Why this pro triathlete quit her job to hike the Appalachian Trail with Katie «Sunrise» Lance (BPR #355)

On today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, presented by LMNT, we’re joined by Katie “Sunrise” Lance, a civil engineer turned professional triathlete and hiker who completed the AT last year before quitting her job to pursue triathlon training full-time.

In it, Katie tells us what it’s like to qualify for Kona in her first Ironman, how she trained 20 hours a week plus 12-hour night shifts at the Tennessee Valley Authority, and what pushed her to finally leave it all behind and walk from Georgia to Maine. She also shares the full arc of a rosy situation that somehow ends with a man walking 74 miles in 24 hours to process his feelings, how she was almost bitten by a rattlesnake while finally rinsing out her rag to pee for the first time, and why she believes anyone can finish an Ironman if they really train for it.

We end the show with an article on why the first week of a hike is the hardest, a profile of a 70-year-old who set out to hike all three Triple Crown trails in a single calendar year, debating whether pizza loses its shine as you get older, the Triple Crown of Star Wars characters, and the strange places where little kids pee.

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Interview with Katie «Sunrise» Lance

Timestamps and questions

00:05:15 – Reminders: Subscribe to trail correspondents, subscribe to the Trek newsletterand listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!

00:09:00 – Introducing Katie

00:11:59 – Was there a moment in your childhood when you knew you were an exceptional athlete?

00:20:57 – How did you go from swimming, rowing and engineering to considering hiking?

00:22:07 – How does someone become a professional triathlete and how did their journey begin with a first qualifying marathon in Boston?

00:27:49 – What were your splits at the Chattanooga Ironman and what was it like qualifying for Kona in your first Ironman?

00:38:07 – Were there any clear breaking points or signs of exhaustion, such as panic attacks or health problems?

00:42:46 – What finally prompted you to quit your job and get on the AT?

00:44:46 – What were the first days on the trail like, starting with a 42-pound backpack?

00:47:18 – What things took you by surprise along the way given your athletic background?

00:52:31 – Did you have problems with the lack of female community and “girl talk” on AT?

00:54:20 – Tell us about the pink flame situation that ended with a man walking 74 miles in 24 hours.

01:15:30 – Tell us about your biggest mental crisis on the road.

01:19:23 – How does hiking fatigue compare to Ironman training fatigue?

01:23:43 – Do you consider hiking as an ongoing lifestyle or as a single chapter?

01:29:09 – What are some other notable stories from the OT?

01:36:05 – Stay Salty Question: What is your best view of the world of backpacking or triathlon?

Segments

Propaganda clues

QOTD: Does pizza lose its shine as we age?

Triple Crown of Star Wars characters

mail bag

5 star review

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