56 - Carey Cribbs

Everyday Ironman Podcast

In this episode, we hear from Carey Cribbs. Carey is a wife, mother of 4 adult children, grandmother of 5, ER Physician and multiple time Ironman Finisher.

While giving her background Carey shares that after competing as a gymnast in college, she took 30 years off for her career and to raise her family. When her youngest turned 16, she took up running. Before too long, she had “caught the triathlon bug” and was signed up for a full-distance race.

When I ask her about her when she knew she wanted to be a doctor, Carey explains that she originally got her degree in Physical Education and became a High School Coach before going back to school to get her medical degree.

We spend a few minutes talking about how Carey and her coach communicate her training schedule for the week. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of outdoor bike riding.

At the time of the recording, Carey had recently won her Age Group at the European Championships in Hamburg Germany. She explains how she came to race in Hamburg, gave some insight into how difficult it was to travel around Europe after the race while dragging a bike case and shares that she had already secured her Kona slot in Cozumel earlier in the season so didn’t even have thoughts beyond a PR at this race.

Not only will Carey be racing in Kona this year, but she also reveals that she has already crossed the red carpet once before. We talk about her travel plans and she confirms the water is as clear as it looks in the YouTube videos.

Carey shares her plan to give back to the community and she crushes my dream of “waiting everyone in my Age Group out.”

Carey will be racing both the Ironman World Championships and Ironman Arizona later this year, be sure to track her on course using the Ironman Tracker.