The Giddy Up Edge: Conversations on Getting Faster

Michellie Jones & Evan Gruda
  • 4.3 (6)
  • Sports
  • Updated Biweekly

A deep dive into the world of triathlon training, racing, and the coach-athlete relationship. Join Michellie Jones—Olympic silver medalist, two-time ITU World Champion, IRONMAN World Champion, and IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion—and her athlete Evan as they break down training strategies, race preparation, and lessons learned on the path to success. Whether you're chasing your next PR or looking to find your fast, this podcast delivers expert insights, real-world experiences, and behind-the-scenes conversations to help you become a stronger, smarter, and faster triathlete.

  1. Jun 2

    Turning Pro at 40 – The Debut: Did It Live Up To The Hype?

    Most athletes dream of that moment—standing on the start line of their first pro race. For Megan Grant, that dream came at 42, and her journey from nurse to pro triathlete is nothing short of inspiring. In this episode, Megan reveals the emotional rollercoaster of her first pro race at Ironman Chattanooga, sharing how she conquered imposter syndrome and embraced the power of community. Discover how innovative tools like Race Ranger boosted her confidence and alignment with seasoned pros. Listeners will gain practical insights into the mental side of racing and the importance of focusing on growth over results. Megan’s story underscores that it’s never too late to chase a dream or redefine what’s possible. Her honest reflections will motivate anyone feeling limited by age or self-doubt to embrace their journey with courage and joy. This episode is your ultimate inspiration to keep dreaming and always giddy up. You can find Meghan on Instgram ⁠@meghanleagrant ⁠ If you want to reach out to Michellie Jones you can find her at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://giddyupmultisports.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for coaching, camps, and tools. Evan Gruda can be found on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@GrudaGoesGlobal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transistor.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    42 min

  2. May 12

    It’s Never Too Late: Meghan Grant’s Journey to Pro at 42

    At 42 years old, Meghan Grant is proving that potential does not expire. In this episode of The Giddy Up Edge, Michellie Jones sits down with Meghan to talk about her journey from age-group triathlon to earning her pro card, including the years of steady progress, setbacks, belief, and consistency that made it possible. Meghan shares how she balanced training with a demanding full-time career as a nurse, worked through fear and self-doubt, and kept showing up long enough to see what she was truly capable of. After a standout performance at IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside, she now prepares to step onto the start line as a professional for the first time at IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga. This conversation is about more than racing. It is about patience, courage, resilience, and the reminder that it is never too late to chase a bigger version of yourself. You can find Meghan on Instgram @meghanleagrant If you want to reach out to Michellie Jones you can find her at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://giddyupmultisports.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for coaching, camps, and tools. Evan Gruda can be found on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@GrudaGoesGlobal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transistor.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    46 min

  3. Apr 22

    Matt Hanson on Longevity, Run Speed, and Lasting in Pro Triathlon

    In this episode of The Giddy Up Edge, Michellie Jones sits down with pro triathlete Matt Hanson fresh off his podium finish at IRONMAN New Zealand, where he once again showed why he remains one of the most dangerous runners in long-course triathlon. The conversation goes far beyond race results, diving into what it really takes to stay competitive into your 40s, how Matt thinks about durability, consistency, self-coaching, recovery, and the mental side of sustaining a long career in the sport. Hanson is widely known for his elite run pedigree and deep experience in Ironman racing, and this episode explores both the highs and lows that shaped him along the way. Matt also shares his thoughts on balancing family life with professional sport, what has changed as he’s gotten older, how the sport is evolving, and where age-group athletes can find real gains in training and race execution. From passion and identity to free speed and race-day mindset, this is a conversation about much more than performance alone. It’s about building an engine — and a career — that lasts. You can find Matt on Instagram @matthansontri If you want to reach out to Michellie Jones you can find her at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://giddyupmultisports.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for coaching, camps, and tools. Evan Gruda can be found on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@GrudaGoesGlobal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transistor.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    1h 3m

  4. Mar 17

    Heavy Legs or Heavy Mind? Decoding Motivation Loss

    What do you do when motivation drops and training suddenly feels harder? In this episode of The Giddy Up Edge, Michellie Jones and Evan Gruda unpack one of the most common challenges endurance athletes face: losing motivation. But instead of assuming something is wrong with your fitness, they explore a smarter framework for understanding what may actually be driving the dip. Is it physical fatigue from accumulated training stress?Is it emotional fatigue from life load, pressure, and mental burnout?Or is it your environment — the people, places, and conditions around you — making consistency harder than it needs to be? Evan and Michellie break down how to recognize each signal, why athletes often misread them, and how to respond in a way that supports long-term performance. This episode is all about learning to interpret what your body, mind, and environment are telling you — so you can make better decisions, stay consistent, and keep moving forward even when motivation shifts. If you’ve ever wondered whether you need more discipline, more recovery, or just a better setup, this episode is for you. If you want to reach out to Michellie Jones you can find her at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://giddyupmultisports.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for coaching, camps, and tools. Evan Gruda can be found on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@GrudaGoesGlobal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transistor.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    43 min

  5. Feb 23

    Aero Done Right: Comfort, Fit, and Speed with FastTT

    In this episode of The Giddy Up Edge Podcast, Michellie Jones and Evan Gruda sit down with Wayne Attwell, founder of FastTT, to talk about the real meaning of “free speed” on the bike. Wayne shares how a personal fit problem turned into one of triathlon’s most innovative cockpit brands — built around comfort, adjustability, and sustainable aerodynamics. They dive into wind tunnel testing, athlete feedback, hydration integration, common aero mistakes, and why the fastest position is the one you can actually hold for hours. A must-listen for triathletes looking to ride faster, smarter, and stronger. If you want to get FAST check out your new cockpit over at http://fasttt.bike/ If you want to reach out to Michellie Jones you can find her at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://giddyupmultisports.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for coaching, camps, and tools. Evan Gruda can be found on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@GrudaGoesGlobal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transistor.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    57 min

  6. Feb 5

    Crowie on Finding Fast: Patience, Grit, and Free Speed

    Three-time IRONMAN World Champion and two-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Craig “Crowie” Alexander joins Michellie Jones and Evan Gruda for a masterclass in racing with patience, intelligence, and grit. We rewind to how Crowie got started, the moments that defined his career, and what it really felt like when everything clicked on the biggest stages in the sport. From the human side of elite racing—family, balance, and identity—to the evolution of nutrition, equipment, and racing formats, Crowie shares what changed the game… and what never has. If you’re an age-group athlete juggling real life and big goals, Crowie’s advice is gold: be realistic, stay consistent, prioritize sustainability, and earn your “free speed” by doing the work that matters. In this episode: Ocean risk, mindset, and the athlete’s relationship with fear Career-defining Kona moments + racing with patience Short course vs IRONMAN + adapting to different courses The biggest performance unlocks: nutrition, tech, and efficiency Retirement, transition, and staying in the game longer Age-group advice: consistency vs intensity vs recovery What “free speed” actually means (and why nothing is truly free) If you enjoyed this one, share it with a training partner, leave a review, and remember: finding fast isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters.Giddy up. You can find Craig on Instagram @crowiealexander or on his coaching website https://alexander.sansego.co/ If you want to reach out to Michellie Jones you can find her at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://giddyupmultisports.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for coaching, camps, and tools. Evan Gruda can be found on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@GrudaGoesGlobal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transistor.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    1h 2m

  7. Jan 26

    Unlocking Speed: The Science Behind Caden Wheels

    In this episode of the Giddy Up Edge podcast, host McKeeley Jones and co-host Evan Gruda welcome Ben Cawood, founder of Cayden Cycling, to discuss the science of speed in cycling. They explore the importance of wind tunnel testing, the impact of tire choices, the debate between tubeless and clincher tires, and the significance of wheel depth and weight in performance. Ben shares insights on the versatility of his cycling frames and emphasizes the importance of balance in wheel design. The conversation concludes with practical advice for athletes looking to enhance their performance. Learn more about Caden and purchase your next set of wheels at https://carbonbikewheels.com.au/us or reach out on instagram @cadencarbonwheels If you want to reach out to Michellie Jones you can find her at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://giddyupmultisports.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for coaching, camps, and tools. Evan Gruda can be found on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@GrudaGoesGlobal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transistor.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    1h 1m

  8. 12/15/2025

    2025 Free Speed Review: What Actually Made Us Faster

    In this episode of The Giddy Up Edge, Evan Gruda and 8x World Champion coach Michellie Jones break down the ultimate concept every triathlete loves: free speed—the performance you unlock without adding more training hours. We look back on the biggest needle-movers from 2025 (and the mistakes worth leaving behind), starting with the foundations: sleep as a non-negotiable, smarter recovery, better warmups, automatic refueling, and ego-free easy days. From there, we go discipline-by-discipline with practical upgrades you can steal immediately: 🏊 Swim: masters groups, higher stroke rate, tempo trainer work, paddles/pull sets, and straighter open-water sighting🚴 Bike: cadence control, durable race execution, aero positioning, handling skills, and why fit + equipment choices matter🏃 Run: cadence efficiency, negative splitting, brick-specific durability, and smarter risk management so you stay healthy and fast We also dig into a hugely overlooked performance lever: blood testing—what to track, how often to test, and how athlete-specific trends can reveal issues (iron, hormones, recovery markers) before they derail a build. Finally, we set our 2026 targets, share what we’re doubling down on, and leave you with a Free Speed Checklist you can use to start getting faster—before your training even ramps. If you’re planning 2026, this is the episode to replay with a notebook.Follow @GiddyUpCoaching and visit giddyupcoaching.com for coaching, camps, and tools. If you want to reach out to Michellie Jones you can find her at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://giddyupmultisports.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for coaching, camps, and tools. Evan Gruda can be found on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@GrudaGoesGlobal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transistor.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    1h 32m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

A deep dive into the world of triathlon training, racing, and the coach-athlete relationship. Join Michellie Jones—Olympic silver medalist, two-time ITU World Champion, IRONMAN World Champion, and IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion—and her athlete Evan as they break down training strategies, race preparation, and lessons learned on the path to success. Whether you're chasing your next PR or looking to find your fast, this podcast delivers expert insights, real-world experiences, and behind-the-scenes conversations to help you become a stronger, smarter, and faster triathlete.

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