and connect. 00:00 Couch Intro Chaos 00:12 Meet the Crew 01:35 Aaron’s Crash Update 03:42 Race Morning Routine 04:29 Transition Drop-Off Drama 07:34 Swim Start Hype 11:52 Swim Stories and Chaos 17:00 Long Run to T1 20:00 Early Bike Highlights 26:19 Course Features and Climbs 28:34 Drafting and Bike Mishaps 34:06 Late-Course Scenery and Hills 35:04 Bear Hill Crowd Rush 36:45 Second Loop Aid Station Chaos 37:39 Mile 60 Chitchat and Headwinds 38:40 Run Starts and Stomach Turns 41:25 Transition Antics and Early Run Pain 44:55 Zofran and Survival Nutrition 48:28 Run-Walk Strategy and Midrace Hugs 52:02 Ankles Socks and Finish Line Push 56:29 Postrace Ground Time and Regrouping 01:01:11 Spectating Tips and Final Wrap https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAw https://www.instagram.com/averageagegroupers/ https://averageagegroupers.substack.com/

    Ep 17: Ironman Lake Placid Debrief: The Pro-Series Start, a Broken Collarbone Pivot, and the “Fun Day” That Got Tested on the Run

  8. Jul 17

    Ep. 16: Three Ironman Lake Placid Builds, One Couch, and a Tech Meltdown: What Happens Two Weeks Out?

    Holly opens an “Average Age Groupers” episode from Colorado amid headphone and recording issues, then steps aside so Laura hosts Maggie, Aaron, and Boulder-based Logan to discuss training for Ironman Lake Placid in two weeks. They recap deciding on Placid about a year ago after racing Ironman Wisconsin, discuss recent training—including a self-made swim-bike-run day—and compare build challenges after Unbound, limited TT-bike time, heat concerns in DC, and inconsistent swim and run volume. Each shares race goals: Logan aims to finish the swim, ride strong, fuel well, and enjoy the run; Aaron wants a fun, steady race with confidence from bike/run volume but lighter swimming; Maggie is excited for Mirror Lake, the hilly course, and hopes for a Kona slot while prioritizing enjoying the day. They talk community support, gear changes (Maggie’s larger cassette and going tubeless), nutrition choices, upcoming plans after Placid, and announce a Sunday-night post-race recap with the group. 00:00 Audio Chaos Intro 00:18 Colorado Couch Setup 01:23 Tech Troubles Explained 02:59 Meet The Guests 03:44 Why Lake Placid 07:21 Mini Tri Day 09:08 Maggie Build Update 13:09 Aaron Build Update 18:29 Logan Marathon Story 22:25 Training With Friends 23:41 Why Community Matters 26:08 Setting Placid Goals 28:52 Mindset Over Metrics 31:44 Kona Dreams and Vibes 35:45 Bike Setup for Hills 38:09 What’s Next After Placid 42:47 Nutrition Plans and Fueling 47:07 Race Weekend Hype 49:44 Post Race Recap Plans 51:07 Wrap Up and Shoutouts 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. 16: Three Ironman Lake Placid Builds, One Couch, and a Tech Meltdown: What Happens Two Weeks Out?
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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
    Growing Curious
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Average Age Groupers

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