Start Small, Stay Forever | Liz Kollar on Building Community, Kona Dreams, and Beginner Mistakes

What does it mean to be a triathlete? For Liz Kollar, Director of Constituent Engagement at USA Triathlon, the answer is simple: you're a triathlete the moment you cross any finish line, whether it takes you an hour or sixteen.

Liz didn't start small. Her first race was a 70.3 at Buffalo Springs Lake, unprepared and miserable in the Texas heat. She crossed the finish line swearing she'd never do it again. Then she accidentally qualified for Ironman Florida at Panama City, thinking she'd won a trip to Central America. Three months later, she stood on a cold beach in November 2001, just weeks after 9/11, sobbing through the national anthem before completing her first full distance race. She was hooked.

Over 13 Ironman races and countless shorter distances, Liz became a two-time Kona qualifier, LA Tri Club community builder, and now a grassroots race director in the mountains of Colorado. But her proudest work might be the least flashy: answering the phone at USA Triathlon, walking nervous first-timers through their fears, and reminding them that the sport isn't about going long. It's about showing up, finding your people, and maybe grabbing brunch afterward.

This conversation is for anyone who thinks they need to do an Ironman to belong, anyone intimidated by the governing body acronyms, and anyone who just wants to understand what USA Triathlon actually does besides collect membership fees. Spoiler: it's a lot more than insurance.

Join the Tri Beginner's Luck Community: Enjoyed this episode? The best way to support the show is to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Follow us on Instagram: @TriBeginnersLuck Connect on Facebook: Tri Beginner's Luck Page

Questions or Feedback? We want to hear your story! Send your questions to tblpodbiz@tribeginnersluck.com, and we may feature them on a future episode.

Let's Tri this!