RISON - Lauren Threlkeld returns to the latest episode of the Free Range Conversations podcast to share her experience competing in the IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon last month, and a glimpse at her next adventure.
Threlkeld set out for Galveston, Texas to conquer the triathlon series, which is the world’s premier half-distance series consisting of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run.
Mother nature had other plans for the thrill-seeker. Due to weather conditions, the swim portion of the event had to be canceled.
Threlkeld completed the bike ride and run in a total of six hours and 36 seconds, accomplishing her goal of finishing the event.
She said she met many people from all over the world competing alongside her, some of which viewed it as competitive looking to be the first across the finish line.
“But I'd say the vast majority wanted to accomplish the goal,” she said. “Just finishing is honestly a huge feat because it is. I mean, it's a long distance and your whole body is really pushed to every limit that you've ever been pushed to.”
She tackled the bike ride and moved straight into running.
Joking with hosts Britt Talent and Douglas Boultinghouse, Threlkeld said her first mission after the bike ride was finding a bathroom. Though there were rest stops with portable toilets along the route, she knew better than to stop.
“I was pushing just to get done with the race because I was like, if I get off this bike, I don't know that I'll get back on. Like, my butt hurt, my legs hurt, my arms hurt,” she said. “Once you get off your bike, your muscles are so incredibly fatigued.”
Threlkeld said her crew of supporters that traveled to cheer her on along the route saw many people collapse after the ride and quit. She pressed on.
During the transition period from riding to running, she was prepared after months of training that began last December.
“We call that a brick workout to teach your legs, ‘Hey, when we get done doing this, we're going to do this,” she said, “And also train your mind that even when you feel this way, you're getting off the bike you can physically run because it doesn't feel like you can do it.”
After it was done, Threlkeld said she kept moving and walked a quarter mile to the car, went back to her condo, had a protein drink, took a hot bath and a quick nap, then went out to dinner with friends and family.
Though she was sore the next day, keeping moving was key for her recovery. Two days later, she was back to working out and prepping for her next event.
Threlkeld will compete this weekend in the Memphis in May triathlon. This event is shorter than her last, consisting of a mile swim, a 24-mile bike ride and a six-mile run.
During the podcast, Threlkeld shares her training stories of being a self-taught swimmer and the techniques she had to learn to be more efficient in the water, and the weight-training routine that helped get her ready to compete.
She also shares tips on supplements like creatine and collagen, and nutrition guidance such as eating single-ingredient foods for anyone looking to get in shape or increase their overall health.
Threlkeld, an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, runs her own clinic, Absolute Health, in Star City. For the patients and clients she helps, she tries take a simple approach.
“I try to give them the realistic expectation,” she said. “This is a marathon, not a sprint. In so many ways, this is a life that we have to live, that we have to meet a goal slowly and sustainably, or we're just going to go back.”
Threlkeld’s full episode of the podcast is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and below: