Episodios

  • The Catalyst: How a Near-Fatal Bike Crash Led to the Kona Ironman World Championship
    Dec 4 2025
    Welcome sports lovers, Today we talk to Paul Bradford about his incredible journey from a childhood spent in the world of bodybuilding to becoming an Ironman World Championship competitor in Kona, Hawaii. Paul shares the story of a devastating accident that became the catalyst for his greatest athletic achievements and his philosophy on mindset, goal-setting, and never quitting. Key Takeaways From "Heavy Iron" to Triathlete: Paul discusses growing up influenced by his father, a local businessman and a champion bodybuilder, leading Paul to compete and win his father's former title, North Britain Champion. He explains the unlikely journey from not swimming as a kid to ultimately becoming a triathlete. The Road to Kona: Paul shares how he was welcomed into the triathlon community by local, inclusive athletes. He details the progression through race distances (sprint, Olympic, 70.3) until he achieved his goal of qualifying for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, a qualification that took him ten years to earn. The Catalyst: A Near-Fatal Crash: Paul describes the traumatic bike crash he experienced just four weeks before his planned competition, going from 25 mph (40 kph) to a sudden stop using his head as a brake. He suffered multiple fractures and a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Paul reveals he was given only a 10% chance of survival and was airlifted by the Northwest Air Ambulance. Setting Audacious Goals: While recovering in the hospital, unable to walk, talk, or go to the bathroom , Paul set two seemingly impossible goals: to run the London Marathon with a "Good For Age" time within a year, and to go back to Kona. He emphasizes that this comeback was fueled by belief and conviction, not just hope. The Triumphant Return: Paul recounts his successful recovery, returning to work in six months despite an 18-month prognosis, and achieving his goal of running the London Marathon. He ultimately competed in Kona, Hawaii, two years after his accident. The Kona Race Day Battle: He describes the incredible heritage of the Kona course and the surprising challenge of being stung head-to-tail by a swarm of box jellyfish during the swim. The neurotoxin caused delirium, a drooping face, and uncoordination, leading him to fall in transition and creating large blackouts in his memory during the bike leg. Never Ring the Bell: Paul shares his family motto: "We never, ever ring the bell" (never quit). With the support of his family, he finished the grueling race with 20 minutes to spare, stating that the time was irrelevant—what mattered was getting the job done as a family. Paul's Coaching Philosophy: Paul now coaches athletes, focusing on helping them avoid the pain and speed bumps he encountered in his journey. His coaching brand is founded on the principle of "Win the Morning". He advises people to perform their training first thing in the morning—be it swim, bike, run, or a walk—to invest in themselves and become a better version of themselves before the rest of the world requires their energy. BOOK A CALL WITH ME! Call booking link: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/sJX8bHdoj3P7cBoffJFC Green Mamba Tri Coaching Community Link: https://community.greenmambatri.com/communities/groups/greenmamba-tri-community Social Links https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576327959322 http://instagram.com/rob_hardstone https://www.tiktok.com/@rob.hardston Paul Bradford His Book: https://amzn.to/46a4z1H Coaching: https://www.winthemorning.com/ BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION: https://www.winthemorning.com/contact
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    51 m
  • How a Covid-Era Clinician Became an Unlikely Triathlete
    Nov 20 2025
    Welcome sports lovers to this episode of The Unlikely Triathlete! Today we sit down with Mel, one of my athletes and a former NHS physician associate whose career path has taken more twists than a hilly bike course. From working as a postwoman, to retraining in medicine, to battling through the chaos of COVID on the ICU frontline, and now stepping into a completely new world as a Human Factors Engineer at a nuclear power station — Mel’s story is nothing short of extraordinary. This is an episode for anyone who’s ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure if they’re capable of more. Spoiler: you are. Mel shares openly about the professional pressure inside the NHS, the politics surrounding her role, the emotional toll of working during the pandemic, and the courage it took to reinvent herself when her job security became uncertain. Amid all of this, she decided to take on a brand-new challenge: becoming a triathlete — all while juggling shift work, family life, and career transitions. If you’ve ever told yourself “I don’t have the time,” “I’m too busy,” or “I’m not the kind of person who could do a triathlon,” Mel’s story is going to shake that belief loose. Mel’s journey from postwoman to ICU clinician to future nuclear power station engineer What it was really like qualifying as a physician associate during the first wave of COVID The political backlash against her profession and how it threatened her career How a busy NHS clinician builds training into a life full of 12-hour shifts The mindset shift required to say “yes” to triathlon despite self-doubt Why reinvention doesn’t require permission — only courage Using sport as an anchor when your career and identity are shaken What Human Factors Engineering actually is… and why Mel fell in love with it BOOK A CALL WITH ME! Call booking link: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/sJX8bHdoj3P7cBoffJFC Green Mamba Tri Coaching Community Link: https://community.greenmamba-tri.com/communities/groups/greenmamba-tri-community HOST BIO Rob Hardstone, is a battle-tested IronmanU-certified triathlon coach with a knack for inspiring the everyday athlete. A former Crew Commander in the South African Defence Force’s 1 Special Services Battalion, Rob honed resilience during the Border Wars in an unsettled, apartheid South Africa. His daring career as a commercial saturation diver took him worldwide, facing life-threatening challenges with grit and luck. Despite his slight build, Rob’s passion for endurance sports drove him to conquer 11 ultra-distance triathlons, including 5 full Ironmans, 6 70.3s, numerous sprints, ultra swims, and 80km runs. Self-coached through trial and error, he now guides “unlikely” athletes to surpass their doubts. Rob’s humorous, brutally honest storytelling—woven with global adventures and hard-won lessons—sets him apart. Listeners will find unmatched credibility and inspiration from his journey, connecting with guests from all walks who’ve triumphed against the odds. LINKS https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576327959322 http://instagram.com/rob_hardstone https://www.tiktok.com/@rob.hardstone Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melaniewedgbury79?lang=en-GB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/she.ience/
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    28 m
  • Welcome To The Unlikely Triathlete
    Nov 20 2025
    In this opening episode, Rob introduces the vision behind The Unlikely Triathletes — a podcast celebrating ordinary people who achieve extraordinary things. He shares his life journey: growing up in tough conditions in Durban, navigating Afrikaans boarding schools, enduring brutal military training, and eventually finding his way into commercial saturation diving, one of the most dangerous jobs on earth. Rob opens up about the pressures, challenges, and defining moments that strengthened his mindset and ultimately led him to endurance sport. He describes how triathlon became the anchor that pulled him toward coaching and why he now dedicates his life to helping people who don’t think they belong in this world — the CEOs, parents, doubters, late starters, and everyday humans who have far more inside them than they realize. This episode is raw, motivating, and full of hard-won wisdom. It sets the tone for a podcast that isn’t just about sport — it’s about overcoming, believing, and discovering the version of yourself you never thought possible. Key Takeaways Rob’s path from bullied schoolboy to military endurance soldier to saturation diver shows that greatness often comes from adversity. The struggles Rob faced — from harsh schooling to dangerous offshore operations — forged the resilience he now teaches his athletes. Triathlon didn’t just challenge Rob physically; it offered clarity, purpose, and a path out of an old life that no longer fulfilled him. Rob emphasizes that he’s not special — he’s “Joe average” who learned to push through fear and limitation. And that means so can you. Rob’s life experience allows him to guide CEOs, busy professionals, and self-doubters across the finish line — physically and mentally. Rob believes that helping one person builds a chain reaction of positive change — and this podcast aims to spark that movement. Social Links https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576327959322 http://instagram.com/rob_hardstone https://www.tiktok.com/@rob.hardston BOOK A CALL WITH ME! Call booking link: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/sJX8bHdoj3P7cBoffJFC Green Mamba Tri Coaching Community Link: https://community.greenmamba-tri.com/communities/groups/greenmamba-tri-community Host Bio Rob Hardstone, is a battle-tested IronmanU-certified triathlon coach with a knack for inspiring the everyday athlete. A former Crew Commander in the South African Defence Force’s 1 Special Services Battalion, Rob honed resilience during the Border Wars in an unsettled, apartheid South Africa. His daring career as a commercial saturation diver took him worldwide, facing life-threatening challenges with grit and luck. Despite his slight build, Rob’s passion for endurance sports drove him to conquer 11 ultra-distance triathlons, including 5 full Ironmans, 6 70.3s, numerous sprints, ultra swims, and 80km runs. Self-coached through trial and error, he now guides “unlikely” athletes to surpass their doubts. Rob’s humorous, brutally honest storytelling—woven with global adventures and hard-won lessons—sets him apart. Listeners will find unmatched credibility and inspiration from his journey, connecting with guests from all walks who’ve triumphed against the odds.
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    15 m
  • From Fat Banker to Ironman Coach: The Unbelievable Transformation Every ‘Unlikely Triathlete’ Needs to Hear
    Nov 20 2025
    Welcome sports lovers to this episode of The Unlikely Triathlete! Today we sit down with Matt, a former “fat banker” who transformed his entire life, became an Ironman, and now coaches athletes around the world through the TriDot platform. If you’ve ever thought triathlon was only for “other people,” Matt’s story will flip that belief upside down. We dive deep into: How one moment in the mirror triggered Matt’s radical transformation Why going straight from zero to signing up for an Ironman actually saved his life The mindset difference between everyday athletes and world-class finishers Why age is an advantage in endurance sports The truth about training volume (hint: you don’t need 20+ hours a week) Why equipment obsession is killing your progress How TriDot’s data-driven system changes the game for time-crunched athletes The REAL reason most people don’t hire a coach (and why they should) Ultra-running, Dragons Back, Lanzarote nightmares, and pushing beyond what you think is possible Matt also shares stories from Ironman, adventure ultras, and helping everyday people discover that they’re capable of far more than they ever believed. Social Links https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576327959322 http://instagram.com/rob_hardstone https://www.tiktok.com/@rob.hardston BOOK A CALL WITH ME! Call booking link: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/sJX8bHdoj3P7cBoffJFC Green Mamba Tri Coaching Community Link: https://community.greenmamba-tri.com/communities/groups/greenmamba-tri-community Host Bio Rob Hardstone, is a battle-tested IronmanU-certified triathlon coach with a knack for inspiring the everyday athlete. A former Crew Commander in the South African Defence Force’s 1 Special Services Battalion, Rob honed resilience during the Border Wars in an unsettled, apartheid South Africa. His daring career as a commercial saturation diver took him worldwide, facing life-threatening challenges with grit and luck. Despite his slight build, Rob’s passion for endurance sports drove him to conquer 11 ultra-distance triathlons, including 5 full Ironmans, 6 70.3s, numerous sprints, ultra swims, and 80km runs. Self-coached through trial and error, he now guides “unlikely” athletes to surpass their doubts. Rob’s humorous, brutally honest storytelling—woven with global adventures and hard-won lessons—sets him apart. Listeners will find unmatched credibility and inspiration from his journey, connecting with guests from all walks who’ve triumphed against the odds. Matt Davies Website:⁠ https://www.precision-coaching.co.uk LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-davies-precision-coach/?originalSubdomain=uk Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/matt_james_davies/?hl=en
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    54 m
  • The Unlikely Triathlete - Coming Soon...
    Oct 27 2025
    Rob Hardstone, is a battle-tested IronmanU-certified triathlon coach with a knack for inspiring the everyday athlete. A former Crew Commander in the South African Defence Force’s 1 Special Services Battalion, Rob honed resilience during the Border Wars in an unsettled, apartheid South Africa. His daring career as a commercial saturation diver took him worldwide, facing life-threatening challenges with grit and luck. Despite his slight build, Rob’s passion for endurance sports drove him to conquer 11 ultra-distance triathlons, including 5 full Ironmans, 6 70.3s, numerous sprints, ultra swims, and 80km runs. Self-coached through trial and error, he now guides “unlikely” athletes to surpass their doubts. Rob’s humorous, brutally honest storytelling—woven with global adventures and hard-won lessons—sets him apart. Listeners will find unmatched credibility and inspiration from his journey, connecting with guests from all walks who’ve triumphed against the odds. LINKS https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576327959322 http://instagram.com/rob_hardstone https://www.tiktok.com/@rob.hardstone
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    Menos de 1 minuto