That Triathlon Life Podcast · That Triathlon Life

IM 70.3 Oceanside race conditions, the Taco Bell 50km, and more!

·57 min·2 clips

Eric Lagerstrom and Nick Goldstein open the episode by saying it is late, a day behind, and missing Paula because she is in bed resting for her race. The tone stays loose, more catch-up than polished show. Eric walks through driving the van from Bend to Morgan Hill, where they picked up Paula’s new bike at Specialized world headquarters. Nick fills in the rest of the travel chain by picking Paula up at the San Francisco airport and finishing the trip together. It feels like race-week logistics, not a clean broadcast. From there, the show settles into the practical side of van life. A listener asks about storage, bike racks, and what actually works inside a build. Eric gets into the details. He talks about wanting an exterior rear-door box for dirty gear and camp stuff, but says Mercedes compliance and safety rules keep them from doing that on their current van. He also describes the hitch-mounted OneUp rack they use now. In his ideal setup, the rack would sit above a rear box instead of hanging directly off the hitch. He admits the hitch rack is a pain to take on and off. The conversation keeps moving between useful and absurd in a way that feels very TTL. Eric says he could talk about van builds for three hours. He also gives the blunt truth that every build costs twice as much and takes three times as long as expected. That lands as both advice and a self-own. The episode then pivots to a longer listener question from Liz. Liz has signed up for the Kodiak Big Bear Ultra 50K, which the hosts know well, and she also plans to do the Taco Bell 50K in Southern California. The question is about how to train for the taco-eating portion. The setup is ridiculous on purpose, and the hosts lean into it. They joke about comparable absurd races and treat the question like a real endurance challenge. The exchange keeps the show’s usual mix of teasing and practical advice. Even when the topic is silly, the hosts stay inside the world of racing logistics, fueling, and event rules. The back half of the episode keeps that same rhythm. They talk about how watching endurance films and triathlon content can count as research and motivation. The show closes with a simple sign-off. They wish everyone racing good luck and say they will be out cheering. The final feel is casual, warm, and a little sleep deprived, which fits the whole episode.

As heard by us

A loose, grounded check-in built around travel, van logistics, and a Taco Bell 50K question.

This episode settles into a late, in-person check-in, with Eric and Nick moving through the Bend-to-Morgan Hill travel, Paula resting because she is racing, and the van and bike logistics that keep everything grounded.

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Why you'd press play

For when you want race-week chaos, van talk, and a Taco Bell ultra question.

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