Mike Tarrolly Bio
I was about to turn 50 and really losing my way. I was 30 pounds heavier than ever, depressed in my job, and living large on the corporate party train. I knew I’d better get my shit together or it would get harder and harder. It started with running, then triathlon, and eventually the Crushing Iron blog, where I documented much of the journey that reclamation of my life.
I played sports in college and things like softball afterwords, but had never been able to run. In the Spring of 2012 I started a Couch to 5K program at Nashville Running Company. A year and a half later I finished Ironman Wisconsin and now have 10 Ironman under my belt. Crushing Iron (the blog and podcast) has documented that journey with nearly 1,000 posts and now 750 podcasts, all directly related to becoming a better athlete and person.
Soon after starting triathlon, my attitude and clarity changed. I realized my job was killing me.
Ten months after my first Ironman I resigned from a corporate lifestyle to pursue my passions.
Crushing Iron started as a way to journal my training experiences for Ironman and has morphed into a road map for “crushing life.” I’ve gone through a lot of physical and mental changes and all of the stories are here: Good, bad, and ugly.
In the last 5 years, I’ve taken those experiences and transformed them into helping others reach their goals in triathlon. I’ve coached hundreds of athletes to successful finishes at all distances. I work with beginners, and veterans, with a preference for people who are committed to being well rounded in triathlon and life.
You’ll find far more than workouts and technical training jargon. I believe anyone who is on a path to be a healthier person can identify with, the often times, intensely personal experiences. I take training and life seriously, but will not hesitate to make fun of myself or the obsession and “bizarrity” that can emerge from endurance racing.
I like to think of my style as sort of Mark Sisson-esque, but still committed to helping people train for long distance triathlon in healthy, sustainable, and enjoyable ways. Sometimes that’s unorthodox, but everyone’s different and I’m all about helping you own and embrace your journey, both in triathlon and life.
Things I’m Into:
• Lake Life
• Moderate Running
• Cold Plunges
• Sauna
• Cycling Hills
• Writing
• Videography
• Photography
• Drumming
• Snowshoeing
• Exploring Limits
• Learning
• Weekend Getaways
• Freedom
• Building Genuine Connections
Feel free to send me an email at: [email protected].
I grew up in Wisconsin and have recently moved back to pursue my dream of Lake Life. I do long swims in the lake when it’s warm, and cold plunges nearly year round.
I can be sarcastic and a dreamer, but I am very dedicated to becoming a better athlete and person.
I have recorded much of my triathlon journey at CrushingIron.com and it has helped me understand training, work through mental fatigue, and find a new world of great people. I have experienced deep changes and am slowly eliminating the limits from my life. 
I hope you enjoy the blog.
This is my dog, Mattie.
Thanks for following my blog! I hope you find it beneficial, I look forward to following your journey and witnessing the power of motivation that is so infectious! Good luck!
Thanks, man! My pleasure. I am so with you.
Thanks for the follow! Wow – ironman. Deep respect. My little sprint triathlon feels hard enough – ironman is a whole new ballgame. Good luck!
Thanks. And trust me, my “little sprint triathlon” felt like a HUGE deal to me. I loved it so much. More than doing any of the three by themselves. I got hooked and now I’m in deep! Ha… I’m loving it. Good luck to you as well.
Thanks for visiting and following my blog! It’s always exciting to follow the journey to the first Ironman. Best of luck!
Thanks for dropping in. Hope you do enjoy following as much as I’m enjoying the journey. Keep rockin’ it yourself.
To: Mike Tarrolly, #Ironman #Triathlete
From: Darin Armstrong #TeamLIVESTRONG
***Special #FollowFriday #Shoutout To: @MikeTarrolly #Ironman #Triathlete #Marathoner & Marketing Director @WKRN – https://crushingiron.com
Hello Mike,
The Above is what your #Twitter #FollowFriday #Shoutout will look like this coming Friday should you do a ‘mutual’ following with me on twitter. (As you well know in the marketing field, ‘Smart Individual Marketing/PR’)
Just a quick message to ask if you would be interested in a ‘mutual’ following on twitter that will benefit you. (#FYI I do RT’s ‘ANYTIME’ for all #Triathletes #Cyclists #UltraRunners #Marathoners #FitnessProfessionals who follow me on Twitter and have something important they want mentioned for support…(Over 41K folks at your access…) I am currently following you now and am awaiting your follow-back…
All the very best for the rest of 2013 & beyond Mike. Look forward to hearing from you…
(PS. Mike, again, should you follow back, I’ll be mentioning you ‘Including Your Website’ in a ‘Stand Alone’ #FollowFriday #Shoutout this Friday!)
Darin
twitter.com/DarinArmstrong
#TeamLIVESTRONG
Stellar work ethic inspiration. Will add Crushing Iron to the blogroll!
Thanks, Mike! Appreciate you dropping by and look forward to keeping up on your as well.
Thanks for posting the IMWI video. I’d like to follow your blog, so please add me to your email notification list of when new posts are available.
Hi Sarah… thanks for watching my Ironman Wisconsin video and commenting on my site… Sorry for the delay… I wasn’t seeing my comments for a long time.. my fault, though. Hopefully you signed up for the blog.
Thanks for your great blog posts tagged “why do an ironman” – I’m in a training rut and it really helps to read someone else’s reflections to help me ponder my own. I’ve printed some of your words out to stick on the wall of the pain cave!
Awesome! Thank you for this… I’d love to know which words helped inspire your pain cave. Email me at crushing iron at gmail.com and let me know how it’s going!