Bike Fit, Shoes, Nutrition: The Three Spends Our Coaches Never Skip | Ep23

Six days of racing on volcanic trails, seven athletes in the whole field, and one overall win. Coach Alicia just came home from her first stage race in the Azores, a sister’s trip for a 40th birthday that turned into a real fight on the downhills. She shares how she trained for the climbs, why she ran on feel instead of pace, and how she recovered well enough to race day after day. Then comes the part nobody likes to add up. The entry fee advertised near $5,500 landed closer to $6,000 after taxes and fees, and flights pushed the total toward $7,000. From there the coaches put real numbers on the rest of the sport: entry-level triathlon bikes, wetsuits, watches, hydration vests, trail race entries, and the gel math that makes a $50 jar of honey look like a bargain over a long day. Along the way, Coach Anne reports on her return to running after a rough month, a new pair of shoes, and a very fast mile. Each coach also names the two or three purchases they would never skip, and the answers might change where your next dollar goes. If you are fitting the training into the chaos and trying to fit a race budget in too, this one will help you spend smarter. Press play, then add up what your last race really cost.