Podcasts by Category
Host Dirk Friel, Co-founder of TrainingPeaks, talks with expert guests about endurance training and racing topics. We’ll explore coaching methodologies, compelling research and leading tools that can benefit sport performance for coaches and athletes. To learn more about how TrainingPeaks can help your training goals, visit us at trainingpeaks.com.
- 91 - Season 6 Ep 4 — How to Utilize Running Power Metrics with Dr. Will O'Connor
Dr. Will O'Connor takes us through the nuances of using running power in training. Will and Dirk get into the scientific side of power meters, discuss the accuracy and data consistency from devices like Stryd and other wearables, and learn how to use critical power zones to break down the metabolic costs of running variable terrain. Will also touches on some of the lessons in his Fundamentals of Running Power TrainingPeaks University course. Will is a running scientist and former triathlete based in New Zealand. He drew on his background in organic chemistry to complete a Ph.D. in Sport & Exercise Science from Massey University, where his research investigated metabolic flexibility and ketogenic diets in ultra-endurance performance. Will competes at the elite level in ultrarunning events — he's used a run power meter since day one — and is a coach and host of the "Running with Dr Will" podcast.
Wed, 17 Apr 2024 - 90 - Season 6 Ep 3 — Kristin Armstrong: Navigating an Era of Wearables, Data & Social Platforms
Kristin Armstrong talks coaching strategies in a data-driven world filled with wearables and social platforms. With the advancement of technology and platforms, there is a growing tension between positives and negatives when it comes to data, wearable devices and social media. The challenges of managing this tension have become heightened for younger athletes who may feel pressure to maintain an online persona of success and accomplishment through sharing data and results. How can a coach find the balance between using data to improve performance while minimizing the risks of an overly connected athlete? Kristin explains her approaches, including how she tries out any new wearable an athlete brings up with her to understand how it works, what it tracks and the experience as a user. Kristin, the most decorated U.S. female cyclist and the best female time trialist in history, lives in Idaho. She owns the Pivot by KA chain of health clubs while still managing a cycling coaching business. She is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, a two-time World Champion, and has won six U.S. National Championships. She is the only female U.S. athlete to have won the same event in three consecutive Olympic Games and the oldest female cyclist in history to win an Olympic gold medal. To watch the interview, head over to the TrainingPeaks YouTube Channel.
Wed, 20 Mar 2024 - 89 - Season 6 Ep 2 — Exploring Joe Friel's 40-Year Coaching Evolution
In this episode, we have none other than Joe Friel, a legendary figure in the world of endurance coaching. As the co-founder of TrainingPeaks and author of several seminal books on athletic training, Joe has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of endurance sports. The fifth edition of the Triathlon Training Bible hit shelves earlier this month. Plus, he has kept his peak health and participation in the sports scene into his 80s. In our conversation, Joe takes us on a journey through his career: from opening the first triathlon store in the U.S. in the late 1980s to becoming a pioneering coach when the concept was still in its infancy. He shares the challenges and triumphs of building a coaching business, from charging a mere $5 for training plans to achieving his goal of having 70 clients. We'll break down Joe's philosophy on integrating RPE and data, stressing the importance of experienced athletes tuning into their own bodies in conjunction with the objective metrics from technology. Joe also provides insights into the evolution of triathlon coaching, his prolific writing career started by personal health challenges, and his peers' concerns about sharing his knowledge too freely — a concern echoed in today's discussions around technology and AI. **pardon the audio quality in the first five minutes of the interview, as there were some technical difficulties.
Wed, 21 Feb 2024 - 88 - Season 6 Ep 1 — How Sociology of Sport Impacts Coaching with Brian Gearity
In this episode, Dr. Brian Gearity, professor and director of the Master of Arts Sport Coaching program at the University of Denver, talks with Dirk Friel about the intersection of sociology and coaching. Dr. Gearity, with his extensive experience in sports sociology, coaching and exercise science, provides valuable insights into the complexities of coaching that come from social constructs. The thought-provoking discussion also delves into the difference between sports psychology and sports sociology. After listening to the episode, coaches and athletes will better understand how coaches are shaped by various social factors, from historical contexts to cultural influences. From the significance of inclusivity in sports to the nuanced societal dynamics that influence team cohesion and performance, Dirk and Dr. Gearity talk through some contemporary challenges that coaches face today. The discussion is a reminder to coaches and athletes that excellence in coaching transcends physical training.
Wed, 17 Jan 2024 - 87 - Season 5 Ep 12 — Building Strength and Durability in Endurance Athletes With Chris Lee
Dirk Friel digs into Chris' approach to strength training. His philosophy is underpinned by thorough body movement assessments, identifying and targeting an athlete's limiters, and a belief in the vital role of strength work for injury prevention and performance improvement. He points out that he advocates year-round strength training tailored to each phase of an athlete's season. Lee, the director of Sports Performance at Kinesis Integrated, holds a physical education and exercise science degree and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the NSCA. With almost a decade of experience, he serves as a strength coach for the Tinman Elite Running Team and has worked extensively with endurance coaches to integrate effective strength programs. In addition to coaching Dirk's strength training program, he is also an advisor to new strength training features being added to TrainingPeaks, providing guidance and feedback for new tools coming to the platform in early 2024. Over 90% of TrainingPeaks coaches prescribe strength training through TrainingPeaks.
Wed, 13 Dec 2023 - 86 - Season 5 Ep 11 — Youth Development and Age-Appropriate Progression with Lance Watson
In this episode, Lance and Dirk discuss the importance of cultivating a multidimensional sports foundation for young athletes before zeroing in on a particular sport. Hear about the upsides of a mixed sporting background and the risks of early specialization. Lance also shares insightful experiences as a coach (guiding Brent McMahon from the junior ranks to retirement from the pro circuit) and a parent of two high-performing kids. When is the right time for a young athlete to specialize in a sport? How far is too far for those athletes? What role do parents play in the progression of their children's athletics? Why is it important for young athletes to have a broad range of skills? Find out what has worked for Lance and his athletes for over 25 years, including his son and daughter.
Wed, 15 Nov 2023 - 85 - Season 5 EP 10 — Triathlon Offseason Training Secrets with Mike Ricci
Mike Ricci, founder and head coach at D3 Multisport and After 40 Reboot, joins the CoachCast this month to talk all things triathlon offseason. Mike shares several tips that any athlete can do to take the offseason into race season with more momentum. With over 20 years of coaching experience, Mike has worked with IRONMAN age group winners and national champions. He believes in working on weaknesses during the offseason to set up the coming season of success. From goal setting to blood testing to strength and mobility programming, Mike and Dirk discuss how small adjustments to your training routine during this time can lead to significant improvements.
Wed, 18 Oct 2023 - 84 - Season 5 Ep 9 — What Coaches & Athletes Should Know About the Business of Endurance Coaching
Whether you're a coach looking to navigate the business landscape or an athlete considering hiring a coach, this episode offers valuable insights and perspectives from seasoned professionals. Three diverse coaches in business structure, sport type and location open up to shed light on their sources of income, ranging from subscription-based coaching to book royalties and bike fits. Learn the differences between U.S.-based and European-based coaching businesses. They discuss the challenges and opportunities coaches face in the marketplace and where they see the future of coaching going beyond an increased focus on personalized services.
Wed, 20 Sep 2023 - 83 - Season 5 Ep 8 — The Intersection of Cycling & Sailing: Ben Day's Journey to the America's Cup
The physical demands of cyclists and cyclors take center stage in this episode of the CoachCast. Ben Day, a retired pro cyclist and head performance coach of the American Magic team, shares his insights on his transition from pro cycling to yacht racing and the advent of cyclors crewing race boats. Cyclors, using their lower-body strength, can produce 30-40% more power than arm grinders, making them more efficient in manipulating sail shapes and setting up the boat for optimal performance. The evolving rules of the America's Cup have opened the door to the importance of cyclists and the physical abilities they bring to the table. Learn how absolute power is the key to a great cyclor, and the concerns of watts per kilogram, so critical to World Tour riders, do not apply. Churning out 450 watts for nearly 20 minutes is the baseline for any cyclist or rower looking to take on racing boats skimming the water's surface at 100 kph. Ben and Dirk also examine the training and nutrition it takes to develop and maintain these efforts to claim the trophy of the oldest international competition still operating.
Wed, 16 Aug 2023 - 82 - Season 5 Ep 7 — Mental Health Disorders in Ultra Endurance Athletes with Jill Colangelo
In this episode of the TrainingPeaks CoachCast, host Dirk Friel interviews Jill Colangelo, a researcher focusing on mental health in endurance athletes. Colangelo shares insights from her ultra endurance experiences, sports psychiatry work and research, highlighting the higher prevalence of mental illness among ultra endurance athletes. She discusses the need for recognition and treatment of exercise addiction, as well as the importance of balancing athletic pursuits with a fulfilling life outside of sports. Colangelo also delves into overtraining syndrome, its symptoms and the challenges in diagnosing it. Offering practical solutions for maintaining physical and mental well-being, she stresses the role of coaches in promoting rest, nutrition and mindful training. Tune in for an eye-opening discussion on mental health in the endurance sports community.
Wed, 19 Jul 2023 - 81 - Season 5 Ep 6 — 5 Mistakes Endurance Athletes Make for Weight Loss with Renee Eastman
Renee Eastman explains the details of the five mistakes people make in losing weight as endurance athletes, which she published in a blog post on the CTS website. From overcompensating for nutrition deficits to fad diets to short-term fixes and misplaced belief that cardio drives weight loss, learn how to use slow and boring tactics to have the best results in losing weight while maintaining performance goals. Eastman is a Premier Coach for CTS with over 20 years of experience coaching endurance sports. She has a master’s degree in Exercise Science and is a NASM-certified nutrition coach.
Wed, 21 Jun 2023 - 80 - Season 5 Ep 5 — Dynamic Loading, Physiological Testing and Effective Range with Gordo Byrn
In this episode, Gordo Byrn explains the importance of base training, which he defines as "the ability to move for the duration of your goal event." Highlighting that athletes should focus on building general capacity before moving on to specific capacity training. He believes that many endurance athletes make the mistake of focusing too much on specific capacity training and not enough on general capacity training, which can lead to overtraining and injury. Byrn has been called the Tony Robbins in a Speedo because he is a self-help guru and an ex-pro IRONMAN athlete with seven sub-nine-hour IRONMAN finishes. Byrn is also a past winner of the Ultraman triathlon in Kona, Hawaii. He is a coach and author of the book "Going Long." He has taken about a decade off to focus on his family and is now focusing on being fit after 50. Still, the lessons he shares in the episode apply to any athlete at any age. Listen in as Bryn and Dirk Friel also discuss the importance of recovery and adaptation. Breaking down how Byrn uses a "5:2" training approach in combination with physiological testing to ensure he and his athletes get the most out of training and a readiness test he performs each morning and night to determine how his body manages the training load to dynamically guide subsequent workouts.
Wed, 17 May 2023 - 79 - Season 5 Ep 4 — Manaslu and Ultrarunning at 75 with David Babbitt and Coach Land Heintzberger
David Babbitt is an American ultrarunner living in Nepal and racing some of the most difficult multi-stage races on the planet. He's doing this at age 75. With the help of his long-time coach, Land Heintzberger, the duo have focused on core training basics to keep David in races and finishing faster than many younger competitors. Babbitt completed the seven-day Manaslu Mountain Trail Race, which covers 122 miles, 35,000 feet of elevation gain and tops out at 17,000 feet above sea level. He finished in 41 hours and was nowhere near being in last place. Listen in as Dirk Friel talks with Babbitt about his journey from cycling and inline skating to World Championship duathlons and ultrarunning. Plus, how Heintzberger has advised Babbitt for almost 10 years on load management and recovery after connecting through the TrainingPeaks Coach Match program.
Wed, 12 Apr 2023 - 78 - Season 5 Ep 3 — The Habits to Running Healthy and Lifelong with Coach Amanda Brooks
Listen in as Amanda Brooks and Dirk talk pre-hab, fueling as an aging runner, perimenopause and menopause and how she prescribes intensity even to those 60 and 70+ runners. Amanda Brooks is a running coach and author who has helped many runners achieve their goals. She is a perpetual blogger and author of several books, including "Run to the Finish: The Everyday Runner's Guide," and has contributed to several publications, including Runner's World and Women's Health. She focuses her coaching and leadership on those runners regardless of pace. She understands that most runners do not dedicate all their free time to training like elites and pros. And she works to guide her athletes to continue to run injury-free and for as long as possible.
Wed, 15 Mar 2023 - 77 - Season 5 Ep 2 — NVDM's Secrets to Training Triathletes with Natasha van der Merwe
Originally from South Africa, founder, CEO and head coach Natasha van der Merwe has built a unique coaching business in Austin, Texas. NVDM Coaching has seen explosive growth over the last two years, and while catering to athletes of all abilities, many have gone on to win age groups or podium spots in a number of Ironman races. Van der Merwe and her coaching staff have also developed a special knack for helping athletes build a lifestyle around their sport through careful training management, testing and periodization. Listen in as she and Dirk Friel dive into training methodologies, tips for success and how pulling back the focus from race results to personal development leads to better athletes. Quoted: "The last year [of my career] was my best year because I was after personal development. I wasn't after race results anymore. I was after, "How could I be the best athlete, and what did that look like?" And then, in turn, I saw myself becoming the best person and the best coach. And so we try to kind of hit that early on."
Wed, 15 Feb 2023 - 76 - Season 5 Ep 1 — How Zone 2 Biochemistry Powers Athletes' Biomechanical Energy with Iñigo San Millán
Dr. Iñigo San Millán is a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, performing clinical and research work in cellular metabolism, especially in diabetes, cardiometabolic disease and cancer. He has been testing and coaching world-class endurance athletes for over 25 years. He is also the Head of Performance for the professional cycling team UAE, where he is the personal coach of two-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar. San Millán's focus for his athletes is training the biochemical systems to empower the biomechanical systems. Using lactate and heart rate as the guiding biomarkers, he has developed protocols to train various energy systems for the best performance possible. Listen in as Dirk Friel asks for details on how these systems work, when a Zone 2 ride is no longer a Zone 2 ride and how to train effectively on only 10 hours per week.
Wed, 25 Jan 2023 - 75 - Season 4 Ep 12 — Training for World-Class Skimo and a Leadville MTB 100 Podium with John Gaston
Though coming to the sport later than most, John Gaston is the current U.S. National Ski Mountaineering champion and has won multiple prestigious U.S. events, including the Audi Power of Four 10 times. He is arguably the country's best ski mountaineering, or skimo racer, and competes on the world stage in the winter. During the summer, Gaston mountain bikes the trails near his home in Aspen to maintain fitness and revel in the high alpine environment. In August, he placed second overall at the Leadville 100 mountain bike race, ahead of a stacked field of the world's top professional cyclists. Listen in as Gaston reveals his training philosophy to compete at the world-class level in two different sports, balancing a growing family with running an apparel brand and the potentially limited future of elite-level skimo in the U.S.
Wed, 14 Dec 2022 - 74 - Season 4 Ep 11 — The Essentials of Training Plans with David Warden and Matt Fitzgerald of 80/20 Endurance
David Warden and Matt Fitzgerald are the founders of 80/20 Endurance, one of the pioneers of endurance training plans. 80/20 sold its first plan within the TrainingPeaks Marketplace in 2005. Their plans have helped hundreds of thousands of athletes of all experience and ability levels achieve their goals. David Warden is an internationally recognized coach and author with clients including world champion age group racers, duathlon champions and multiple Ironman World Championship qualifiers. He is the co-author of "Triathlon Science," the industry standard for triathlon coaches, and "80/20 Triathlon." Matt Fitzgerald is an acclaimed endurance sports coach, nutritionist and author, haven written over 30 books, including "The Endurance Diet," "80/20 Running" and "How Bad Do You Want It?" Matt and David sat down with Dirk to talk all things training plans. From valuable insight for coaches making and selling programs to advice for athletes choosing a plan, it's a must-listen for anyone using training plans. Plus, the 80/20 duo reveal some exciting plans for coaches and athletes looking to advance their skills in the endurance athlete world.
Wed, 16 Nov 2022 - 73 - Season 4 Ep 10 — The Moxie & Grit of Pro Mother, MTB Racer and Coach Sonya Looney
Sonya Looney is pushing the traditional notions of training for professional mountain bike racing during and after pregnancy while reinforcing patience and resilience in her clients as a health coach. Despite her results as a pro, she describes herself as a normal person who has accomplished extraordinary things through hard work, self-belief, determination and willingness to fail. Dirk sits down with Sonya to talk about a wide range of topics from her start as an athlete, adjusting to motherhood and racing, unique training approaches and the rewards of coaching others. She's raced mountain bikes across the world in more than 25 countries at the hardest endurance races in places like the Sahara Desert, the Himalayas in Nepal, tropical jungles in Asia and the steppes of Mongolia. Her passion for taking on the most demanding and longest races in the world has enabled her to serve others through her coaching business and Moxie & Grit Mindset Academy.
Wed, 19 Oct 2022 - 72 - Season 4 Ep 9 — Triathlon Peaking and Tapering with Craig Alexander, Plus Kona 2022 Predictions
Craig Alexander, or "Crowie" as many call know him, has formulated an approach to triathlon training through many years as a professional and now as a coach. He talks with Dirk Friel about his approach to hitting peak fitness while balancing a restorative taper for the best performance racing long course triathlon. Crowie and Dirk consider the schedule changes to the Ironman World Championships in Kona for 2022 and who could take home the men's and women's titles after seeing recent performances and results from the championships in St. George earlier in the year. Plus, should the world championships always be hosted in Kona? Alexander is a true legend of triathlon and is a three-time Ironman champion and two-time 70.3 world champion. Winning both in 2011, He has held the Ironman Hawaii course record and was recently inducted into the Ironman Australia Hall of Fame. He started his coaching company, Sansego, in 2014, which serves hundreds of athletes worldwide through training plans, clubs, personal coaching and more.
Wed, 21 Sep 2022 - 71 - Season 4 Ep8 — Training for Big Mountains and Defining New Alpinism with Steve House of Uphill Athlete
Steve House sees the convergence of technical climbing and mountaineering as "New Alpinism." And the athleticism required to be an all-around alpinist demands a training regimen as diverse as the skills of the blended climbing disciplines used. His coaching company, Uphill Athlete, grew from his work helping lead other alpinists, mountaineers and athletes based on personal learnings and fundamental endurance coaching. For 21 years, Steve House was a professional climber and has been a professional mountain guide since 1992. His most famous ascent was Nanga Parbat's Rupal Face in 2005, which earned him and Vincent Anderson the acclaimed The Piolet d'Or ("Golden Ice Axe"). Reinhold Messner called him "The best high-altitude climber in the world." He has also compiled an impressive list of first ascents and new routes in Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, the Alps and the Himalayas. Since retiring from professional climbing, House has coauthored "Training for the New Alpinism" and "Training for the Uphill Athlete," as well as becoming a co-founder of the coaching company Uphill Athlete.
Wed, 17 Aug 2022 - 70 - Season 4, Ep 7 — Taking Big Risks and Pioneering Gravel Inclusivity with Amy Charity
Despite establishing a career in the financial domain after college, Amy Charity took a big gamble, trading boardrooms for race courses. She is now a former professional cyclist and member of a World Championship time trial team for the United States, and author of "The Wrong Side of Comfortable." Her new career is co-founder and owner of the SBT GRVL gravel event that has become one of the marquee cycling events in North America. Charity now focuses her efforts in the cycling community, bringing more diversity and new cyclists to the gravel roads of Colorado. Additionally, she's become a coach to several beginners learning and training their way to take on the various distances of SBT GRVL. She has created an opening for more riders to experience the gravel scene through partnerships with other cycling advocacy groups.
Wed, 20 Jul 2022 - 69 - Season 4, Ep 6 — Sports Psychology Frameworks for Anxiety and Injury with Dr. Justin Ross
Dr. Ross is a clinical psychologist in Denver, Colo. specializing in athlete mental health and performance. He helps address issues such as anxiety, depression, disordered eating and insomnia while aiming to develop high-performance sports psychology skills within any field of play. Dr. Ross authored the Introduction to Sports Psychology for Endurance Coaches course through TrainingPeaks University. Learn the fundamentals of Sports Psychology with specific techniques to keep your athletes motivated, confident, and performing their best. He also helps athletes manage the psychological impact of injury or transition back into their sport. He's an athlete and has competed in IRONMAN® 70.3s and qualified for the Boston Marathon nine times with race plans for the Silver Rush and Leadville 100 Mountain Bike races, followed by the Berlin and London marathons back-to-back in the fall.
Wed, 22 Jun 2022 - 68 - Season 4, Ep 5 — Ultrarunning: Training, Mental Skills and the Hierarchy of Needs with Jason Koop
Ultramarathon running is a complex sport. Jason Koop's updated book, "Training Essentials for Ultrarunning," dives into the complexity to help answer many of the questions that ultrarunners and other competitors face as endurance athletes. The book is filled with evidence-based methodologies that may be useful for athletes in other endurance sports beyond ultrarunning. Koop is a leading authority and one of the most sought-after coaches in trail and ultrarunning. He has over 20 years of coaching experience and is the head coach at CTS Ultrarunning. He's an ultrarunner in his own right, having completed a 250-mile race recently and is preparing for Hardrock 100 this summer. Athletes looking for training guidance for ultra-distance sports beyond ultrarunning may find the evidence-based methodologies useful for their training. Koop self-published the book and hosts a podcast, Koopcast, centered on ultrarunning performance. You can find more information about him and his book at jasonkoop.com.
Wed, 18 May 2022 - 67 - Season 4, Ep 4 — Coaching Race Day Ready with Joy and Brian McCulloch
Joy and Brian McCulloch are the husband and wife team behind the southern California-based Big Wheel Coaching. Joy was a high school P.E. teacher and professional mountain biker. Her vision behind Big Wheel Coaching was to bring P.E. to adults by providing structure, feedback and accountability to athletes. Brian joined the business in 2016 and has over 15 years of professional road, mountain bike and gravel racing experience, and he currently races for the Bianchi Gravel Team. Big Wheel Coaching has developed a Race Day Ready program to help their athletes hit collaborated goals. Joy and Brian develop a plan — many times a physical plan — to achieve the desired objective while also preparing for various aspects they will encounter during a race that might be unique to the course or new to the racer. In addition to the planning, they attend the races to guide mini-clinics on the days before or day of the race to help guide clients and, at times, other racers to be aware of situations they may encounter on the course. Or to get off the line with an opportunity for success. Listen in as they talk about what they've found essential to help racers successful in a race day "stadium" that many have limited experience with or limited occasions to practice.
Wed, 20 Apr 2022 - 66 - Season 4, Ep 3 — Nutrition Training for Race Day and Beyond with Asker Jeukendrup
Recognized as one of the world’s leading sports nutrition experts, Asker Jeukendrup is the author of several books on sports nutrition and over 200 peer-reviewed journal articles on exercise and sports nutrition. He started a consulting business, mysportsscience.com, where he advises teams and organizations. Jeukendrup is currently head of nutrition for the Dutch Olympic Committee, Jumbo-Visma pro cycling team, the Red Bull Athlete Performance Center and several other professional nutrition and exercise organizations. Including Core Nutrition, which is an app that provides detailed nutrition information for your races and training. Dirk Friel talks with Jeukendrup about nutrition planning and strategy for race day and what athletes should aim for to stay fueled up for high-intensity racing. They also talk through some misconceptions that may lead to gastrointestinal (GI) issues and how to prevent them from undermining your performance.
Thu, 24 Mar 2022 - 65 - Season 4, Ep. 2 — Bike Fitting, Technology, Biomechanics and the Future with Dr. Andy Pruitt
Dr. Andy Pruitt, whose professional legacy includes the pioneering of 3-D bike fits, three patents for the development of Specialized Body Geometry shoes and saddles, all of which are designed to help optimize performance and comfort based on individual anatomy. Dr. Pruitt has spent his entire career helping thousands of riders from Tour de France contenders to local racers achieve their own brand of freedom and comfort on the bike. He served as director of sports medicine at the University Of Colorado and was a founder and director of the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine. He joins Dirk Friel on CoachCast to talk about the origins of bike fitting, the importance of turning a foot into a proper lever for power, the balance of aerodynamic body position and power, the future of bike fitting and his next venture of making cycling safer.
Wed, 23 Feb 2022 - 64 - Season 4, Ep. 1 — Running and COVID Recovery with Gwen Jorgensen and Bobby McGee
Gwen Jorgensen won the triathlon gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic games after a pair of ITU World Triathlon Series championships in 2014 and 2015. She has since retired from professional triathlon and is focused on marathon running. She will be inducted into the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame in August of 2022. After contracting COVID-19 recently, she and elite athlete coach Bobby McGee reset her goals and plans for the year. The situation has given them both a new perspective on training and racing. Listen in as Dirk Friel talks about the various challenges of recovering from the illness and how running form and surface impact runners.
Fri, 28 Jan 2022 - 63 - Season 3, Ep. 22 From Distance Running to Weightlifting with Ryan Hall
Ryan Hall left the pro running circuit in 2016. The U.S. half marathon record-holder and unofficial American marathon record-holder has a new passion these days — bodybuilding. From running a sub-2:05 Boston Marathon in 2011 to putting on 40 pounds of muscle, Hall found a new fulfilling way of expressing himself after his body told him his competitive long-distance running days were over. The two-time Olympian joins Dirk to discuss the process of shifting disciplines, the challenges and benefits of coaching his wife Sara, and the coaching lessons he's learned throughout his 20-year career and beyond.
Thu, 18 Nov 2021 - 62 - Season, 3, Ep. 18 Talking Gravel Racing and Life with Peter Stetina
Peter Stetina was an accomplished World Tour road cyclist before embracing gravel racing in 2019. He quickly established himself as one of the best in the sport, winning Utah’s Crusher in the Tushar, the 2021 Belgian Waffle Ride San Diego and the inaugural Leadboat, which is the combination of two arduous endurance races for a total of 250 miles over two days. In 2020, he set the course record on the infamous White Rim Trail in Moab, Utah. Stetina, son of U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame inductee Dale Stetina, joins Dirk to discuss the ever-evolving sport of gravel racing, his successful 2021 season, self-coaching and van life.
Thu, 04 Nov 2021 - 61 - Season 3, Ep. 20 Exploring Skimo with Joe Howdyshell and Grace Staberg
Ski mountaineering, or Skimo, has been gaining traction among winter sports athletes for years. With the recent announcement that the sport will be included in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Skimo will soon be elevated to a worldwide stage. Grace Staberg, 19, is an accomplished ultramarathon runner and a hopeful to represent the United States in the inaugural Skimo event at the Olympics. Grace and her coach, Joe Howdyshell of Summit Endurance Academy, join Dirk to discuss the sport of Skimo, the Olympic inclusion and the training and preparation that has led to Grace becoming one of the top female ski mountaineering athletes in the U.S.
Tue, 19 Oct 2021 - 60 - Season 3, Ep. 19 Finding More Meaning in the Training with Chris Hauth
Chris Hauth intimately knows the interworking of a master's athlete. He knows the family and social obligations, recognizes the desire to remain competitive but also owns the fact the motivation shifts dramatically as athletes age. The glamor of big podium racing fades thus requiring athletes to seek out a deeper ‘why.’ Listen as he and Dirk explore the meaning of working out and ‘working in,’ meaning finding a different mental space that brings forth new ideas and memories. They also discuss creating social anchors that help your training in check as well as coming to understand who you really are through sport.
Tue, 05 Oct 2021 - 59 - Season, 3, Ep. 18 Creating the Perfect Recipe for Triathlon Olympic Gold with Arild Tveiten
The National Triathlon Team of Norway has a fascinating story. Head Coach Arild Tveiten started with just a small handful of athletes interested in the sport. With the right investment of time (8 years!), dedication and a heavy focus on sport science (forget 80/20 training, they are using 90/10!), athlete Kristian Blummenfelt was able to bring home his first gold in triathlon from Tokyo. Discover what it takes for a small country to build a successful team from the ground up, despite limited funding and manpower.
Mon, 13 Sep 2021 - 58 - Season 3, Ep. 17 How to Be a Faster Runner with Will O'Connor
In this episode of the CoachCast, Dirk dives in with Will O'Connor to explore everything related to running power. Listen as they compare the value of running versus riding with power, discuss the best use-case scenarios for run power, as well as examine what it can teach us that GPS data and heart rate can’t. They even touch on the (literal) power contained in a new pair of Nikes and exactly what running power novices need to get started.
Mon, 30 Aug 2021 - 57 - Season 3, Ep. 16 How to Be a Faster Mountain Biker with Matt Miller
If you identify with the mountain bike crew and or with the data nerd clan, this episode is for you. Matt Miller, mountain bike scientist and founder of BrakeAce sat down with Dirk to explore all ways of improving speed and fitness. They start out by discussing how, despite Matt's determination to challenge the idea that FTP rules all, his testing has only certified that it remains steadfast as the primary predictor of performance. They also discuss the absolute necessity of preserving high-effort "matches" by way of strategic braking and finally wrap up with debating how much time mountain bikers need to spend on the road.
Mon, 16 Aug 2021 - 56 - Season 3, Ep. 15 Maintaining Fitness After 50 (And Beyond!) with Joe Friel
It's not every day that Dirk gets to interview his father and TrainingPeaks' Co-Founder, Joe Friel. Listen as Dirk and Joe discuss what it takes to stay competetive as Masters athletes (spoiler alert: incorporating high-intensity training, increasing protein intake and maximizing sleep are all super helpful!)
Mon, 02 Aug 2021 - 55 - Season 3, Ep. 14 2020 Olympics MTB and Team Pursuit Prep with Kristin Armstrong
Coaching both a track racing cyclist and a mountain biking cyclist requires an entirely dual approach. On the mountain biking side, Kristin is working with Hayley Batten’s innate lack of fear to ride the most technical of sections as well as encouraging her through her racing despite inconsistent results. On the track side, she is focused on transitioning Emma White from cyclocross racing to pushing massive power for standing starts and dialing in minute aspects of her aerodynamic setup. Listen as Coach Kristin Armstrong discusses leveraging her knowledge about the science and the art of coaching, as well as heat training to bring these two promising young athletes to Tokyo.
Mon, 19 Jul 2021 - 54 - Season 3, Ep. 13 2020 Olympics Triathlon Prep with Ryan Bolton
The 2020 Olympics are quickly approaching and thousands of swim/bike/run training hours are about to be put to the test for five triathletes on Team USA; Kevin McDowell, Katie Zaferes, Summer Rappaport, Taylor Knibb, and Morgan Pearson. Listen as High-Performance Advisor for USAT Triathlon Ryan Bolton discusses topics such as preparing for the heat of Tokyo, racing/drafting tactics and the unique skillset required by the new mixed relay event.
Wed, 14 Jul 2021 - 53 - Season 3, Ep. 12: Technical Skill Evaluation with Ryan Cooper
Ryan Cooper knows something about everything, especially in the realms of swimming, biking and running. In this episode, Ryan and Dirk discuss everything from how wind direction should dictate when you eat and recover during a bike race, how to feel out a connection between heart rate and your personal RPE, as well as technical skill-building.
Mon, 28 Jun 2021 - 52 - Season 3, Ep. 11: Seizing the 2021 Unbound Gravel Victory with Ian Boswell
Unbound Gravel sits comfortably at the top of the gravel racing food chain. In this special Sprint Episode, Dirk chats with Ian Boswell about the training volume, strategy and nutrition planning that enabled him to take the win.
Mon, 14 Jun 2021 - 51 - Season 3, Ep. 10 Innovating Glucose Monitoring Technology with Phil Southerland
Racing bikes as a person with diabetes may seem like a great challenge for some, but Phil Southerland has always seen it as an opportunity. Diagnosed at seven months old, Phil's love of bikes has enabled him to think about glucose management and training in ways that few others ever have. He believes that the bike is a great way to create heroes for young, aspiring, diabetic athletes. He is the founder of the first all diabetic cycling team and is the founder of Super Sapiens, a startup focused on helping all athletes manage their glucose values for high performance.
Mon, 07 Jun 2021 - 50 - Season 3, Ep. 9 Intuitively Using Training Technology with David Martin
On the 50th episode of the CoachCast Dirk chatted with Dr. David Martin about his 35 years of experience training professional and Olympic level athletes. Listen as they delve into the fascinating career of Cadel Evans as well as the evolution of nutrition and training technologies such as glucose monitoring, HRV, heat adaptation and supplement categorization.
Tue, 25 May 2021 - 49 - Season 3, Ep. 8 Pursuing Balance with Jen Rulon
In this episode of the CoachCast Dirk and Jen dove into what Dirk refers to as "podcasting therapy." They explored the topics at the center of Jen's new book "Self Motivational Strategies for Women" including family, fitness, creativity and more. Listen as they delve into expressing gratitude for our sport and environment, how creativity is manifested in sport and learning to let go.
Tue, 11 May 2021 - 48 - Season 3, Ep. 7 Unlocking the Power of Indoor Training with Kevin Poulton
Kevin Poulton, coach to some of the best cyclists in the world including Caleb Ewan, Alex Dowsett and Matthew Hayman, has more than a few tricks up his sleeve. Lucky for other coaches, he's a total open book and more than happy to share his learnings and insight into the sport with anyone who cares to listen. Listen as Dirk and Kevin talk heat adaptation, carbohydrate manipulation and making serious VO2 gains from adherence to specific indoor trainer sessions.
Mon, 26 Apr 2021 - 47 - Season 3, Ep. 6: Race Week Nutrition Strategy With Dina Griffin
This week on the CoachCast Sports Dietician Dina Griffin joined Dirk to discuss the intricacies of pre-race nutrition and hydration leading up to race day. They explore strategy variations based on race duration, climate, sweat rate, gut tolerance and more. If you or your athletes have a race planned for this year, this episode will provide you with invaluable information to make race day more comfortable and successful.
Tue, 13 Apr 2021 - 46 - Season 3, Ep. 5 Becoming a Coach Educator with Shelly O'Brien
There are few things more satisfying than mentoring and helping others succeed, but in this case, we’re talking about coaches helping coaches rather than athletes. In this week’s special Sprint Episode, Dirk sat down with one of USAT’s Educators of the Year, Shelly O’Brien, to discuss her journey—from beginner triathlete to a renowned coach of other triathlon coaches.
Tue, 30 Mar 2021 - 45 - Season 3, Ep. 4 Bike Fit Physiology with Phil Burt
If you ride bikes a lot, you've probably been there—nerding out about optimizing crank length, micro-adjusting seat post height and debating the value add of osymetric chainrings. Well, friends, this is the episode for you. This week, Dirk joined expert Bike Fitter and Physiotherapist Phil Burt to discuss the entire bike fit process from start to finish. They discuss what it takes to work with everyone from the elite athletes at Team Sky to those just trying to get comfortable on their everyday commuter. As Phil explains, ultimately everyone is looking for the same thing—to feel (relatively) comfortable and truly listened to.
Mon, 15 Mar 2021 - 44 - Season 3, Ep. 3 Unpacking the Dual Legacy of Davis Phinney and Connie Carpenter Phinney
The Phinney name is one of the most well-known amongst the cycling community and the prestige is undoubtedly deserved. Connie started kicked-off her racing career at age 14 when she was the youngest Olympian in the 1972 Olympics, competing in speed skating. Davis, her husband, is the winningest cyclist in US history and is thus recognized by his nickname "The Cash Register." Listen as Dirk and the Phinneys delightfully reminisce about the 1980's heyday of road cycling and the progress (or in some cases lack thereof) of the sport. They also delve into neuroplasticity, living well with Parkinson's disease and the undeniable importance of staying active while aging.
Mon, 01 Mar 2021 - 43 - Season 3, Ep. 2 Dialing in Prehab with Physical Therapist Nathan Koch
Today, Dirk joined Physical Therapist Nathan Koch to explore the prehab and rehab best practices. Topics include but not limited to preferred recovery tools, the contentious value of static stretching, and how concussion therapy and brain science are finally taking their long-overdue place in the list of training and coaching priorities.
Mon, 15 Feb 2021 - 42 - Season 3, Ep. 1 FKT Chasing with Abby Hall and Jason Koop
In the first episode of Season 3 of the TrainingPeaks CoachCast, Ultrarunner Abby Hall and Coach Jason Koop joined Dirk to talk about how they adapted to the emotional highs and lows imposed by the previous year. They explored the importance of the ability to continuously 'pivot' and examined why some athletes flourished with the instability while others struggled (hint: it's largely due to long-term motivation.) Abby also offered insight into her Nüümü Poyo FKT attempt and shared her dreams for 2021 (supplemented by acquiring a customized, very cool adventure van.)
Mon, 01 Feb 2021 - 41 - Season 2, Ep. 18: Trailblazing the Road Cycling World with Dr. Carol Austin
For our final episode of Season 2, we could think of no other guest to interview besides the legend in her own right, Dr. Carol Austin. Dr. Austin is a trailblazer in the cycling world, serving as the first female ever to serve as the head of medical and high performance for any Tour de France Team. Despite facing great adversity in this role, Dr. Austin was focused on serving her team to the best of her ability and was completely dedicated to cultivating the rich talent presented by her African team— the first ever to compete in the Tour. Listen as Dr. Austin discusses her fascinating journey in the pro-cycling world, her own recent fitness discoveries and her career plans for the future.
Wed, 02 Dec 2020 - 40 - Season 2, Ep. 17: Building an E-Racing League with Tim Ballintine
When the huge surge of indoor and e-racing arrived earlier this year, Coach Tim Ballintine was more than ready. With his massively successful KOA Sports League, athletes have been able to race competitively from anywhere in the world, while still maintaining an intimate, squad-like feel. Listen as Tim and Dirk discuss how e-racing fills the winter slump that so many coaches experience and why a TrainingPeaks account serves as a great performance passport for those looking to race virtually.
Tue, 17 Nov 2020 - 39 - Season 2, Ep. 16: Listener Q & A With Gold Medalist Gwen Jorgensen
Gwen Jorgensen has a triathlon resume that might cause you to do a double-take. And yet, she is ready to move on, change sports entirely and focus exclusively on running for the 2021 Olympic Games. In this special episode fueled by the listener questions, sourced from social media, Gwen explains why she decided to mix things up and how passion lies at the heart of everything she does. She also talks about her current training schedule, how she's honed her nutrition routine and more in the newest episode of the CoachCast!
Tue, 03 Nov 2020 - 38 - Season 2, Ep. 15: The Athlete's Brain with Simon Marshall and Lesley Paterson
Lesley Paterson and Simon Marshall are a fascinating pair. With Lesley's personal experiences as a professional triathlete and coach, combined with Simon's sports psychology expertise, the two of them are able to provide deep insight into what makes an athlete's brain tick. Listen as they delve into topics such as compartmentalizing focus while racing, assuming an 'alter racing ego' and their collaborative process on co-writing their book: "The Brave Athlete: Calm the F*ck Down and Rise to the Occasion."
Tue, 20 Oct 2020 - 37 - Season 2, Ep. 14: Gut Training for Endurance Athletes with Patrick Wilson
This week Dirk sat down with Registered Dietician Patrick Wilson to discuss the common gastrointestinal issues that plague endurance athletes. Together, Dirk and Patrick cover everything from beverage osmolality, leaky gut syndrome, the benefits of periodic fasting and why more women are vexed with bloating and constipation during competition than men. They also cover which kinds of sugars are easiest to digest during exercise as well as the gut reactions pre-race anxiety can impose. Patrick offers expert insight on all things related to athlete stomach distress and serves up fascinating, easy-to-implement advice for all endurance coaches and athletes.
Mon, 05 Oct 2020 - 36 - Season 2, Ep. 13: How to Coach A Tour de France Champion with Iñigo San Millán
Winning the Tour de France is no easy feat, and when you dig into the science behind coaching a champion, the task only looks tougher. This week, in a special 'Sprint' episode of the CoachCast, Dirk discusses Tadej Pogacar's recent TDF win with his coach Iñigo San Millán. Listen as they discuss maximizing mitochondrial function, building glycolytic capacity and the dedicated focus that lead to a 30-watt difference from last year to this year.
Tue, 22 Sep 2020 - 35 - Season 2, Ep. 12: A Bright Future and Big Training Blocks with Christopher Blevins and Coach Jim Miller
This week Dirk sat down with renowned Coach Jim Miller and the very talented mountain biking athlete, Christopher Blevins. They explored topics such as the athlete-coach relationship, Christopher’s recovery process and the reality of racing during COVID-19. Christopher also dove into the reasoning behind his decision to commit to mountain bike racing over road and why he’s happy with the current trajectory of his career. Jim reviews his own personal evolution as a coach, starting at USA Cycling, exploring racing strategy at many Olympic Games, his progression to TrainingPeaks and finally, returning to where it all started again at USAC.
Mon, 21 Sep 2020 - 34 - Season 2, Ep. 11: Self Care & Purposeful Racing with Ayesha McGowan and Jim Lehman
It goes without saying that 2020 has been rough on everyone, not excluding Pro Cyclist Ayesha McGowan. Her career was gaining serious momentum after years of hard work and diligent training with her coach Jim Lehman, then, all of that went out the window with COVID-19. Nevertheless, Ayesha has taken this time to rediscover her love for riding bikes and allowed herself to mentally process the current reality, without risking burning out while training for more canceled events. Listen as Ayesha and Jim discuss how their relationship has evolved and improved during this tough time and the lessons they've learned along the way.
Mon, 07 Sep 2020 - 33 - Season 2, Ep. 10: Building An Inspirational Triathlon Community with Joy Miles
If you want to feel inspired, look no further than Coach Joy Miles. She is a fitness instructor and triathlon coach based in Chicago and has a palpable passion for helping members of her community be the very best version of themselves. She guides athletes through every step of their training journeys, from getting comfortable in the deep end of a pool to finishing their very first triathlon. Her success as an athlete and a coach didn't come easy though. As a black woman training in the city, she has faced adversity that most endurance athletes never have to grapple with. She has a story that calls for acknowledgment and leads us to notice what we can do to make the triathlon community a safer and more welcoming place.
Mon, 24 Aug 2020 - 32 - Season 2, Ep. 9: The Future of Racing with Gabriela Gallegos
Race Director Gabriela Gallegos gets, stuff, done! She puts on a multitude of races in Texas as well as Arizona and is on the Board of Directors for USAT. She trained for her first triathlon as an adult and found the finish line experience totally transformative. From then on, she was hooked. Gabriela strives to share that experience with many others in her community, particularly women of color via her Mighty Mujer Race Series. She has undoubtedly made some tough choices throughout the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic but is continuously looking at ways to adapt and guarantee her racers are able to return to what they love most.
Mon, 03 Aug 2020 - 31 - Season 2, Ep. 8: Training Intelligently in the Time of COVID-19 with Dr. Jeff Sankoff
If there ever was someone with true expertise in endurance training through a pandemic, it would be Jeff Sankoff. As a doctor of 21 years, with a specialty in critical care, he has deep insight into the physiology behind triathlon training and racing, in addition to a well-informed perspective on the current status of race safety in the time of COVID-19. Jeff is also a triathlete with many Ironman and Half-Ironman race finishes under his belt. Listen as Dirk and Jeff explore the future of safe racing as well as discussing the infectivity to COVID-19 among training athletes.
Thu, 23 Jul 2020 - 30 - Season 2, Ep. 7: Behind the Wheel with Tony Kanaan
Tony Kanaan is a force to be reckoned with. Not only has he dedicated his life to Indycar racing for the past 23 years, but he is also a triathlete with an insatiable dedication to his training. From pulling massive TSS weeks to carving out triathlon racing time between a 17-week car racing season, there is no doubt that Tony is addicted to competition and driving to greatness. Listen as Dirk dives deep with Tony to discuss motivation, time management and what the future holds for this athletic all-arounder.
Wed, 01 Jul 2020 - 29 - Season 2, Ep. 6: Exploring the Coach-Athlete Relationship with Adam Pulford and Alison Tetrick
An athlete like Alison Tetrick brings a lot to the table. Not only does she have a long history of athletic ambition (playing NCAA tennis and dabbling in triathlon), but she is also an absolute beast on gravel. Her coach Adam Pulford matches her completely. He calmly helps her navigate healthy recovery practices and enables her to be her truest self, even if that means turning a blind eye to her riding seven hours when she was prescribed a two-hour workout. Together, they make an undeniably successful team and a killer CoachCast episode.
Mon, 22 Jun 2020 - 28 - Season 2, Ep. 5: Cultivating Champions with Jim Miller
If creating a true champion requires a special cocktail of raw talent, mental toughness and dedicated mentoring, Coach Jim Miller is exactly the kind of bartender you're looking for. He comes from a long line of coaches, but never originally planned on getting into the business himself. While racing on the pro circuit as a young cyclist, Jim met his first client, Chris Baldwin at a stoplight. From there he was hooked. Jim has worked with numerous top-level athletes and undoubtedly has a knack for finding talent in unexpected places. Listen as Dirk and Jim chat about the evolution of sport and the upcoming challenges facing Jim in 2020 and 2021.
Mon, 08 Jun 2020 - 27 - Season 2, Ep. 4: Going for Gold with Kristin Armstong
A true legend not only in the cycling arena but in sports history as well, Kristin Armstrong has had one of the most prolific careers of all time. She began as a walk-on high school track athlete plagued by injury, transformed into a triathlete and finally honed her craft in cycling. She has finally landed with a successful coaching business, guiding the most promising young female cyclists on their journey to Olympic gold.
Tue, 26 May 2020 - 26 - Season 2, Ep. 3: Patience & Power with Julie Dibens
In the world of triathlon, Julie Dibens has pretty much done it all. From going top three in Kona, qualifying for the Olympics, winning a 70.3 and bagging many Xterra trophies, the laser-focused athlete is now a Boulder-based coach. She is dedicated to her local and remote athletes and fuels the squad with patience, empathy and cookies. Listen to Julie and Dirk review her career achievements and explore the present-day training challenges presented by COVID-19.
Mon, 11 May 2020 - 25 - Season 2, Ep. 2: Virtual IRONMAN Racing with Michael Lovato
If you're stuck indoors with plenty of motivation and time to train, this is the episode for you! This week we interviewed the loquacious Michael Lovato, voice of IRONMAN Live and former pro triathlete. Michael discusses what it takes to be an IRONMAN commentator—from talking for nine-and-a-half hours straight to keep an eye on athlete power output, to even strategizing around limited bathroom breaks. He and Dirk also review his career highlights and biggest mistakes made during his time competitively racing. He even touches on how he's advising his athletes during the time of quarantine and distancing.
Mon, 27 Apr 2020 - 23 - Season 2, Ep. 1: The New Alpinism with Scott Johnston
What do racing an IRONMAN and climbing the Rupal Face of Nanga Parbat have in common? Perhaps more than we originally thought. This week, co-author of Training for the New Alpinism and Training for the Uphill Athlete, Scott Johnston sat down with us to chat about the training commonalities between 'traditional' endurance athletes and elite alpinists. We'll also explore the science behind Aerobic Deficiency Syndrome (or ADS) and how it feels to work with athletes such as legendary Alex Honnold and Kilian Jornet.
Sat, 28 Mar 2020 - 22 - Ep. 22: Optimizing Physiology with Stacy Sims
Coaches should always strive to build training according to their athletes' unique physiology, but how many of our training practices are weighted toward the male experience? Are you thinking about how nutrition and hydration affect performance? What about even coaching practices to increase beneficial bacteria in the gut? Dave sat down with Dr. Stacy Sims to discuss the topics above and many more. They spoke about bad and outdated science that has led to one-size-fits-all training, how hormones affect training in performance in both men and women, and about resources that can help coaches and athletes get to the bottom of claims from supplements and nutrition claims.
Mon, 03 Jun 2019 - 21 - Ep. 21: Building Confidence with Nicole Adams
Anyone who has ever stood at the starting line knows how important confidence can be for athletes embarking on a difficult race. But, as a coach, how do you help instill that confidence in your athletes before race day? Dr. Nicole Adams has wrestled with that question much of her career as an endurance coach, sports psychologist, and an athlete. Adams recommends working with athletes to develop a healthy confidence, or self efficacy, based on training and preparation. Among other things, one of the tools discussed in this episode is a "confidence resume" or a list of all of the things an athlete has already accomplished in training that has prepared them for race day.
Mon, 20 May 2019 - 20 - Ep. 20: Endurance Elasticity with Alex Hutchinson
You have probably pushed yourself to your limit before during training or racing, but what if you could push further? As science continues to unlock mysteries about human limits and performance potential, evidence supports the idea that maybe our mind is much more important in endurance than we previously believed. Dave sat down with Alex Hutchinson, New York Times best-selling author of Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance, to discuss his career and the findings in his new book. They covered how Hutchinson approaches sports journalism, what science tells us about human endurance, and how athletes can use that information to improve their performance.
Mon, 06 May 2019 - 19 - Ep. 19: Time-Crunched Athletes with Shayne Gaffney
Let's face it. Even driven athletes only have 24 hours in the day. Every athlete has limitations when it comes to how much they can train, but you should be taking more than just their available hours into consideration. Are you thinking about life stressors, recovery, and balance? All too often, athletes "burn the candle at both ends" as they try to make every workout count, and coaches sometimes only make matters worse. Coach Shayne Gaffney explores his approach to maximizing his athletes' time while training, even if that means taking some time off.
Mon, 22 Apr 2019 - 18 - Ep. 18: The Infinite Game with Richard Thompson
Starting your own coaching business is always a risk. This is especially true when you already have a successful career that you can depend on, even when your true passion might not lie there. Richard Thompson, while waiting for the Australian Supreme Court to rule on a case he was working on, found himself checking the latest results from IRONMAN Melbourne. That's when he knew that helping other athletes achieve their goals was the life he wanted to live. Since then, Thompson has helped build the successful T-Zero Multisport and is now giving back to the coaching community that has given him so much. After speaking to fellow coaches at TrainingPeaks University Melbourne, Thompson sat down with Dave Schell to discuss how he found his "why", how T-Zero approaches hiring new coaches, and how viewing coaching as an "infinite game" has helped him see past short-term wins and ultimately benefit his athletes.
Mon, 08 Apr 2019 - 17 - Ep. 17: Hydration Strategy with Andy Blow
Are you or your athletes struggling with GI issues, fatigue, and poor performance during races even after adjusting your nutrition strategy? You might be suffering from hyponatremia, an imbalance of sodium sometimes caused by over-hydrating. After suffering from hyponatremia himself, Andy Blow, co-founder of Precision Hydration, started his journey to help athletes solve their own hydration problems. Andy struggled with performance issues in hot, humid races, and discovered that his sweat was particularly salty. More importantly, he realized that there were effective ways to measure sweat composition and subsequently replace the water and salt as it was lost. Now, Andy works to help make sure other athletes have the hydration plans, supplements, and knowledge to perform better in challenging conditions.
Mon, 25 Mar 2019 - 16 - Ep. 16: Smart Strength with Jess Elliot
As more endurance athletes turn to strength training to boost performance, it's becoming increasingly important for coaches to keep up with the latest science. Are you confident you're properly prescribing strength workouts for the biggest impact or are you just depending on the same old routines you're used to? Dave Schell sat down with Strength and Conditioning Coach Jess Elliot to talk more about some of the biggest mistakes she sees endurance coaches and athletes making in the weight room.
Mon, 11 Mar 2019 - 15 - Ep. 15: Efficient Coaching with Tim Ballintine
It takes more than athletic experience and luck to build a full-time coaching business. Advancing your business to the next level requires dedication to your athletes, organization, developing a coaching niche, and effective sales techniques. Have you spent enough time working on the tools that will help you build your business? Dave sat down with Coach Tim Ballintine from Koa Sports to discuss how he organizes his business, personal life, and training to maximize his effectiveness. Learn about some of the mistakes to avoid as you start your business and how Tim makes every athlete a priority.
Tue, 26 Feb 2019 - 14 - Ep. 14: The Science of Recovery with Christie Aschwanden
Without proper recovery, training alone might not get your athletes to their goals. At the same time, how much of what we know about recovery is actually based on unscientific assumptions? You might be surprised at how much we don’t know about recovery. Dave Schell sat down Christie Aschwanden, author and lead science writer for FiveThirtyEight, to discuss her new book, Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn from the Strange Science of Recovery. They discussed topics like inflammation, sleep, and even New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to get to the bottom of our sometimes unscientific approach to recovery.
Wed, 13 Feb 2019 - 13 - Ep. 13: Heart Rate Variability with Simon Wegerif
In its simplest form, training is a method of increasing biological stressors in order to increase performance in an athlete. But, how do coaches know when they push their athletes too hard and actually hurt their performance? This is especially important considering athletes encounter stress from more than just endurance training such as work, personal life, illness, and even environment. Dave sat down with researcher Simon Wegerif to discuss heart rate variability, a precise and easily measured metric that may help reveal when the body is overstressed and likely unable to endure heavy training loads. As even more information about the importance of effective recovery is published, coaches may want to consider adding heart rate variability to the data they monitor.
Mon, 28 Jan 2019 - 12 - Ep. 12: Brand Building with Jen Rulon
Endurance coaches have a lot on their plates already. They are physiologists, psychologists, nutritionists, motivators, voices of reason, scheduling experts, and friends. So, how are they supposed to fit "marketer" on the list, too? Dave sat down with triathlon coach, social media influencer, and business coach Jen Rulon to find out how she helps other coaches find their voice online while maintaining her own. They discussed how she built her online coaching brand, how she fits marketing tasks into her coaching schedule, and why she is dedicating herself to help other coaches build their businesses.
Wed, 16 Jan 2019 - 11 - Ep. 11: Nutrition Myth Busting with Asker Jeukendrup
As the New Year approaches, you will likely hear about new diets and nutrition trends. At the same time, it can be difficult for even the most knowledgeable endurance athlete to separate the fact from the fiction. Are you prepared to the bust the myths around nutrition this year? Dave sat down with Asker Jeukendrup to get to the bottom of some of the most prevalent endurance sport nutrition trends. They discussed everything from how well ketogenic diets work to whether athletes should take salt pills to improve performance.
Mon, 31 Dec 2018 - 10 - Ep. 10: Secret Goals with Carrie Cheadle
How do you approach goal setting with your athletes? Are you actually helping your athlete develop healthy, attainable goals? And, are your athletes' goals really what they're striving for, or do they have unstated, "secret" goals that they are ultimately judging themselves by? Dave sat down with Mental Skills Coach Carrie Cheadle to learn more about the goal setting strategies she recommends coaches work on with their athletes.
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 - 9 - Ep. 9: Intelligent Intensity with Stephen Seiler
All too often, athletes and coaches are strapped for time and looking for new training methods to get the most our of their workouts. If you are familiar with polarized training, you already know that a smart mix of high- and low-intensity workouts might be the perfect solution. But, are you actually approaching polarized training all wrong? Dave Schell and Cody Stephenson sat down with renowned academic Stephen Seiler to discuss his research, how he applies it in his own training, and why you might be overcomplicating polarization.
Tue, 04 Dec 2018 - 8 - Ep. 8: Data Overload with Tim Cusick
In today's world of big data, is technology improving endurance sports coaching or is it just a distraction for coaches and athletes, alike? As the advancement of performance technology outpaces actual use, coaches are faced with staying on top of new developments while also sifting through a lot of noise. Are you prepared to get the most out of your athletes' data? WKO Product Lead Tim Cusick explains how he thinks coaches should approach the relationship between data and coaching. In addition to coaching high performance athletes, Tim leads the WKO team to develop and implement advanced data analytic tools for WKO software.
Tue, 13 Nov 2018 - 7 - Ep. 7: Coaching Conviction with Ben Day
Ask anyone involved in endurance sports what the most important attribute in a coach is, and you will have a different answer every time. Is it the ability to coach with conviction? Is it incorporating your experience into your coaching? Is it motivating your athletes to simply adhere to their training plan? According to Coach Ben Day, it's a mix of all of these and more. Dave Schell sits down with Coach Ben Day to discuss how his experience as a professional cyclist has influenced the way he now leads other athletes. Day has worked professionally in cycling since 2002 and began coaching full-time in 2014 after retiring as an athlete. Since then, Day has coached many successful cyclists and triathletes and influenced countless coaches along the way.
Tue, 30 Oct 2018 - 6 - Ep. 6: Kona Race Day with Lance Watson
The IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii are finally here, and weather conditions are shaping up to make it another challenging year. First, Dave discusses updated race conditions with Ryan Cooper. Then, Lance Watson joins the discussion to share lessons from his 30+ years of experience coaching triathletes to Kona.
Fri, 12 Oct 2018 - 5 - Ep. 5: Kona Preparation with Simon Ward
For some triathletes, making it to Kona is the achievement they have strived for. For others, Kona is yet another chance to test their determination in a challenging, unforgiving environment. Regardless, all of the triathletes will face the same punishing heat, humidity, and wind on a course that is known for testing the best racers in the world. Dave Schell discusses this year's race conditions with BestBikeSplit Co-Founder Ryan Cooper, and then chats with Coach Simon Ward who has guided dozens of athletes to Kona over his coaching career. Simon raced in the Championship last year himself, and is busy preparing this year's crop of athletes to excel in the race.
Fri, 05 Oct 2018 - 4 - Ep. 4: Coaching Advice with Joe Friel
Joe Friel has always given back to the endurance sports community he loves, but it was only when he faced an illness that left him on a training hiatus that he sat down to write the first of his many books. Since then, Joe has dedicated his life to endurance sports as the co-founder of TrainingPeaks and a triathlon and cycling icon.This episode, Dave Schell sat down with Joe to discuss how the story of the Training Bible series and TrainingPeaks began, how endurance sports coaching has evolved since the 1980s, and advice Joe has for coaches.
Wed, 26 Sep 2018 - 3 - Ep. 3: Mental Toughness with Joanna Zeiger
How much of an athlete's performance is dependent on their mental toughness? Chances are you already know mental toughness plays an important role in an athlete's ability to reach their full potential, but how can coaches help grow athletes mentally as well as physically?Dave sat down with Joanna Zeiger, triathlete World Champion, Olympian, the author of The Champion Mindset: An Athlete's Guide to Mental Toughness, and distinguished researcher in the field of mental toughness, to discuss her journey as an athlete and how it inspired her to help other athletes reach their goals.
Wed, 19 Sep 2018 - 2 - Ep. 2: Coach Roundtable - New Athlete Experience
Every athlete has a unique level of knowledge and experience. So how do you make sure you set them up for success in the on-boarding phase? Whether athletes don't understand what kind of equipment they need or sabotage their races by skipping over details, it's important that coaches try to get in front of issues by avoiding assumptions that can lead to disaster.Dave Schell and Cody Stephenson sat down with Coaches Taylor Thomas and Andrew Simmons to discuss past experiences, common challenges, and tricks they have learned related to the new athlete experience.
Mon, 10 Sep 2018 - 1 - Ep. 1: Ryan Cooper and BestBikeSplit
In the summer of 2013, Ryan Cooper took a few weeks off of work to answer a question: could you accurately predict a cyclist's performance using a fast, easy-to-use model? Over five years later, Ryan is the co-founder and chief scientist at Best Bike Split, a tool that helps cyclists of all levels develop optimal pacing and training strategies using proven technology. Dave Schell sat down with Ryan to talk about how Best Bike Split came to be, how athletes and coaches can get the most out of the software, and other optimal strategies to use before and during a race.
Fri, 24 Aug 2018
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