Fit For Radio

Movement Became His Medicine: Turning Pain Into Purpose

When Helgi Olafson was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis at just 19 years old, he could have accepted a future defined by chronic pain and limitations. Instead, he chose a different path. In this episode of Fit For Radio, Helgi shares the incredible story of overcoming addiction, setbacks, and self-doubt to become an Ironman, ultrarunner, filmmaker, and advocate for people living with chronic illness. From losing his driver's license for a decade to completing some of the world's toughest endurance events—including raising more than $20,000 for the Spondylitis Association of America—Helgi's journey is a testament to the power of resilience and purpose. But this conversation goes far beyond running. Helgi opens up about sobriety, chasing validation through achievement, learning from failure, and why he's redefining success at 43 by focusing on balance, community, and living with intention. Whether you're an endurance athlete, facing a personal challenge, or simply looking for inspiration to keep moving forward, this conversation is packed with honest insights and powerful life lessons.

Fitness Fact vs. Fiction: Wendi Arant Dispels the Biggest Health Myths

In a world flooded with fitness influencers, fad diets, and conflicting health advice, it can be hard to know what's fact and what's fiction. On this episode of Fit For Radio, we sit down with Wendi Arant, Head of Fitness at Stafford Hills Club, to cut through the noise and bring some much-needed clarity to the conversation around health, wellness, nutrition, and fitness. Wendi shares her expert perspective on some of the biggest misconceptions people have about getting healthy, losing weight, building strength, and living a sustainable lifestyle. From debunking popular diet trends to explaining why consistency matters more than perfection, she offers practical, evidence-based advice that anyone can apply. Whether you're just beginning your fitness journey or you've been at it for years, this conversation is a refreshing reminder that good health doesn't have to be complicated. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the endless stream of wellness claims online, Wendi helps put your mind at ease and brings the focus back to what really works.

More Than Miles: The Discipline Behind an Extraordinary Life

On this episode of Fit For Radio, we sit down with endurance athlete, chiropractor, husband, father, grandfather, and lifelong competitor Drake Tollenaar. For nearly three decades, Drake has redefined what it means to pursue elite endurance sports while balancing family, faith, career, and community. Born in Springfield, Oregon, and a graduate of Thurston High School, Drake's path eventually led him to the University of Oregon, Western States Chiropractic College, and a move to Tualatin in 1991, where he built both a successful chiropractic practice and a life centered around serving others. As a Youth Pastor, Worship Pastor, husband, and father of three daughters—including twin daughters born in 1996—Drake's schedule was already full before he discovered endurance sports. What started as an attempt to shed a few pounds of "sympathy weight" quickly turned into a lifelong passion. After running his first marathon in 1997 and making every rookie mistake imaginable, Drake was hooked. He went on to tackle triathlons, Half Ironmans, Ironman races, 100-mile ultramarathons, Ultraman Canada, and eventually the prestigious Ultraman World Championships. For more than 25 years, Drake woke up no later than 3:00 a.m. to train before his family started their day. Those early mornings fueled incredible athletic accomplishments, but the medals and finish lines aren't what matter most to him. Some of his favorite memories came from running races with his daughters, completing Disney marathons together, pacing first-time marathoners, helping athletes qualify for Boston, and supporting others in achieving goals they never thought possible. We discuss his journey from first-time marathoner to Ironman World Championship competitor, the lessons learned from decades of endurance training, and how his perspective has shifted from chasing personal records to creating meaningful experiences with the people he loves. Today, with four grandchildren, a fifth on the way, and a renewed focus on longevity, Drake is thinking less about finish times and more about staying healthy enough to create "forever memories" with future generations. This conversation is about much more than endurance sports. It's about discipline, consistency, servant leadership, family, faith, and the realization that the greatest victories in life often happen far beyond the finish line.

From Heroin, Homelessness & Crime to Saving Lives | Lance Orton's Comeback Story

On this episode of Fit For Radio, we sit down with Lance Orton, a man whose life story is a powerful reminder that addiction doesn't discriminate—and that no one is beyond redemption. Lance grew up moving between California and Texas, navigating his parents' divorce and attending three different high schools before graduating from a Catholic prep school in 1993. He went on to earn a degree in Business Administration from San Diego State University, worked in technology sales, helped launch a resort in Napa Valley with his father, and later served in the Army's 101st Airborne Division. From the outside, his future looked bright. But after the tragic loss of his father in 2005, Lance's life took a devastating turn. What began with prescription painkillers eventually spiraled into a heroin addiction that consumed everything in its path. Over the next decade, addiction cost him his career, his family, his stability, and ultimately his home. He bounced from city to city chasing a life that seemed to slip further away with every passing year. By 2018, Lance had reached rock bottom. Homeless, involved in crime, and living under the constant threat of the dangerous people surrounding the drug world, he found himself hiding in Portland after a drug dealer's enforcer tracked him down and stole his car. It was a moment that forced him to confront the reality of where addiction had taken him. That same year, Lance entered CityTeam's recovery program. What happened next is nothing short of remarkable. Not only did he rebuild his life, but he dedicated himself to helping others do the same. Today, Lance serves as the Executive Director of CityTeam Portland, leading efforts to provide treatment, shelter, and hope to those battling addiction and homelessness. He is also working alongside Portland Mayor Keith Wilson to expand access to recovery services throughout the region. This conversation is a raw and honest look at addiction, loss, resilience, faith, and the power of second chances. Lance's story proves that your worst chapter doesn't have to define the rest of your life—and that sometimes the people best equipped to lead others out of darkness are the ones who have fought their way through it themselves.

The Metal Cowboy’s Next Ride: Reborn Bikes

On this episode of Fit For Radio, we sit down with legendary cyclist, acclaimed author, and humanitarian Joe Kurmaskie — a man who has pedaled more than 250,000 miles across North America, Europe, and beyond, earning his nickname “The Metal Cowboy” through decades of unforgettable two-wheeled adventures. Joe is the bestselling author of 10 books, including Metal Cowboy, Riding Outside the Lines, and Mud, Sweat, and Gears, and his storytelling has been featured in major publications including Outside, Rolling Stone, and Bicycling. Known for blending wild adventure, humor, and hard-earned wisdom, Joe has spent a lifetime proving that the bicycle can be far more than transportation — it can be a vehicle for transformation. But Joe’s story goes far deeper than epic rides and bestselling books. After battling through a life-threatening illness that forced him to confront his own mortality, he shifted his focus toward purpose-driven service, dedicating the second half of his life to giving back. As Executive Director of Reborn Bikes, Joe has helped grow one of the largest free bike distribution nonprofits in the country, now putting more than 10,000 refurbished bikes annually into the hands of children and underserved families throughout the Pacific Northwest. In this conversation, Joe shares stories from the road, lessons from surviving adversity, the healing power of movement, and why he believes a bicycle can change not just a life — but an entire community. This is an episode about resilience, reinvention, and what it means to keep moving forward no matter what life throws your way.