Multiple NCAA All-American swimmer Dede Griesbauer left behind a career in finance in 2005 to pursue the life of a pro triathlete, and she hasn’t looked back. With a resume that boasts top-10 Kona finishes, top American Ironman World Championship finisher, Ultraman winner (and world record holder), and more, Griesbauer has sustained a career in the sport for longer than almost any other active pro triathlete. Today, she’s also known as a commentator on the Ironman livestream.
A big part of her longevity in tri is due to the meticulous care and focus she places on training and recovery. Below, Griesbauer takes us inside her Boulder, Colorado-based pain cave to get a peek at what it takes to hold it all together for a 19-year career.
Boasting two bikes set up in front of a tripod-mounted flatscreen TV, surrounded by workout gear, Griesbauer is ready to put in super long hours of indoor training.
Griesbauer’s Trek Speed Concept (R) sits alongside her husband Dave’s Trek road bike (L). Her bike is mounted to a Tacx Neo 2T direct-drive trainer, while his is mounted to a Cycle-Ops Hammer, “for when he comes down to join for 45 minutes of moral support every now and then,” she says.
Here we get a close-up look at Griesbauer’s Tacx trainer attached to her Trek Speed Concept tri bike.
Griesbauer has a heater, a fan, and a host of remotes at the ready.
Here we get a glimpse of Griesbauer’s Drag2Zero front end, some of her personal inspiration, and a mirror resting on a Zwift Hub box.
Griesbauer has a host of strength-training tools including a Swiss ball, blocks, free weights, and more.
We take a closer look at some of Griesbauer’s strength equipment, like her set of Bowflex adjustable dumbbells.
This textured foam roller is an important tool for Griesbauer’s recovery process.
Like many triathletes, Griesbauer uses a door-mounted TRX system to supplement core/strength training.
Lots of indoor miles means lots (and lots) of sweat. Here we see a commercial-gym-amount of cleanup towels.
Griesbauer holds a picture taken moments after she learned she had missed out on the ‘92 Barcelona Olympic Team at U.S. Olympic Trials. She says if she had made that team, there’s a chance she wouldn’t have returned to athletics years later.
Shots from Griesbauer’s seventh-place finish at the 2007 Hawaii Ironman World Championships hang on the wall.
Griesbauer has two treadmills in her pain cave at the moment. Here we look at her older True-brand treadmill that she’s been unable to resell—or even give away. Free to a good home, “to anyone who will come and get it out of our basement,” she says.
Griesbauer’s other treadmill is a Technogym Skillrun.
Here we get a closer look at the Skillrun’s digital head unit.
Griesbauer is a huge fan of the Lever treadmill device that acts as a makeshift Alter-G to reduce the weight and impact of running.
The Lever attaches to most treadmills and can reduce up to 45 pounds of weight/impact.
Griesbauer’s pain cave also includes a Vasa Ergometer dryland swim simulation device.
The most important of any pain cave? The recovery corner. Here we see Griesbauer’s plush beanbag and Normatec leg recovery system.