✨ Support the Podcast ✨
In this episode, I sit down with Karin Pocock just days before Pinyons and Pines to unpack last year’s Triple Crown season—the podium at Tour Divide, the heartbreak of scratching at the Colorado Trail Race due to smoke inhalation, and the emotional toll of watching a season-defining goal unravel.
We talk about what it means to come back: rebuilding fitness, shifting to high-intensity training, rethinking race strategy, and lining up again with unfinished business. From holding position at the front of the field to learning when to pull the plug, this is a candid conversation about risk, resilience, and returning stronger.
If you’ve ever had a big goal fall apart—and chose to try again anyway—this one’s for you.
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(00:00:00) Introduction, Zoom Fatigue & Training Reflections
(00:03:15) HIIT, FTP Hesitation & AI Training Platforms
(00:09:23) TrainerRoad Transition & Performance Gains
(00:11:04) Welcome Karen & Sour Race Debrief
(00:15:40) Pacing, Motivation, Injuries & Humor
(00:18:32) Tour Divide Challenges: Smoke, Weather & Sleep Kit
(00:26:16) Mud, Health Issues & Race Motivation
(00:32:36) Power Meters, Equipment & Race Planning
(00:36:31) Arizona Trail Logistics & Fire Exposure
(00:43:47) Toxic Exposure, Illness vs Fatigue & Lung Health
(00:48:57) Fire Season Shifts & Gear Logistics
(00:55:50) Battery Management, Electrolytes & Iron Testing
(01:08:42) Goals, Sponsorship & Training Balance
(01:16:03) Work Flexibility, Relocation & Uranium Mining
(01:31:39) Pinyons Victory, Community & Canadian Roots
(01:45:49) Rapid Fire: Components, Salt, Lighting & Fit
(01:59:46) Charging, Water Sources & Resupply Stories
(02:10:20) Wrap-Up, Sponsors & Closing Remarks
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#endurance #bikepacking
