Find Your Finish Line with Mike Reilly

In our inaugural year for the Find Your Finish Line podcast, I'd like to thank every listener that took the time to listen or watch the show! We hope you've been inspired, motivated, or entertained by the stories and passions that our amazing guests shared with us. Thank you to all of the guests for telling their stories and inspiring hope in others to achieve more in sport and life. 

In this show, I review past episodes from 2021 and highlight the key takeaways and lessons we can use moving forward. 

Listen to full episodes on mikereilly.net/podcast, apple podcasts, Spotify, Overcast or Stitcher. 

2022 Episodes:

EP 1 - Taren Gesell: How Triathlon Changed Everything 

EP 2 - Mirinda Carfrae: A Mom, Triathlete, and Ultimate Endurance Competitor.

EP 3 - Derek Fitzgerald: Surviving Cancer & Beginning Again

EP 4 - Kris Gethin: From Man of IRON to IRONMAN Finisher

EP 5 - Lionel Sanders: Finish What You Start

EP 6 - Sika Henry: Breaking New Barriers

EP 7 - Craig Alexander: 5 Time Triathlon World Champion

EP 8 - Rhonda Vetere: On Leadership, Listening, and Triathlon

EP 9 - Lionel Sanders Reaction Show: Mark Allen & Mike Reilly

EP 10 - Mike Ergo: A Transition From War

EP 11 - Ben O'Donnell: From COVID Life Support to Finish Line

EP 12 - Roderick Sewell: Motivational Speaker & IRONMAN Championship Finisher

EP 13 - Kristin Mayer: A Creative Visionary Empowering Badass Women Worldwide

EP 14 - Chris Nikic: Get 1% Better Every Day

EP 15 - Lucy Charles-Barclay: From Age-Group Athlete to IRONMAN Champion

EP 16 - Joe Desena: Spartan Up!

EP 17 - Kyle & Brent Pease Overcoming All Odds

EP 18 - Shannon Spake: IRON Woman

EP 19 - Jill Koski: Depression, Incarceration, Comebacks

EP 20 - Heather Jackson: Training, Coaching, and Leading Women Forward

Cheers and Happy New Year in 2022!

Heather Jackson is a current American professional triathlete and track cyclist. She grew up in New Hampshire and attended  Princeton University, where she served as two-time captain of the women's ice hockey team. Heather got involved in triathlon while teaching in Malaysia in 2007 when she met some triathletes participating in IRONMAN Malaysia. Jackon would eventually return to the USA to begin an extremely successful career in the sport. Heather is a six-time IRONMAN champion, twelve-time IRONMAN 70.3 champion, and has placed 3rd, 4th, and 5th at the IRONMAN World Championships. 

Heather joins Find Your Finish Line to tell stories about her journey in the sport of triathlon and what lessons she's learned along the way. Heather shares how her view on inspiring other women through actions has changed over the years and what she hopes to do to help others as she moves forward in her career. Listen to the full show here. 

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http://www.heatherjacksonracing.com/

Many of us struggle to keep a strong mental balance as we navigate the challenges of everyday life. Jill Koski was an accomplished triathlete seemingly on top of the world, but on the inside, she was battling severe mental issues. She, like so many, ignored the signs and negative thoughts that grew in her head. Those thoughts eventually took over and sent her life into an uncontrollable spiral, leading to an eight-year incarceration. Listen in to hear her plea for help, her daily struggle with depression, and her comeback to build a better life.

Shannon Spake is an NFL reporter and NASCAR host for FOX Sports. She previously worked for ESPN on Sportscenter and the Speed channel, where she co-hosted NASCAR Nation. Shannon is a mother of two boys and a triathlete who participates and fundraises for the IRONMAN Foundation.

Shannon has completed seven half-IRONMANS and was training to participate in Kona's 2021 IRONMAN World Championship when it was unfortunately canceled. Shannon juggles parenthood, triathlon, reporting, and fundraising simultaneously - which is incredible! Listen to Shannon's full story on episode 18 of Find Your Finish Line.

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The Kyle Pease Foundation was founded in 2011 by brothers Kyle & Brent Pease upon completion of their first triathlon in April of that year. Kyle wanted to share the experience of inclusion with others, so the idea of KPF was born. After a few months of work, the group received their IRS determination as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, and off they went. In March of 2012 they supported their first athlete and the brothers, and the organization has continued to grow since then. Several completed IRONMAN's later, the brothers have proven that anything is indeed possible. 
Listen to their story here. 

Joe Desena, Spartan Race Founder and New York Times Best Selling Author, joins me to talk about health, leadership, and the Spartan Way of life. Joe's best-selling book's are "Spartan Up" and "Spartan Fit," and recently released, "The Spartan Way." Joe's vision in life and business is clear, bold, and inspiring. His vision is to get 100 million people healthy and off the couch, get Obstacle Racing recognized as an Olympic Sport and to guide my kids to be badass, productive, and happy for when they are out on their own. 

Joe tells it like it is. His message is raw, authentic, and inspiring, and that's why it resonates with so many people. I hope you enjoy this show as much as I did!

On episode 15 of Find Your Finish Line, English professional triathlete Lucy Charles-Barclay join's me to tell her story. Before taking up triathlon, Charles was an elite distance and open water swimmer who, at the age 17, nearly made the 2012 UK Olympic Swimming team, only to fall short to former silver medalist Keri-Anne Payne.

With no real experience in competitive running or cycling, Lucy started competing in triathlons at the age of 19. In 2015, at age 20, Lucy won the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in the 18-24 age group and the IRONMAN World Championship in the same age group. Her age group wins inspired her to join the professional ranks to take on the best in the world. As a professional, Lucy has won 2017 IRONMAN Lanzarote, 2017 Challenge Championship, 2018 & 2019 IRONMAN African Championship, 2018 Challenge Championship, 2019 Challenge Roth, 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, and finished 2nd place in the IRONMAN World Championship in KONA in 2018 & 2019.

Website: https://www.lucycharles.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucycharles93/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LucyAnneCharles

Chris Nikic joins me on episode 14 of Find Your Finish Line and we have a bit of fun together talking about training, racing, and life. Chris is a 21-year old with Down Syndrome and all the associated disabilities - but he doesn't let any of that stop him from achieving great things. He's an IRONMAN finisher, public speaker, and author of a Children's Book. Listen in to Chris's inspiring story.

Learn more about Chris here: https://chrisnikic.com/

Kristin is both the founder and creative vision behind the women's endurance apparel brand, Betty Designs. As an amateur triathlete for almost 20 years, Kristin took off to Kona in 2010 with a backpack of 25 cycling jerseys (the first official Betty design) and a dream—build an edgy brand for passionate and stylish women in endurance sports. In 2020 celebrating 10 years, Betty Designs has become synonymous with playful patterns, bold wordplay, and original collaborations with top endurance brands, elite athletes, and celebrities. Over the last decade, Betty Designs changed the trajectory of women's triathlon + cycling clothing, empowering badass women worldwide.

Listen in to hear Kristin's full story right here on Find Your Finish Line!

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Roderick Sewell is an athlete, motivational speaker, and the first bilateral above-the-knee amputee to finish the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona on prosthetic legs. 

Roderick takes us through his incredible journey from having his legs amputated at the age of two, being homeless, and struggling to find his way in life. Then, at the age of eight, Roderick met the organization that would undoubtedly change his life in the Challenges Athletes Foundation (CAF).

CAF provided Roderick with the tools and support to pursue a career as an athlete in a way he never imagined. Roderick used those tools to his fullest potential and still is today...Listen in to hear the full interview above.

Follow Roderick:

https://www.instagram.com/rsewell92/

https://www.rodericksewell.com/

Listen or watch here:

https://mikereilly.net/podcast/rodericksewell-ep12/