Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast

Triathlon is about getting better at the sport and in life. And along with getting better comes the fun. So who would guess swimming hard in open water then climbing hills in heat on the bike or run could be fun? Satisfaction and confidence ultimately lead to fun because you know you are capable. You SEE it . . . so you BELIEVE it. Today we get into ways triathletes can break cycles and get unstuck. Topics: Power of getting out of you own reality  How to get unstuck Pushing to be better at life How do you change up a stale routine? The Journey of Self-Exploration Mental breakthroughs Mindless Cycling  Real World Fitness Perfect Pat vs. Weathered Willie  Predetermined decisions vs. reactions When your mind suffocates you Racing blind takes you out of your mind Re-write the story you’re telling yourself Do you believe what your coach sees? Challenging beliefs about yourself When bad workouts become affirmations Struggling with your Swim? Join our new SWIM SQUAD 12 Month Program and build confidence in the wat

Are you in triathlon for your next race or to keep getting better? We're on this "age is a number" kick and we believe your best potential is ahead of you. Will you be even better as you age? In 5 years? It's all about committing to the process and of course being patient. Is your two favorite parts of racing, signing up and finishing? Might be time to rethink your approach to the process.  Topics: Where Do You Want to be in 5 years? Getting Rid of the Pressure Conversations with Friends Do you treat races as an expiration date? What do you value most? Mike on Father’s Day Where do you want your life to go? Where do you want to be as an athlete? Isolation tendencies Overtraining tendencies Well, you know . . .  Shortcuts don't cut it The optics vs. substance Struggling with your Swim? Join our new SWIM SQUAD 12 Month Program and build confidence in the water. You'll get 4 workouts a week, 4 customized video swim analysis, weekly swim tip videos and discounts on our Swim Camps. For more information go to thi

Fatigue is one of the most misunderstood concepts in triathlon. We usually want to carry fatigue, but we don't want to be tired. But how do you know the difference? Today, we look at training fatigue and how to embrace it without getting sick or tired. We also take a deep look into the concept of negative split and how it should play a role in training.  Topics: Age is a Number Heat and dew points Gauging Muscular fatigue vs. Tired Training to stay tired A Great Sign of Fitness Signs of being over tired The Swim is a great barometer of tired You shouldn’t be totally exhausted!  Mile one should be your slowest Motivation takes ENERGY What "grumpy" says Food as an indicator of mindset  Short term feel goods Healthy, Sick, or Getting Better The Negative Split Mentality  Fatigue is the product of consistency Waking up with a stranger Taking time off INSIDE a workout The fewest mistakes usually wins The lonely sailboat analogy Struggling with your Swim? Join our new SWIM SQUAD 12 Month Program and build confiden

Tulsa wins next Ironman location. Boulder is canceled. Kona goes to Age Group Wave Start. We talk about it all, plus potential new 70.3 locations, the negative impact of Ironman Facebook groups, and the timing of Ironman announcements. We also get into how to pick the race that’s best for your emotions and how to show yourself grace in training.  Topics: Ironman Tulsa Is Next More 70.3’s On The Way? Ironman Boulder Cancelled Should they announced Boulder differently? Kona Swim Start to Waves Is Kona’s Change about the bike? The Perfect Way To Start a Triathlon Ironman 70.3 Muncie Ironman 70.3 Ohio Ironman Wisconsin Are Race Facebook Groups Bad for the sport? When should they announce the Swim cancelations? How to pick your best race venue Picking a race Suck it up and make it work Showing yourself Grace Struggling with your Swim? Join our new SWIM SQUAD 12 Month Program and build confidence in the water. You'll get 4 workouts a week, 4 customized video swim analysis, weekly swim tip videos and discounts on

It's Always Safety First for Us! And we are very passionate about Swim Preparation. On a weekend with another IM Swim cancelation and another death in the swim, we talk about ways to make the sport safer. We focus preparation, warm ups, not taking the swim for granted, and competitive waves. Also, looking at Ironman Louisville's new Run Course.  Topics: Help us spread the word with an iTunes Review!  Tri-Louisville Recap Mike’s Ironman Louisville Swim Re-enactment New Ironman Louisville Run Course IM 70.3 Eagleman Canceled Swim  Preparing for the Swim  Ironman Volunteers  IM 70.3 Wisconsin Swim Water Rescue Crews Your Responsibility in the Swim  The Race is ON when Swim Starts 41:00   - mike/robbie swim combo  Competitive Waves Ironman Duathlon Series Struggling with your Swim? Join our new SWIM SQUAD 12 Month Program and build confidence in the water. You'll get 4 workouts a week, 4 customized video swim analysis, weekly swim tip videos and discounts on our Swim Camps. For more information go to this link.

Do you suffer from "Epic Challenge Syndrome?" What's the cut off line when pushing your body to get faster and stronger? And how do you gauge it? If there's one golden rule in triathlon (especially as we get older) it's "Respect Your Body." Taking things slowly almost always wins. Today we look at ways to produce longer and healthier careers in triathlon and the bedroom (well, kidding on the last part, but maybe not?).  Epic Challenge syndrome  Building speed and longevity Healthy conversations with your body Depression, Anxiety Volume and Moods Finding the Right Volume Load Volume in Taper  Are you Bought In? Training on the Defensive Confidence In Your Coach Eat when you’re ready instead of rushing Races aren’t ever the same How to measure fitness Outshooting your Fitness THIS is the hardest race you’ve done Can you sleep with your results? Effort and Pain  What you give should be enough Struggling with your Swim? Join our new SWIM SQUAD 12 Month Program and build confidence in the water. You'll get 4 wor

This is triathlon as a reflection of your life. Are you self aware when it comes to your training? Understand the big picture and/or when to take a day off? Today, we talk about training plans and how they should unfold, understanding boundaries and how recognize when you're getting better. Topics: When to take days off Self awareness  Emotional Investment required for Ironman Poor time management  Are you willing to give up things? Being proactive in beating burnout Triathlon as a Reflection of our Life Why your get in a stress cycle Are you afraid of losing fitness in a week? Triathlon as a metaphor for life Life and training constancy reflect each other Why “In the moment” really works How do you know when you really learned? Data: The most overrated part of triathlon Learning vs. Deep Understanding  Development takes time  Do it correctly or just complete it? Perfectionism is a Grandiose word for Procrastination  Confusion equals Uncomfortable Investing in your foundation Farming out your work  It only w

Summer just hit like a sledgehammer and it's time to train smart. Today we look at how heat impacts how you train, your pace, and your attitude. We discuss smart ways to keep building speed without getting laid up with injuries or experiencing deep fatigue. Should you spend time in the sauna or ice? What kind of adjustments do you make when doing a hot race?  Topics: Transitioning to the Heat  How to keep no expectations  You’re gonna be slower now  Zone 2 feels like zone 3? Chasing Pace  Why Dew Point Can Crush Your Soul How heat affects pace heat acclimation better than altitude? Saunas? How often? The best time for saunas Cold water and ice? Yard work as training? The point of diminishing returns Muncie 70.3 Kona vs. Wales . . . Pro Standings? Chasing Watts and MPH Race day is a reflection of execution on that day Making Slight Adjustments is the difference Racing is the ultimate training trap  Plan your training backwards It’s who you are, not who you want to be 20+ mile runs in training The worst coachi

Habits are also how you think. Everyone says they want to get better, but not everyone is willing to continue to move forward to the point where they don't have more to give. A lot of people talk the talk, but are you really doing the work it takes to get better, but more importantly break the chains of bad habits.  Topics: What feels better than open water? A lonely and isolated sport?  The Chains of Habit  You Can’t Fake Swimming Are you doing the work to crush tomorrow? Swimming while conserving energy Translating Swim Workouts to Open Water Swimming is the polar opposite of data Keys to a faster bike Light bikes vs. Heavy bikes Habits: Doing things more than you don't Fast Tracking New Behaviors The Pull Buoy Myth You’re Thinking Yourself into Anxiety Why The Swim is Important Confidence and Relaxation in Swimming It’s NOT just like “riding a bike” How to flow with open water contact 54:50 - “change my entire day”  Swimming your own race Two Swim Pro Tips ;)  Sun Screen Tip :)   We currently have ONE sl

Many of our athletes felt like an opportunity was taken away when they shortened the swim at Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga. We completely understand the safety reasons surrounding the swim, and know these aren't easy decisions, so today we have an open discussion to see if there are other options; including introducing a Competitive Wave for racers that want the challenge. Is all of this creating bad habits? Topics:  Chattanooga 70.3 Swim Shortened . . . again Robbed of an Opportunity Are you Hack-centric  Swim Safety  Shortening Swims  Safety nets  "Failure is a disease” Challenging Yourself  Feeding the unprepared monster Judging the swim on the pros Need for a Competitive Wave Ranking toughness of Ironman Races Changing Ironman Race Weekend Wisconsin Swim Worked out Check out our NEW coaching tiers/options at www.crushingiron.com Support the Crushing Iron podcast on Patreon, where the community pledge is only $3.26 per month. There are other options, but every little bit helps us keep this podcast on the rail

Breaking down Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga. The swim, bike, run and what it's like for Coach Robbie to track 44 of his athletes racing on the same day. Plus, we get into how you can control the race instead of the race controlling you. Topics: Mike talks about his best 70.3 to date Does run training help your bike? Pre Race Nerves The Calm before the storm Tracking 44 athletes as a coach Robbie’s biggest concern on Race Day The City of Chattanooga  3800 people registered  How do they run out of shirts? Congested? Drafting on the Bike Course? Did Mike really go Sub-5? Run Course Aid Stations Executing a race plan The Coach/Athlete Trust  Do you NEED to pass or WANT to pass on the bike? Don’t be Serious Seth Don’t talk yourself into slow  The Power of Community  Huge Shout out to the Team Check out our NEW coaching tiers/options at www.crushingiron.com Support the Crushing Iron podcast on Patreon, where the community pledge is only $3.26 per month. There are other options, but every little bit helps us keep this

Do you prepare to let go in a race if it feels right? Fears, expectations, and anxiety can hold us back, but having confidence to look at a race as an opportunity can be the biggest secret to performance. Today we look at staying in the moment and making solid decisions on the course. Do you truly trust the training? Topics: Taper Tantrums Pre-race jitters Worst-Case-Scenario-ville Triathlete’s ritual/routine How to deal with free time What to do with all the energy What effort level should you race at for 70.3? Golf and Tennis analogies Unforced Errors on the course Making a million decisions Staying Engaged and Present in a Race Competing against yourself, others, and the day The ONE thing you should do in a HOT race Staying AHEAD of the day Nutrition Heat How to use the bike to prepare for the run Don’t be reactionary and defensive Coaching instills calmness Answering questions you don’t have yet How Robbie feels about coaching 40+ racers Do you think of this race as Digital Tombstone? Come See Us in

Months and months of training for one day. That's a lot of pressure to put on yourself. Today we look at how training plans unfold and how you can adjust to stay mentally and physically fit on a daily basis so race day doesn't create undo stress in your life.  Topics: You can’t control the weather The best remedy for a hot race Running in the heat Training for a hot race aero helmet or aero road helmet? Sleeves or Sleeveless wetsuits When should I put the wetsuit on? Which part do you look forward to most? Race week pain Mike signs up for Garmin Connect Mental and Emotional Burnout Planning a Wedding Analogy How far out is too far out to think about races Why most Ironman training plans do it wrong Physical and mental limiters What are your time constraints? The fundamental flaws of training plans "We’re doing good, but I think we can do better” Starting over on a puzzle every day The biggest recipe for over training and injury Your body doesn’t care what your mind says Are we ever truly satisfied? The impor

  Topics: Emotional Roller Coaster of the taper The categories of an athlete’s mindset From race sign up to race taper, then . . . Life happens  How to find confidence in the work that you’ve done The race doesn’t move  Being Grateful and Appreciative  Make lists of the people you need to thank Take everything out of yourself Erase the 6 months ago you Chatt 70.3 training day Don’t look for excuses  "Oh, it’s just a training day” rant Protecting our egos Adjusting your effort during the race The way you feel in race CHANGES Quit looking for ways to over-analyze  You become the story you tell yourself Remember how you got through training days Last minute Larry  Race Days are opportunities Don’t judge a swim, bike, or run in first 10 mins Support the Crushing Iron podcast on Patreon, where the community pledge is only $3.26 per month. There are other options, but every little bit helps us keep this podcast on the rails. Thanks in advance. You can also support us at our new store at CrushingIron.com. We have

Are you going through the motions, or testing your comfort zone? Do you train with people who focus on growth or get stuck in a routine? No matter who you are, there is always room for growth. Our potential is vast, but we have to find ways to push ourselves and test the limits. Even if that means we won’t have something pretty to post on Instagram or Strava. Topics: Confidence, Consistency, Community Giving athletes opportunities Put yourself in a situation to be vulnerable How to breakthrough with confidence Mike fixes a lawnmower New locations and breaking limits  Day to day regiments can create comfort zones Why we conform to our own constraints How to see yourself as a better athlete  Making yourself uncomfortable  Are you going through the motions? Taking challenges head on Robbie’s Open Water Swim Soap Box When to choose Open Water practice over the pool Why mental breakthroughs are more memorable  How to break the routines of your ride and run routes Group and training partner traps Find people who a

This is an Ironman story for Everyone. If you've ever stayed until the end of an Ironman you know the level of emotions. But have you ever been out in the dark on the last few miles with someone who isn't sure they will make the cutoff? Today, we share the story of how one of our C26 athletes persevered to finish with just over a minute left at Ironman Texas. An emotional look at how the tone of an Ironman changes after the sun goes down. Topics: Why Ironman is different Running races vs. Triathlon You can’t explain the Finish Line What it’s like to spectate Ironman What it’s like to coach at an Ironman The Race Course Goes Through Its Own Transition When the Sun Sets on the Course When Your Friend Is Getting Close To Not Making It Understanding an Athlete’s Personality as a Coach When Ironman is Symbolic of Life  Out Alone in the Dark  Sometimes all you need is someone to come by and help Understanding the 17 Hour Cut Off When You Deserve More Than You May Believe When it’s time to talk tough When we re

Crushing Iron had 9 athletes racing and Coach Robbie was on site for Ironman Texas 2019. Today, he shares his thoughts on the venue and experience along with getting into what you need to know if you want to race Ironman Texas. Last year was known for fast racing and drafting on the bike, but this year was much different. The best parts of Ironman Texas, including spectator tips and racing strategies.  Ironman Texas - The Venue  Why Coach Robbie was blown away  2018 was an anomaly  More Kona slots and very competitive The Woodlands is beautiful The Swim Start Vibe and Accessibility Super Spectator Friendly Swim T1 breakout Bike Course with “Drafting” Image Changes on the bike this year Headwind in your face  The Walking Dead Ironman Tracker was . . . on point Run Course  Perfect for spectating  What you need to prepare for Sunny or Shade? Do you get breeze? Lunch and Dinner on the run course Tons of places to hang on the lawn The Finish Line  Starky and Ryf on the red carpet at midnight The two hardest thing

How do we know the difference between discomfort and pain? Are you willing to allow yourself to fail trying to find out? Today, it's all about managing pain and understanding your threshold. How inflammation affects your threshold. Defining pain as effort and rewiring your self preservation system. What distance are you wired for? Sometimes you sit down with a friend to have an in-depth, meaningful conversation, and it's HARD. But your connection with that person will be so much deeper than it is with someone else. That's the same kind of conversation you can have with your body." --Coach Robbie  Topics: Managing pain What’s your pain threshold? Allowing yourself to fail When it’s a good idea to try and “blow up” “I think I could have pushed it a little more” What’s the best distance for you based on your life? Are you wired more for long or shorter races? Finding the appropriate level of uncomfortable  longer intervals and fast finishes  Finding a way during long training weeks Inflammation and pain . . . h

Are you forcing your body into shape based on a date on the calendar? Today, we talk about why that is usually a losing proposition for long-term health, happiness, and success. We also hit on shortening your recovery time for effective intervals, the Sophomore slump, and why things like massages can be your worst decision on race week.  Topics:  reverse bricks mental approach to long build phases why it takes you a while to feel right shortening your recovery time  damage, repair, damage, repair athlete pitfalls  the Triathlete’s Sophomore Slump massages good, bad, ugly pain from the bike that hurts the run fueling and hydration - all day long how to make your intervals effective the Amazon cure to loneliness anxiety  meditation yoga being AWARE of everything that’s going on emotional and mental stress  Your body doesn’t care Don’t Let Your Race Plan Your Body When it’s a good decision to not race How to deal with Race Week Anxiety  focus on executing to the best of your ability start slow  lower expectatio

It's all connected. What we eat affects how we feel and think, and with intense demands of training, triathletes can be especially vulnerable. Today we look at ways to keep yourself in check with diet, sugar, and over-training.  Be sure to check out our new coaching options along with pricing at this link.  Topics: New Ironman Coming to Midwest Augusta 70.3 Chattanooga 70.3  We Are Not Nutritionists The Problem with Sugar Triathlete Mood Swings Why Weight Can Be Harder to control in long distance training Training Dehydration  Are you Eating Your Feelings? Lost Motivation for Workouts Why do we tend to dig training holes? Most of us have a Yes problem Are Triathletes Outgoing? The power of saying No The Like Purpose of Triathletes There’s only so much we can do by ourselves Support the Crushing Iron podcast on Patreon, where the community pledge is only $3.26 per month. There are other options, but every little bit helps us keep this podcast on the rails. Thanks in advance. You can also support us at our ne