Episode 86 – Racing Through Adversity: Annie Brooks & David Whelan on Resilience, Inclusion & Triathlon Community

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🎙 Episode 86 – Racing Through Adversity: Annie Brooks & David Whelan on Resilience, Inclusion & Triathlon Community
Presented by @maunaapparel

In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode, @joshmvernon and @fredrikson.12 sit down with two remarkable age-group triathletes: @heyanniebrooks and @dave_unbreakable. With no major pro racing on the calendar, we use the moment to go deeper—into stories of resilience, invisible and visible challenges, and how triathlon has become a powerful vehicle for healing, growth, and representation.

Annie shares how she manages epilepsy while training and racing at the highest level—including her Kona finish and the unseen obstacles she faces. David opens up about life after a workplace injury led to amputation, his return to sport, and his mission to make triathlon more inclusive for athletes with physical challenges.

We also cover: 

✔️ Inclusion in endurance sports & why performance-based slots for challenged athletes matter
✔️ Advocacy for invisible conditions & race-day accommodations
✔️ Mental health, identity, and the healing power of sport
✔️ The importance of owning your story—and how it inspires others
✔️ Racecation strategies, nutrition stories (oysters before a 70.3!?), and wild fourth sport ideas 🤘

Whether you're chasing a podium or just the finish line, this episode is for anyone who's ever faced a barrier and kept going.

🎧 Stream it now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube
📲 Full show notes + links in bio!

📍 Chapters

00:00 – Intro & Guest Introductions
03:00 – Annie’s Journey with Epilepsy & First Sprint Tri
06:00 – David’s Accident & Path to Amputation
11:00 – Advocacy, Communication & Race-Day Accommodations
17:00 – Foundations, Support & Building Access
24:00 – Performance vs. Participation: The Kona Conversation
32:00 – What Kona Meant to Annie
38:00 – Transitions, Practice & Adaptive Equipment
46:00 – Why We Race: Therapy, Identity & Impact
54:00 – Fueling, Funny Nutrition Stories & Ketones
01:00:00 – Adding a Fourth Sport to Triathlon?
01:05:00 – What’s Next: Race Plans & Final Thoughts

📚 Resources Mentioned

• Challenged Athletes Foundation
• Dare2Tri
• Epilepsy Foundation
• Women for Tri
• Fisi Triathlon

🎧 Another Triathlon Podcast – real conversations, real athletes, all the grit.
Follow us @anothertriathlonpodcast and stay tuned for next week’s episode with @jennacaer on her Ironman Taiwan podium and Kona qualification.

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