Never Too Late to Start: Becoming a Triathlete in Her 50s

Hilary Topper had never been athletic. She’d spent years building her PR firm and raising kids, and didn’t make a lot of time for herself. At 48, she decided something had to change. She joined a gym for the first time, then started running, and a few years later, she signed up for her first triathlon. Today she coaches people just like her. "You're never too old. You're never too overweight ... You can do this." Hear Hilary talk about: Joining a gym for the first time at 48, and asking a stranger how to use the treadmill The Google Glass assignment that led to her first triathlon Learning to swim as an adult, and the nose plugs that changed everything Crossing her first triathlon finish line in tears Why consistency is the hardest part, and how she removes the barriers How her blog led her to become a certified coach Open water panic attacks, race cutoffs, and life at the back of the pack Why, after everything, she still feels she has something to prove Mentioned in this episode: Hilary’s blog, A Triathlete’s Diary Her books: From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete, Unlocking the Triathlon, Unlocking the Open Water Swim WeREndurance, her triathlon team, run/walk group and Masters swim club Hilary Topper On Air, her podcast Jeff Galloway’s Run Walk Run method U.S. Masters Swimming Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Support This Show: Follow Tell Me What It’s Like in your favorite podcast app Leave a rating & review — it helps others find the show Share the episode and tag @RaineMediaCo on social media Mentioned in this episode: Help Others Discover the Show Enjoying Tell Me What It’s Like? Leaving a rating and review in your podcast app helps more listeners discover the show. Thanks for supporting thoughtful conversations and perspective-driven storytelling.