Are you ready for your hot race? Today we look at physical and mental approaches to staying cool on the race course. From whether or not to wear a wetsuit to freezing your bottles to pulling back a little on the bike. Once you get too hot, you can’t cool down, unless you stop or walk. We’ll look at ways to keep your core temp down as long as possib…

How do you “get through” tough situations in training? Today, we look at the emotional roller coaster that is triathlon and some of the traps we all fall into, especially when chasing those elusive highs. Do you push harder when you’re struggling, or step back and let the body re-calibrate? What’s the deal with feeling awesome one day, then being r…

Check out our NEW coaches We answer a ton of questions today, including a rapid fire ending you won’t want to miss. We get into the challenges of riding with wind. How do you handle tail, head, and cross winds? Is aero always better? What about your grip on the bike . . . why it matters. Do you need more or less rest on your swim sets? Today, we lo…

The first question set off a great mini-topic for the day. What the new tactics/trends that are pros doing these days that age group athletes can emulate to get faster. The discussion is an important one and centers on arguably the best triathlon coach right now, Dan Lorrange. We also look at the importance of becoming a better bike handler and how…

This title is an homage to one of our favorite YouTube channels, you can find it here: Seek Discomfort The Seek Discomfort crew is always looking for things that intimidate them. Experiences that lead to growth. And we should do the same within our comfort zone, especially when it comes to conditions. The more you get out into “imperfect” weather, …

The most successful athletes play free and without fear. Today, we look at how you can train and race better when you realize you have nothing to lose. This isn't about taking it for granted, but channeling pressure and anxiety in the right way. It's all energy and the more we can us it in our favor, the better we'll be. We look at the 24 hour rule…

Triathlon training should be structured, but we're all about keeping the fun alive. Today, we talk about weaving them together to make the process more enjoyable and effective. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to show up green in Training Peaks, but aren’t a bunch of oranges and yellows better than a week of red? Do we move to change our mood …

Efficiency might be the biggest key to you having a successful race and that all starts in Zone 2. Yes, we know it’s “boring” but today we give you other ways to think about it, specifically as in, why do you not enjoy doing something that is good for you and your health? We talk about teaching the body to burn fat so you’re not so dependent on cal…

(We have C26 Swim School this week, so this is a reposted podcast). Ever feel the pressure of too much going on? That anxious feeling is getting out of the moment. Today, we look at how that affects training and how we THINK about training. It's easy to get caught up on race day when it's 5 months away, but today is all that matters. Do something. …

(With March Madness upon us and C26 Swim School in progress, we thought it was a good time to revisit an old podcast with Zak Showalter and how he started training for Ironman after playing in the Final Four). Sorry about the intro music. haha. Imagine playing basketball in front of 70,000 people and millions on TV. Today's guest, Zak Showalter, di…

(We have C26 Swim School this week, so this is a reposted Podcast and we will not have a booth at Chatt). We begin with the Swim Start, including when to get there and how to fuel as you position yourself in the massive field of athletes. Then to the “fast but fair” bike course. We break it out by section and look at where to push and when to hold …

(We have the C26 Swim School this week, so this is a reposted podcast). Today we focus on Ironman Texas strategy, but this podcast is great for anyone racing an Ironman, especially when it’s hot. We always talk about not obsessing about the weather, but when you know it might be hot, it’s smart to prepare. We look at all kinds of hot racing strateg…

Are you running on gas or fumes at the end of your races? Today, we take a deep look into how to start the season smart and snowball that into better races as the year goes on. We talk about creating momentum and how to use your first race in a way that will actually teach you something about getting better. We look at heat, wind, dew point, along …

Today, we go over important “ah ha” moments in our racing and coaching career. Things that changed the game for us as athletes and coaches. We look at why working on your strength is so important and can set the tone for your training. Also, why we tend to skimp on one of the sports. We talk about understanding effort and pacing and why being obses…

Today we give you the power to make your own decisions in training. As coaches we think it’s important for athletes to learn through trial and error. As in really learning . . . along with, believing in your gut. We look at an example of someone who was coming off being sick and due for an FTP test. Did they rest, or know deep down that they were r…

We both felt like we needed attitude adjustments today, so we dove a little deeper. We look at some of the stresses we feel when thinking about our training, races, and life. In other words, figuring things out on our own. Robbie talks about the challenges he’s facing with Ironman Texas and how he’s stepped back and found positive solutions. Mike h…

We had a blast with this one. We start with transition tips, and end with giving you a whole new perspective on how to think about T1 and T2. We also get into the theory behind how to handle missed workouts. Should you make it up, create a hybrid, or just move on? Then we deal with the ever-present topic of how to train in cold weather for early se…

Great questions today, and a call for you to find your racing super power. Is it a good idea to burn your biscuits before you take a relaxing vacation? How is Robbie approaching Ironman Texas and does he get nervous? What’s the best way to improve your run speed? Racing Ironman with your spouse. What do we think of caffeine gels and when’s the best…

Today is about understanding feel, your body, and learning how to “play” within training. The cast was a bit inspired by a new trend in MMA and boxing where they spar but don’t hit each other. They are more in the ring to work on form, footwork, and ensure better recovery. We think triathletes can learn a lesson from that. We talk about the power o…

Doing anything intensely 24/7/365 is difficult. I mean, why do you think Dennis Rodman needed to go to Vegas for a few days right in the middle of a 3-Peat run for the Chicago Bulls? In all seriousness, today is about injecting more fun into your routine. Adventure doesn’t have to be climbing the Alps (although that would certainly qualify), it can…

We can chase dreams of others, but what works best for you? A lot of musicians say the most powerful note is the one not played, ghost notes. Today, we talk about how to get more out of your training by not leaking energy. We start with some Run Camp highlights and observations then turn into this idea of how we can practice “digging deep” or “find…

This is a RE-POST of episode 421 - We'll be back to regular Tuesday/Thursday when we return from Run Camp. Thanks! Be a part of the C26 Club for 2024. ------- This is a great guide for RACE RUNNING and how to train for it. We focus on Ironman, but the same holds true for 70.3, Olympics, and Sprints. For one, we want to strengthen our chassis so we …

We all like to have goals, but is that goal taking up too much space in your brain? Today, we look at Future Tripping and ways to release anxiety from our daily journey. One of the major goals of training should simply be, not being distracted by things that don’t matter right now. How do we get there on a daily basis? How do we get from not wantin…

What are the keys to becoming a better and more efficient cyclist? Today, we look at the diffrent methods of training. We explore quality over quantity and also look at the "gameification" of cycling. We get into the biggest trap people fall into along with a detailed look at what it means to really improve your aerobic threshold. We talk about dia…

Are you performing to your potential or even understand what that means? Today we look into our mental and physical capacities and explore the idea that we ALL likely have “more” potential, but where do we want to put that energy? Today, we challenge ourselves to recall when we were “at our best” and look for reasons why. Success has different defi…

Great questions today as we start with how to move up from Sprints to your first 70.3. What is a runner’s high and the best way to get it? Deeper look at how to enjoy running more and finding the right mindset to love any of the three sports. Are you paying enough attention to what your body is saying? What about spin bikes for training? How do you…

Today we look at a wide range of topics, including the women vs. men, heavy lifting, strength training, disc wheels, being overweight, picking your first Ironman, turning your belief system on, and much more. Topics: Truth and facts? Does a rear disc help? What’s the cut off speed? Women and training - Do we pay attention to issues? Tracking cycles…

How fast, and how much should you be running? Today, we look at those questions and much more as we prepare for another triathlon season that is coming up on us quickly. Is the key to being a faster runner going really hard, or should you keep your run ceiling no faster than tempo? What are other variables that come into play? Should you taper for …

Don’t believe everything you think, and certainly don’t let it affect your mood. Today, we look at minimal effective does, aka, doing as much as you need, but not more. You don’t always need to do more, more, more. Sometimes it’s better to put more energy into your form, or making sure your body is prepared to do more when it’s really needed. It’s …

What happens when you don’t want to do something? Two choices. Bag it, or do it anyway. And when we DO do it, it builds strength, consistency, and the “talent” to break through when it gets rough in your tough training sessions or . . . your race. There’s a lot of power in using your pain and resistance in your favor. It’s the path to creating real…

Are we ever really in control? Do we really think things will be better tomorrow?Finding a good swim, bike, run groove starts with small steps right now. Today, we look at being a more productive person and embracing discipline for our journey.We really can change who we are, but we have to change our thinking and our habits to get there. Just beca…

We can’t have it all at once. Today, we look at building momentum by doing little things and building an exciting process that leads you to completing that extreme goal. It could be breaking an addiction or finishing Ironman, but whatever it is, we are better off doing it in a way that doesn’t depend solely on willpower. Do you make enough time for…

(This is a re-post of Episode #645 from this time last year) This is the perfect de-motivational storm and it’s up to us to create “something” that starts some momentum. Do you have 20 minutes today? Tomorrow? This is a great way to stay in the game and prime yourself for next week. We get in bad habits of thinking we need more time to do a workout…

These next few weeks are tricky to navigate, so a good approach might be to focus on simply feeling good. It’s easy to overplay our goals way too early when we should be setting ourselves up to train, so we can train, like we need to train. Exercise is supposed to give you energy and now is a good time to keep that in mind. Motivation is thin, so d…

The range of emotions we face after a single workout can be staggering. Sometimes it can seem like the end of the world or the best day ever, but today we look at why these feelings shouldn’t dictate the big picture. We talk about deception tough training weather, even when you think you feel great. We talk about mental toughness and micro recoveri…

Are you working on the right things for long enough? Today, we look at base, build and peak phases from the perspective of different athletes with different backgrounds and personalities. We talk about building training in a way that keeps you engaged, but also moves you in the right direction over the course of a year. We look at why one of our go…

Change, both good and bad, can be hard to recognize because real change happens over time. Today, we look at how to appreciate the actions you take, even though they don’t seem like much right now. How do we know that we’re improving, getting stronger, or moving the right direction? Sometimes it’s about shifting your “satisfaction perspective” and …

Run Camp is always an “awakening” of sorts and today we recall the dark places and ask, how much are we all leaving on the table? Everyone at our camp last weekend went out of their comfort zone. When we take these actions we usually thrive and come out learning something important about ourselves. We talk about embracing hard things, believing in …

Solid questions from our listeners today. We get into how to handle this off season with regard to strength, durability, and what is “triathlon specific” training. We look at cross training, load balance, and how to get better at “going to the well” so you understand it and build confidence. Is it more important to work on your core, or upper, or l…

(This is a re-post of cast 633) “Opportunity is often missed because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work” – Thomas Edison Ever fear the regret of not living up to your potential? Today we dig into what work looks like in your training and your life. “Work” often has a negative connotation, but it is the essence of what makes us who we are…

Today is about digging deep inside as an athlete and a human all with the mission of a happy and healthy life. Many times we know the right things to do, but for some reason we don’t follow that path. We look at 6 topics of Stoicism and how they relate to triathlon. We get into positive thought patterns, humility and discretion, moderation, staying…

Try this . . . strip away the excuses and then figure out why you don’t want to take action. Today, we look at being paralyzed in planning and waiting for the perfect moment. That perfect moment is usually right now. We don’t control the universe and thinking we do is a sure plan for failure or procrastination. We all face challenges and those obst…

Today is about living, training, and racing to your fullest. Robbie’s grandmother passed last week and he shares some of her secrets to life and living. We get into the essence of what matters and how to cut through every day stress. We look at feeling disconnected and the power of friends, family and community. We look at how having a clear purpos…

RE-POST We are attending to family concerns this week, so we are re-posting a popular series, Micro Goals, from a couple years ago. These are timed perfectly for your off-season. Here is the first one on Running. We'll be back with new episodes next week! How do you REALLY get faster at running in triathlon. Today, we go through all the smart, smal…

Today we focus on three key parts of swimming: Balance, Body Position, and Leverage. If things are out of whack, it’s a good idea to slow down. Force yourself to move through the stroke in a way that you can master it, then bump up turnover. Swimming is so much about pressure and feel in the water and if your spatula is cutting through rather than …

Today we look at how to be faster and stronger in the water. Good news, there’s a lot of great ideas here to make that happen. Bad news, actions speak louder than words. Many of us like the “idea” of getting faster, but will we put in the work. Lucy Charles swam 50k a week to give her a minute or so edge. How much will you swim? We also get into Kn…

We know training and racing and life can suck at times, but a large part of that is building the skill of resilience. That doesn’t mean everything should be a constant grind that makes it all miserable, though. Today, we talk about the importance of pushing through and testing the limits, but choosing the right times and learning along the way. Thi…

The off season is where the greatest dreams go to die, so if you really want to fix something or get better, now is your chance. Today, we talk about how a lot of athletes are trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist, but don’t work on something that’s actually broke. Both Mike and Robbie talk about their struggles in this area and how they are a…

Even when they’re losing, you just get the feeling that certain teams are going to come back and win. It's that winning culture insilled deep in the program. Today, we talk about how to create that winning culture in yourself. It’s not an overnight fix and we’ll look at the power in little things on the way to making yourself a powerhouse. Great te…

Lucy Charles-Barclay goes wire to wire at Kona in a performance for the ages. Today, we look at tons of the little details we saw on Saturday, including pacing, strategy, nutrition, and straight up toughness. We also talk about the broadcast and a lot of the good things Ironman is doing for the sport. We get into the chess match on the course, Lucy…