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Rob Hardstone

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The Unlikely Triathlete
The Unlikely TriathleteOffshore Medic to Ironman 70.3: Beating the Odds and the Excuses with Christine GrosartIn this episode, Rob and Matt sit down with the incredible Christine Grosart for a completely unfiltered conversation about reinvention, grit, and endurance. Christine’s path to triathlon is anything but conventional. Going from a horse obsessed kid to a Cave Diver, Paramedic, and Offshore Medic, she eventually found herself battling severe weight gain due to the grueling, unhealthy realities of offshore rig life. KEY TAKEAWAYS Ditch the Excuses: Whether you're working 14-hour shifts offshore or dealing with terrible facilities, there is always a way to train if you pr...
2026-06-181h 00The Unlikely Triathlete
The Unlikely TriathleteZero to 50km Ultra: Janine East’s 9-Month MiracleToday, Rob & Matt are joined by Janine East, a "classic South African" whose inspiring journey proves that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. In just nine months, Janine went from never having run before to taking on a 50km ultra run. We explore the pure joy of her very first 2km run , the mental health benefits of trading bad spaces for outdoor training , and why you might want to turn off Strava to avoid the pressure of the platform. We also touch on the immense value of joining local clubs for guidance and support. Tune in to...
2026-06-0436 minThe Unlikely Triathlete
The Unlikely TriathleteDeep Diving into Everything Swimming! Defogging Goggles, Buying the RIGHT Westsuit and Funny Stories!In this episode, Rob and Matt dive deep into the most feared and misunderstood discipline of triathlon: the swim. Based on listener data and coaching experience, swimming—specifically in open water—consistently generates the most questions and anxiety for first-time athletes. The duo shares brutal and hilarious "war stories," from losing expensive dental work mid-race to seeing world-class athletes wearing their gear backward. More importantly, they provide professional hacks for gear maintenance and mindset shifts that can turn a terrifying open-water experience into a major advantage on race day. Key...
2026-05-2148 minThe Unlikely Triathlete
The Unlikely TriathleteCouch to 70.3: Launching the Search for the World’s Most Unlikely AthleteIn this milestone episode, Rob welcomes Matt Davies back to the show—this time as a permanent co-host. Matt shares his transformation from a "fat banker" to a full-time endurance coach, explaining how finishing his first Ironman acted as a "cheat code" that gave him the confidence to leave the corporate world and start his own business. The duo discusses the rebranding of the podcast to reach a broader audience of "unlikely athletes" and announces an ambitious new project to coach a complete beginner from the couch to a 70.3 Ironman finish live on the show. ...
2026-05-0856 minThe Unlikely Triathlete
The Unlikely TriathleteFrom "Never Sporty" to Hyrox: Michaela and Celeste on the Power of the "Just Start" Mindset! Road to TriathlonHey there sports lovers, on todays episode of The Unlikely Triathlete Rob hosts a "family affair" featuring his oldest daughter, Michaela Hardstone, and her best friend and fellow chiropractic student, Celeste. Moving away from the world of elite age-groupers, this conversation focuses on the "everyday athlete"—two busy university students in Durban, South Africa, who decided to trade their textbooks for trainers. From the traumatic "fainting goat" moments of learning to ride with cleats to overcoming severe gym anxiety and missed race starts, Michaela and Celeste offer a raw, hilarious, and deeply relatable look at what it’s li...
2026-04-091h 34The Unlikely Triathlete
The Unlikely TriathleteFrom Couch to Red Carpet: The Brutal Truth of Training for Your First TriathlonHey there sports lovers, In this emotional and inspirational episode, Rob Hardstone sits down with his sister, Brenda, to discuss her successful completion of an Ironman 70.3 in Busselton. Brendar’s journey is the definition of "unlikely," having trained for a year while managing diabetes, a thyroid condition, and recovering from the surgical removal of her gallbladder just six weeks before the race. The conversation dives deep into the raw reality of race day, from the 3:30 AM nutrition routine to the psychological battle against "survival mode" and pre-race physical pains. Brenda shares the brutal truth ab...
2026-03-191h 28The Unlikely Triathlete
The Unlikely TriathleteThe Power of Compound Gains: How Stephan Weyers Turned an 18-Stone Struggle into an Ironman SuccessHey there sports lovers, In this episode Rob sits down with Stephan Weyers, a former sports lawyer and corporate executive who transitioned into a high-performance triathlon coach. Stephan shares his "unlikely" journey from being an out-of-shape professional weighing 115kg (18 stone) to founding Wingman, a global coaching business specializing in helping busy midlife executives conquer the Ironman. The conversation explores Stephan’s early days as a 10-year-old "boxing promoter" in South Africa, his high-stakes legal career representing top rugby stars, and the "trigger point" on a beach in Port Elizabeth that changed his life forever. Stephan provides practical ad...
2026-03-0550 minThe Unlikely Triathlete
The Unlikely TriathleteThe Power of Relatability: Why Jake Bird is Redefining What a "Real" Triathlete Looks LikeHey there sports lovers. In this episode of The Unlikely Triathlete, Rob sits down with Jake Bird, a marketing consultant and fitness enthusiast who has recently taken the social media world by storm with his transparent, "warts-and-all" journey into triathlon. Jake is the founder of a marketing consultancy for health and fitness brands, but he admits he is very new to the world of swim, bike, and run. The conversation explores how Jake transitioned from a background in football and heavy gym lifting to documenting his first triathlon experiences for his large online following. Jake discusses the "...
2026-02-191h 12The Unlikely Triathlete
The Unlikely TriathleteFrom 18 Stone to the Start Line: Stuart Walker’s Unlikely Journey to Triathlon FounderHey there sports lovers, on todays episode of The Unlikely Triathlete Rob sits down with Stuart Walker, the founder and event director of World of Triathlon Life. Stuart shares his remarkable transformation from being "nearly 18.5 stone" (approx. 117kg) and unable to swim to becoming an avid triathlete and industry leader. The conversation dives into Stuart's "trigger point" during a mountain trek in Peru, where being physically dragged up a glacier sparked a five-stone weight loss journey. Stuart discusses the "minefield" of entering the sport—from accidentally training in a surfing wetsuit to the common fe...
2026-02-051h 07The Unlikely Triathlete
The Unlikely TriathleteFrom Broken Collarbones to World Titles: The Professional Evolution of Two-Time Xterra Champion Bradley WeissHey there sports lovers, on todays episode Rob sits down with a true heavy-hitter in the multisport world: two-time Xterra World Champion and professional triathlete, Bradley Weiss. The conversation explores Bradley's transition from broken collarbones on the rugby pitch to winning multiple 70.3 titles and course records on the road. Bradley opens up about his "technical soul," explaining why he feels more at home navigating rocks and trails in Nature’s Valley than on the concrete of a marathon. Key Takeaways The Power of Small Gains: Bradley emphasises that the "addiction" to...
2026-01-2245 minThe Unlikely Triathlete
The Unlikely TriathleteFrom Major Surgery to Ironman: Brenda Goulter’s Unlikely Athlete StoryHey there sports lovers, in todays episode Rob sits down with Brenda Goulter, an "unlikely triathlete" from Perth, Australia. Brenda shares her incredible journey from being a 50-year-old inspired by a friend's Ironman to battling serious health complications and ultimately training for her first 70.3 in Busselton. Key Takeaways Take the First Step: The hardest part of any journey is the decision to start and being accountable to that choice. Manage, Don't Avoid: Brenda's story shows that chronic pain and health issues can be managed with the right mindset and professional...
2026-01-081h 11The Unlikely Triathlete
The Unlikely TriathleteBuilding the Champion Mindset: A Conversation with High-Performance Coach Stuart WadeIn this episode, Coach Robb sits down with Stuart Wade, a high-performance mindset coach, clinical hypnotherapist, lifelong martial artist, and four-time world champion. Stuart shares the pivotal childhood moment that shaped his resilience, the psychology behind limiting beliefs, and how anyone — regardless of background, body type, or starting point — can unlock extraordinary potential. Whether you're an aspiring triathlete, a weekend warrior, or someone searching for purpose and confidence, this conversation is packed with practical insights to help you take the first step and keep moving forward. Key Takeaways Stuart’s childhood disappointment failing his first black belt g...
2025-12-1839 minThe Unlikely Triathlete
The Unlikely TriathleteThe Catalyst: How a Near-Fatal Bike Crash Led to the Kona Ironman World ChampionshipWelcome sports lovers, Today we talk to Paul Bradford about his incredible journey from a childhood spent in the world of bodybuilding to becoming an Ironman World Championship competitor in Kona, Hawaii. Paul shares the story of a devastating accident that became the catalyst for his greatest athletic achievements and his philosophy on mindset, goal-setting, and never quitting. Key Takeaways From "Heavy Iron" to Triathlete: Paul discusses growing up influenced by his father, a local businessman and a champion bodybuilder, leading Paul to compete and win his father's former title, North Britain...
2025-12-0453 minThe Unlikely Triathlete
The Unlikely TriathleteWelcome To The Unlikely TriathleteIn this opening episode, Rob introduces the vision behind The Unlikely Triathletes — a podcast celebrating ordinary people who achieve extraordinary things. He shares his life journey: growing up in tough conditions in Durban, navigating Afrikaans boarding schools, enduring brutal military training, and eventually finding his way into commercial saturation diving, one of the most dangerous jobs on earth. Rob opens up about the pressures, challenges, and defining moments that strengthened his mindset and ultimately led him to endurance sport. He describes how triathlon became the anchor that pulled him toward coaching and why he now dedicates his li...
2025-11-2015 minThe Unlikely Triathlete
The Unlikely TriathleteHow a Covid-Era Clinician Became an Unlikely TriathleteWelcome sports lovers to this episode of The Unlikely Triathlete! Today we sit down with Mel, one of my athletes and a former NHS physician associate whose career path has taken more twists than a hilly bike course. From working as a postwoman, to retraining in medicine, to battling through the chaos of COVID on the ICU frontline, and now stepping into a completely new world as a Human Factors Engineer at a nuclear power station — Mel’s story is nothing short of extraordinary. This is an episode for anyone who’s ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure...
2025-11-2029 minThe Unlikely Triathlete
The Unlikely TriathleteFrom Fat Banker to Ironman Coach: The Unbelievable Transformation Every ‘Unlikely Triathlete’ Needs to HearWelcome sports lovers to this episode of The Unlikely Triathlete! Today we sit down with Matt, a former “fat banker” who transformed his entire life, became an Ironman, and now coaches athletes around the world through the TriDot platform. If you’ve ever thought triathlon was only for “other people,” Matt’s story will flip that belief upside down. We dive deep into: How one moment in the mirror triggered Matt’s radical transformation Why going straight from zero to signing up for an Ironman actually saved his life The mindset...
2025-11-2054 min