Active Lexington

Troy Hearn shares information about the history of mountain biking in Kentucky. This includes some fun stories about the early days, along with the process of building a mountain biking trail network throughout the state. He also shares information for everyone who is interested in being an advocate for pedestrian issues within the state. As the current bicycle and pedestrian program coordinator the the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, he has all the details you need.

Randonneuring is a type of cycling event that many people have never experienced, including most avid cyclist. In this episode, I spoke with Alex Meade who I learned about because of his participation and training for different Randonneuring events. I get to ask some questions I was wanting to know, such as how does he train for an event, that from my experience requires management of fitness, health and nutrition - but also sleep deprivation. As a man of many talents, Alex is also a bike builder. We jump into his passion for building bikes and what makes for a good ultra distance bike.

Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.” - Henry David Thoreau In this episode, Tim Jenkins shares his story about how he grew into an avid and passionate runner. We discuss his personal experiences and journey, which has enabled him to meet some great friends and mentors along the way. He shares many stories of specific individuals that came into his life and helped him grow as a runner. He also shares how these experiences have fueled his efforts and motivation to help create similar experiences for others in our community.

What does it mean to pursue a life as a professional triathlete? More importantly, what does that look like for someone who calls Lexington, Kentucky home? In this episode I talk to Kevin Ryan about the journey he is currently on to answer these questions. We talk about his initiation into the sport, including his decision to leave Kentucky for San Diego, California (a paradise of triathlon training). While a wonderful place, Kevin returned home to Lexington to continue his journey. We spend time talking about the benefits of living in Lexington, as it relates to participating in triathlon and being an active person.

I take a step back from our regular format, to review some common themes that have risen out of the previous interviews. As I have talked to our guests about their history of being active, along with why they continue to be active we noticed the appearance of some common responses. In this episode, I review four of those commonalities, using examples shared from our guests and how you can observe them in your own life, as you continue to be active.

When I think of the strengths we have in Central Kentucky, as it relates to getting outdoors, I think about the many miles of amazing scenic views we have throughout horse country. One of the best ways to experience these vies is from the seat of a bicycle. Pam and Randy Thomas are two individuals that not only enjoy the sport of cycling, but work hard as advocates to improve cycling throughout Central Kentucky. In this episode, we discuss how Pam and Randy transitioned from being runners to cyclists. We also spend time discussing their work with the Bluegrass Cycling Club, the Horsey Hundred, Bluegrass Bike Partners, along with many other ways they are involved in creating an environment that supports new and experienced cyclists.

To become an active person is as much about creating a lifestyle that includes activity, as it is about reaching some athletic goal or achievement. In this podcast, Laura and I discuss how the goal of living an active, healthy and adventurous life is a great goal for many individuals. Laura shares the 7 Pillars of health that she uses as the framework for helping her personal training clients at Fitness Plus and coaching clients through MoveItBuddy.

Starting a new adventure is part of the enjoyment for living an active lifestyle. When you get to experience something for the first time, it can make you feel like a kid again. That is one of the wonderful things about the sport of stand up paddling (SUP) for many Kentuckians, as it's a new and growing sport locally. Heather shares a lot of knowledge about stand up paddling and how she and her partner Aaron are working to provide people new experiences. Their goal is to introduce SUP to more people in our state, but also bring awareness to the abundant natural resources we have here in Kentucky. Those two goals are so closely aligned with Active Lexington, I couldn't wait to share her stories.

Josh Nadzam shares his story about growing up in an unstable and challenging environment and how sports allowed him to find some stability. Ultimately, it was running that allowed him an opportunity to create a new life for himself at the University of Kentucky. That opportunity is something he continues to pay forward, as he raises awareness and provides opportunities for others using his non-profit, Art on The Move. Running.. continues to be a way for him to bring attention to these causes, but also his opportunity to escape daily for a little piece of time to disconnect.

USA Triathlon Hall of Famer, Age Group World Champion and consistently positive member of the Lexington Triathlon community, Susan Bradley-Cox sits down to tell stories about triathlon in the early days, growing up in a time that didn't promote females being active and many other inspiring insights..