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Explore strategies, tools, and stories at the crossroads of AV, AI, and wellness.
Our latest Podcast Episode
Real Talk for Event Pros Who Do It All—And Still Show Up #fit4events™. Sponsored and Produced by Tree-Fan Events Production.
Anca Platon Trifan recounts her Ironman 70.3 at Lucky Peak a month after finishing, explaining her eight-month experiment of training as a “hybrid athlete” by maintaining bodybuilding-level lifting while building endurance and learning to swim as an adult. On race morning, brutal wind made the water dangerously choppy, and Ironman canceled the age-group swim (pros did a modified swim), a decision she supports for safety though relay swimmers were upset. A forgotten T2 bag was rescued by her husband, but she left behind salt tablets, leading to severe quad cramping around mile 40 of the bike and a grueling half marathon aided by a stranger’s salt tablets and her husband’s support amid extreme heat and poor air quality. She also raced with recent back and knee injuries, had difficult post-race recovery compounded by travel and heat, and shares DEXA results showing only ~2 pounds lean mass loss and reduced visceral fat, reinforcing her philosophy of defining success and training identity on her own terms.
00:00 Race Morning Shock01:40 Ironman Recap Setup02:49 Hybrid Athlete Mission07:38 Why Do Hard Things10:44 Learning Open Water14:27 Rejecting Triathlon Mold16:18 Taper And Carb Load22:53 Check In And Anxiety26:08 Swim Canceled Chaos35:57 Bike Leg Strength Test38:11 Quads Turn to Rocks39:04 Salt Tablets and Bike Crisis40:40 Run Cramps Survival Mode42:14 Heat and Air Quality Hell45:39 Finish Line Bittersweet46:19 Knee and Back Injuries48:42 Deadlift Mishap Before Race01:02:24 Hybrid Athlete Identity01:05:20 Tactical Lessons Learned01:07:13 Back to Bodybuilding Prep01:08:55 Sunk Cost Fallacy Mindset01:10:52 Find Your Swim Closing
Produced by Tree-Fan Events Production LLC
Book Anca for speaking or consulting:https://ancaplatontrifan.me/booking-page/
Follow for more on AI, events, and leadership:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ancatrifan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anca.platon.trifan/
Original podcast music by Fable Score Music
Tree-Fan Events is a woman-owned boutique event production agency focused on delivering high-impact experiences through the FIT4EVENTS™ framework.
FAQ's
What topics do you cover on the Tree-Fan Events blog?
The blog covers event production, AV leadership, event technology, AI strategy, workflow design, and #fit4events™ performance principles for event professionals.
Are the articles written for planners or technical teams?
Both. Articles are written to help planners make better technical decisions and help production teams execute with clarity, alignment, and strong outcomes.
Do you publish practical templates and checklists?
Yes. When relevant, articles include frameworks, prompts, and operational guidance that can be applied across the event lifecycle.
Can I request a topic?
Yes. If you have a specific problem you want unpacked, you can submit a topic request through the contact page.
