In this episode of the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast, Coach Jill sits down with Julie and Tony from Team No Coasting to unpack one of the most talked-about races of the season — the inaugural Little Elm 70.3.

What was supposed to be a fast early-season race quickly turned into a test of adaptability, resilience, and race-day decision making.

Here’s what went down:

• A last-minute swim cancellation just minutes before the start
• A time trial bike start with mixed experience levels
• Sustained winds of 30–40 mph (gusts up to 50 mph)
• A course that went from “this is fast” to “this is survival”
• And a field made up of ~70% first-time 70.3 athletes

We go deep into:

• How race-day variables impact execution and outcomes
• The physiological and mental toll of extreme wind conditions
• Why early-season races hit differently — especially for northern athletes
• Fueling, handling, and decision-making under stress
• What athletes (and coaches) can learn from this kind of race

We also talk about what Little Elm got right — from community engagement to athlete experience — and why this race may quickly become a standout on the calendar.

If you’ve ever had a race go sideways… this one will feel familiar.

And if you haven’t yet — this is your preview.

Be Fierce. Be You.

If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels.

We also specialize in training for runDisney race, as Jill is an avid runDisney fan with 7 Dopey finishes and nearly 100 Disney races under her legs - she knows the courses and how to train for them!

Click here to schedule a consultation

Tired of cycling in your basement alone? Peloton and Zwift has gotten old? Try live online group cycling with Be Fierce Multisport - now in Beta and accepting founding members!

Join our virtual group cycling beta at 👉 https://fierce.li/cycling

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you’ve ever looked at your training plan and wondered how you’re supposed to fit it all in, you’re not alone.

In this episode, Coach Jill Bartholomew dives into one of the most common challenges endurance athletes face: balancing training with a busy, real-world schedule. Whether you’re training for your first sprint triathlon, a marathon, the Dopey Challenge, or an Ironman, the demands on your time can feel overwhelming.

The key isn’t finding more time—it’s creating structure and making smart decisions about how you use the time you already have.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

Build structure into your week so training actually happens

Identify high-value workouts versus lower-priority sessions

Stack workouts efficiently when your schedule is tight

Adjust expectations without losing progress

Stay consistent, even when life throws off your plan

This episode is a reminder that training doesn’t have to be perfect to be effective. Consistency over time is what drives real results—and sometimes 92% is exactly what you need.

If you’re trying to make big endurance goals fit into a full life, this one is for you.

👉 If you need help structuring your training around your life, coaching support is available at Be Fierce Multisport.

If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels.

We also specialize in training for runDisney race, as Jill is an avid runDisney fan with 7 Dopey finishes and nearly 100 Disney races under her legs - she knows the courses and how to train for them!

Click here to schedule a consultation

Tired of cycling in your basement alone? Peloton and Zwift has gotten old? Try live online group cycling with Be Fierce Multisport - now in Beta and accepting founding members!

Join our virtual group cycling beta at 👉 https://fierce.li/cycling

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend 2026 Recap

In this episode, Jill and friends break down their full experience from Princess Weekend at Walt Disney World.

They discuss:

• The Princess Weekend Expo experience
• The runDisney gear phenomenon (and why Brooks shoes are everywhere)
• Race participation statistics and why Princess Weekend is one of the most female-dominated races in endurance sports
• Running the 5K through Epcot
• Rain, humidity, and slick surfaces during the 10K
• New course elements around the Boardwalk
• Course changes for the Half Marathon
• Why running down Main Street in Magic Kingdom is one of the most powerful race moments in endurance sports
• The difference between running at the front of the pack vs the back of the pack at Disney races

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to race at Disney — this is the behind-the-scenes conversation you’ve been looking for.

If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels.

We also specialize in training for runDisney race, as Jill is an avid runDisney fan with 7 Dopey finishes and nearly 100 Disney races under her legs - she knows the courses and how to train for them!

Click here to schedule a consultation

Tired of cycling in your basement alone? Peloton and Zwift has gotten old? Try live online group cycling with Be Fierce Multisport - now in Beta and accepting founding members!

Join our virtual group cycling beta at 👉 https://fierce.li/cycling

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Part 2 of our conversation with data analyst Brian Davis, we dive deep into one of the most debated topics in endurance racing — corrals, course congestion, and what race data actually reveals about performance, safety, and race outcomes.

How much does corral placement really affect your time?
Is course cutting actually common — and how do race organizers detect it?
What happens when pacing, crowd density, and race logistics collide?

Drawing from extensive analysis across Disney and non-Disney races, Brian breaks down what the numbers really say — and where common assumptions fall apart.

We also explore:

• The reality behind proof-of-time and corral sorting
• The impact of Club Run Disney placement
• Crowd physics and race safety
• Why starting order matters more than most runners realize
• How race design influences runner experience
• The human stories behind the data

Whether you’re chasing a PR, running your first race, or just curious about how large endurance events actually work behind the scenes — this conversation will change how you think about race strategy.

Be Fierce. Be You.

If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels.

We also specialize in training for runDisney race, as Jill is an avid runDisney fan with 7 Dopey finishes and nearly 100 Disney races under her legs - she knows the courses and how to train for them!

Click here to schedule a consultation

Tired of cycling in your basement alone? Peloton and Zwift has gotten old? Try live online group cycling with Be Fierce Multisport - now in Beta and accepting founding members!

Join our virtual group cycling beta at 👉 https://fierce.li/cycling

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What really happens at the back of a runDisney race?

In this episode, I sit down with Brian Davis — physics professor, long-time runDisney athlete, and the unofficial statistician behind the Dead Last Start (DLS) movement — to unpack what most runners never see.

We talk about:

The origin story of Dead Last Start

Why some fast runners voluntarily start with the balloon ladies

How many runners actually cut the course (spoiler: it’s lower than you think)

• What congestion really does to pace
• What race morning looks like from Corral A vs. the very back
• The mental side of running from last place
• What happened behind the scenes during this year’s Blizzard Beach course modification

Brian has analyzed years of runDisney timing data — and the numbers tell a much different story than social media.

This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.
In Part 2, we dive into corrals, timing math, and race cheating in much more detail.

If you’re a runDisney regular, marathoner, or just fascinated by race strategy and data, this one’s for you.

Be You. Be Fierce.

If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels.

We also specialize in training for runDisney race, as Jill is an avid runDisney fan with 7 Dopey finishes and nearly 100 Disney races under her legs - she knows the courses and how to train for them!

Click here to schedule a consultation

Tired of cycling in your basement alone? Peloton and Zwift has gotten old? Try live online group cycling with Be Fierce Multisport - now in Beta and accepting founding members!

Join our virtual group cycling beta at 👉 https://fierce.li/cycling

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Jill and Carolyn discuss:

• Carolyn’s path to earning her pro card and racing professionally
• The realities of competing at the pro level
• Managing expectations and race-day nerves
• Imposter syndrome in endurance sports
• How Carolyn defines success today
• Balancing training with a full-time job
• Social media growth, plateaus, and mental health
• Advice for beginner triathletes
• Gear recommendations for new athletes
• Favorite and least favorite workouts
• Mental strategies for pushing through tough race moments

If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels.

Click here to schedule a consultation

Tired of cycling in your basement alone? Peloton and Zwift has gotten old? Try live online group cycling with Be Fierce Multisport - now in Beta and accepting founding members!

Join our virtual group cycling beta at 👉 https://fierce.li/cycling

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Imposter syndrome doesn’t just show up in the boardroom — it shows up at the starting line, in training cycles, and anytime we try something bigger than what we’ve done before.

In this episode, Jill is joined by Sharon from Bib and Tiara to talk candidly about imposter syndrome in endurance sports, careers, and life. They explore how comparison, gatekeeping, and external validation can undermine confidence, why women experience imposter syndrome differently, and how environments like runDisney and Ironman create very different feelings of “belonging.”

Along the way, they dive into:

• Why imposter syndrome often appears when growth is happening
• Endurance sports as identity, therapy, and personal challenge
• The role of failure — and why it’s not the opposite of success
• How community, mentorship, and encouragement change everything

Whether you’re training for a race, navigating a career move, or questioning your place in a new space, this episode is a reminder: belonging isn’t earned by perfection — it’s claimed by showing up.

If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels.

Click here to schedule a consultation

Tired of cycling in your basement alone? Peloton and Zwift has gotten old? Try live online group cycling with Be Fierce Multisport - now in Beta and accepting founding members!

Join our virtual group cycling beta at 👉 https://fierce.li/cycling

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.