Conversations That Matter
Anna Hertel is an author, counselor-in-training, and former endurance triathlete whose work explores resilience, trauma recovery, and the search for belonging. She brings a unique perspective shaped by her memoir, Brick by Brick, her lived experience, and her emerging voice as a counselor. Anna has shared some of her story on podcasts and is eager to continue engaging in conversations that inspire, inform, and foster connection.
At just 34, Anna Hertel faced the reality that she would likely never compete in another IRONMAN. Five years earlier, that truth would have been unthinkable — triathlon was her identity, her scaffold through trauma and recovery.
In this conversation, Anna shares her journey of growth in the midst of overwhelming adversity, and what it means to find your place within endurance sport even when competition must cease. What emerged is a mindset of purpose, patience, and gratitude, with lessons that resonate far beyond the race course:
Stop being in a hurry.
Meet your body where it’s at — not where you think it’s at.
Journal your internal progress, not just the data.
Don’t take yourself too seriously.
And, as coach Matt Dixon reminds us: “Keep the sport fun. Training is super, but it isn’t you.”
A story of growth, resilience, and the freedom to redefine identity.
Featured Media
Anna H is a former triathlete who currently resides in San Francisco. She spent her first 11.5 years in Germany then moved to the USA with her parents but not her older siblings. She describes what it’s like to feel German and also Californian.
Whilst wanting to keep an international element to her daughter’s upbringing, Anna also wishes for her child to have a deep sense of belonging.
Speaking Topics (forward-facing)
Anna is available for podcasts, panels, and speaking engagements on:
Resilience and recovery through endurance.
Surviving coercive control and reclaiming story.
ADHD, trauma, and narrative identity.
Narrative therapy, sport psychology, and healing
