How can a spinal injury at 17 lead to building an exciting endurance brand? In this episode, Greg McDonough sits down with Rei Lalo, the founder and CEO of TRIHARD, a company redefining personal care for athletes and swimmers. Rei shares how a life-changing injury inspired his passion for endurance sports and ultimately led him to create a brand dedicated to helping athletes protect their skin and hair from the harsh effects of chlorine. Rei and Greg discuss endurance as a mindset, entrepreneurship through uncertainty, and what it takes to turn personal challenges into industry-changing innovation.
Takeaways:
Adversity can be your greatest teacher. Rei’s recovery from spinal surgery taught him discipline, focus, and endurance, qualities that later defined his business journey.
Innovation starts with empathy. TRIHARD was born from Rei’s firsthand understanding of an athlete’s unmet needs, proving that great ideas often come from personal pain points.
Adapt to unexpected markets. When COVID shut down public pools, TRIHARD thrived by identifying and serving a new audience: families with backyard pools.
Stay laser-focused, then expand. Rei’s early decision to specialize in chlorine protection gave TRIHARD authority in a niche before branching into broader swim care.
Persistence beats perfection. From unpaid internships to global distribution deals, Rei’s journey shows the power of doing the work before you’re “ready.”
Wellness meets performance. Rei’s perspective on swimming as both exercise and meditation offers a reminder that endurance isn’t just physical, it’s mental.
Quote of the Show:
" I want to get to a point when people protect themselves from chlorine, the way they protect themselves from the sun." - Rei Lalo
This Episode is Sponsored by TRIHARD! Use Code TCEO for 20% off their Website: https://www.trihard.co/?utm_source=tceo&utm_campaign=podcast
Links:
TRIHARD Website: https://www.trihard.co/?utm_source=tceo&utm_campaign=podcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reilalo/
Company website: https://www.trihard.co/
Rei’s Email: rei@trihardus.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rei_lalo/
TRIHARD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wetrihard/
Ways to Tune In:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/580aLDKac1ld031W4nWDtp
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chief-endurance-officer/id1680214218?uo=4
Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2NoaWVmLWVuZHVyYW5jZS1vZmZpY2Vy
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c96880f-8dcd-4a6e-b1c8-fda816f872a9
Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-5250102
Listen Notes: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-ringmaster-KMdv2I8XwkN/
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Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
