Tri Beginner‘s Luck

What happens when a Division I swimmer suffers a career-ending spinal injury and decides to try triathlon anyway? Twenty-two months after spinal fusion surgery, Farrin Saba crossed the finish line of Ironman 70.3 Maine.

 

In this episode of Tri Beginner’s Luck, you hear the story behind that moment. After a severe back injury required a double disc replacement and spinal fusion, Farrin’s future in sport was uncertain. What began as a way to reconnect with movement became a powerful journey of resilience, curiosity, and rediscovering what it means to be an athlete.

 

Along the way, Farrin discovered that triathlon is not just an individual sport. After volunteering to guide a visually impaired athlete, she found a deeper connection through the paratriathlon community, learning how communication, pacing, and trust transform racing into a team experience. She also shares her first winter triathlon at the national championships in Lake Placid, which included running on snow with spikes, fat-tire biking across icy terrain, and cross-country skiing. In true beginner’s luck fashion, that first attempt led to qualification for the Winter Triathlon World Championships in Italy.

 

Whether you are training for your first triathlon, navigating an injury comeback, or curious about the many ways people find their place in endurance sports, this episode is a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful journeys begin when you start over.

 

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Let’s tri this!

Listeners meet Bianca Fernandez-Clark, a seven-time Ironman finisher, co-founder of Women in Tri UK, and a tireless advocate for inclusion in endurance sport. What begins as a conversation about one woman’s journey into triathlon quickly becomes something bigger. This is a story about learning to swim at 29, navigating start lines as a Black Latino woman, and transforming isolation into impact for hundreds of women who deserve to feel seen in triathlon.

Bianca did not grow up swimming or cycling. She entered the sport for her mental health and found herself in elite-focused spaces that did not always know what to do with a true beginner. Her first Ironman 70.3 was about making cutoffs rather than podiums. That experience as a beginner triathlete became the blueprint for change. After an unexpected opportunity to race at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, where she became the first Dominican athlete to compete, she realized that representation in triathlon matters more than most people understand. The visibility inspired others back home and clarified her mission moving forward.

That mission evolved into Women in Tri UK, a thriving community of more than 700 members. What began as financial support for first-timers has grown into mentorship, research, advocacy, and race partnerships that are shifting the landscape for women in triathlon. From pushing for larger swim caps to advocating for pregnancy deferrals and more inclusive race policies, the work is practical and powerful. This episode reminds us that triathlon is not only about splits and transitions. It is fundamentally about belonging.

If you have ever felt like the only one in the room or unsure of where you fit in the sport, this episode is for you. If you are a race director, coach, or teammate wondering how to build diversity and inclusion in triathlon, this conversation offers both heart and a blueprint. And if you are simply a beginner trying to figure it out one workout at a time, you will hear proof that your starting point can become someone else’s open door. Listen in, share with a training partner, and keep showing up. The sport grows stronger when more of us see ourselves at the start line.

Let’s tri this ! 

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Andrew Gray's triathlon journey is proof that progress does not have to take decades. In just four years, he went from finishing 18th in his first sprint triathlon, navigating rough transitions and limited gear, to becoming a New Jersey state champion in both sprint and Olympic distance racing. A 2025 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Andrew now balances elite-level training with a demanding career on Wall Street. His days begin at 4 a.m. with focused workouts, continue through a 10-hour workday, and end with another intentional training session. Instead of chasing endless volume, he trains with precision, showing what is possible when discipline meets belief.

 

In this episode of Tri Beginner's Luck, Andrew shares why he is choosing to dominate as an elite age grouper rather than pursue a pro card, how the Roka Standard Racing team pushes him to grow, and what a tough race at Ironman 70.3 Florida taught him about resilience. He also reflects on access, representation in triathlon, and the financial realities that shape who gets to stay in endurance sports long term. Whether you are training for your first sprint triathlon or eyeing USA Triathlon Age Group Nationals, this conversation is a reminder that you do not need perfect circumstances to improve. You need clarity, commitment, and the courage to believe you belong at the front of your own race.

 

Let’s tri this ! 

 

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Triathlon has a way of meeting you exactly where you are and then asking you to grow. In this episode of Tri Beginner’s Luck, Tammy Dotson shares what it looked like to start triathlon after 40 with no swim experience and no idea what she was doing. Her first sprint swim took 47 minutes in frigid conditions, with Raynaud syndrome leaving her hands and feet numb throughout the race. What could have been a one-time attempt became the beginning of something bigger. She kept showing up, found community in groups like Trianimals and FastChix, progressed to the Olympic distance, and eventually qualified for the USA Triathlon National Championships, where she discovered just how powerful and supportive this sport can be.

 

Her journey to the 70.3 distance was not linear. A DNF at Ironman Gulf Coast after red-flag swim conditions could have ended her dream, but resilience carried her forward to finish Challenge Daytona. Along the way, she redefined success as arriving at the start line healthy and crossing the finish line strong. For Tammy, triathlon became less about podiums and more about discipline, consistency, and the quiet confidence that comes from doing hard things.

 

After a 2022 craniotomy for a brain tumor, wellness became nonnegotiable. Nutrition, recovery, and holistic care are now the foundation of her training and her life. Out of that season came her SHINE philosophy, Spread Hope, Inspiration, and Encouragement, and a commitment to help others believe it is never too late to begin. This conversation is a reminder that triathlon is not reserved for the fearless. It is built by people willing to start, even when the water feels cold and the path feels uncertain.

 

Let’s tri this! 

 

Remember to leave a review, share it with your friends, and follow Tri Beginner's luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  [email protected].

Alignment is paramount. Mind. Body. Soul. Nutrition. This is Triathlon Zen.

 

In this episode of the Tri Beginner’s Luck Podcast, Stuart Shine, a Marine Corps veteran, endurance coach, and founder of Shine Collaborative Sports and Nutrition LLC, shares what it truly means to build a sustainable relationship with triathlon. His journey into the sport began during a military deployment in Australia, sparked by a long-held fascination with Ironman and guided by curiosity rather than perfection. From his first sprint triathlon to ultra marathons and coaching athletes across backgrounds and experience levels, Stuart reflects on how mindfulness, trust, and patience became central to both his leadership style and coaching philosophy.

 

Throughout the conversation, Stuart explores what beginner athletes often overlook, including the importance of proper fueling, learning to train by feel through rate of perceived exertion, and developing essential analog skills like bike handling before relying on technology. He explains why under-fueling early morning workouts can quietly undermine performance and long-term health, and how simple strategies, such as preparing fuel the night before, can lead to measurable improvements. He also speaks candidly about navigating hard training moments, honoring rest, and reframing dark patches in training as teachers rather than failures.

 

The conversation expands beyond training plans into identity, service, and representation in endurance sports, reminding listeners that joy and humanity belong alongside discipline and goals. Whether you are brand new to triathlon or returning to the start line with a fresh perspective, this episode is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and trust the process.

 

Let’s tri this ! 

 

Remember to leave a review, share it with your friends, and follow Tri Beginner's luck on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  And send any questions or feedback you have to  [email protected].