‘Fit for Purpose’ The Grumpy Old Coaches Christmas Podcast (2025)

A proper Grumpy Old Coaches Christmas Special with Simon Ward joined by Steve Lumley and Marc Laithwaite, plus Bethany Ward back in the hot seat(and, as ever, dropping a couple of absolute show-stoppers).

We kick off with the state of triathlon participation and what Marc is seeing on the ground as an organiser, including the way athletes are now leaving entries later and how that makes it harder to predict numbers. From there we zoom out and compare triathlon to what’s booming elsewhere, especially road running, open water swimming and cycling.

Next up, we dig into why running is flying right now, particularly half marathons and marathons. We talk simplicity, cost, time commitment, and why formats like Parkrun, plus the rise of newer fitness events, are pulling people in.

We also go properly into the youth pathway problem. Marc shares the TryKidz work in primary schools and why the missing piece is not enthusiasm or delivery, it’s the “what next?” step after the taster day.

Then we take on Ironman age group qualification. The principle seems fair, but the real-world experience can be confusing, with Beth mentioning a calculator tool a friend built to help make sense of it.

And because it’s Christmas, we finish with a proper 2025 debrief and 2026 goal setting session. Steve’s return to long-distance racing at 60, Beth’s Ironman Austria recap (including the WhatsApp group drama and a very honest observation about what people pay attention to), plus Simon’s Bosphorus swim from Asia to Europe and why destination events just hit different. Then it’s onto 2026 with Hyrox, ultras, swims, 70.3 plans, gravel adventures, and Beth trying to bundle unfinished 2025 business into one slightly chaotic solution involving a horse.

 

Key takeaways

• Triathlon may have bottomed out, but recovery depends on costs, accessibility, and the on-ramp for newcomers.
• Road running’s growth makes sense: low barrier, low faff, easy to fit around life.
• Destination events (point-to-point swims, iconic routes) create memories, not just results.
• Youth participation is fixable, but only if there’s a clear next step after “try it” days.
• Ironman qualification can be fairer in theory, but the system has to be understandable and consistent to earn trust.

 

Some memorable quotes

• “If you want anybody to care, you either win or you almost don’t make it.”
• “Fitness is very specific, isn’t it? You’re fit for purpose.”
• “I started off with low expectations, and I was not disappointed.”

Listener action steps

1. If you’re feeling stuck or bored, plan a destination event for 2026 (swim point-to-point, iconic route, a proper adventure).
2. If triathlon feels like too much right now, there’s no shame in leaning into a 70.3, open water swims, or running while life is busy.
3. Coaches and clubs: if you’re working with juniors, build a clear next step after “intro sessions” so kids have somewhere to go next.

Have a brilliant Christmas, enjoy the food and the downtime, and don’t try to “win Christmas” by smashing training when your body is begging for a breather. The Grumpy Old Coaches will be back next year, and the mission rolls on: 500 episodes first… then a million downloads.

Steve Lumley is back in the market for athletes. You can contact Steve via his email, [email protected]

 

Marc Laithwaite runs The Endurance Store, an independent running and triathlon store in West Lancashire, and Croston Cycles, just down the road from The Endurance Store! Epic Events organise swim, cy