Mission Kona Podcast
Triathlon: where you can test your limits in 3 different disciplines one after the other! Swim, bike, run. One might say it's an addiction, but truly it's a lifestyle! Mission Kona podcast highlights age group athletes doing amazing things in the Triathlon space. Mike & Michelle Payne are husband and wife amateur triathletes, parents and self proclaimed coffee connoisseurs, both working in corporate America. Mike is also a Triathlon coach and recently qualified for Kona in October of 2024. Michelle completed her first half Ironman in 2021 and plans to race a full Ironman in the near future. This podcast is a journey to discovering what it takes to be competitive in triathlon, sharing stories, and finding the inspiration to go after challenging but worthwhile goals. We talk with age group athletes and explore how they got their start in triathlon, where they live, train and work, how they stay motivated, race recaps and more! Are you interested in growing and performing your best? TUNE IN! There is so much to learn from those who have worked (and continue to work) hard to be at the top of their game!
Episodes
35 episodes
#34 Ironman Kona Build Up with Lars Wichert
Another exciting Kona Build Up episode coming at you this week!Mike & Michelle had the pleasure of chatting with Lars Wichert, currently the age group record holder for the Ironman distance! Lars raced 2024 Ironman Hamburg finishing...
#33 2024 Ironman Kona Build Up with Adam Holz
We're bringing you another fantastic conversation with athlete Adam Holz! A now resident of Boulder, CO, Adam grew up in Pennsylvania where he began his triathlon journey less than 5 years ago.Adam secured his Kona slot at 2024 Ironman ...
#32 2024 Ironman Kona Build Up with Alfredo Ramirez Pinho
Mike & Michelle were excited to sit down for this conversation with Alfredo Ramirez Pinho who just won 2024 Ironman Wisconsin! This was a hometown race for Alfredo, which means the win was extra special. Not to mention the race took place j...
#31 2024 Ironman Kona Build Up with Mike Payne
The countdown is ON! The 2024 Ironman World Championship in Kona is 6 weeks away! This solo episode with podcast host Mike Payne highlights his training and racing over the past few months in his build to Kona.Fun fact: This episode is ...
#30 Andrew Hall - 2024 Ironman Texas 1st Overall AG Champion
We are back for SEASON 3 with a focus on highlighting the male triathletes competing in the 2024 Kona Ironman World Championships in October!Our first episode of the season features Andrew Hall, a standout athlete competin...
#29 2023 Kona Series: A Story of Resilience with Kirsten Miller
Episode 6 of the WOMEN CRUSHING KONA Series features Kirsten Miller who competed in her first Kona this year in the 55-59 age group! Listen in to hear:Kirsten’s dream of racing on the big island,why she thought...
#28 2023 Kona Series: Barbora Besperat 1st 30-34
Episode 5 of the WOMEN CRUSHING KONA Series features Barbora Besperat of Czech Republic who finished 1st in the 30-34 age group and 2nd overall!Listen in to hear:how long Barbora has been racing the Ironman distance...
#27 2023 Kona Series: Michelle Krebs 2nd 25-29
Episode 4 of the WOMEN CRUSHING KONA Series features Michelle Krebs of Switzerland who finished 2nd in the 25-29 age group and 3rd overall!Listen in to hear how:Triathlon changed Michelle's lifeWhat happened out the...
#26 2023 Kona Series: Vanessa Murray 1st 35-39
2023 KONA SERIES: WOMEN CRUSHING KONAWe are back with episode 3 of the Women Crushing Kona series featuring Vanessa Murray who finished FIRST in the 35-39 age group and 4th overall at the Women's Ironman World Championships with a time o...
#25 2023 Kona Series: Ava Warfel 1st 18-24
2023 KONA SERIES: WOMEN CRUSHING KONAAva Warfel finished FIRST in the 18-24 age group at the 2023 Women's Ironman World Championships in Kona with a time of 9:47. In her first race on the island Ava dominated the course, finishing with a...
#24 2023 Kona Series: Elyse Gallegos 2nd 35-39
2023 KONA SERIES: WOMEN CRUSHING KONAElyse Gallegos, a force to be reckoned with in the 35-39 age group, recently competed at the Ironman Women's World Championships in Kona, finishing 2nd in her age group and 10th female overall!...
#23 70.3 Arizona Recap, Kona Slot Allocation for 2024
In this episode, Mike shares a quick recap of his race at 70.3 Arizona (HOT!) and then we chat a bit about the 2024 Kona slot allocations at upcoming races for the men. Some fun places to grab a coffee or bite to eat if you v...
#22 Life Lately + Kona Just Happened!
We're back for season 2 of Mission Kona Podcast! In this episode, Mike and Michelle share some big life updates, how training and racing has looked for the past 6 months, and what's ahead for the podcast!As many know, Ironman World Champ...
#21 Jennifer Vollmann, build for 2023 Ironman Texas, 40-44 AG
Jennifer Vollmann may not have been the first pick on the playground for a game of elementary school kickball, but what she (and others!) didn't know at that time was that she was BUILT FOR ENDURANCE!Jennifer is a mom, a triathlete, and ...
#20 Five Reasons to Hire a Coach
On this Host Episode, Mike & Michelle share 5 Reasons to Hire a Coach.There's no doubt that triathlon is a journey. What may start as some easy cross training from a run or sport injury can lead to a full on obsession
#19 Eva Frieden - Finding Balance in Triathlon + Ironman Alaska 2nd 30-34
BALANCE: an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steadyEva Frieden joins us on this episode to share how she has found BALANCE in the sport of triathlon. We had an impactful discussion o...
#18 Nick Modrzejewski, Ironman Florida 2022 6th 40-44
Nick Modrzejewski is a name you'll remember - perhaps have difficulty pronouncing (MA-JE-SKI) - but memorable indeed!Nick resides in Champaign, Illinois, is husband to Amy, father to two, a Pastor at Illini Life, a triathlon coach at Su...
#17 Nutrition for the Endurance Athlete with eatloveTRIATHLON
We are bringing you a special episode this week around the 4th discipline of triathlon: NUTRITIONYou'll enjoy this conversation with Kathleen Oswalt, a registered dietitian who gives nutritional guidance and support to endurance athlete...
#16 Couples Who Tri: Amy and Seamus Woods, Kona 2022 45-49
We are excited to bring you the third episode of the Couples Who Tri series where we sit down with couples who are both active in the sport of triathlon. Do they train together? Race together? Did triathlon unite them or did it come to b...
#15 Host Episode: 2022 Highlights + 2023 Ambitions
Mike & Michelle share some racing highlights from the 2022 season including huge PRs and dreams reached! Listen in to hear what races went to plan and setbacks did we have to navigate over the past year....also - what's ahead person...
#14 Couples Who Tri: Kerry Girona & Andreas Moraitis
We are excited to bring you the second episode of the Couples Who Tri series where we sit down with couples who are both active in the sport of triathlon. Do they train together? Race together? Did triathlon unite them or did it com...
#13 Stephanie Melkonian, Ironman Chattanooga 2022 5th 35-39
Stephanie Melkonian lives and trains in Albuquerque, New Mexico and is by no means new to Ironman. One might say she was not an overnight success in the sport - but what Stephanie DOES have is dedication, grit, and undeniable passion which FINA...
#12 Couples Who Tri: Nicole & David Levenson, Ironman California 2022
This episode kicks off our new series - Couples Who Tri!As Mission Kona Podcast co-hosts and a couple who does triathlon, Mike & Michelle thought it would be really interesting to hear how other couples navigate the sport together, ...
#11 Rainy, Windy & Cold: Ironman Wisconsin 2022 Recap with Scott Iott (3rd 45-49) & Mike Payne (2nd 35-39)
Scott Iott & Mission Kona Co-Host, Mike Payne, join forces to talk through Ironman Wisconsin 2022 - the rain, the wind, the cold... but even more important the preparation, mental toughness, and fortitude to keep moving forward.Scot...
#10 Host Episode: Kona 2023 News and Off Season Training
There's a good chance you've heard the official news from Ironman that the men's race in Kona for 2023 will not happen on the big island in October - instead the men's race will take place in another location on another date (to be determined i...