Why This Pro Triathlete Quit Her Job to Hike the Appalachian Trail with Katie "Sunrise" Lance (BPR #355)

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Katie "Sunrise" Lance, a civil engineer turned professional triathlete turned thru-hiker who completed the AT last year before quitting her job to pursue triathlon coaching full-time. In this one, Katie walks us through what it's like to qualify for Kona on your very first Ironman, how she was training 20 hours a week on top of 12-hour night shifts at the Tennessee Valley Authority, and what finally pushed her to leave it all behind and hike from Georgia to Maine. She also shares the full arc of a pink-blazing situation that somehow ends with a guy hiking 74 miles in 24 hours to process his feelings, how she nearly got bit by a rattlesnake while finally rinsing out her pee rag for the first time, and why she thinks anyone can finish an Ironman if they actually train for it. We wrap the show with a piece on why week one of a thru-hike is the hardest, a profile on a 70-year-old who set out to hike all three Triple Crown trails in a single calendar year, debating whether pizza loses its luster as you get older, the triple crown of Star Wars characters, and the weird places toddlers pee. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek . Gossamer Gear: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for $20 off UL Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com . Shady Rays: Use code "TREK" for 40% off two or more pairs of sunglasses at shadyrays.com . OnX Backcountry: Through Memorial Day, use code "TREK70" for 70% off at onxmaps.com Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code "BPRADIO15" for 15% of hyperlitemountaingear.com [divider] Interview with Katie "Sunrise" Lance Katie's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:05:15 - Reminders :

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Why This Pro Triathlete Quit Her Job to Hike the Appalachian Trail with Katie "Sunrise" Lance (BPR #355) is an episode from Backpacker Radio by Zach Davis.

This episode is 02:12:36 long.

This episode was published on May 4, 2026.

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