How to Get Started in Triathlon with Author Hilary Topper (who started at 53!) Ep 114

Have you ever wondered if you’re too old, too slow, or too new to try a triathlon? Think again. In this inspiring episode of the Find Your Edge Podcast, Coach Chris Newport sits down with Hilary Topper—author, coach, and triathlete who started her journey at 53.

Hilary shares her path from never stepping foot in a gym (and not knowing how to start a treadmill!) to writing her second book on triathlon: Unlocking the Triathlon: The Beginner’s Guide to Competing in a Triathlon. Together, we explore:

• The inclusive spirit of triathlon—why it truly is a sport for every body
• Overcoming injuries, burnout, and self-doubt
• How community and friendship make all the difference
• Simple tips for new triathletes (including why you don’t need fancy gear to start)

🎁 Bonus: Chris is giving away one free month of group triathlon training (a $99 value) to the first three listeners who send proof of purchase of Hilary’s book!

👉 Don’t miss this mix of inspiration, laughs, and practical tips for your next race.

🥗💪🏃‍♀️ The 28-Day Nutrition Gut Reset is designed for active people and athletes who want better digestion, steadier energy, and stronger recovery heading into the new year. You’ll get expert guidance, simple structure, and live support three times per week. We start January 1st. Enrollment is limited and closes January 5th. Learn more at theenduranceedge.com/reset. 

Chapters

• 1:27 Meet Hilary Topper & Her Book
• 2:20 From PR Burnout To First Treadmill Steps
• 5:03 Becoming A Runner And Racing Milestones
• 6:23 Discovering Triathlon And Learning The Basics
• 7:45 Why The Sport Feels Welcoming To All
• 11:55 Identity, Imposter Feelings, And Belonging
• 14:35 Injury Stories, Listening To Your Body, DNFs
• 18:32 Writing An Accessible Triathlon Guide
• 21:52 Travel, Training Schedules, And Flexibility
• 25:19 Community, Group Training, And Support
• 29:07 Humor, Mishaps, And Keeping It Light
• 32:29 Burnout, Off‑Season, And Reset Strategies
• 35:20 Starter Tips: Gear, Mindset, Nutrition
• 38:54 Book Purchase Info & How To Connect

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 1:01

All right. Welcome back to the Find Your Edge podcast. I am your host, Coach Chris Newport, and today I have Hillary Topper here, an acclaimed author, Trathly. I cannot wait to get into this conversation. So welcome to the show, Hillary.

SPEAKER_03: 1:16

Thank you so much, Chris, for having me.

SPEAKER_00: 1:18

Yes. So you just came out with a new book. So let's brag on it. First of all, like hold it up, show it off. Because this thing. Look at that guy. So unlocking the Bible. Right? Yes. Unlocking the triathon. But honestly, so she sent me the PDF version. It's a really easy read. It might look intimidating by the size of it. Uh 353 pages, I think, officially. Yeah, which is awesome. Uh, but I'm definitely sending this to all of my friends who are thinking about Triathon. So, and this is your fourth book, right?

SPEAKER_03: 1:54

Yeah, this is my fourth book. My first two um were focused on social media. You know, I had a public relations firm for about 30 years. That's kind of how it all like transpired. Do you want me to just get like right into it?

SPEAKER_00: 2:10

Oh, yes. So, yes, take it away.

SPEAKER_03: 2:12

So, so I had a public relations firm for over 30 years, and I guess about maybe 10 years ago, I started feeling like I was working my butt off to feed my staff, you know, to feed my family, to feed my feed my parents at the time, you know, they were alive. And it was just like, it was just too much. Like I just, I couldn't, I I got to the point where I was like, you know what? Enough is enough. The clients were calling, blah, blah, blah. You know, they want this, you know, it's never not nothing is ever good enough, right? Like when you're working in the public relations field. You get them in the New York Times, and then they're like, oh, what did you do for me lately? That's not good enough. I want to be on Good Morning America or whatever, right? So anyway, so at that point, I said, you know what? I'm getting heavy. I'm I gained a lot of weight. I decided to join a gym for the first time in my life. And I joined a gym, a New York sports club. And the I hired a personal trainer, and the trainer said to me, Go warm up on the treadmill. Well, little did he know that I never was in a gym before, so I didn't know how to use the treadmill. So I asked this woman next to me who's running, and she's like sweating, drip, dripping sweat. And she says to me, you know, I said to her, Could you help me? And she stopped what she was doing. She did help me, which was really super nice. I mean, now I would never, but at the time I had no idea what the protocol was, what was right, what was wrong, you know, how I anyway, so I started, um, you know, that was really my first time on a treadmill. And I started to slowly run a little bit on the treadmill, and eventually I decided to take it outside. And in the meantime, I meet this woman from a woman's group, and she says to me, you know, we like we're all in like the PTA and all this guy. And she said to me, Oh, you're a runner. Oh, let's run together. She had just run the New York City Marathon. And I was like, I don't know. I don't think you're gonna want to run with me. I'm a beginner. I really, I don't even know what I'm doing. She's like, Don't worry, we'll be fine. So we start running together on the on the Long Beach boardwalk. It's about a 2.1 mile in each direction, so it's like 4.2. And we start to do that once a week. And I guess about a month or two into this, she says to me, let's go run a half marathon. And I said, A half marathon? I I can't even run four miles, you know. I'm dying over here. So anyway, um, you know, so we started, we we we we did our first 5k together, our 10k together, and then we've eventually did the half marathon. But it wasn't until I guess we were doing all of these race cations together, me and this woman, and she said to me, um, at some point during the Brooklyn half marathon, I don't want to do this anymore. I'm done with running events. This is too long, it's too much, I don't want to do it. So I said to her, I had just been to Fort Myers, Sanibel. I was one of the original Google Glass Explorers. It was like an augmented reality, kind of like the metaglasses that they have today, but it was Google. And anyway, so I go to um Fort Myers, Sanibel, and the tourism woman says to me, Oh, you've got to try this triathlon. You're a runner? Oh, you would love this. So I I tell my friends, oh, there's a triathlon in Captiva, and let's do it, you know, it should be really fun. Little did I know, I had to learn how to swim and ride a bike, and I barely knew how to run. So it was all a learning curve for me, you know. I'm the type of person that throughout my whole entire life, I never did anything athletic until the last, you know, 10, 12 years. That was it. Like nothing. So this was completely new. And I started buying all these books. This is what led me to this. I started buying all these books on triathlon and how to do a triathlon and you know, zones and what it all means, and you know, how to buy a bike and all. And I went out and I bought all these books and I'm reading them, and I have absolutely no clue what they mean. Like I, it's just totally over my head. I'm saying to myself, there's gotta be a book out there that's easy to understand, that anybody could understand, and you know, and that's what led me to this book.

SPEAKER_00: 7:11

That's amazing. What what a phenomenal journey. And I love that you said that, you know, uh and sort of backing up a little bit, you you didn't have a history in sport, you literally didn't know how to operate a treadmill, and then suddenly it's almost like this friend came along and identified you as a runner, and then it was like, whoa, and then here you are, like becoming a runner, and then you sort of get tagged into this traffete. Now you're gonna do a traphon. So, like, how where do you feel like this whole identity or perhaps lack thereof played into this journey?

SPEAKER_03: 7:51

Well, at first, when I started to do this, I, you know, you have that um, I forget what it's called, like where you, you know, where you do something, but you're you're like an imposter, like you're really, you know, you don't belong here, right? But when I did my first triathlon in Captiva, I actually felt like I did belong. Like I loved it so much. It was like for me, it was just the best experience. And then I like signed up for another triathlon right away. You know, that's how much I loved it. And then that first year, like right after that, that first year, I signed up for so many back to back to back to back because I just couldn't get enough of it. Um, what I loved most was that everybody's welcome. You know, and you don't, and it doesn't matter how old you are. I started triathlons at 53. You know, I'm 64 now. I mean, it's not like, you know, and I'm still doing them. I just saw an 85 I just met an 85-year-old woman at an Alpha Wynn triathlon in Hudson Valley. She was incredible. She had an I mean, she just was incredible. And it just motivated me, thinking, wow, if she could do this, I could do this too. And that's kind of what I my goal here is. If I could do this, you could do this, you know, anybody could do this. I mean, I was somebody, you know, my first book, From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete, it's it's the subtitle is non-athletic triathlete, right? I never thought I was athletic. I was never, that wasn't me. But there's something about this lifestyle that just you know grabbed me. It resonated.

SPEAKER_00: 9:59

Yeah, that's so cool. And I what I'm gleaning from this is that while I think a lot of people can be intimidated by multi-sport or endurance sports in general, and sort of going back to that identity piece is that um a lot of it is a story that we're telling ourselves. Like, oh, triathlon is not welcoming. Like, no, make yourself fit. Like, if it brings you joy, if it's brings you a challenge, if it's uh something different to do something for your health, do it.

SPEAKER_03: 10:34

Absolutely, you know. I was watching the Jones Beach Iron Man a couple of weeks back, and I was just like, you know, I was with my running group. We run, we go out every Sunday, and I was talking to them, and I said, look at this, you see, everybody has a different body shape. Body shape, age, color, anything. Like everything is accepted in this sport, and that's one of the reasons why I love it so much. Because you could, you know, you could be an 85-year-old woman, you could be a 300 pounds man, you know. I mean, it doesn't matter as long as you're out there and having fun, everybody accepts each other, you know. It's not like, oh, you don't belong here, you know.

SPEAKER_00: 11:24

Yes, which um when you first held up the book, so she's gonna hold it up again. There's a there's a bookmarked page because I I wanted her to read a certain quote that I loved out of it, which is exactly what you're talking about. So do you mind?

SPEAKER_03: 11:42

So, yeah, so um, so after each chapter, I have these quick tips. And um, in the chapter where I talk about every shape, every size, embracing diversity in triathlon, I say embrace who you are. No matter if you're overweight or underweight, you belong here. They're all body types in triathlon. Don't be ashamed or embarrassed. We are one big family, and I I really feel like that's true.

SPEAKER_00: 12:09

Yeah. That just like gave me the warm fuzzies.

SPEAKER_03: 12:12

I love it, you know, because it just you don't have to be the fastest and the greatest, you know. It's just okay to be out there. And even if you come in last place, like so what? Other people are sitting on the couch.

SPEAKER_00: 12:28

Yeah. I mean, this is a it's no small feat to do a travel. I think there needs to be a level of respect there, but to your point, it doesn't matter what size or shape you are or how old you are, you just have to have the willingness to try, right? And just get out there. Okay, so how long have you been? How how long has it officially been? We're at the end of the season. How long has it officially been since you've been doing draathlons?

SPEAKER_03: 12:57

So it's just about almost 12 years. Yeah. You know, I got so into it. Um, like you, I became certified, you know, in USA Trathlon and USMS swim coach and RRCA run coach and you wow's a open water coach. You know, I just like keep getting these certifications because I love it so much. And it's just something that I want to know as much as I can. And there's always something new.

SPEAKER_00: 13:31

Yes, I that's also what I love about it. The challenge of how many, how many different variables there are, and how our physiology is all just so unique, and how what one thing, how one thing may work for some people doesn't necessarily work for the others. So it's like the endless problem solving things. That's what I love about it.

SPEAKER_01: 13:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 13:54

So but it can all be fun.

SPEAKER_03: 13:57

It can all be fun, and it's also to me, it's life, you know, because things go wrong in life, right? Like that, that I think I talked about that in this book as well. I think I talked about it, I know, in my From Couch Potato book, how things happen, you know, spontaneous. I mean, just things just happen and you you have no control over it. And and you have to accept that because sometimes you don't have control. So focus on what you can control. Like that's what I really want people to take away from this.

SPEAKER_00: 14:31

Which speaking of things you can't control, I think you had a somewhat recent or you you definitely got injured at some point. Was this recent or not recent?

SPEAKER_02: 14:40

I've got I've had so many injuries.

SPEAKER_00: 14:42

Yes. So talk about that because do we all have to like be in perfect health to do multi-sport or just endurance sports in in general to have the lifestyle, right?

SPEAKER_03: 14:52

You know, I I know people who had heart issues. I mean, gosh, I have I have a friend who actually had a heart attack on an Iron Man course. Can you imagine this? And he just kept going and completed the course. And then after he found out he had a heart attack, I mean I think maybe that's not the smartest thing. I think, you know, if you have to listen to your body and you know, like those um those professionals uh at Kona, um uh I forget their names, but those there were two women professionals at Kona. Yeah, Taylor Nib, two just what yeah, yeah, they but they knew their body, yeah. They knew that it was taunt to stop.

SPEAKER_00: 15:37

And I think I think there's a level of there is a level of knowing where your why is. So why are you doing this? And what does it mean to either stop or not stop? Right? Like what what what's the level of uh maybe we call it sacrifice? I I don't I don't know, you know, of when you listen to your body enough to say this is not worth it for me to to finish. And that uh, you know, so a DNF is not a failure in life.

SPEAKER_03: 16:11

It's not a failure. It was like I I thought it was when it first started, you know. Oh, she got a DNF. Oh, you know, I mean, really, she got out there, and she, you know, if you can get out there for the start line, you won. Like every single piece of the race, you won. And if you finish the race, wow, more power to you.

SPEAKER_00: 16:33

Like, and it's the a testament to the fact that the training is the journey, like the whole just deciding that you're going to do a triathlon can be the start of the journey. Like, okay, I am willing to learn the things about what the heck is a driller, and I'm willing to learn, yeah, be vulnerable and put on a bathing suit that maybe I haven't put on in 20 years and wear this like really weird cap and goggles that makes me look like a bug, and being like, you know what? I am okay with it, and here I am. I'm just gonna, I'm just gonna try. Like, let's just absolutely yeah, yeah. So cool. What were some of your favorite parts of writing the book, and maybe not so favorite parts of writing the book?

SPEAKER_03: 17:22

I think that my favorite part was thinking about what would make it easy for people to read and understand, right? Like that was, you know, and I I think that was my favorite part because I I I'm like I'm like you, like I like to help people, right? So, and I and I want people to just give it a try, you know. I mean, you may love it, you may not, but you know, if you love it, great. It's just something, it's a great cross-training activity, you know, to run uh especially for runners, because a lot of runners get into triathlon. And there was one woman in the book who I interviewed, um, Jodie Robertson, she's a professional triathlete, and she said that she was in the Olympic trials and she was doing like almost, you know, I don't know, she said something crazy, like 120 or 140 miles a week of running, and she was getting injured all the time. And then when she started doing triathlon, she cut it down to like 70 miles. I mean, still 70 miles a week is a is a lot of miles, but you know, I mean, and she said she was getting injured less, which I totally believe. I mean, there's something about swimming. Now, I was again not a swimmer. I was I wasn't a runner, I wasn't a cyclist, but I think swimming for most is the hardest part for me. For some crazy reason, I embraced it and and um I would say that that's the thing that I love most about the sport is swimming. I actually just wrote an yet another book. It's at the publisher now, and it's uh it's specifically for people to help them get in the open water and feel comfortable and all of that. But um, you know, it just um I don't know, I lost my train of thought.

SPEAKER_00: 19:29

I mean, it it's just it's a testament to the fact that we just like love talking about the sport and want people to get inspired and into it. So I totally get that. Okay, so now what's the hard part about either writing a book in general or specifically writing about this topic?

SPEAKER_03: 19:48

I think writing writing in general or even writing about this topic, it doesn't really make a difference, but the editing process, you know, and just keep going over and over and over each and every paragraph and sentence. And yeah, yeah, it's a lot, you know. And then my first book, I still had my firm, my PR firm. So I had an employee who was helping me, you know, with the publicity and with, you know, marketing and stuff like that. Now I'm like all by myself and I have to do this alone, and it's like, oh my God, there's so much to do, you know, and not enough time. And I'm gonna be traveling around, you know, to different locations. Um, my first book, my first endurance book from Catch Potato, I was, you know, every month I was somewhere else. I was like around the country. I I just I went, I guess, as far west as like Tennessee. Um, you know, I did Chicago, you know, and that, but I never like went to California. Like I just kind of stayed close to New York. This time I'm just I limited it. Like um, I'm gonna be doing uh Florida in February, Long Island, obviously, because I'm here. I'm having a big kickoff event on January 27th. I'm going to Boston, Philly, um Austin, Texas, and Colorado. You know, Colorado I found was like a big hot spot for runners and triathlons. So, you know, that that made sense and it, you know, did really well the last time I went there.

SPEAKER_00: 21:26

Yes. I mean, and you can't miss the scenery, right?

SPEAKER_03: 21:29

Like gorgeous.

SPEAKER_00: 21:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 21:31

Gorgeous. My my cousin was like, okay, she lives there, which makes it, you know, helpful. And she said to me, Oh, let's go to Iron Springs. You know, it's like these natural hot springs there. I'm like, yeah, I mean.

SPEAKER_00: 21:45

Yes, totally, totally. That's awesome. So, speaking of the multi-sport lifestyle, you're gonna be traveling a lot. And I'm sure there are people who travel and they're like, Well, I can't keep up with it because I, you know, may not have access to a pool and I'm not traveling with my bike, and I may or may not have access to a bike in a hotel. So talk about that a little bit. Like, do we fail if we're if we're not swimming for a week? We're off the trainer.

SPEAKER_03: 22:13

You know, there are other things. I mean, first of all, we all really need to strength train. I mean, especially as we get older. As we get older, you know, you lose muscle mass, and it's just it's it's important, right? So, you know, and maybe that's even more important sometimes than the actual endurance stuff. I mean, just to to train and to, you know, get your muscles strong. So you could, there's usually a gym at these places, and I always, you know, bring like a band or two with me, you know. You can always run. And I what I do sometimes is I like juggle my schedule so that I'll do like more um bikes and swims before I go, and then I focus on running when I'm there. You know what I mean? So there's ways to juggle it around. I think the hardest part for people to get into the sport is to figure out their schedule and how they could fit it all in, right? Um, you know, for me, I I I learned pretty quick that getting it in in the morning was the only time for me because otherwise I I I can't I'm too tired in the afternoon. There's just no way. After work and everything, there's just no way I could do it. Now other people feel that they're invigorated after work and they need like an outlet just to release, you know, and that's okay. So everybody's got their own method to this madness. For me, I just like I'll put all my stuff out the night before so that I have it, coffee's ready, get my clothes on, drink my coffee, look at the social media, see if anybody sent me messages, and then I'm out the door. You know, and I'm usually out the door at like, you know, depending on the time of year, you know, in the summer I'm out the door by 4 35 o'clock. In the winter, I'm out the door, you know, a little later because of this, you know, the sun. I mean, it's still dark when I'm out there, but yeah. It's not, you know, it's starting to get light. Yeah. And then I see the beautiful sunrise, and it's like, oh this energy is amazing.

SPEAKER_00: 24:27

Yes, that is such a treat, uh, especially if uh 430 is giving anybody hives right now, you know, like it is lovely to um to see that sunrise and to be rewarded with that in in a way. And then I know you talked a lot about like community and groups. Are you out training with people? Or are you just like one of those that I'm like, I'm just doing it on my own, or is it maybe a combination?

SPEAKER_03: 24:54

It's a combination for me. I do have a group that I train with, and I have my running group, and then you know, when when we go open water swimming, there's always a spot we're we're so blessed, really. We are so blessed living here on Long Island. There's a spot at Tobey Beach, and you got to get there before the beach opens because we all are not residents of this particular community, but we get there early, and there's always somebody to swim with. And even if you're swimming alone, you're still out there with people. You know, it's not like you're alone, you're always with somebody. There's always somebody there, so it's nice, and you know, we stop at the marina, everybody's chats, we stop at the Banza, everybody chats, you know, so it's it's fun. And then cycling, you know, sometimes I go, I have a uh a cycling buddy, and you know, he goes, he's much faster than I am, so I kind of like start with him and then say, okay, we'll see you later.

SPEAKER_00: 26:00

Yeah, and you talk about that a lot in the book in terms of like community and friends and finding people to keep you engaged, because you know, we're always thinking about, at least I'm always thinking about longevity. How can we get people moving, whether it be swim, bike, run, or just bike, or just run, or strength train, or whatever. How can we get people moving and get them social? Yeah, so you know, I know some so many people are like, oh, I'm introverted, I'd rather train by myself. Well, you know, let's do a fun thing together.

SPEAKER_03: 26:31

It definitely makes a difference. Like even with my running group, you know, where we go very, very slow, it's more of a social group than anything. It really is. And we do the run walk. So I've been I was trained by uh Jeff Galloway. He actually coached me for the New York City Marathon, and then I became a program director, and I was with that group for a while before I got my certification with Roadrunners Club. Anyway, so we do the run walk together, and we always go out this with the slowest person. So no matter what. I mean, and and the funny thing is, is that I've got people who are running like seven-minute mile to uh 16-minute mile, and we all run together, you know. Somebody said, Oh, you run together, you know, like we're gonna slow down. Yeah, it doesn't hurt you to slow down. And then after, we what we do is we usually go out for breakfast, and it's just a great way to like end the week and relax. And I'll tell you, I mean, I feel like my best friends are friends that I met through triathlon training and through running.

SPEAKER_00: 27:46

I would have to 100% agree with that. And you know, there are people that I met when I first started in the sport, and I still keep in touch with them, and they're like my besties. And there's just something about sharing a common value of health and wellness that just makes it work. Oh, yeah. And that, you know, it's like Trahlon becomes your tribe. And how cool is that that we have people to lean on who aren't sugarcoating anything, you know, we're doing hard things, but also uh sometimes life doesn't go the way we plan. And there are injuries and there are ups and downs, and there's things to get through, and burnout, and all that kind of stuff that those people are there to support you.

SPEAKER_03: 28:30

Absolutely, without a doubt. Like after, you know, my sister, my sister had a brain aneurysm um a few years ago, and it was traumatic. I mean, it was like one of these horror stories that you hear about that you can't even imagine that anybody's ever been through, right? Like she was in a she collapsed, she was in a coma for three weeks, and then, you know, went into palatable care and she passed away. So during that time, I was complete, absolute, complete mess. I mean, here's my best friend, but the people in the group really helped me to overcome this. I mean, not overcome, I'll never overcome it because I'm always thinking about her, but they helped me to get back to me. You know, they were there for me. And that was just amazing that they were there for me, you know, and I always like if somebody my one of my friends in the running group, her husband just had quadruple bypass surgery, and she's like very, very upset. I mean, obviously upset about that, you know, and I've been like bugging her like every day. How you doing? Can I help you with anything? You know, I want to be there for her. She was there for me, you know, like that. Like that's the type of that's the kind of relationships that you have with these people. And it's just so incredibly special. And it's more special than people that you've known all your life, you know, like you just you get this bond with them that is very, very special.

SPEAKER_00: 30:09

Yes, whether it's talking about supporting you through the death of a loved one or some sort of health crisis, or on a lighter note, telling them that their bike shorts are too thin to be appropriate anymore, right? That's what I love about the community is you've got that, but like both ends of the spectrum, right? Like bringing out the the supportive and generous side of people, but also like, you know, let's have a laugh every once in a while.

SPEAKER_03: 30:37

And believe me, there are things that you know you just can't even believe happen. You know, it just this is crazy. Um I was training at Hofstra. This I teach there. Uh it's a university on Long Island. You know, I'm swimming along and I'm and all these lifeguards are looking at me. I'm like, what the f is going on? Why are they looking at me? Like I'm thinking, oh, my stroke must be really good, or yeah, I don't know what's going on, right? And then I get to the turn, you know, to the wall and I turn around and I feel I feel like like there's so much water on my chest, my boob was like sticking out of my bathing suit. I couldn't just stand. I couldn't understand what was going on. And here I was like, oh, of course.

SPEAKER_00: 31:27

That you just made their day.

SPEAKER_03: 31:29

I'm out of here. I was like, I'm out of here. I'm not coming back for a while.

SPEAKER_00: 31:33

Hopefully they're that's yeah, yeah, you know, it happens.

SPEAKER_02: 31:40

Crazy, like you know, silly things like that.

SPEAKER_00: 31:43

Oh, but I bet your group got a kick out of that. Did you tell them that? Oh my god.

SPEAKER_02: 31:47

Oh, they loved it.

SPEAKER_00: 31:48

That is so funny. Oh, the things that happened to us. That's amazing. Okay, so now we talked about the fun and the warm side of multi-sport, but then there's the part that maybe we don't want to talk about so much. Like what happens when you get burned out? So, like when we came on the call, we were talking about like, oh, you know, I was gonna do this bike ride this morning. So talk about that a little bit about how you're feeling how this season went, how you're feeling, and and how may you know, is this a normal experience to have it it actually is a normal experience to have after a long season.

SPEAKER_03: 32:25

I mean, uh my season started in May, and I had um about a half a dozen thrathlons, and then I had two open water events, one which went from Fire Island to Bayshore. It was a 5.5 mile swim, and then I did the Mackinac Island swim, which is an 8.2 mile swim around to the island of Mackinac. And it was it was a lot. Like I went from that, then I went back to a triathlon, then I got sick, like really sick, you know, and it was like my body saying, you know what, it's it, you know, you gotta slow down. Um and the last couple of days I've just been feeling like I am so tired. You know, yesterday I forced myself to go swimming, and I just I wasn't really swimming like I normally do, like I was swimming much slower, and I could tell that my body was just saying, no, it's no. And then today, you know, we had a little bit of misunderstanding with the you know, with the time, and I was gonna go out and and um ride my bike, and you know what? I said, you know what, this actually worked out for the best because I didn't go out, I rested in the morning, which was really nice. I don't usually take that opportunity to do that. And yeah, you know, and you know, I'm sure within the next week or two. I mean, I think the most important thing once it's off season is try to do something different, you know. Try to do something different. Like, I love going skiing, you know, that's something that I just really enjoyed it, you know, doing, or you know, just do something that you weren't able to do during season, maybe playing golf, or you know, still beautiful the weather, or whatever. Whatever it is that you like to do, just go to the gym three times a week. You know, you didn't get that opportunity when you were training, so yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 34:30

I think that's a great tip for folks that you don't have to keep up the same level of intensity, the same level of structure that you do during season in the off-season. And oftentimes that makes you come back fresher.

SPEAKER_03: 34:44

Absolutely. And it's actually nice like to do a race and not really have a tunnel, or to go for a bike ride and not care that you're, you know, that you're killing it on the bike.

SPEAKER_00: 34:58

I love uh oftentimes like pacing friends. Like, hey, let's, you know, I know you said you want to do your first 5k, like I'll run with you. Oh, but you're so much faster. I'm like, nah, you set the pace. I'll just talk you through it and keep you entertained.

SPEAKER_02: 35:13

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00: 35:13

And it's so fun. It's so fun.

SPEAKER_02: 35:16

Yeah, it is fun.

SPEAKER_00: 35:17

Yeah, that's so awesome. All right, so Hilary Topper, what are two or three things that you feel like you want folks who are listening to this to walk away with tied into whether it be your book or whatever else to get into multi-sport?

SPEAKER_03: 35:35

Yeah, well, the first thing is don't get down on yourself because you're not athletic, right? Like just start to do something, and it'll make you feel better mentally and physically. And the thing about just getting out there and doing something is that it really clears your head, and that's huge, right? So I would say that would be the start. You know, don't worry about your body type, don't worry if you're overweight or underweight or old or young or whatever, you know, just go out there and do it. And I would say the other thing is make sure if you if you do your first triathlon, don't be like me and buy expensive equipment. Go just borrow, borrow something. Gwen Gorgensen borrowed her mother's bike, and it was like a used mountain bike she did for her first triathlon. I mean, just borrow a bike. My my training buddy he rode um his bike, he borrowed a mountain bike from a friend. The seat was like half chewed off by the dog. I mean, the pl the bike was a disaster, but yet I'll tell you, I'm on a tri-bike, and he was on that mountain bike, and he kicked my butt during that. I hate to admit it, but he did.

SPEAKER_00: 37:03

That's so awesome.

SPEAKER_03: 37:04

Hey hell! I'm like, go and f yourself. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 37:13

Oh my gosh, that's amazing. So get out there, no matter what, just start doing something. Borrow instead of buy. Any other anything else that you want to leave folks with to encourage them?

SPEAKER_03: 37:25

You know, I don't think some people do this to try to lose weight. That's not really the right. It's not really where you're gonna I mean you will lose weight, but it you gotta watch what you eat. You know, that's really the bottom line here. Um, and I do have um Stacy Blankett, she's a nutritionist, she gave me like a a whole like training plan that's in the book. Um you know, and just do it, just get out there and have fun and and don't don't worry about what other people think. You know, I always find like I, you know, for years I felt that way. Like, oh, you know, I'm not good enough, blah blah blah blah blah. No, you're good enough, you could do this, you've got this. And I guess the last thing is if I could do this, you could do this too.

SPEAKER_00: 38:22

So good. I love those uh final words. Um, so I have a present for folks. If they buy your book for through the first three people to buy their book, and you send me a screenshot, I will give them a one-month free group triathlon training. Um, so$99 value. So uh send me a screenshot of that. I would because you guys got to get this book. This is such a great way to get your feet wet to understand some of the more complicated language and to just get people moving. So I believe in the book so much. I think it's great. And then um, hopefully they we can add to the community experience if they are in the North Carolina area. Um, if you're not, uh send me a screenshot anyway. I'll send you, I'll send you something else. So yeah, I got lots of tricks up my sleeve.

SPEAKER_02: 39:17

So that's wonderful. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00: 39:21

Awesome, Hillary. Well, thank you again for coming on the Finder Your Edge podcast. And how can people reach you or buy the book?

SPEAKER_03: 39:28

Um, so they could buy the book, Unlocking the Triathlon, the beginner's guide to competing in a triathlon. And this book is available on Bonds and Noble. It's available on Amazon, or if you go into your local bookstore, ask for it. They can get you a copy of it. And you could reach me, I guess, on Instagram um at Hilary Topper, and that's Hillary with one L. So it's H I L A R Y Topper T O P P E R. So good. Awesome.

SPEAKER_00: 40:02

Hilary, thanks again for coming on the Find Your Ed podcast. Thank you so much.