Miscellaneous
Triathlon Taren, or Taren Gesell, hasn’t always been the Speedo-clad, All-World Ironman triathlete, and IRONMAN U Certified Coach and ISSA Certified Specialist in Sports Nutrition that you see today. Although he grew up skateboarding, playing baseball and curling competitively, by the time he started university, he hit his all-time high weight of 215lbs… thanks to a steady diet of beer and bacon. At 5’8” tall, he was unhealthy and unhappy. A friend who was heavily into fitness got Taren into the gym, pushing weights and eating nothing but chicken and brown rice. He lost some weight but it wasn’t a lifestyle; he was getting bored with the workouts and always looking for something better. Right around that time, Taren noticed an old friend competing in triathlon and decided since he was already running, biking and swimming separately, he may as well try to put them together. He did his first Try-A-Tri (a total disaster, in his estimation), and he was instantly hooked. Now, almost a decade later, Taren has made triathlon and endurance sports a way of life, having competed in countless sprint, Olympic and half-Ironman races. It’s his passion to bring us beginner and age-group triathletes tips on healthy living and triathlon training which he does through his YouTube Channel, top-rated Podcast, and multiple triathlon-specific books. Taren is sort of a celebrity in the triathlon world, and it was a total privilege to pick his brain for an hour and hear more of his story. I think you’re going to love our conversation. So, with that, here’s my conversation with Triathlon Taren!