The Be Fierce & Tri Podcast
Be Fierce & Tri is a IRONMAN Triathlon podcast and endurance training podcast covering Marathon, runDisney and ultra endurance training for athletes who want to train smarter, race stronger, and build long-term performance without burnout. Hosted by triathlon coach, Ironman World Championship qualifier, and endurance athlete Jill “The Tri Mom” Bartholomew, this podcast covers triathlon training, IRONMAN training, marathon training, and endurance training, with a practical, real-world approach designed for busy, motivated athletes. The show also features dedicated conversations around runDisney training, including Dopey Challenge training, Princess Weekend preparation, race execution, recovery, and the mental side of completing multi-day endurance events. Whether you’re training for your first runDisney weekend or balancing long-course triathlon goals with life off the race course, Be Fierce & Tri meets you where you are. Each episode delivers actionable coaching insight, honest discussions about consistency and recovery, and proven strategies for building sustainable endurance — helping triathletes, runners, and endurance athletes perform at their best on race day and beyond.
Episodes
In This Episode
- Sharon's first sprint triathlon race recap
- Navigating transition and race morning logistics
- Pool swim challenges and crowded swim lanes
- Managing race-day nerves and swim anxiety
- Bike course strategy, hills, and passing athletes
- Lessons learned from a first triathlon experience
- Garmin triathlon mode mistakes and race data mishaps
- The importance of proper triathlon gear and fit
- Why local sprint ...
In this episode:
- Lindsay's journey from Ironman and Kona to gravel racing
- Why she chose Unbound 200 as her first ultra-endurance gravel event
- What makes gravel racing so different from road cycling and triathlon
- Racing through thunderstorms, lightning, mud, and changing conditions
- How Unbound's support system and drop bags work
- The crash at mile 40 and continuing despite injuries
- Nutrition lessons learned over 200+ mile...
In this episode:
• Sharon shares her experience completing her first-ever open water swim event
• The unexpected challenge of wearing a wetsuit for the first time
• Why open water swimming feels completely different from pool swimming
• Learning to sight and stay on course
• Race starts, swim anxiety, and building confidence in open water
• Pool swim triathlons versus open water triathlons
• Brick work...
In this episode:
- Jim shares his stage 4 cancer diagnosis and treatment journey
- How he continued training through chemotherapy, surgeries, and setbacks
- Why he believes endurance sports prepared him for the toughest challenge of his life
- His philosophy of discipline, sacrifice, suffering, and pain
- The story behind his new book, Just Keep TRI-ing
- Raising funds for the Ironman Foundation
- Preparing for Kona 2026
Re...
What’s it like to race the inaugural edition of a full-distance IRONMAN?
In this episode of the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast, Coach Jill Bartholomew sits down with fellow athletes Dawn Edens and Belinda DeWitt to break down their experience racing IRONMAN Jacksonville 2026 — from the unusual tidal swim and windy bike course to the heat, logistics, nutrition struggles, and emotional finish-line moments.
Belinda shares the...
Have you ever had a race that didn’t go the way you imagined?
Coach Jill Bartholomew welcomes fellow coach and athlete Erin Byrge to the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast for an honest conversation about what happens when months of preparation collide with unexpected setbacks on race day.
After crashing at mile 60 during IRONMAN Texas, Erin still found a way to finish the race — battling physical pain, self-doubt, and the men...
Have you ever wondered what the IRONMAN Foundation actually does?
In this episode of the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast, Coach Jill sits down with Shane Facteau (President) and Audra Tassone (Executive Director & VP) to pull back the curtain on one of the most impactful—but often overlooked—parts of the IRONMAN ecosystem.
They dive into:
- How the Foundation has donated over $60 million globally
- The real impact of...
Are you training for your first sprint triathlon—or getting back into the sport after some time away?
In this episode of the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast, Coach Jill Bartholomew walks through exactly what to focus on when you’re about 90 days out from race day.
This episode is a repurposed live “Chat with the Coach” session, originally designed for athletes preparing for the Women’s Philadelphia Triathl...
You’ve been consistent all winter — on the trainer, treadmill, and in the pool. So why does your first outdoor ride, run, or open water swim feel so much harder?
In this episode, Coach Jill Bartholomew explains why your fitness hasn’t disappeared — but your body has lost something else.
From environmental changes to neuromuscular adaptation, this is the real reason outdoor training feels harder in the spring...
In this episode of the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast, Coach Jill sits down with Julie and Tony from Team No Coasting to unpack one of the most talked-about races of the season — the inaugural Little Elm 70.3.
What was supposed to be a fast early-season race quickly turned into a test of adaptability, resilience, and race-day decision making.
Here’s what went down:
- A last-minute swim cancellation just minutes before ...
If you’ve ever looked at your training plan and wondered how you’re supposed to fit it all in, you’re not alone.
In this episode, Coach Jill Bartholomew dives into one of the most common challenges endurance athletes face: balancing training with a busy, real-world schedule. Whether you’re training for your first sprint triathlon, a marathon, the Dopey Challenge, or an Ironman, the demands on your time can f...
runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend 2026 Recap
In this episode, Jill and friends break down their full experience from Princess Weekend at Walt Disney World.
They discuss:
- The Princess Weekend Expo experience
- The runDisney gear phenomenon (and why Brooks shoes are everywhere)
- Race participation statistics and why Princess Weekend is one of the most female-dominated races in endurance sports
- Running the 5K through Epco...
In Part 2 of our conversation with data analyst Brian Davis, we dive deep into one of the most debated topics in endurance racing — corrals, course congestion, and what race data actually reveals about performance, safety, and race outcomes.
How much does corral placement really affect your time?
Is course cutting actually common — and how do race organizers detect it?
What happens when pacing, crowd density, ...
What really happens at the back of a runDisney race?
In this episode, I sit down with Brian Davis — physics professor, long-time runDisney athlete, and the unofficial statistician behind the Dead Last Start (DLS) movement — to unpack what most runners never see.
We talk about:
The origin story of Dead Last Start
Why some fast runners voluntarily start with the balloon ladies
How many runners actually cut the course (spo...
In this episode, Jill and Carolyn discuss:
- Carolyn’s path to earning her pro card and racing professionally
- The realities of competing at the pro level
- Managing expectations and race-day nerves
- Imposter syndrome in endurance sports
- How Carolyn defines success today
- Balancing training with a full-time job
- Social media growth, plateaus, and mental health
- Advice for beginner triathletes
- Gear recommendations for new athletes
- Favorite a...
Imposter syndrome doesn’t just show up in the boardroom — it shows up at the starting line, in training cycles, and anytime we try something bigger than what we’ve done before.
In this episode, Jill is joined by Sharon from Bib and Tiara to talk candidly about imposter syndrome in endurance sports, careers, and life. They explore how comparison, gatekeeping, and external validation can undermine confidence, why wom...
- What one week post-Dopey recovery should feel like
- Why heavy legs, low motivation, and emotional dips are normal
- The difference between discomfort and pain
- Why movement helps recovery — and when it becomes too much
- How to safely reintroduce running, cycling, or cross-training
- Fueling and hydration for post-race healing
- Alcohol, recovery, and why timing matters
- Disney-specific recovery considerations (feet, swelling, sleep)
- When t...
- Recorded just hours after the final race concluded
- Panel includes experienced runDisney and Dopey Challenge athletes
- Covers all race distances from 5K through Marathon
- Honest discussion of expo flow, merch availability, and pre-orders
- Crowd management, corral sizing, and character stop dynamics
- Weather conditions and their impact on performance and safety
- Fueling preferences: gels, chews, real food, and what worked (or didn’t)
- M...
Race-day nerves and butterflies are normal
The 5K is a warm-up, not a test
Conditions may be humid, foggy, or unpredictable — adjust calmly
Ignore comparison and other runners’ bravado
If a mile feels hard, manage this mile only
Adjust pace early if needed — pulling back is smart execution
Stopping too long often makes restarting harder
Run your race, in your body, at your effort
Trust yourself — you did the work
If...
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