BPC Performance Coaching

ATHLETE HIGHLIGHT | Richard Stegura

On mile 19 of the run at Ironman Chattanooga, his calf locked up. Sitting on the ground trying to get it to loosen it's grip, a volunteer rolls up in a golf cart and offers a ride.

Richard looked at him and thought: are you out of your mind? I've got 7 miles left.

Not only that -- he was actually doing the math on whether he could still catch the guy who'd just passed him.

That's who Richard Stegura is.

Richard is a triathlete from Hernando, MS, who recently qualified for both USAT Age Group Nationals and 70.3 Worlds. Not because everything went perfectly. Because he kept showing up when it didn't. And this season he started by taking down Ironman Jacksonville.

He's been at this a long time. And the thing he's most proud of isn't a podium or a PR.

It's staying consistent over time.

That's a harder thing than most people realize. When fatigue is high, when life gets messy, when the training block feels long and the race feels far away -- that's when most people find a reason to skip or take a break. Richard continues to find a reason to keep pushing.

He works with Coach Dale here at BPC, and the data doesn't lie: he keeps getting stronger. Everyone sees it. That kind of quiet confirmation, built over months and years of showing up, is what turns a good athlete into a dangerous one.

Next goal to conquer? Top 10 at AG Nationals. And a Kona qualification.

Neither of those goals is a stretch for someone with his brand of work ethic.

When asked what he'd tell someone who thinks they're not ready to start this sport, Richard didn't mince words:

"You have to start where you are. Saying you'll start after you lose 50 lbs is just a huge cop out."

And when it's all said and done?

"We're blessed just to be able to do this."

Hard-nosed competitor. Grateful human. That's Richard.

Rich, congratulations on the Worlds qualification! On behalf of Coach Dale and the entire BPC family - we are jazzed to be in your corner and a part of your awesome journey!

BPC Athlete Highlight | Thomas Ratliff

Thomas Ratliff is 65 years old. He's an oncologist. And he just finished his 7th 70.3.

Let that sit for a second...

While most people his age are easing off the gas, Thomas spends his days fighting for patients in one of the most demanding professions and then he trains in the pool, on the bike and running. Seven half-iron distance triathlons. Plus placing in the MRTC off and on road race series along the way.

He's the kind of athlete who shows up. Quietly. Consistently. Without needing anyone to notice.

Here's the moment that's stuck with him. Coming out of the water at Chattanooga 70.3 and seeing his swim time on the clock. Because when Thomas started this sport, he was always last out of the water. Every single time. He didn't quit. He didn't blame his age or his schedule. He got to work, stayed consistent and focused and now he's passing people.

When asked what he'd tell someone on the fence about getting into the sport, Thomas kept it simple. Get a coach if you can afford it and stay as consistent as you can on all the workouts.

And he's not done. His next goal is to run the entire time during a sprint distance triathlon without stopping. He's the first to admit that it sounds easy, but for him it’s not. That kind of honesty is exactly what makes someone worth rooting for.

So here's to Thomas. The doctor who saves lives by day and quietly stacks 70.3s on the weekend. The guy who started last out of the water and refused to stay there. The athlete who reminds us that 65 is not a finish line. It can be a starting point if you decide you want it to be.

Thomas - on behalf of Coach Heather and the rest of the BPC crew, we're jazzed you're part of the BPC family!

Onward!

Interested in starting your own fitness journey? Hit us up...we'd be happy to chat.

If you’ve ever wanted to try road racing, this weekend is the perfect low cost way to do it! And only an hour from home. Let’s go!!!

State Games Rockabilly 2026 Final 10.6 mi, +433 ft. Bike ride in Jackson, TN

ATHLETE HIGHLIGHT | Levi Richardson

Levi Richardson lost nearly 90 pounds in 10 months. You read that right...

Not with a "weight loss" program, not with a challenge, not with a bet.

With a coach, a plan, and a decision to start showing up before he could see it working.

That last part matters. Because the hardest thing about the early months wasn't the miles or the heavy legs. It was trusting someone else's vision when he couldn't yet see the progress himself.

He kept showing up anyway.

At some point, something shifted. He got stronger. He got faster. He got more disciplined. And then...in his own words..."one day, the growth I had been working for simply arrived."

That is not a quote from someone who did it the easy way. That is a quote from someone who held on long enough to let the process work.

The result that put a number on all of it: the Regional One Health One-Mile Championship. 11:59.
Sub-12. A personal best. A line he had been working toward for a long time.

But he'll tell you the race wasn't really the moment. The moment was realizing he was no longer the same person who started.
There was a training day he won't forget. He texted his coach, Heather Nichols, to complain and say he wasn't sure he could handle it.

Her response: "I know."

Two words. He knew exactly what it meant.

"You've got this. Let's go."

"You do not have to see the whole journey to take the first step. Trust the process, trust the people helping you, and give yourself permission to grow slowly - because one day you will look up and realize you are stronger, faster, and more capable than you ever believed."

Next up for Levi: the full MRTC Road Race Series.

So what's that big goal you've got that you think is impossible?

All you need to do is learn from Levi - get started, keep showing up, never quit.

You're capable of more than you think!

Levi, we are fired up to have you in the BPC family. The journey is just beginning!

Happy to support this awesome cause and event. Don’t miss out on Miles4Milla on 5/15/26. Ride long. Ride short. Don’t ride at all. Stay for the party and your new favorite shirt.

Check our stories for a direct reg link and get signed up today!

Some of our athletes gripped it and ripped it this past weekend at Tupelo Sprint Triathlon. Congrats out there to all!
The results speak for themselves:
- 3rd OA Female
- 1st Male Master
- 1st Female Master
- 1st AG
- 2nd AG
- 1st AG
- 1st AG
- 1st AG
- .tom 2nd AG
- .aycock.5 4th AG
- Kraig Coates 5th AG

ATHLETE HIGHLIGHT | Kelley Hikade

Twenty-nine years. Twenty-six marathons. Eight Boston finishes.

And at 56 years old, Kelley Hikade just ran her fastest marathon ever.

3:27:55 at the 2026 Boston Marathon. A new personal best, 30 years after her previous PB.

Let that sit for a second. Thirty years. Most people would have filed that old PR under "ancient history" a long time ago. Kelley kept training.

The story isn't just the time on the clock. It's what came before it.

The last couple of years have not been clean. A career change. The loss of multiple family members and close friends. Starting over in a new state. Any one of those is enough of a reason to pull back from serious training. Kelley used the training as a way to cope instead - a place to keep showing up, keep moving, keep being herself through all of it.

She landed in Durham, NC, in terrain where hills are everywhere. So she trained on them. Got stronger. Got faster. Sharpened her track work and her long run pace until the fitness was undeniable.

Then came race day.

After cresting the Newton Hills, Kelley looked down at her watch and did the math. Even if she slowed down from there, she was running a Boston PR. Then mile 25 came, and her husband was waiting.

"3:28 pace - give it everything."

She did.

"Start with bite-sized goals. Short distances, no pace pressure, see how it makes you feel - then go from there."

That's her advice to anyone staring at running and wondering if it's for them. It's simple, it's honest, and it's how she built a 29-year career that is still producing personal bests.

Memphis --> Durham, NC. 56 years young. 26 marathons. 8 Bostons. One brand new PR.

Coach Ben Knoernschild is in her corner - the kind of coach who challenges her with the right workouts, supports the grind, and cares about her as a person, not just an athlete. In her words: "I feel very fortunate to have him in my corner."

And she's not done. Up next, Kelley is chasing a track mile later this year, and then maybe a fast, flat marathon to close it out.

Congrats, Kelley. Proud to have you in the BPC community. The journey keeps going!

May 30th - MARK YOUR CALENDARS and get registered for an awesome, beginner friendly road bike race over in Jackson, TN!

We're helping get this going - feel free to reach out with any quesitons!

State Games of Tennessee Cycling Road Race Online Registration BikeReg - online cycling event registration