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#537 Lindsay Holmes IMTX: What 14 IRONMANs Teach You About Grit
72 Plays1 day ago
Lindsay Holmes joins the Grit2Greatness Endurance Podcast on the eve of IRONMAN Texas, the first U.S. IRONMAN of the season and the North American Championships, to share her powerful triathlon journey, lessons from 14 IRONMAN finishes, and what keeps her motivated through setbacks, DNFs, and big goals. Coaches Rich Soares and Kristin Overton also cover announcements, a Get Gritty mindset moment, race‑week reflections, and a fun “Would You Rather… IRONMAN Texas Edition” segment. This episode is fueled by Vespa Power, helping endurance athletes unlock steady energy and stronger performance.
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Transcript
Intro
Introduction to Grit to Greatness Podcast
00:00:07
Rich
Welcome to episode 537 of the Grit to Greatness Endurance Podcast. We are hosts, coaches, Rich Soares and Kristen Overton, and we are on a mission to help endurance athletes train smarter, race stronger, and build the grit it takes to achieve greatness.
Excitement of Ironman Texas
00:00:24
Kristin Overton
Well, here we are. Lindsay and I are here on the eve of Ironman Texas in Texas. It's the first Ironman event in the US, s so everybody gets a little excited about it. It's the North American and Championships.
00:00:40
Kristin Overton
So lots of excitement here in the woodlands.
Lindsay Holmes' Triathlon Journey
00:00:44
Kristin Overton
So today we have Lindsay Holmes joining us to talk about her triathlon journey and what has brought her to Texas this weekend.
00:00:53
Kristin Overton
So if you're ready to get gritty, let's go.
00:00:53
Rich
Lindsay, let's do it. Lindsay, it's great to have you with us. Thanks for joining us today.
00:01:00
Lindsay Holmes
It's great to be here, Rich and Kayo. Thanks for having me.
00:01:03
Rich
Yeah, we know you we know you want to get to bed because you've got a big day tomorrow, but hang in there with us for just a minute.
Velocity Rides Announcement
00:01:10
Rich
I've a quick announcement, and then we're going to jump into the interview. Folks, listen, we've got a couple of announcements, or really one announcement. Whether you're chasing performers or you just want to ride strong with great people, Velocity Rides are where fitness meets fun. Come and join the training with the coaches at Grit to Greatness.
00:01:30
Rich
And then stay for the community, leave for the better riding, leave a better rider than when you arrived. Tomorrow, we have at 8 a.m. Mountain Time, we have a road race inspired circuit race circus. If you've ever wanted to know what it's like to race at a USA Cycling National Championship and we and race a circuit race,
00:01:54
Rich
In particular, you want to join us tomorrow morning, 8 Mountain Time. We are going to take you through the paces and really kind of how to race a circuit race. And a lot of what we're going to be doing is focusing on the skills that you need in those kind of conditions. And we'll be doing very kind of, you know, a pulsy sort of training.
00:02:17
Rich
you know, time trialing efforts. And we are going to also be working on smooth, powerful pedal strokes at a variety of cadences to be able to stretch out your endurance as far as you can in a road race. So join us. We're really looking forward to seeing you there.
00:02:34
Rich
And with that, I think I'm going to turn it over to Coach K. Oda, introduce our guest.
Lindsay's Background in Triathlons
00:02:41
Kristin Overton
Awesome. Sounds like you're going good time for tomorrow, Rich.
00:02:45
Rich
Yes. Circuit Race Circus.
00:02:48
Kristin Overton
Love it. Love it. So, yeah, let's let's talk a little bit about Lindsay. So just a little bit about her. and She's a seasoned age group triathlete. I've had the privilege to coach her over the last year and a half, two years.
00:03:01
Kristin Overton
And so a little bit about her, she's a physical therapist turned healthcare care administrator. She's the mother of two beautiful boys and overall just an amazing human.
00:03:14
Kristin Overton
So, you know, she's raced all the distances from sprint to Ironman, competing in actually really competing in 16 Ironman races, finishing 14.
00:03:28
Kristin Overton
So it's pretty amazing. So you can imagine that she's, you know, overcome a lot to achieve these finishes. And it's just been an amazing journey for her. So, you know, her grit and tenacity and love of the sport has kept her coming back for more, no matter what the obstacle. So welcome, Lindsay.
00:03:48
Kristin Overton
we're We're so happy to have you and listen about your your journey and what brought you to Texas this this year.
Two Truths and a Lie Game
00:03:56
Lindsay Holmes
Well, thank you so much for having me on the podcast. And so you want me to talk about what brought me to Texas this year?
00:04:06
Rich
What you want to do the you would do the two truths and a lie KO first.
00:04:10
Kristin Overton
Oh yeah, we I forgot. we we We like to do a little warm up before we get really deep into to what's happening, just to get a little bit more to know about you. So we want you to tell us true truth and a lie.
00:04:26
Kristin Overton
And Rich and I have to guess which one's the lie.
00:04:30
Rich
So three statements about yourself. Yeah.
00:04:34
Lindsay Holmes
am the oldest of five.
00:04:37
Lindsay Holmes
i have played several instruments in my life and
00:04:47
Lindsay Holmes
have completed ultra marathon.
00:04:52
Rich
Kyo, do you want to go first? Do you want me to go?
Lindsay's Musical Past and Ultra Marathon Goals
00:04:55
Kristin Overton
You know, Rich, I think I know the answer to this one.
00:04:55
Lindsay Holmes
Thank you.
00:04:58
Kristin Overton
So going to let you go first.
00:04:59
Rich
Let me go for it. That sounds great. All right. So oldest of five, played a variety of instruments. That was incredibly vague. And you've completed an ultra marathon. You didn't say what distance either. Very vague. You're like mysterious.
00:05:16
Kristin Overton
Where is the other she is?
00:05:17
Rich
I'm going to go with, you are the, let's go with
00:05:21
Rich
You know, I really kind of hope that, yeah you know, I'm kind of thinking like you just kind of like throw me off of the vagary. i bet you have played a bunch of instruments. i Can't wait to hear what they are. i think you probably have done an ultra marathon and the oldest of five is a technicality. The oldest of five is a lie.
00:05:39
Rich
Prove me wrong.
00:05:40
Lindsay Holmes
oh Oh, I So I have three sisters and a brother and I'm the oldest.
00:05:49
Rich
Okay, good.
00:05:50
Lindsay Holmes
I played the trumpet, the drums, the piano, a guitar. I've played a lot of things. And I have not completed an ultra marathon. It's one of the things I'd like to do. I've completed a lot of distances.
00:06:05
Lindsay Holmes
but I'd love to do like a hundred mile or 50 mile or hundred K one of those. I have not done that.
00:06:12
Rich
You
Music's Impact on Lindsay's Training
00:06:13
Rich
animal you. Yes, you should definitely do that. Come on out here and we'll, you know, we got plenty of them out here too. all right. So instruments, like, do you still play?
00:06:20
Kristin Overton
You it's ultimate out Colorado.
00:06:22
Rich
Yeah. I'll, I'll pace you over hope pass if you want, on the level 100.
00:06:28
Lindsay Holmes
Perfect. That sounds great.
00:06:30
Rich
What do you still play instruments today?
00:06:33
Lindsay Holmes
You know, I really don't. I'd like to. Both of my boys do, and i have a lot of fun with them. And I look forward to having a little more time where we can we can maybe do that in the future, but I really haven't recently.
00:06:48
Rich
Oh yeah. Yeah. You and the kids garage band. Like I can see it. what about like when you're training and racing, like, like, does the music, like when you get into the, into the, you know, get into the hot corner and the music's pumping or at the finish line, does that like, is that, do you need, does music like fuel your
00:07:11
Lindsay Holmes
I absolutely love music. I love music at all times. So yes, I do think it does.
00:07:16
Rich
Okay.
00:07:16
Lindsay Holmes
And depending on the phase I'm in and what type of music or genre is really speaking to me. But I think a lot of people watch films and, went you know, in those really long indoor trainer rides in the winter in New England, you spend a lot of time on the trainer.
00:07:33
Lindsay Holmes
i'll I'll just listen to music and stare at my gray wall and everybody thinks I'm crazy. But I really get a lot out of that.
00:07:42
Rich
Yeah. So do you think if if you were allowed to play music on the course, it would be a performance enhancing advantage?
00:07:49
Lindsay Holmes
Well, that's an interesting question. I think it potentially could. i mean, I think the music is going in my head whether it's there or not, but, and there's a lot out there on the course.
00:07:53
Rich
Yeah.
00:07:58
Lindsay Holmes
It's really enjoyable to hear what people are playing or I love it when there's bands on the course and you get that. pump up vibe, even just running through town and somebody's DJing and they're dancing in the streets. i I love that.
00:08:10
Lindsay Holmes
So I think it's a huge pick me up.
00:08:13
Kristin Overton
I always know what mood Lindsay's in when she yeah texts me a a certain song on Spotify, like every once a while, it'll just it was pop up in my in my text string.
00:08:24
Kristin Overton
It's great.
00:08:25
Rich
do Do you have a preferred Iron Man finish song or, you know, call it walk on song?
00:08:32
Lindsay Holmes
You know, i had a I had a finish in Mont Tremblant a few years back and it was, i had fallen and fractured my humerus a few months prior and really didn't get training in. And I did the race anyway, and it was one of the most challenging races to overcome, but it was one of the most enjoyable, spectacular finishes.
00:08:56
Lindsay Holmes
And I finished to, Every teardrop is a waterfall by Coldplay, just coming down that, that hill and just the energy and the sound of that song. And so anytime I hear that come on, it brings me back to that. And it just, the feeling is right there. And it's a really cool thing.
00:09:13
Rich
That's awesome.
00:09:15
Rich
All right. So take us way back. How did you get started?
Lindsay's Triathlon Discovery and First Experience
00:09:20
Rich
I mean, like 14 Ironman finishes, right? How did you get started on this journey? What was the first race?
00:09:26
Lindsay Holmes
So interestingly enough, i I grew up, I played every any sport I could, but I really ended up focused on running. So I was a cross country runner, indoor, outdoor. I ended up being a collegiate runner.
00:09:40
Lindsay Holmes
But when I was 16, my mom told me about this new race she had heard about in a place called Winding Trails. It's in Connecticut.
00:09:50
Lindsay Holmes
And it was a triathlon. And she's like, I think you would love this. And they're talking about it at work. And I think you should do it. And I would mountain bike everywhere. i grew on a lake. So I was like, okay, oh this sounds really fun. I'll check this out.
00:10:04
Lindsay Holmes
So i I went there and I had no idea what I was doing and I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I just knew that I know how to swim. I know how to bike. I know how to run. This sounds great. I remember being on the beach and seeing people spraying their legs with you know cooking oil and I was like, what are they doing?
00:10:23
Lindsay Holmes
And then... I was told that it helps you glide faster through the water. i was like, am I supposed to do that? and And so I you know i got through the swim. It was way harder than i had ever anticipated.
00:10:37
Lindsay Holmes
And then i got on my mountain bike and I am pedaling as hard as I can. And it's on the road and everybody's passing me. I'm like, why why is everybody so much faster than me?
00:10:48
Lindsay Holmes
And then I finally got to the run and I was able to crush the run, but somebody, a few people told me, they were like, oh my gosh, if you got on a road bike, you'd be so much faster. So it was, but that was my first triathlon experience.
00:11:01
Lindsay Holmes
Fast forward. I ended up going to college running. was obsessed with doing, I went to the one hundredth anniversary of the Boston marathon. So I was like, I want to do marathons when I got out of college.
00:11:12
Lindsay Holmes
which I did, but I had a, when I was in physical therapy school, I had a placement out in California and one of my clinical instructors was training for a half Ironman and I had never heard of this.
00:11:26
Lindsay Holmes
And I was like, tell me more. And so she told me the distances and I was like, wait, so, but you said this is a half Ironman. So does that mean that there's something that's double that?
00:11:37
Lindsay Holmes
And she's like, yeah. and And, that is what originally got it in my head in my twenties. Like I am going to do this. This is something that I must investigate and get to.
00:11:50
Lindsay Holmes
and I, I want to complete this, but I focused on marathons for a while and it wasn't until my early thirties that I then transitioned into longer distance triathlons. And I jumped right in. I went, I just signed up for a half and just went for it.
00:12:04
Rich
Wow. Wow. That's awesome. So how's the swimming coming along?
First Half Ironman Experience
00:12:10
Lindsay Holmes
Oh my goodness. Well, I'll tell you. So again, I signed up for my first half and the only reason I did it was to get to so that. I could do that to do a full, I was like, I should do this first.
00:12:22
Lindsay Holmes
and again, I thought i grew up in a lake. I know how to swim. I didn't do any training for it or preparation. I got in the water and, and I, it turns out I really did not know how to swim.
00:12:33
Lindsay Holmes
My head was above water the whole time. i was doing this crazy looking thing. i was looking around like wow, I really don't know what I'm doing. I somehow finished that swim and I went on the bike. I did have a road bike at this time and I had one goo on that 56 mile ride because I thought that that was all I needed.
00:12:55
Lindsay Holmes
And it was 96 degrees and I got in the run and I started running. i ran first six or seven miles at about sub seven minute pace. I was like, this is great.
00:13:06
Lindsay Holmes
Then I bonked because all I had was one goo on the run also. So I learned so many lessons. So, so, so many lessons. but one of the things you asked me about the swim that came out of that afterwards, I had signed up for a swim clinic, started to work on my stroke.
00:13:22
Lindsay Holmes
it's still my weakest leg.
00:13:25
Kristin Overton
Thank you.
00:13:25
Lindsay Holmes
but it has come a very, very long way over the years. And especially over this last year and a half, working with KO, she's helped me tremendously pool school was, immensely helpful and has really changed the way that I approach swimming and the way that I I'm excited to go to the pool. it's a, it's a whole new world for me. So I've come, I've come a long way.
00:13:47
Rich
Runner turn fish. There you go.
00:13:50
Lindsay Holmes
I wouldn't go that far.
00:13:52
Kristin Overton
For sure.
00:13:52
Lindsay Holmes
For sure.
00:13:52
Kristin Overton
She is. She's turning, she's turning into a fish. I think she wants to be a dolphin. she's, she's getting there. She's getting there. Lindsay, with all, with all this experience that you've had and like just the the motivation over the years and, you know, 14, 15, 16 Ironman, what's your biggest motivation now?
00:14:16
Lindsay Holmes
I love this sport so incredibly much. it's changed a
Motivation and Growth in Triathlons
00:14:20
Lindsay Holmes
lot over the years. I mean, I i wanted to first see that I could do it and, and complete and cross that finish line.
00:14:30
Lindsay Holmes
And then it's, so of then after that, it's like, I could do that better and I could do this better. And I, and then I wanted to go to Kona and I had the opportunity to to race there, which was just truly incredible.
00:14:43
Lindsay Holmes
I think that i I really, really enjoy the sport. I'm a lifelong learner in all aspects of my life. And I would say that this is no different than that. I learned something every day of training, certainly through racing experiences.
00:14:59
Lindsay Holmes
I still feel in so many ways, as much as I am quote unquote seasoned, I still feel like a novice in so many ways because there is just so much out there to learn and so many experiences to have.
00:15:12
Lindsay Holmes
I'm motivated by the people. I love the community. i love the approach to something that feels very difficult or almost impossible at times and demonstrating to yourself that you can do it and you can overcome some of the most difficult challenges and then the feeling that you have after that, you just look at life differently. You look at, any obstacle or barrier really, it changes the way that it looks.
00:15:42
Lindsay Holmes
I just, I've never, it's, it's almost, it's just, that it's like a natural part of my life that just feels like it needs to be there.
00:15:51
Lindsay Holmes
And I don't know that there's any motivation other than that. I just, I want to continue to experience it to learn and to grow and recognizing that my performance is going to change over the years and it's going to ebb and flow and go up and down and eventually just probably down. as long as I could be part of this for, i want to be.
00:16:11
Rich
what I love about this is the that this sport is just it is a it's a lifestyle. it It is like probably the most like the biggest lifestyle sport I You just want to be a part of the lifestyle, you know, once you, you know, once you kind of get the bug and how many Ironman, like, how many, but sorry, I know how many Ironman races you've done.
00:16:33
Rich
How, take us through, do you do you know them in order?
00:16:37
Lindsay Holmes
I think I do.
00:16:37
Rich
Could you, could you, could you tell us what they are in order and and by year?
00:16:42
Lindsay Holmes
gosh. I'm going to try. Yes. 2013 was my first one and I started in Lake Placid 2014.
00:16:50
Lindsay Holmes
twenty fourteen I did Lake Placid again. 2015 2015 I was in
00:16:59
Lindsay Holmes
2016 I may have been in Tremblant again. 2017 twenty seventeen i went to New Zealand.
00:17:06
Lindsay Holmes
going now.
00:17:09
Lindsay Holmes
said
00:17:11
Lindsay Holmes
gosh i might be i might be going off
00:17:14
Rich
That's right.
00:17:14
Lindsay Holmes
now i
00:17:14
Rich
It's all right.
00:17:15
Lindsay Holmes
I, I, you know, I know that in recent, and oh, I did Louisville somewhere in there. I did Louisville in 16.
00:17:22
Kristin Overton
Thank you.
00:17:24
Rich
Kona.
00:17:25
Lindsay Holmes
I did Kona came in 23 and 25.
00:17:29
Rich
OK. All right.
00:17:30
Rich
Wow.
00:17:31
Lindsay Holmes
I qualified for the first Kona through Tremblant and the second one through Placid.
00:17:37
Lindsay Holmes
And then I qualified for Nice.
00:17:37
Rich
Wow.
00:17:41
Lindsay Holmes
at Placid also in 24. So I did back to back that year also.
00:17:46
Rich
Wow. So you probably, oh go ahead.
00:17:47
Lindsay Holmes
And then started like Texas. I'm sorry. i so I was on the starting. I did not finish Texas last year.
00:17:55
Rich
Yeah, OK.
00:17:55
Lindsay Holmes
So, and I did not finish nice. Those are my two DNFs.
00:18:01
Rich
OK.
00:18:02
Lindsay Holmes
I'm probably forgetting something in there.
00:18:03
Rich
Yeah.
00:18:03
Lindsay Holmes
I've done, think Lake Placid five or six times and I did Tremblant five times and then some other ones in there.
00:18:09
Rich
You've done some of these races as many times as I've done Ironman. That's awesome. So that's yeah, it's incredible.
00:18:13
Kristin Overton
Right.
00:18:15
Rich
i You probably, first was 2013. When was, did you do a mass start in 2013 or when was the last mass start you did?
00:18:28
Lindsay Holmes
I don't know that it was a mass star in 2013. feel like
00:18:30
Rich
Oh. Okay. That was my last mass start in Arizona.
00:18:33
Lindsay Holmes
rolled. Yeah.
00:18:34
Rich
After that, they all went to sort of the metered start. So, okay.
00:18:38
Lindsay Holmes
like it rolled yeah
00:18:40
Kristin Overton
Yeah, it was like right between that 2012 2013 because I did Placid in 12 and it was the mass start still.
00:18:40
Rich
Yeah. Okay.
00:18:49
Rich
Yeah. Okay.
00:18:50
Kristin Overton
So, yeah.
00:18:51
Rich
Well, incredible
Revisiting Ironman Texas
00:18:52
Rich
journey. So all of those Ironman races, what brings you to Texas? Like, you know, what, what, what, what was the attraction?
00:19:00
Lindsay Holmes
Yeah, well, interesting story. So so I qualified for Nice and i went i was I went to Nice and I was there and I started the race and i was in the swim and I started to have some breathing challenges and i was I was really struggling. I thought I was having an asthma attack. I do have asthma.
00:19:23
Lindsay Holmes
that's what it felt like and so i waved somebody down asked if they had an inhaler of course they they don't have an inhaler and i tried to keep swimming but ultimately it was i was really struggling and needed to exit the water and my o2 sat was extremely low i was i i mean i needed to i needed medical attention had really sick like a couple days before And I don't know if it was flu.
00:19:52
Lindsay Holmes
i don't know what I had, but something respiratory. And so tried, I was like, I'm going to do this.
00:19:57
Kristin Overton
Thank you.
00:19:58
Lindsay Holmes
i I'm here all the way here. going to start this race. It's not going to my best race. turns out that it just didn't turn into a race at all. after that i was pretty devastated. it was really upsetting for me. And so I was, I just started to look at any race. I wanted to jump into a race immediately. i was like, should I go to Arizona? Should I go to Florida?
00:20:20
Lindsay Holmes
I need, i need to make up for this situation. And so I, but I decided to slow down and just settle in and identified the soonest. I didn't want to wait all the way to Lake Placid the following July.
00:20:35
Lindsay Holmes
So I targeted Texas and the week after I got back from France, I reached out to KO and then she, and she became my coach, told her what had happened, told her I wanted to train and focus on getting ready for Texas.
00:20:49
Lindsay Holmes
This was for 2025. And, and so that's what brought me to Texas last year. I got to Texas. the same situation happened with me, in the water.
00:21:02
Lindsay Holmes
And, it was just, it was like, but I wasn't sick that time. So I couldn't blame it on being ill. so I didn't know what was going on. So I, i did, I went, I went to, you know, a group of physicians just to make sure everything was okay. Ultimately identified. I have some allergies that it probably needed some attention that were maybe i was having a little bit of allergic reaction.
00:21:25
Lindsay Holmes
And so I subsequently successfully completed Placid last year, qualified for Kona, went and competed in Kona. So I had a successful year after those kind of two back-to-back DNFs.
00:21:36
Lindsay Holmes
And as the year was wrapping up and I finished in Marbella, I got, I got, I went to Marbella as well. i had a very fun year. i start, Texas started, it was back in my brain.
00:21:47
Lindsay Holmes
and I was like, I need to go and finish what I started. and i qualified for nice in 26 also so i was like i could have a redemption tour in 2026 kick it off with texas finish what i started and then in the fall get back to nice and and conquer that course only a half this time but have that opportunity to go back to the places where these situations occurred and honestly i see them as while they were really challenging to go through and it was really upsetting, I learned so much and i it kicked off this journey with coach KO and meeting so many of, you know, other triathletes and team members, major thing, because it, I, it really kind of set me on this path where I've been, focused in a different way and working, toward a goal and, and with a different kind of, um, of,
00:22:46
Lindsay Holmes
approach and consistency than I had been prior to that. So it, as much as it was difficult, it also was a door opening for me that I i would never want to not walk through.
00:22:58
Rich
Yeah. What would you, if you were going to give this race a a label, you know, what this means to you what's motivating you to go back there? and and And in the context of personal growth is what I'm hearing this is, you know, this is, is it courage? Is it, is it redemption? Is it, you know, what, what is it for you?
00:23:19
Lindsay Holmes
You know, i I think that it's knowing that i I, have the, it's, it's knowing that I can do this and showing myself that I can and, and demonstrating that I can, there's some fear too that goes along with entering into a body of water that I had a, you know, medical event in, I want overcome that.
00:23:39
Kristin Overton
Thank you.
00:23:40
Lindsay Holmes
And I want to go through that and, and be comfortable and, and know that I'm capable And I don't, it just, it wasn't sitting with me to never come back.
00:23:52
Lindsay Holmes
And I think Texas seems like an amazing race. And I also want to experience the entire course and I want to experience what it's like.
00:23:59
Rich
Thank you.
00:23:59
Lindsay Holmes
And I want to I want to get out there and and see what Hippie Hollow is all about. I've heard a lot about it People talk about it it. sounds like a lot of fun. And so, and also I love the idea of an early season race, but it's a lot of things for me. i think It's just all part of the journey and it's something that I set out to do and i just wasn't content walking away from.
00:24:22
Rich
Yeah. You know, for me and for the listeners that are listening to this, you know, i what I hear in this is, and any anybody who gets into an open water switch situation, especially after, you know, you know an experience, takes an it's incredibly vulnerable,
Courage in Open Water Swimming
00:24:39
Rich
right? You're very vulnerable and it takes an amazing amount of courage. So super, you know super proud of your courage. and And I think it's a great lesson for others. So.
00:24:50
Kristin Overton
And I think, you know, the other thing I'd like to say about that is, is just, you know, this, this happened. And like, as soon as, as you know, it was like a day later, she's talking about, all right, what can I do next?
00:25:02
Lindsay Holmes
I do that.
00:25:02
Kristin Overton
What what race can I do next?
00:25:02
Lindsay Holmes
also.
00:25:04
Kristin Overton
And also like, all right, we got to figure this out. And so just brainstorming, like, okay. Who do I need to see? What doctors do I need to see? Where do I need to go with this to to make sure that I'm going to be healthy and i'm going to be able to keep doing this sport? And it's not something that's going to be you know life threatening.
00:25:22
Kristin Overton
But just, you know, again, that the tenacity of just making it happen and and figuring it out and and just keep moving forward, which has been incredible.
00:25:34
Lindsay Holmes
Thank you. it's It's one of those things you you don't see coming, especially at that point. I had completed 12 Ironmans at that point. And so i did joke that I because it was my 13th attempt and then it was my 13th attempt again.
00:25:50
Lindsay Holmes
that maybe I just skip over 13. And so when I did Placid, was like, we're going call this 14 until I finish it. And then, and I'm not really superstitious, although I am a Red Sox fan, so probably a little bit superstitious, but not usually about the number 13 until this happened. And then it just seemed...
00:26:08
Lindsay Holmes
You know, it was, it was taunting me. So it is interesting. Like you never know. it doesn't, you know, you can have so much success and then all of a sudden encounter or something and, and need to pivot and need to readdress. And I i did, I stripped everything down, looked, re-looked at absolutely everything and then rebuilt.
00:26:25
Lindsay Holmes
And I think it was the best thing I could have done.
00:26:28
Kristin Overton
Lindsay, what advice would you have for triathletes are going through this first timers, just figuring out the sport?
Advice for Triathlon Newcomers
00:26:36
Kristin Overton
What insight do you have for them?
00:26:39
Lindsay Holmes
first timers, I think there's, there's so much you're going to learn, so don't worry about getting it all right. relax, I think is the number one thing, just relax and remember to smile and enjoy. You put in so much hard work.
00:26:55
Lindsay Holmes
so remember to take in the day, stay relaxed. It's a long day. i think I tell myself that a lot, just relax, stay calm. and then i think.
00:27:06
Lindsay Holmes
You know, the things I learned that took me and I think everybody you know talks about this, but dialing in nutrition and figuring out what works for you and what doesn't and in what climates.
00:27:20
Lindsay Holmes
take, take note of that, how your body responded to different things. and then tweak it the next time. Don't be afraid to do that within your training. And I mean, even within the last year, I'm using different nutrition than I was in previous years. So just staying open, open-minded, recognizing that your body's going to adjust and change, but really, truly enjoy this for enjoy the people, talk to people around you,
00:27:44
Lindsay Holmes
I learned something from everybody, somebody every day, like I just have random conversations, and it's so fun. So I'd say also take that that in in the wisdom and the tips that people have around you.
00:27:56
Rich
Love that. what what's one
00:27:57
Kristin Overton
Awesome.
00:27:59
Rich
What's one way that, well, looking back over your Ironman triathlon career, what's either something you're really proud of that you accomplished or something that,
00:28:12
Rich
a way that you've grown, a way that you've changed that you're really proud of?
Perspective Changes Through Triathlons
00:28:18
Lindsay Holmes
I think that, i mean, I think that has the sport has changed me tremendously and I think that that's a beautiful thing that I love to embrace and I still think it's changing me. and I, I always knew that I was a person that liked to go further. i was just, you know, even in high school, I, the girls raised 4k and the boys raised 5k, the further I went, the better i i felt.
00:28:45
Lindsay Holmes
and And that's true to this day. So i think allowing the sport to kind of test boundaries that I might think exist And when you push them, realize that maybe they're just in your head, they're they're not really there. And I think that's just, like I had said earlier, I feel like that's a really good reminder across all aspects of life that sometimes I think we put these belief systems or are barriers in in front of ourselves, aren't necessarily real. So when you push through them and you see that you're actually capable of much more, or you do something and you tempered your, your approach to it and then realize afterwards you had a lot left in the tank and you really could have given more.
00:29:25
Lindsay Holmes
I think that that, that slowly changes you and your perspectives on what you are capable of, what those around you are capable of. And, and I think when I hear people put those limitations on themselves, I like to challenge that and suggest that I think it's possible. It's really a mindset shift. So I think if anything, it's the, the evolution of, mindset and adaptability and flexibility and comfort with the unknown.
00:29:55
Rich
Yeah, awesome.
00:29:55
Kristin Overton
She even challenges her coach.
00:29:58
Rich
I love that. Keep challenging her.
00:30:01
Kristin Overton
It's great.
00:30:01
Lindsay Holmes
I won't stop.
00:30:01
Lindsay Holmes
Awesome.
00:30:01
Kristin Overton
I love it. I love it.
00:30:04
Kristin Overton
Awesome. What do we think about a little rapid fire questions?
00:30:09
Rich
Let's do it. You want to lead us off?
00:30:10
Kristin Overton
All right.
00:30:11
Rich
let I'll let you just run it.
00:30:12
Kristin Overton
So yeah, so it's just like quick, like quick question, quick answer.
00:30:15
Lindsay Holmes
All right.
00:30:16
Kristin Overton
you ready, Linz?
00:30:18
Lindsay Holmes
ready
00:30:19
Kristin Overton
All right. So first one is what's your favorite race venue?
00:30:24
Lindsay Holmes
I, gosh, I think I have to say Lake Placid.
00:30:28
Rich
Survey says number one ranked.
00:30:29
Kristin Overton
So local goody, goody.
00:30:30
Rich
Yeah.
00:30:32
Kristin Overton
It's it's oldie, but goody.
00:30:36
Lindsay Holmes
I think it's placid.
00:30:39
Lindsay Holmes
First Ironman a stunning but really rewarding.
00:30:47
Lindsay Holmes
i think it's incredible.
00:30:52
Kristin Overton
next question, what's your bucket list race?
00:30:52
Lindsay Holmes
question.
00:30:55
Lindsay Holmes
Oh, I think my bucket list race at this point is Challenge Roth.
00:30:59
Rich
That would be amazing.
00:30:59
Kristin Overton
I love that.
00:31:00
Kristin Overton
It might turn into your favorite race. I don't know if you get there.
00:31:05
Lindsay Holmes
You never know.
00:31:05
Kristin Overton
All right. Uh, next question, go, uh, what's your go-to pre-race ritual?
00:31:10
Lindsay Holmes
i I think this is a hard question. I don't know that i truly have a pre-race ritual. i do enjoy listening to music the morning of the race and kind of getting into the zone and experiencing the vibe of that, of transition and people around me and getting to the starting line with everyone and just all of that nervous energy chatter.
00:31:34
Lindsay Holmes
the music that they're playing, the announcers. I think it's just really just getting into it is is one of my favorite pre-race moments.
00:31:43
Kristin Overton
Get into your zone. I love it. next one, favorite sign you've seen on a course.
00:31:49
Lindsay Holmes
You know, I've seen a lot of very Clever signs and really they've made me laugh in the moment. I can't necessarily think of all of them right now, but I will say when my boys could make their own sign that said we love you, mommy. And, and we're cheering me on and with their little signs that that's the best sign i've ever seen.
00:32:13
Rich
There you go.
00:32:14
Kristin Overton
I absolutely love that. All right. Last one, a favorite post race meal.
00:32:22
Lindsay Holmes
so I have a little bit of difficulty eating food sometimes immediately post race. Although I very much enjoy a cold, refreshing IPA beverage. So I like to rehydrate a bit.
00:32:37
Lindsay Holmes
And then the next morning though, a great brunch and there is an amazing brunch spot on the lake at Lake Placid. That's like one of my go-to favorites. Maybe that's why it's my favorite race. So that's, that's probably like the next day post-race meal.
00:32:52
Lindsay Holmes
But otherwise, yeah, I think it's, it's liquid.
00:32:55
Rich
Okay. Do you have your spot picked out for Sunday morning?
00:32:59
Lindsay Holmes
Not yet.
00:32:59
Rich
Where are you guys going for breakfast? you You're going to need a stack of pancakes this high, right?
00:33:04
Lindsay Holmes
You're right, I am.
00:33:05
Rich
There you go. Okay.
00:33:06
Kristin Overton
I'll do some good research for tomorrow while she's on the bike.
00:33:09
Rich
There you go. Yeah. You got to go, you got to go maybe go test the places.
00:33:13
Kristin Overton
Yeah, exactly. Exactly.
00:33:16
Rich
All right. This has been an absolute blast, but the fun isn't over yet. We are going to bring things home here with our fun segment. So hold on tight. This is Would You Rather Ironman Texas Edition.
00:33:30
Rich
So folks, it is time to head deep into the heart of Texas. You've trained, you've sacrificed, you've visualized the finish line, but now we're throwing you the real test. This is Would You Rather...
00:33:42
Rich
And we're going to be talking about heat, humidity, chaos, and questionable life choices. So I'm going to, I've got one, two, three, four, five of these, and I'm going to give you a choice and you each have to pick your choice. Okay. Okay.
00:33:58
Rich
But the way that we are going to do this, we are going to be starting with Lindsay first and then KO second. All right. So Lindsay, would you rather get caught in the washing machine for the first 500 meters of the swim or have your goggles kicked off mid-pack and have to stop and fix them?
00:34:14
Lindsay Holmes
Oh, but I can still keep the goggles.
00:34:16
Rich
Sure.
00:34:17
Lindsay Holmes
I would, I would have my goggles get kicked off and I i stop and fix them.
00:34:23
Rich
K.O.?
00:34:24
Kristin Overton
Oh, this is a tough one for me. I feel like I just want to fight everybody off the first 500 meters and then take it home.
00:34:35
Rich
What is it?
00:34:38
Rich
Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee, you know?
00:34:40
Kristin Overton
Yeah.
00:34:41
Rich
Yeah, there you go. All right. Question number two, would you rather face a relentless headwind on the back half of the bike or have a perfect conditions but drop your chain three times?
00:34:56
Lindsay Holmes
Perfect conditions, drop my chain three times.
00:34:59
Rich
KO?
00:35:00
Kristin Overton
I'm with Lindsay on this one.
00:35:00
Lindsay Holmes
get
00:35:01
Kristin Overton
Like I can fix a chain, like nobody's business and the headwind just is not good.
00:35:02
Rich
Totally.
00:35:08
Rich
Yeah, i can I can cross shift and get my chain back on. All right.
00:35:11
Kristin Overton
Yeah.
00:35:11
Lindsay Holmes
Exactly.
00:35:13
Rich
Number three, would you rather race in full Texas sun with no cloud cover or deal with sky high humidity that makes every breath feel heavy?
00:35:23
Lindsay Holmes
Oh gosh. Is there a third choice?
00:35:26
Rich
Nope.
00:35:28
Lindsay Holmes
but
00:35:29
Rich
I don't make the rules.
00:35:30
Lindsay Holmes
love
00:35:30
Rich
I just enforce them.
00:35:33
Lindsay Holmes
All right. I'm going to go with the humidity, but assuming that there is not the, that there's cloud cover.
00:35:41
Rich
Okay. You got it. All right.
00:35:44
Kristin Overton
I think I'm going there too. You know, there's it just, you know, when the, when the sun is just beaten down on you, you feel like you're just in the oven. Humidity is not great either, but I don't know. if That's a tough choice, but I think I'm going humidity.
00:36:00
Rich
I'll tell you what, the if you've ever done Boulder 70.3, there is like, there's like three trees on the entire course. That's it. know, otherwise you are just in the hot baking sun. And I don't care i don't care what
00:36:14
Rich
you know It doesn't really matter, but the the first day over 90 of June of the year is always going to be Boulder 70.3. It's just for some reason.
00:36:26
Rich
you can You can tell the weather by it. All right, so here we go. Let's go with number four. Would you rather hit a mental low at mile eight on the run or have it smack you mile 20?
00:36:39
Rich
smack you at mile twenty a mental low at mile eight on the run or have it smack you i guess like really hits you hard at mile 20.
00:36:48
Lindsay Holmes
I think if it's a mental low that's smacking me at 20, I think I'm going to take that and be able to talk myself through it and recognize that that is a very natural low point in the race. It can be, there's 20 miles behind me, only 10 K to go.
00:37:05
Lindsay Holmes
So I think having a low in with six miles to go is totally different than having it with 18.
00:37:11
Rich
Yeah,
00:37:13
Kristin Overton
Yeah, I think I'm going to have it smack me at 20 because I know that I only have six miles to go So like, all right, it's hitting me, but I'm almost there.
00:37:17
Lindsay Holmes
Thank you.
00:37:25
Rich
yeah if if I'm getting mentally low with 18 miles to go, who man. All right.
00:37:31
Kristin Overton
Yeah.
00:37:33
Rich
Would you rather, final one, would you rather PR your race but look absolutely wrecked in every photo or look like a total pro all day in every photo but miss your goal time?
00:37:48
Lindsay Holmes
100% PR and look like crap. I will take that. I'll take that PR. i don't care about the photos. I could tell the story what those photos mean.
00:37:56
Rich
you go.
00:37:57
Lindsay Holmes
100%
00:37:59
Rich
Right on kao
00:37:59
Kristin Overton
Yeah. A hundred percent PR, like, you know what you, you you earned the way you look by PR in that race.
00:38:02
Lindsay Holmes
PR.
00:38:09
Kristin Overton
So bring it.
00:38:10
Rich
That's right. You betcha. i Just nasty as hair and face and caked on salt and Yeah, it's all good. All right, folks. That is Ironman, Texas grit to greatness style. No matter what you picked, one thing is guaranteed. This race is going to ask you some hard questions. Real question is how are you going to answer them? Let's get gritty. All right.
00:38:33
Rich
Hey, let's also give a shout out to our show sponsor Vespa endurance Vespa power endurance helps you tap into steady, clean energy so you can stay strong, focused and in the zone longer.
00:38:44
Rich
Vespa is not fuel, but a metabolic catalyst that shifts your body to use more fat and less sugar as your fuel source. Vespa comes in these really cool little pouches. It's very kind of liquidy. You just kind of screw off a co top and you take that about a half an hour before your race and Your metabolic efficiency in in burning fat is going to last for about two, two and a half hours. It's amazing stuff. Less sugar, higher performance, faster recovery.
00:39:10
Rich
Use the discount code G2GVESPA15 or there's a link right here in the show notes that will automatically apply it for you. Check it out. It's truly really awesome stuff. and Lizzie, this has been a blast having you on the show. Thank you for being here.
00:39:26
Lindsay Holmes
Thank you.
00:39:27
Rich
Good luck tomorrow.
00:39:27
Lindsay Holmes
Thanks for having me. Thank you so much.
00:39:29
Rich
good luck to all the yeah Good luck to all the athletes racing too. And KO, good luck in us in searching out the pancake places, okay?
00:39:39
Kristin Overton
Thank you. it's it's gonna it's It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it.
00:39:43
Rich
There you go.
00:39:43
Kristin Overton
But we're we're all going to go crush it tomorrow.
00:39:44
Rich
Folks, thanks for... We're all going to go crush it. Folks, thanks for spending time today with us on the Grit to Greatness Endurance Podcast. If you enjoyed today's episode, please follow us and leave us a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts and YouTube. It helps us reach more athletes just like you. Stay gritty, train smart, and keep chasing greatness. We will catch you next week.