Grit2Greatness Endurance Podcast
The Grit2Greatness Endurance Podcast is your gateway to unlocking the power of resilience, determination, and unshakable grit. Through captivating interviews with endurance athletes, we dive deep into how they conquer challenges and push beyond limits to achieve greatness. Tune in for practical strategies, mindset shifts, and motivational stories that will fuel your own journey of transformation. Whether you’re an athlete or someone striving to break through life’s barriers, this podcast will inspire you to rise above and unleash your true potential. The strength to thrive is already within you—now it's time to ignite it.
Grit2Greatness Endurance Podcast
Finding Grit Together with Tony Washington and Julie McPhilomy
Join us for an inspiring story of love, endurance, and athletic prowess with Coaches Tony Washington and Julie McPhilomy, the ultimate triathlete power couple. From a chance encounter on a flight to becoming celebrated coaches in the triathlon world, Tony and Julie share their journey of harmonizing life’s demands with their passion for endurance. Discover how they’ve crafted a unique partnership, navigating the highs and lows of rigorous training while maintaining fulfilling careers and a vibrant relationship.
Peek behind the curtain as we explore the complex dynamics of training as a couple. Tony and Julie reveal the emotional rollercoaster of competing, from the triumphs of crossing finish lines to the challenges of injuries. Their story is a testament to the power of mutual support, flexibility, and open communication in achieving both personal and shared goals. You'll also hear about their adventures with "race-cations" and how spontaneity keeps their journey exciting and rewarding.
As coaches, Tony and Julie bring unique insights into empowering others, particularly women, in sports. Through their philosophy of celebrating achievements and embracing personal growth, they foster a supportive environment that encourages athletes to shine. This episode is a captivating exploration of how a shared passion can galvanize both personal relationships and professional endeavors, highlighting the importance of embracing opportunities and savoring shared triumphs.
To connect with Tony and Julie, email them here:
tony.washington@tridot.com
julie.mcphilomy@tridot.com
FB - https://www.facebook.com/groups/316745510823638
Insta - https://www.instagram.com/april_spilde/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-spilde
Welcome to episode 14 of the Grit to Greatness Endurance Podcast. This is a special episode where today we will be exploring a unique topic how couples can work together to achieve their triathlon goals. We often hear about individual triumphs in endurance sports, but what happens when two people come together to not only support each other but also push each other to new heights? Today we'll be talking to a triathlete couple not only couple, but two coaches who have found a way to balance the demands of training, racing and life, all while growing stronger both in sport and in their relationship. So, whether you're part of a triathlon couple or simply curious about how to combine personal goals with a strong partnership, this episode will be filled with insights, inspiration and practical tips for navigating the world of endurance sports together. So today I'm thrilled to welcome two remarkable guests and I'm happy to say they're two friends of mine whose stories of resilience, discipline and passion will inspire anyone navigating the journey of endurance sports.
Speaker 3:So first we have coach Tony Washington, a seasoned triathlon coach and lifelong athlete who's been immersed in the world of triathlon since 1982. He has an extensive background as a competitive swimmer, runner and cyclist, as well as a badass mountain biker. So my heart already goes out to Tony. Tony's journey is shaped by an unwavering commitment to excellence, from flying missions in the air force Another key connection here to coaching athletes at all levels. Tony knows how to take people beyond their limits and unlock their true potential and, as a Tridot and Ironman use certified coach, with over 40 years of swimming experience and three decades in competitive cycling, he's led athletes to qualify for world championships in Kona, knees and beyond. Tony's unique approach combines virtual coaching for technique precision with in-person guidance in the Chicago area, helping athletes of all backgrounds break new ground.
Speaker 3:And joining Tony is his amazing wife and I have to say, because I'm a little biased Julie, who has captured my heart and I have to say she is the better half. She is a fearless flight attendant with American Airlines for over 25 years and an inspiring TriDot coach who launched her own coaching career in 2022. Julie's athletic journey began with a marathon to celebrate her 30th birthday, leading to an impressive streak of 12 marathon finishes. Her drive for a new challenge at 40 led her into the world of Ironman, where she's since completed four full distance Ironman races and four 70.3s, including qualifying for an Ironman world championship. She's a certified badass.
Speaker 3:Julie's story is a testament to the power of setting big goals, embracing change and finding fulfillment through the pursuit of endurance. So, together, tony and Julie share not only a passion for triathlon but also a dedication to helping others reach their athletic dreams. Their combined experiences, from coaching athletes to world stages to balancing full-time careers as pilot and flight attendant, will offer invaluable insights for anyone looking to take the challenge of triathlon on and beyond. So welcome, Tony and Julie, to the Grid to Greatness Endurance Podcast. So welcome.
Speaker 2:Tony and Julie to the Grid to Greatness Endurance Podcast. Thanks so much. It would be amazing to be here with you guys. It's an honor and privilege. Thanks so much.
Speaker 1:And always good to be here with you here April, Always my fave.
Speaker 3:Oh, I love it, julie. Thank you so much to both of you. I know that you are in travel mode right now, so to have this time with you is really special and, just again, indicative how you all are so good at juggling the demands of of life and sport. You just told me that you brought your bikes with you to Florida, which is so cool, so you're continuing with your triathlon lifestyle, even in travel mode. I think you all have unlocked uh, unlock the key to making this work, so I'm excited to get into that.
Speaker 3:Today I met Julie and Tony through our TriDot Coach Mastermind group and to say that I was impressed from them from the start would just be an understatement. They both just have an electric magnetism behind them that it's very easy to want to listen to them, it's very easy to be inspired by them, and I'm so glad that we can show and share them with our audience, because I do think they have a lot of wonderful things to highlight and to espouse wisdom, and I'm just excited to one hear about their story and how they make this work and then how they inspire each other, when I'm sure there's been some days where it's been tough to want to continue in not only triathlon, but just in life in general. So are you two ready to get started?
Speaker 1:Let's get at it Absolutely. Let's do it.
Speaker 3:So I would love to hear about your journey and how you two met. I would love to hear how you actually started this partnership as not only triathletes, but as coaches, and how your um, how this came to be this, this partnership well, it's, uh, some of those first moments although you know, always awkward because this first meeting a person clearly define how you know I'm a genuine to a fault.
Speaker 2:So I happened to be coming home from my daughter's 18th birthday and occupied a row of seats that Julie happened to be in. She was supposed to be a buyer herself and I happened to raise her seat when I was giving us a last second and just talk and small talk. Um, she made the mistake of offering me a snack. Um, there is no snacks that get uneaten, so I had her snacks. Um, I also like I said, it's clearly defining I showed her a picture of a bicycle I had just bought.
Speaker 2:Um, so those things oh my goodness half an hour of us meeting, uh, kind of defined uh, well, nothing nothing's really changed. I have a lot of bicycles and a lot of snacks are missed and, uh, I like to start up conversations with random people.
Speaker 1:To put it in there, though, I was only a runner at the time, so showing me a picture of a bicycle was not something that would have thrilled me or been like oh my gosh, look at that. Now I get it, but at the time I was like that's nice. You know, that was kind answer. Uh, yeah, but it just happened to be that's uh we. We weirdly did get on a conversation about um racing because another lady that was happened to be on the plane that I was. I had been in training in Dallas and I was flying home from that. So um and she asked me when my next race was, which made his ears perk up and really started that conversation Cause.
Speaker 1:I was doing a half marathon in Indianapolis uh, the one that you race on the on the racetrack and so, um, I had that coming up, and and so, uh, that's what we had talked about, and so, anyhow, that had spurred the conversation, and here we are.
Speaker 3:Wow. So who made the?
Speaker 2:first move. Oh, so kind of thing and awkwardly, you know, walking off their jet bridge kind of thing, and when I say like, uh, can. I walk you to your car or something like that, I guess I don't know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and for me that you know, it kind of was not in the space of really wanting to date or any of the above and so, but it was kind of one of those nobody asks you that, or nobody it's not anymore, and I just thought that's very indicative of character and yes, and therefore, if he calls, I should yeah, I should say yes, so, um, yeah and again, here we are.
Speaker 3:So yeah, tony, how long did you wait before you called her or texted?
Speaker 1:I can't remember that night.
Speaker 3:Yes, Not playing games. Tony, I love it, I love it. There's probably some rule. No, I'm so glad to hear you did not follow that rule. I love that you not only walked her to her car, but you texted her, called her that night and you're I mean you got the girl.
Speaker 2:That's so cool. Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3:So did Tony bring you over, julie into triathlon, can you?
Speaker 1:how did you get into triathlon If you were? Um started in running Actually he did, but didn't um I uh. So fast forward maybe like two months into into dating Um, we were at a concert with some friends and taking a a Metro train home and I told him I had a secret and I didn't, you know loaded. I have a secret and uh, I said I think I want to do an Ironman. I don't know how I'm going to do that.
Speaker 1:And I had no idea at the time he was a swimmer, I knew he rode his bikes, but that was about it.
Speaker 1:He had never really talked too, much about swimming and, um, anyhow, I, I guess I hadn't shared that with my friends or my running friends yet, it was just still looming. It was a few years away and it went the time and I, um, but I knew I had to give myself those those years to work on the other two sports and, uh, this was like a Friday or Saturday night. We were at this concert. Monday morning, the iron fit, the book showed up at my door. Um, he had ordered by Amazon, never told me, showed up at my door and that's kind of what started.
Speaker 1:I, I read the, like, the prologue of it and then, like, slowly pushed it away because it scared the daylights out of me. Um, but slow but sure. And he was like, hey, I'm a, I was a collegiate athlete or a collegiate swimmer. I can, uh, I can help you there. And then it truly was a very slow but sure, you know, buying a bicycle, a proper bicycle, buying, you know, getting in the water again and I could swim, but it had been a long time since I had been in a pool properly and, um, you know, just giving yourself the time to, you know, start off at the sprint distance and so on and so forth and so, um, yeah, so I gave myself about three full years, I guess it was until, um, until I took on my goal at 40. So, um, you know, I didn't rush it and learn, tried to learn, try to learn the sport and all the ups and downs like with it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you did it right, Julie, I think, um, and, and Tony, what what a way to bring it her in without being like overbearing. I think that can easily happen in a couple where I've done this to my husband myself and I'm like, okay, I learned my lesson, he'll come to it if he wants and I'm not going to pressure him. But it's nice to hear that you were supportive of her journey from the start and you let her make the decision to uh, come into it on her own terms and and obviously it worked out in a big way.
Speaker 1:Well, and I guess it fueled his um I say fire, to get back into it as well, because he started doing races and then, um, he did his first Ironman two years ahead of me. So it allowed me to kind of see the process and and really learn. I didn't do a lot of the huge, huge, big, long days he had, but I did a lot of the, I'll say medium.
Speaker 1:Uh, medium works that kind of feel what that feels like and and really try to build up some, some especially cycling fitness that I desperately needed at the time and, um, you know, and watching him go through it, it just it was so inspiring being at that first race and in being that first timer and doing all those things. It really just instead of scare me it inspired, me, and so that was a great way to lead into my years of doing it myself.
Speaker 3:Yeah, Tony. How did that make you feel seeing Julie cross her first finish line and seeing her progress?
Speaker 2:It was absolutely amazing. The most iconic picture of her ever is her crossing the finish line. That first time is really really amazing and it's just been. You know, just kind of the you know everybody talks about, you know the race, but it's obviously the journey that's happened. So I was less than patient, you know, when I restarted my triathlon kind of journey, I went from Olympic to uh full and then found a half in between to kind of do so I I went from right away at about a year um pendulum.
Speaker 2:She had more patience, um, but uh, you know it was, it was great to go. Hey, let's build some, some you know, fitness in all three um, and it was just really really fantastic. And then sharing that journey and then getting her it was actually the week of her birthday uh on her 40th birthday and uh to finish her, her first fall and it's just absolutely amazing, like everything. You know that, like most people's uh experience when they cross an Ironman finished for the first time, it's one of those life-changing things and it was incredible to help be part of that.
Speaker 2:It was really, really cool.
Speaker 3:Julie, what was your first Ironman?
Speaker 1:Ironman.
Speaker 3:Wisconsin.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, so you picked a tough one too, yeah it's about two hours or so, a little bit more from our house in Chicago. So we have the amazing opportunity to go up multiple times over a summer. We have the amazing opportunity to go up multiple times over a summer and it's a very popular cycling spot for everybody, everybody, training that they don't even have to be doing Madison as as their race.
Speaker 1:If they want some Hills, they want, you know, some technical abilities. I mean, I trained up there this summer for Nice and it's a great spot, it's a great community. Uh, it's a great little town. Um, they, they embrace it. So uh that was a. It was a natural first pick. It is uh. For me it is one of the best Ironmans out there. It has such amazing crowd support day of. I mean it is very rare that you're in a spot of that race course that you don't see anybody.
Speaker 1:I mean somebody, and so I knew that that's the way it was, and so I kind of appreciate that. Um, especially coming from doing a lot of the majors and the marathons like get a Chicago, new York, et cetera. They have people everywhere on those and I was used to not, you know, being out there and seeing folks and so I, I, it was a natural fit for me. Um, it was a uh, it was an incredibly tough day. I uh, you know, I had didn't know it, but I had, uh, a slight injury going into it. Um, a slight injury going into it.
Speaker 3:Um.
Speaker 1:I decided two weeks out to do my last long run and I was out, um, on Chicago's lakefront path and, uh, a kid was. Some kids were playing soccer and their soccer ball was going to go out in the road and I was like I'll get it to be like the nice good Samaritan and I stepped along and lo and behold, I got a sports hernia. I didn't know it at the time.
Speaker 2:I just thought I'd hold something and you know I'll be fine kind of one of those things.
Speaker 1:and, um, there were, you know, wild horses could not have pulled me away from that race course to begin with, you know so, um, so it was. It was a struggle when I, especially when I got to the run, because I could not do so, um, so it was kind of a slog for me to get through it, so I took, well, all the time until the end of the race, and so it was not my goal to be a late-night finisher, but that is what happened, and it was mind over matter for me at the end and yeah, so coming down that finisher shoot, uh, it was uh bad ugly girl cry.
Speaker 3:you know it was one of the best, the best for somebody who's not uh.
Speaker 1:You know that kind of a person normally uh, especially in public. You know, I don't. I don't uh do that often and uh, that was just. I couldn't, I couldn't stop it and it's, it's funny because it's so bright and it's it's all those things. And you know, I couldn't hear Mike Riley, I couldn't see anything. I had no idea what time it was all of those things. And then those poor people that catch you at the end when you're you know sweaty and disgusting and you're delirious and all those things.
Speaker 1:And I kept asking the poor lady did he say my name? Because that's all I wanted was to hear Mike Riley say my name, because I never heard it and she was like yes, dear, we're going to walk you over here, here. Finally, tell me, you know that just to you know, calm my, because I thought it was something I just kept asking just to calm me. To go, we're gonna walk you over here. Yes, he did.
Speaker 3:I love that but it's amazing how much that means.
Speaker 1:So to hear that I had to say yeah yeah, you have to hear it, it's something that is the one-time thing, for the first time and yeah, yeah, I went to the I mean, as soon as that video came out I was like through and just to hear it because I wanted it was just one of those things like I, I can't you know, I look back and I couldn't even see him like. I think I high-fived, but I couldn't see him because it was so bright and I just was. I had to. I had to hear it just to make it official.
Speaker 3:So good, wow, just so amazing. So, yeah, I can relate. I know that Tony can relate is something that is very unique in a very small population of people. I wanted to ask you all because you do have quite an adventurous lifestyle and I know, with being a pilot, being a flight attendant, you both are probably diverging in different ways often. So, with not only the busy schedule but the fact that you are in two different locations a lot of times, how do you coordinate your training, uh, to support each other's goals, while balancing your relationship, while balancing your life commitments, uh, all the things that go into just being partners?
Speaker 2:It's been amazing. So one of the cool flexibility things of Tridot is oh hey, let's swap all our workouts so that you're going to be here Tuesday, right Tuesday and Sunday. So let's make sure we can coordinate our long bikes. I'm pretty lucky. I can bring my bike on a lot of trips, but Julie has a harder time with that. Despite a lot of great hotel rooms having Pelotons available despite the you know a lot of great hotel rooms.
Speaker 2:Having Peloton is available, and then okay, hey, let's move that long bike to Tuesday and we'll do. We'll do that and we'll swap everything around. That's one of the things that's been super flexible and we're on a bad memory for it.
Speaker 2:She's like you know it's Tuesday, I'm here, Going to be here Tuesday. Okay, we'll plan that. Look at the weather. Yeah, hey, it's going to be awesome. Let's go plan our long bike outside and let's try to do. You know, if we're close to an Ironman, we'll do it on their tri bikes, otherwise we'll go bomb around on the limestone trails. We're kind of surrounded by.
Speaker 2:And then we recently discovered a nice arboretum close to our house to go ride on and it's been really fantastic. In coven we we discovered all sorts of trails all around where all these parks and natural parks and drive drove around all around chicagoland looking for these places to explore, train and uh, in our busy schedules, I, you know, we've just also jointly discovered where a bunch of pools are to swim in orlando and I know we're in a lot of different places and even open water down in, like in Santa Monica or something that kind of thing went to that. And then, like I said, we'll get back together and let's say, let's do our long ride.
Speaker 2:It might be pushed forward or back a couple of three days, but it's good and important to get that stuff done, especially if it's more than a couple of hours. It's hard to do a four or five hour bike ride by yourself. Yes, so it's been really cool. So we'll go park and then drive off and then I'll do the place we train at most like. Mostly it's 25 or 25 or 32 mile round trip. So put up all our nutrition in the car and then we'll both have keys to the car, open up the car kind of thing. We just meet at the end and we'll see each other.
Speaker 2:Literally it's a little wave as we're swinging by each other, we won't see anybody, but you don't see each other again for maybe an hour and a half or something. And then you know at the end of the workout, we're, we've gotten our stuff done and we're technically no more than probably five or six miles apart on this great safe trail, and it's been really good with that, um, and then just we'll, we'll take off together on the start of the run, um, to get our run after that. So that's how we do our long workouts. Swimming is uh, we, you know thankfully we're surrounded by a couple pools go swim and then, uh, she's stuck swimming just a little bit, uh, because I'm a decent swimmer, so I don't swim. I don't swim enough, I only swim maybe a thousand or fifteen hundred yards every workout kind of thing, versus what I probably should be doing. But we have, she has fantastic form and then, as we get close to races, we build up more endurance there. So it's been really, really good to balance all of those things.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I'm impressed. How many workouts do you think? Oh sorry, Julie.
Speaker 1:Oh, I was going to say we often race together, so that's what it is. Every once in a while one of us will do a race that the other, like Tony, did not do a full Ironman this year when he helped me train for Reese, for me, excuse me and um, that was, uh, paramount to my success team and getting there, um, that was something that, um, you know, I needed the, the, the partnership. I needed the coaching he helps me out on that I needed the motivation, um, not because I didn't wasn't motivated, but those motivation on those long days where you're it is it can be a very lonely affair if you're doing it by yourself.
Speaker 3:So, there was not.
Speaker 1:I mean we're talking 70 hour bike rides, um for me. So, uh, when somebody says, yes, I'll do that with you, yeah, that's when they're not doing one on their own, that is uh it's life changing. It is it is.
Speaker 3:Wow, I didn't even think about that, julie, that I mean. Kudos to you, tony, that's commitment.
Speaker 1:It was great to have and just because it was a big goal stretch for me, and so he was very supportive on that. But as far as how we balance life commitments in general, tony does all things bikes usually, whether it's loading them into the car, whether he's waxing the chain, he's doing the type whatever it is, that's kind of his domain.
Speaker 1:You know I'm making the 800 bottles it takes for the two in it, you know, like in a seven or eight hour ride doing all the nutrition counting all out what we're going to do for the day, um, especially knowing that we're both a little bit different than what we're going to do for the day, um, especially knowing that we're both a little bit different than what we intake, um, uh, or planning the meals ahead of time and knowing what's going to be done here, or the all those little things, is what we do to balance out, to make sure we get out the door at the same time and properly and efficiently.
Speaker 3:So, when one of you is not feeling it, when one of you is not feeling it, when one of you is like struggling, what happens?
Speaker 2:so because I didn't do a full this year and somebody was training for the hardest ironman probably ever. Yes, we have one of the weekends and it's a little chilly out, so we had a somebody had a very long.
Speaker 1:No, it was the opposite, it was very hot, oh that's right, it was the opposite.
Speaker 2:It was very hot. Oh, that's right, it was super hot.
Speaker 2:So somebody had a seven hour Zwift ride planned. I had great intentions of riding seven hours on Zwift also, but I got up about five hours in to go to the bathroom and I accidentally didn't make it back onto my bike. I was there in support and hey, hey, you're doing great and can I get you a bottle? I'm just going to sit here. So there was a lot of moral support for that and I missed out I had been battling some calf tightness and some running shortness this year, so there was plenty of oh, I need an hour and 45 minutes on the run and I've made it almost 20 minutes and I'm just going to walk home.
Speaker 2:Um, here you, here's the keys, or something like that. So there's a lot of that especially in the heat kind of thing and uh the long runs aren't as bad for me.
Speaker 1:I'm pretty used to it and um, you know I made a point to vary up my areas of what, where I would run to give myself, knowing that I'm I'm by myself, to give myself a little different stimulus. Um, chicago is a interesting place because with the Chicago marathon uh, on the weekends it is wild down at the uh lakefront path. So there are thousands on a Saturday morning training for the marathon Um, and they have aid stations set up. They have all sorts of things for um and for me I did probably it was like a two and a half hour, two 45 run um down lakefront by myself um that they joined me and it was like almost like being in a race because there's so many people and so many uh running there and I had my aid stations.
Speaker 1:I didn't have to, you know, drop my things places. It worked out. It was like having a carrot the whole day long just watch them go, because, and and you know, when I lived in the city, that was what I did for years on end anyway was is training those training groups. So it worked out. It was a, you know I didn't mind the long runs by myself so much Um, cause I could do things like that and save them and move them to days where, like I could, I could utilize that. But the long, those long bike rides, those are, those are the toughies.
Speaker 3:Um, yeah, I think about. I did one one time. I think I don't think I'll ever do it again. One time, seven hour ride on a on a trainer yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's a. It's a uh is beyond mind over matter. It's uh, you know you have to give yourself a little um. You break here and there. You know, get stand around you know, stretch it out. Cause you think about when you're, you know, probably doing it outside. You're not grinding for seven hours, right, you get, you know you do give it off to take fuel or go to the bathroom or do whatever you got to do. Um, give yourself those breaks.
Speaker 1:Just because you're inside doesn't mean you have to stay on it for seven hours, right, uh it, you're still getting to work in yeah, yeah, I remember just having like a full on bucket of sweat underneath. Yeah, yeah, I may have changed outfits. Yes, yes, smart.
Speaker 3:Honestly. So what challenges have you both faced in training together, and how do you navigate those moments of stress? Have you ever had a? I mean, I'm going to ask as a personal question, but you've ever had that disagreement or maybe, like I need a break from you, I, we need to go, uh, train separate a little bit, uh, come back when we're, when we're okay, when we've had a shower, and let the stress come down. But have you, have you, ever had that kind of disagreement or even tension? And and how did you navigate that as a couple? Julie, I'll start with you.
Speaker 1:You know, nothing specific ever comes to mind. We don't fight often, so that's a. That's a nice thing. If anything, it's it's my stress level that probably is higher than his on a day and being laid back most of the time and he's, but he's more laid back than me so yeah, he's laid back. Yeah, a little bit uh, I put a lot of pressure on my own self that is my uh kelly's heel there is is my own stress around myself but I would say that I've also had a few injuries here and there.
Speaker 1:um, that has that has, uh, slowed me down or kept me out of the game for a little bit, and that you know, for example, I tore the labrum in my hip and, um, I had to take off running for quite some time, and which is, um, until I was feeling better.
Speaker 1:And it got better, um, you know, and so, as a consequence, I can't run with him anymore At the speed I should say, I can't run with him anymore. We used to go out for runs together and that for me was pure enjoyment, because I can't keep up on the swim and the bike and I love to run, so that was enjoyment for me, and now I'm significantly slower than I was, but I can still do it. So that's that's that's where I keep looking at it, but I had to, you know, reframe it.
Speaker 1:It's not his fault that I can't keep up you know it's never you know, so you can't take it out on the other person if you have something going on. Um, usually because we are at different speeds for a lot of things. Um, we do get separation time, so like, like you said, we're on the same trail and we could be out there for five hours and see each other for five or ten minutes at the car or at the far end where we're, you know, taking nutrition down that end or whatever it is. Uh, so we do have some alone time in the yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Naturally built in.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, it's naturally built in there. And then, with travel, it's naturally built in there. Uh, you know we are separate quite a bit. Um, you know the times I think we've ever had a problem is it's, it truly is. It's just, you know, kind of the stress and the and the tiredness that you get from those peak weeks into us and it's.
Speaker 1:it's just that. It's just that you're, you're tired and you're in your stress and you want to do well, and I hold myself very, very, very high standard. And you know that's not, again, not fair to your partner. They're they're just trying to help you and that's something that I have to realize sometimes, when I, when I, made one of those. But his calm demeanor is what and I'll probably keep repeating this, but that's what you know settles you back down to reality, because he doesn't let much fluster him.
Speaker 3:So yeah, that's that pilot, that calm, cool demeanor collected. Yeah, yeah, I love that.
Speaker 2:It's been good. It's been good, you know, I finally have got to the point where I'm running faster than her it took a couple of years. The very first, one of our first early dates was oh, I just need to go run seven miles and uh, I couldn't walk for like two weeks.
Speaker 3:You know, I'm like I'm in good shape but, I'm not in running shape, apparently back then.
Speaker 2:Um, so it took me a while to finally go. Okay, hey, now I can keep up and we can run together. Um, and now I've gotten a little faster, but uh, uh, it's just been.
Speaker 2:You know, we've been running around today we ran around, uh, here in south florida and ran around this perfect little beach area kind of thing. That was great. And I saw her at the top of the bridge. I kind of jogged up back to her and ran back to the, to where we were walking, back to the hotel. So it was just really really cool and, uh, it's about what we do all the time, so it's really really cool.
Speaker 3:How does this relationship play into your both uh, your own coaches, um, and you, you both have your own athletes that you work with, but do you meld together on things? How do you support one another through your coaching?
Speaker 2:Definitely, so you know where are my patients and you know kind of shines.
Speaker 2:One of the other things that really really helps me out is Julie has a fantastic way of seeing the perfect way how to explain it to somebody if they're not getting it with me saying something, so she'll kind of go oh hey, do this with your hips of swimming or running or whatever, or think about this in your nutrition. It's just, and it's just in the perfect way that I'm missing, you know, you know the hundred percent, I, the a hundred percent. I'm trying and trying and trying, but I'm staying in my little tiny bubble and explaining something and she'll talk about this and I just see somebody's face light up like, oh, okay, fantastic. And she has done this countless times with hundreds of people we've talked to about all all things, uh, endurance and and nutrition, and just all sorts of topics. You know name, name that for, uh, you know her super, super power. It's been really awesome.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think I, you know and it's, it's a learned skill, but I think, uh, my people skills are pretty decent, I get paid for my places, you know, and so, but I also look at my own stuff.
Speaker 1:A lot of going, hey, I am so just the average person, you know I'm. You know, as far as my, my athletic skills are very average. You know I'm not on the pointy end of the stick, um, by any stretch, but I think because of that is I'm pretty relatable, like people can relate to you know where I'm coming from, or they they just have a conversation with me and look at me and they're like, wow, you didn't do that till 40 or you did it at this, that's yeah, they always seem to find something that they find from my conversation inspiring, and I always say you never know who's watching. And because of that, and because I can relate to other people, they really do seem to either listen to what I have to say or they believe in themselves because they can look at me saying, hey, if she can do it, maybe I can too.
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 1:I think that that's helpful. Um, when I try to help others and when I try to coach others and I don't, um, you know, I think I like to promote, uh, women in sport. I think that's a big thing. Um, I think you know, post school and post things when we, you know, get into adult life. Uh, ladies have a hard time. You know, post school and post things when we, you know, get into adult life.
Speaker 1:Ladies have a hard time, you know, balancing all those things because you've got kids, you got work, you've got this you've got all of those things and finding space for yourself is almost frowned upon, it seems, as a as a whole in society. So I like to inspire, saying hey, carve that time out for you because it is so important, it makes you a better human and um and then, and it shows your family and your kids and your friends of of um, that joy, that inspiration, those things and they gravitate towards it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think that I I. That's what I love about both of you is, um, you, you, you both have an amazing uh background in the achievements that you've gained, the experience that you have, but you're both very easy to talk to. I immediately connected with you because I see myself in you, I feel inspired by you and, just like Tony said, you have a real beautiful way with words and you just make it make sense. So I can absolutely see that and how. That's a huge strength in coaching and I love that you both can balance each other with that because of you have different areas of experience and expertise and you can bring that both together in this amazing way to benefit your athletes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, cause coaching isn't always just about the numbers. And let's tweak your schedule here, let's do this here. It's, it's an, it's an emotional journey and it's having somebody in your corner to make you believe you can do it. Um, or if you don't have a race that goes quite as planned, in your head, which is often is to say, hey, let's take a step back and look at where you started here and where you went there, and how those accomplishments were not on the single day.
Speaker 1:They came over the months and months and months of work, and this is where, yeah, your day didn't go perfect, but it actually went phenomenal compared to where you started. And this is this is what you celebrate is is this day and having somebody be that for you. That that is to me, is what is coaching, not necessarily all the numbers not necessarily all the numbers.
Speaker 3:Yeah, great point, great Well, um, how? And that kind of brings up a great next question for y'all is how, how do you celebrate each other's milestones and successes, both as individuals and as a team? I'd love to hear that race-cations.
Speaker 1:We, uh, we have perfected a race-cation. I think it doesn't matter if it's both of us racing, if it's one of us racing. Um, that is we. We try to put some fun into it and some relaxing into it afterwards to to celebrate that. But I that um letting that other person shine during a race.
Speaker 1:Is is important. They worked really, really, really hard to be there. Um, you give up a lot of things and a lot of time and your own, even though you love it, it's still time, Um, but celebrate that person, they, they, they deserved that for that moment and and um, I think we've we've balanced that really well at trying to, um, you know, celebrate that other person.
Speaker 1:Um, you know, we just did a fantastic post, niece. Uh, few days, and, um, you know, it's kind of what the body and heart and mind need all at one time. And never, at one point did I not feel that. You know, tony put my needs and wants first. So that was, that was. That was pretty special.
Speaker 2:And it's even starts small. We'll do like a long workout and we'll take, you know, the long way home and swing by this little gyro sandwich place A couple of these monster pita sandwiches and, you know, inhale those either in the car or out there. It's those little things and sometimes we're both thinking it like oh hey, how about swinging by there and she'll notice? I'm like I already have directions in the car going to you.
Speaker 3:I got you honey.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's really, really cool. So those little you know, those little daily celebrations are you know what makes the journey so incredible.
Speaker 3:What cool stories, too, that you have, not just in the training aspect. But, hey, because we do this together, we go to these places that we might never have ventured to. We have these real intimate moments that we get to share together that came about because we're in this together. I think that's so beautiful and, um, just again a good example of how how much of a blessing this can be to be partnered in the sport that you love and doing the thing that you love. I wanted to ask you how do you pick out your schedule for the year? If, if you are like, hey, I I'm going to raise this, I need your support here, or I'm thinking about doing this. What are your thoughts? It's going to be an extra trip or it's going to be an extra expense? How do you all navigate that conversation?
Speaker 2:It's been. It's weird, the last couple of years it's always been. It seems to kind of just been handed to us like, oh, hey, let's do this, Like we're still kind of contemplating 2025 and it's still only late October. So, you know, there's there's people trying to get her to go to Cosmo. So, yes, late October. So you know, there's there's people trying to get her to go to Cozumel. So, oh, hey, you know, you know, maybe let's try to find a race with a whole bunch of, you know, women for tri slot to go to Kona or something. And we were a little just talking about that this morning, like, okay, hey, and you know, hey, somebody wants me to go to New Zealand, or hey, somebody wants me to go to New Zealand, or hey, somebody wants me to go here and let's go here for this person, those kind of things.
Speaker 2:So in the last couple years, you know, doing Arm in California to help support Kate Grant was absolutely amazing, and then Nice was obviously the humongous focus. This year we had a great race with a bunch of friends in uh us in salem, uh washington, to do the 70.3, or oren, uh do 70.3 there, um. So yeah, you know, right now nothing's handing. Well, there's one, like I said, there is one person trying to get me to go to new zealand uh in the spring, uh.
Speaker 2:So I'm like, oh, I, I don't know about that. But, but we haven't kind of like the. The thing hasn't popped up for 2025 yet, but I'm super confident it will, cause this has for the last 10 years now of okay this is the thing you know and it's been pretty obvious.
Speaker 2:And then we'll build a oh, hey, we probably should do a half in there too. Or hey, let's do something else. You know, and it's been pretty obvious. And then we'll build a, okay, we probably should do a half in there too. Or hey, let's do something else, you know kind of thing, and it's it. There's always been a little something you know a couple of times. So, hey, let's do that kind of thing. And it's just been really, really cool to support each other. And then you know, we were super fortunate to know friends all around the country and world and they happen to show up. And we have our super sherpa, jen, who comes to every race and went to nice with us. So, um, just really really cool. So those ideas will pop up. 2025 schedule will pop up and, uh, something, uh, somebody out there has some great ideas for us.
Speaker 3:That I can't miss.
Speaker 2:We've talked about doing St Anthony's a couple times. Another iconic race um uh, so maybe that and then, we don't know, it will come up though yes, it will reveal itself yeah, yeah, that's a great point.
Speaker 3:I've had that happen to me. I mean, I know my husband and I don't train or race together, but, um, it came up for me this year with Xterra. So we both know that if I, I'll say when, when I qualify, we're going to go to the world championship.
Speaker 2:We're going to go.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm hell or high water?
Speaker 1:Yes, and you know what that's, that. That is something that I have. Uh, you know I had to have repeated back to myself, but, um, you cannot, you know, give up those opportunities because you never know if they'll come around again. Um, you know, tony got into challenge Roth in 2018, I believe and, uh, you know that is a very difficult race to get into, like 30 seconds it's.
Speaker 1:It's one of those and I was like hugely on board. I didn't care when he got in, just do it. You know, like, if you get it absolutely 100%, you know we'll make something work, and I think that's the attitude. And if we both race together, you know we've set expectations. You know there was times where I just want to race and complete it, you know, and, or he had goals to push to do, um, to try to get a photo slot, and those are very different race very, and as far as how hard you train and how many hours you put in and your focus on the day-to-day and I was 100% in support of him, but I never felt nor don't think he felt that you were.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm going to make you pull you into it too.
Speaker 1:You know, you enjoy your race experience and you know oddly the year he was going to put a huge push in for it. He found out that he qualified for the 70.3 world championships in St George, utah, which were six days after Madison, wisconsin, which is what his big push for Kona was going to be. And so he had a last minute, like, like even in the race of of hey, he found out there was only going to be one slot for for Kona and he had to, you know, kind of redo his thinking like I'm racing a world championship in six days post Ironman, like how I need to reevaluate my thoughts and and I was 100% supportive of however he wanted to do that Again, it's you race, you erase, and the other person is there for support, so it's just putting those expectations out there early and being okay with what the other person wants to do.
Speaker 3:That is the key to a happy marriage. Right there, compromise, key to a happy marriage right there.
Speaker 3:Yeah, what advice would you give to other couples who want to train and maybe they're just starting on their own journey of of getting into triathlon together, or maybe it's kind of a meet, cute, and they both kind of like, oh, we should do this together and um, but they don't know how, or struggle with figuring out the balance between their personal relationship and their their endurance sport goal or their athletic goal how, how do you, how would you walk them through? Or what advice would you give them to help them get started?
Speaker 1:Um, first thing I would say was don't forget to have fun. Um, you know it can be a stressful. Uh, you know, even if it's at a short distance you want to do. Well, don't forget to go out and have fun together, whatever that may be. It doesn't always have to be all business. Um, to play, you know, that's, that's what fun. You know there's no fun in that. And um, but do those things like afterwards say you know, hey, let's, you know, let's go to this place to grab lunch or have a burger or do. It doesn't always have to be super, super serious and and and. So, you know, have those goals there, know what each other's goals are, but but don't let that interfere with the fun of the sport and the fun of the relationship, fun of all of those things, cause otherwise it doesn't become it anymore. You lose interest in that and and that's. You know, that's not what we want, that's what nobody wants for this, for the sport. So, just to remember, have those fun days.
Speaker 1:You know there's plenty of days where I should be doing, I should be doing some work, but I'm like, hey, let's go for a gravel ride because I don't have to think about, you know, an interval, I don't have to think about blank, and I can go and just enjoy the day and I come back feeling a hundred percent better and my training is no worse for wear. Um, it was just I needed a day like that definitely talk, talk about those things.
Speaker 2:You know. It's the discussion of talking about name your thing. You know. Hey, we'll provide these new tires, or we're signing up for a race in new zealand, or blank, blank, blank. That talk is super strengthening for your relationship, it is super strengthening for your goals and you become so aligned we don't even think about it really. It just kind of happens and it's one of those things. You wake up in the morning and it's, I don't think about nothing except for, well, maybe coffee. But oh that's right.
Speaker 2:I've got to work out today, and then we've worked out on how we're going to do it together, kind of thing, or if we're a partner kind of thing, and oh hey, I'm heading out the door, uh, right now to go run, kind of thing, and I'll talk to you after, or something that kind of thing. So it's really becomes an enormous and 80, 80 percent of the. I think what my brain goes and thinks about is how my training and her training and our training and our journey is and it's, you know, 80 of my day is. Is that together kind of thing? Apparently I probably need more hobbies, but uh, um, that's, uh, that's what I think about every day oh wow, that's.
Speaker 3:How does that make you feel julie?
Speaker 1:it's great. I mean we're not. I think resentfulness is not something that is in either one of us. As far as this work goes, as far as the relationship goals goes, I don't think, when I've heard from others, that their, their partner, does get resentful of that, yeah or of those things.
Speaker 1:And they have a hard time with that and they don't know how to navigate that world either on either side, whether they're the recipient or the receiver. And and I just it's it's funny to me because it's never crossed my mind- I don't I you know also, I just kind of crossed my mind, I don't I? You know also, I just kind of look at it. It's like just that's just what we do. It's just we do. And you need to get in blank, blank, blank. I'll see you in a couple hours.
Speaker 3:It allows me to do something at home that maybe I needed to do that.
Speaker 1:I don't know, like, if I'm not going, sometimes I am, usually I work together, so I guess I don't think about it often. But you know, even when he's raised without me or I've been injured. Like I said, I always thought about it as like what can I do to help out?
Speaker 1:Like, you know, I know you have a pot, you know he's going to be leaving for work and you've got a pile of workout clothes that definitely need to be cleaned, because the pile never ends, you know, and uh, or get those bottles washed, or make a dinner that he's gonna want, or you know one of those things just naturally kind of flows and I kind of look at it as like well, what can I do to help, not what can I do to be angry about it or resentful about it, and and I think that's a part thing of being a partner in a partnership in in the sport and in life really and for some folks that you know, the budget for all that kind of thing is uh, you know, and ever since I started coaching would actually quantify how much money I really spent in this crazy sport um it's scary, it really scary.
Speaker 2:I really have a really nice car. I didn't have a nice bike, um, and just, uh, you know how much you spend on sugar and salt. It's all a little gel packet at a time or whatever. Um, uh, so that it becomes not not even a thing. It's like well, of course, this is what we're going to do. We're going to stay here and we're going to do this, and you know we're we're often at popular places.
Speaker 2:We're getting the airbnb or hotel room set up before we sign up for the race, because sometimes it has become either cross prohibitive or just uh, well, hey, this is, there's so few hotels here first and then register and it just becomes a well, of course, like, like we said, all of our vacations are all racecations and we're we may take one here in about a month, but it does not right. Yeah, I know we'll be gone for a week and I know there'll be like six workouts in the week, but yeah, um, you know it just won't have a race around it. Um, so the budget, part, part of it same thing is not even like a uh, kind of like. Well, of course we will. We have to pay for the race and we have to bring our bikes and we have to figure these things out. It just kind of all happens and it's just kind of one of those understood, things happens. Uh, for us it's been really super incredible tonight and have to think about it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think you both brought up some really great advice and tips on how to bring each other together to do this coordination and considering each other's thoughts and wants and goals and just bringing that all together so that both of you are are being heard and being honored. And I, I've had to learn that lesson this last uh year, a couple of years um with my husband because I want I do want him to want to enjoy my endeavors and want him to enjoy going to different uh uh race locations and hey, let's, let's plan a trip here and then we can go here and um, I think including him and also, like you said, julie, if not making it always about the, the workout itself. Like, we've started to do bike rides together again, and I actually met him at a bike shop. I sold him a bicycle.
Speaker 1:So we had yeah.
Speaker 3:So we we've had this long history of loving cycling, but I got so um kind of single focused on Ironman that I not intentionally left, left him out, right. So considering now like, hey, let's just go for a fun gravel ride on the Santa Fe trail down the road together and just be together. And that was one of the best rides I've had all year, just being with him. That had nothing to do with a tried out workout or with metrics or intervals or anything. It was just so nice, right. And then he got out and enjoyed it too.
Speaker 3:So it was just taking that time to really come back to the relationship and not be, like you said, julie, resentful on either side because your spouse might not be doing the same things that you're doing or have the same goals as you. And I took that to heart, and I think that Peter is way more excited about the things that I'm investing in now and I just feel like we're much closer now. We do talk weekly now about, okay, training times and schedule. We are planning our 2025 schedule, and it just feels a lot more connected now versus hey, I'm doing this and I'm going to do it, whether you're doing it with me, you know what I mean so yeah, so it's.
Speaker 3:It's such a, it's so much better to have that support.
Speaker 2:Definitely it's awesome.
Speaker 3:So we are coming up on wrapping up this episode and I always ask my guests um, this is the grit to greatness, endurance Podcast. We talk about greatness, and what does that mean? So I would love to hear from each of you how you define greatness, and I'll start with you, tony.
Speaker 2:Excellent. For me, greatness is about integrity and character and paying it forward beyond me. You know it's you know when I'm long gone, you know there's going to be, you know I'll be gone, but people, hopefully, will, you know, bring a joy to whatever portion of the life that I might have touched in whatever way, whether it's hey, we shared a sandwich, or a beer together or we went running together or something, and that greatness extends to, hopefully, generations maybe, and to show that, you know, I want to live the life that is unquestioned of.
Speaker 2:Of course, they had this incredible character and integrity that you don't even have to bring that up. That's what is at the core and that is beyond me. It's not some. I'm trying to live that. I'm trying to live that right now, but hopefully is beyond me, you know, outside of me, your legacy. And this legacy going forward for sure.
Speaker 1:I put some, some thought in that this, this legacy going forward, for sure, I put some thought.
Speaker 3:This one made me think April.
Speaker 1:You're always the one that makes me think.
Speaker 3:I can't wait to hear this Julie.
Speaker 1:So one of the first things actually.
Speaker 1:I couldn't get out of my head was the five pillars of greatness and you know it's attitude, perseverance, charisma, taking risks. You're demonstrating courage, and I kind of looked at all of those and I said I felt like there was like a missing piece, right. And I look at that as like the happiness and joy is the missing piece. And as I get older, as I get older in sports, I find that to be more important. If you put them all together, that's where it comes together and I call it that's your secret sauce, like that. So to me, that it just if, if it fills your heart every single day, it makes you happy every day. Um, it comes out of who you are and what you do and what you give off to others and, um, and what you give back to your own self. And that's what greatness is about. That's what made me think.
Speaker 3:The secret sauce. Yes, another mic drop, julie. There you go. Always, I know why do you think I asked you first, tony, exactly, exactly that's all we got yeah you know, hey, it's, it's what makes the world go around right.
Speaker 1:happiness, yes, that's what we strive for in life and I think truly is that's what make us up, makes us all great, and the end is when we we truly find happiness.
Speaker 3:I'm smiling from ear to ear, my cheeks hurt from this conversation.
Speaker 3:It's been so good and I can absolutely agree, julie.
Speaker 3:I think that one of the fundamental questions I ask myself, especially if I'm having a really crappy time, if I'm really in the in the pain pain locker, pain locker, and I just find myself spiraling negatively, I ask myself what's one good thing that I can find today, what's one thing that will bring me joy, even if it lasts for a minute, and I think that has made a tremendous impact on my day-to-day life, actually feeling like it's been purposeful, it's been meaningful, it has something to offer, and I love that. You put it in the context of greatness and Tony, with character. I think character is everything and I just see that in you in so many ways, not just with your Air Force career, but also just who you are as a kind person and wanting to give back to other people with that service, heart led, leadership, if you will. So I just I think those are both incredible answers and just fill out the circle, if you will, of all the things that make you two incredible people. Well, thank you.
Speaker 2:Pretty good match.
Speaker 3:Yeah, pretty good match. Well, yeah, thank you both so much for being on the podcast today. Thank you for being willing to share your story and, um, how can people get ahold of you?
Speaker 2:Excellent. Uh, we're coaches through Tridot Um'm. Uh, email me at tonywashington at tridotcom. Um, I'm ready to help anybody and all everybody. I love beginners to, like you said. Uh, multiple folks heading to world championships, from people who cancel on 50 yards to people who are, you know, ex Olympians. It's been outstanding.
Speaker 1:Yes, yep, same I'm Julie McPhillamy at trycom. And, uh, the same I. I like beginners, I. You know, my sweet spot and my soft spot is definitely, uh, the 40 plus age, uh, ladies who want to get into a sport, cause I feel like that's a. That's a great time If you've now have a little space in your life for it, um, but you know, I invite men too if they want a different approach and a different look at things. I mean, I would, I would, I would love that. I, I think anybody who wants to learn and grow and be a better person um, I'd love to help you.
Speaker 3:Yes, excellent. I'm going to definitely put your email addresses in the show notes too, so that people can can find those easily. Thank you both. Again. Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Grit to Greatness Endurance Podcast. I know you have been inspired by Julie and Tony's incredible journey. They've both shown us that when you combine individual grit with mutual support, the possibilities are limitless. Their story reminds us that endurance sports aren't just about crossing the finish line alone. They can be about building something stronger together, about leaving a legacy, whether it's pushing each other through tough training sessions, finding time for each other amid busy schedules, or celebrating those shared victories, big and small. And as we wrap up, remember that success isn't just measured by races won or times achieved. It's also about the relationships we build along the way. And if you're balancing life, training and partnership, take heart from today's episode and know that with the right mindset and a spirit of teamwork, you can go farther together. So until next time, keep pushing your limits and creating your great, both in sport and in life.
Speaker 1:Thank you, thank you.