All Terrain Couple: Recent Episodes
KJ Kroetch
Lou and KJ are two committed endurance athletes, one an ultra runner and one a triathlete, living life the best they can balancing work, home life, and training.
The self-employed life is busy, let us tell you! The All Terrain Couple finally made it onto some non-paved terrain, getting out into Rocky Mountain National Park and local National Forests. As KJ's summer swim coaching job wraps up, she's looking forward to some quiet time with Lou before starting her next gig. In addition to stories from days in the mountains, Lou shares unexpected benefits from his past life for when it comes to dealing with unwelcome air quality issues! As we develop a more sustainable podcast schedule, we appreciate your patience and listens!
The All Terrain Couple is back after a brief but necessary hiatus. KJ catches you up on her race at Ironman 70.3 St. George while Lou shares his first few steps in his new career in professional photography. The All Terrain Couple is now moved in to their new home in Colorado and settling in to their new routine. Plus, All Terrain Endurance officially launched - visit the site at allterrainendurance.com.
Lou and KJ hit the road again, this time for KJ's first triathlon since September 2019. They recorded this episode on time, but couldn't quite get it published with everything else going on! Hear how the final days of preparation went and expectations for the race day! Tune in sooner than usual for the race recap.
Lou and KJ survived the drive back to California from Colorado (via the mobile recording studio). They're both back on their feet and running, and KJ is narrowing in on St. George just one week away. Jobs in hand, apartment secured, condo sold - nothing left but a few thousand miles of driving, 70.3 miles of racing, three thousand photos, and one U-Haul until they call Colorado home.
Lou and KJ are on the road, heading home from their scouting trip in Colorado with a quick update and plans to be back for more in next week’s episode.
Behind the scenes, Lou and KJ try to record on Mondays. Listen in for a preview of why this episode was recorded on a Thursday! It's because life is a little crazy for the All Terrain Couple at the moment. Lou and KJ go camping mid-week (and the campground was packed) and are heading out for another camping trip this weekend. Lou shares how good his golf game is (its not), KJ shares how dialed in she is on her equipment for St. George (she's not), and then discussion turns to how wide open their schedules are for the next month (they're not).
Well, there may be another knee injury in the house, but KJ and Lou are still training and recovering and making big life changing plans. Needing a recovery ride, KJ takes Lou on a new loop. Lou convinces KJ to get in the bay for a swim far earlier than expected - no one turned blue but some choice words were sworn. And KJ speculates on the likelihood of racing happening in the US (again), and gets dates wrong (again). Here's the correction:
Texas 70.3 - 4/11
Florida 70.3 - 4/18
St. George 70.3 - 5/1
Gulf Coast 70.3 (PCB) - 5/15
Lou and KJ share major life updates and lots of laughs while doing so. Big changes are underway for the All Terrain Couple. How much will they put on their plate 5 weeks out from St. George 70.3? If you guessed that they wouldn't be quitting their jobs or moving, you guessed wrong!
Lou and KJ are heading into a whirlwind month. Lou is distracted by a brightly colored bag that made an appearance in the recording studio and KJ gives a pastry review of her first lobster tail (spoiler: they have nothing to do with shellfish). They discuss the merits of different oceans and beaches. KJ speculates on the likelihood of Ironman St. George proceeding as planned with recent triathlon news.
After another week of recovery, Lou is itching to get back out to run. KJ shares her recovery from her own knee injury, and how it compares to Lou's timeline, and when he can start intentionally walking. They each highlight athletes they find inspiring in honor of International Women's Day. KJ and Lou take their bikes out and both have a first time experience. And Lou realizes he's developed something that identifies him as someone who participates in multiple sports: tan lines.
How many bikes are too many? Better yet, how many bikes constitute a paincave? Lou and KJ discuss deep fundamental questions like this and more as they navigate another week of training and active recovery alongside projects at home, work, and outside pressures. Lou buys a new helmet - thanks, Mario! - and relives his first ride. KJ objectifies him in his new kit while simultaneously defending triathletes' wardrobe diversity.
Training for endurance sport sometimes does funny things to your head. After a week in a new build cycle, KJ is a little sensitive to routine changes and she and Lou talk about how they work together through this kind of bump. Lou's knee is stubbornly still in pain, so he pivots to a new option to get himself moving outside. KJ motivates herself to set an alarm to get a lane to swim, which really used to be her second home. Come for the Star Wars discussion and stay for the bikes.
After an emotionally draining recovery week, Lou and KJ hit the road and headed for Yosemite in search of the annual natural phenomenon, the Firefall. Lou shares his struggle with recovering from his knee injury and introduces KJ to Arby's for the first time, while KJ explains her serious self-talk as it relates to firmly establishing a work-life balance. Get a peek into camping with KJ and hear all about her indecisiveness when it comes to picking a campsite.
The All Terrain Couple returns as they head into a recovery week from training. KJ reviews her first build cycle in training for the St. George 70.3 triathlon and what she looks for in a / and to get out of a recovery week. Lou's train of thought literally hits a wall and the two are a little worried about it when he immediately gets back on track. Lou also shares how his injury is affecting his training and goal setting for the coming months.
With Stay at Home orders in California relatively lifted, the All Terrain Couple previews their upcoming trip to Yosemite, the Firefall phenomenon, and using hikes as training.
And KJ paints her toenails green.
Episode 3 of the All Terrain Couple podcast finds KJ and Lou in the depths of their first training cycle. How are they handling an increased load and injury? Answer: mostly by sharing silly stories and laughing at themselves. Stick with us as KJ shares her pilot's impression (spoiler alert: it is not good) and an announcement exclusive for the listeners, and Lou shares his struggle with his knee and hobbies he can pursue with his training load focused on healing.
Lou and KJ are back to share with you how KJ's 2019-2020 progressed and how they're preparing for 2021. Will races happen? And what drives KJ to keep putting in hours for triathlon training despite two major canceled races in 2020?
After a rough series of injuries put her goals on hold in 2019, KJ was ready to strive for achievements in new race distances in 2020. And when the pandemic threw a wrench into her plans, she stayed the course the best she could and put herself through a time trial half ironman (70.3) as a personal test. As the 2021 season looms, she shares her goals for the year and how her training will be structured. Lou has also started a new training cycle and shares the excitement and pitfalls of setting your sights on the next event.
Welcome to the All Terrain Couple Podcast! Hosted by KJ and Lou, this episode is an in-depth race report of Lou’s Backyard Ultra from January 1, 2021. At 50km in length, there was no shortage of stories, insights, and laughs on the day, and this episode certainly delivers the same.
This was Lou's first foray into running. Despite a long history of athletic endeavors (and a history of not-so-much), he jumped in the deep end of the ultra running world by committing to a "Backyard Ultra." Join us as we dive into Lou's drive to reach for this lofty goal, how he prepared, and how it went on the day. Leave us some feedback and let us know what interested you so we can share quality stories!
HEY I'm KJ aka @swimcyclesprint and I have things to say. Today we discuss the US Olympic Marathon Trials, Nike and why I won't buy their gear, broken blood vials and why the the start of the World Triathlon Series is delayed. Welcome to the Social Kick Pod! *quick fact check, I state 500 women toed the line in ATL - it was in fact 444, but 500+ had qualified. Thanks!