The Giddy Up Edge: Conversations on Getting Faster

In this episode of The Giddy Up Edge, Michellie Jones sits down with pro triathlete Matt Hanson fresh off his podium finish at IRONMAN New Zealand, where he once again showed why he remains one of the most dangerous runners in long-course triathlon. The conversation goes far beyond race results, diving into what it really takes to stay competitive into your 40s, how Matt thinks about durability, consistency, self-coaching, recovery, and the mental side of sustaining a long career in the sport. Hanson is widely known for his elite run pedigree and deep experience in Ironman racing, and this episode explores both the highs and lows that shaped him along the way.
Matt also shares his thoughts on balancing family life with professional sport, what has changed as he’s gotten older, how the sport is evolving, and where age-group athletes can find real gains in training and race execution. From passion and identity to free speed and race-day mindset, this is a conversation about much more than performance alone. It’s about building an engine — and a career — that lasts.
You can find Matt on Instagram @matthansontri

If you want to reach out to Michellie Jones you can find her at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://giddyupmultisports.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for coaching, camps, and tools.
Evan Gruda can be found on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@GrudaGoesGlobal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transistor.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

What do you do when motivation drops and training suddenly feels harder?
In this episode of The Giddy Up Edge, Michellie Jones and Evan Gruda unpack one of the most common challenges endurance athletes face: losing motivation. But instead of assuming something is wrong with your fitness, they explore a smarter framework for understanding what may actually be driving the dip.
Is it physical fatigue from accumulated training stress?
Is it emotional fatigue from life load, pressure, and mental burnout?
Or is it your environment — the people, places, and conditions around you — making consistency harder than it needs to be?
Evan and Michellie break down how to recognize each signal, why athletes often misread them, and how to respond in a way that supports long-term performance. This episode is all about learning to interpret what your body, mind, and environment are telling you — so you can make better decisions, stay consistent, and keep moving forward even when motivation shifts.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you need more discipline, more recovery, or just a better setup, this episode is for you.

If you want to reach out to Michellie Jones you can find her at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://giddyupmultisports.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for coaching, camps, and tools.
Evan Gruda can be found on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@GrudaGoesGlobal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transistor.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of The Giddy Up Edge Podcast, Michellie Jones and Evan Gruda sit down with Wayne Attwell, founder of FastTT, to talk about the real meaning of “free speed” on the bike. Wayne shares how a personal fit problem turned into one of triathlon’s most innovative cockpit brands — built around comfort, adjustability, and sustainable aerodynamics. They dive into wind tunnel testing, athlete feedback, hydration integration, common aero mistakes, and why the fastest position is the one you can actually hold for hours. A must-listen for triathletes looking to ride faster, smarter, and stronger.
If you want to get FAST check out your new cockpit over at http://fasttt.bike/

If you want to reach out to Michellie Jones you can find her at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://giddyupmultisports.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for coaching, camps, and tools.
Evan Gruda can be found on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@GrudaGoesGlobal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transistor.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Three-time IRONMAN World Champion and two-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Craig “Crowie” Alexander joins Michellie Jones and Evan Gruda for a masterclass in racing with patience, intelligence, and grit.
We rewind to how Crowie got started, the moments that defined his career, and what it really felt like when everything clicked on the biggest stages in the sport. From the human side of elite racing—family, balance, and identity—to the evolution of nutrition, equipment, and racing formats, Crowie shares what changed the game… and what never has.
If you’re an age-group athlete juggling real life and big goals, Crowie’s advice is gold: be realistic, stay consistent, prioritize sustainability, and earn your “free speed” by doing the work that matters.
In this episode:
Ocean risk, mindset, and the athlete’s relationship with fear

Career-defining Kona moments + racing with patience

Short course vs IRONMAN + adapting to different courses

The biggest performance unlocks: nutrition, tech, and efficiency

Retirement, transition, and staying in the game longer

Age-group advice: consistency vs intensity vs recovery

What “free speed” actually means (and why nothing is truly free)

If you enjoyed this one, share it with a training partner, leave a review, and remember: finding fast isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters.
Giddy up.

You can find Craig on Instagram @crowiealexander or on his coaching website https://alexander.sansego.co/

If you want to reach out to Michellie Jones you can find her at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://giddyupmultisports.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for coaching, camps, and tools.
Evan Gruda can be found on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@GrudaGoesGlobal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transistor.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of the Giddy Up Edge podcast, host McKeeley Jones and co-host Evan Gruda welcome Ben Cawood, founder of Cayden Cycling, to discuss the science of speed in cycling. They explore the importance of wind tunnel testing, the impact of tire choices, the debate between tubeless and clincher tires, and the significance of wheel depth and weight in performance. Ben shares insights on the versatility of his cycling frames and emphasizes the importance of balance in wheel design. The conversation concludes with practical advice for athletes looking to enhance their performance.

Learn more about Caden and purchase your next set of wheels at https://carbonbikewheels.com.au/us or reach out on instagram @cadencarbonwheels

If you want to reach out to Michellie Jones you can find her at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://giddyupmultisports.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for coaching, camps, and tools.
Evan Gruda can be found on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@GrudaGoesGlobal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transistor.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.