Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast

You always hear about "race strategy" but what does it really mean when applied to your actual training? Today, we look at how you can set a race plan that you can ACTUALLY HOLD during a race.  We give you a different perspective on "what to count" from your long rides, when you should make critical decisions within a race, and some of the biggest mistakes you can make on race day. - How to get the most out of long rides - How to know when you can PUSH in a race - How to feel your best on race morning - Understanding what you can really hold on race day - The biggest mistake you can make on the bike - The nutrition puzzle and why WHEN you take calories makes a BIG difference for your GI issues - The best way to ruin your race - When and how to make critical In-Race decisions - Where you likely make the biggest mistakes in your race - Making SMART vs. IMPULSE decisions - Visualizing your race If you like the Crushing Iron podcast, you can support us here. Thanks for listening! Please subscribe to Crushing Iron

C26 Triathlon is on the ground in Chattanooga for Ironman and we discuss the race up to mid-bike, including the swim and another scorcher of a day for this race. We also dive into addiction, the REAL stuff that gets us into this sport and how we can try, but often fail to explain to friends why we would chose to do 140.6 mile races.  If you like the Crushing Iron podcast, you can support us here. Thanks for listening! Please subscribe to Crushing Iron on YouTube and iTunes. For information on the C26 Coach’s Eye custom swim analysis, coaching, or training camps email: C26Coach@gmail.com Facebook: CrushingIron Twitter: CrushingIron Instagram: C26_Triathlon www.crushingiron.com

You have to like something before you can love it. It's easy to make a rash decision to do Ironman, but is that the best way to get motivated and be better? Today we look at how setting up your race calendar can help you make better decisions, keep your focus and make you more consistent. We look at the power of shorter races and why scheduling a race too far in advance can backfire.  - Bib Lists - How a race game plan can keep you extra motivated and focused - Why you should step back from your first instincts after a race - Ironman 70.3 Ohio - Chattanooga 70.3  - Putting "Markers" in place before you sign up for an Ironman - Realistic planning for Kona - How shorter races make you faster and stronger for Ironman - Don't forget about the other 364 days of the year - Why Racing too much doesn't help you - How to develop your true END GOAL - Setting up an easy 8-week jump from a Half to a Full - How Too Much Time Backfires If you like the Crushing Iron podcast, please consider supporting us here. Five bucks a

It's easy to let a perceived race goal build mountains of stress on our backs, but there's enough stress in life to carry extra burdens. Racing can and should be fun. Today we talk about the month leading up to Ironman Louisville and how we plan to let the stress drip away so we're relaxed and ready to have fun race morning. We also talk about ways to transform negative race events into fuel and clear your mind before/during a race.   How to Turn In-Race Hiccups into Fuel In-Race techniques to enjoy the day Social Media positive vs. negative energy Getting Rid of Wasted Thoughts How to let go of the race pressure Finding Fun in Your Race Listening to the body Two Different Types of Racers Fear and Finding Your Maximum Potential Racing Free of Pressure and Stress  If you like the Crushing Iron podcast, you can support us here. Thanks for listening! Please subscribe to Crushing Iron on YouTube and iTunes. For information on the C26 Coach’s Eye custom swim analysis, coaching, or training camps email: C26Coach@

Post race is one of the most bitter sweet feelings in triathlon. There's nothing like finishing the race, but waking up to empty streets, where no one is cheering you home can be a little deflating after such a big day on the course. Don't beat yourself up! Today we look at how to deal with post race letdown, how to overcome a lack of motivation, and how to get out of ruts at the end of your season. Rest is king after your race, but a few mistakes can put you on the wrong path in a hurry.   - Post race blues - Overcoming lack of motivation - Getting out of ruts - How to stay motivated and find gains in the off season - Seasonal Depression - Why NOW is the hardest part of triathlon - How to rekindle your WHY - Reaction from Ironman Wisconsin athletes on the Wave Start - How much elevation does Ironman Wisconsin's Bike Course REALLY have? If you like the Crushing Iron podcast, you can support us here. Supporting the podcast is how we keep up with the expenses of storage, hosting, and equipment. It also helps u

Mike and Robbie share what they saw this weekend at Ironman Wisconsin and Ironman 70.3 Worlds in Chattanooga. Mike was in Madison, Robbie was along the Tennessee river watching some of the best in the world.  - Reaction from racers about the courses - Discussion about each city's local reaction to hosting - What we learned from each race - What it was like meeting so many of you who listen to the podcast - And what's ahead at Ironman Chattanooga and Ironman Louisville If you like the Crushing Iron podcast, you can support us here. Thanks for listening! Please subscribe to Crushing Iron on YouTube and iTunes. For information on the C26 Coach’s Eye custom swim analysis, coaching, or training camps email: C26Coach@gmail.com Facebook: CrushingIron Twitter: CrushingIron Instagram: C26_Triathlon www.crushingiron.com

Ironman Wisconsin is a great environment and the Friday before the race Mike went to the water, drove the bike course, and ran the run course. He's done Ironman Wisconsin twice and puts together a few thoughts from today and combines them with his race experiences. Casual, late-night, hotel conversation.  If you like the Crushing Iron podcast, you can support us here. Thanks for listening! Please subscribe to Crushing Iron on YouTube and iTunes. For information on the C26 Coach’s Eye custom swim analysis, coaching, or training camps email: C26Coach@gmail.com Facebook: CrushingIron Twitter: CrushingIron Instagram: C26_Triathlon www.crushingiron.com

There's a TON of action going on this weekend and C26 will be all over it . . . starting with this podcast which talks about the INTENSE course at Ironman 70.3 Worlds in Chattanooga, including why some "world qualifiers" may not make the swim cutoff... Gives an Ironman Wisconsin Preview. . . AND... because we've allegedly been getting to introspective on podcast lately . . . we've added a special section on Volume and Intensity... specifically how you accumulate tons of safe mileage. It's a little trick coach calls "spreading the peanut butter evenly." Robbie will be at Worlds and I'll be at Wisconsin so you can expect a lot of updates here in the closed group. Thanks for listening to our podcasts!   - Why Chattanooga Worlds swim course is as tough as it gets - Pro-talk - Who will thrive at 70.3 Worlds - Ironman Wisconsin Preview - How Starky will Do at IMWI - Strategy for applying training loads - accumulating safe volume - icing on the cake runs - micro training cycles - spreading the peanut butter analogy

Nobody knows it all, but there are definitely warning signs that your training is on a slippery slope. Are you overly fatigued? Stressed? Feeling defeated? Not loving triathlon? So many times we get conflicted about what's really going on here . . . we are doing triathlon for two reasons: to have fun . . .and get better. We actually PAY to do this . . . and should never hate or regret what we're doing. But these things happen ALL THE TIME. Today we explore why we get on the wrong side of the sport and offer many thoughts and solutions for how to change your approach and find the joy you're seeking.  We also talk about over-training and how it is easily the biggest blood-suck for your enjoyment of the sport. We talk about ways to beat the blahs in peak training along with how to visualize your race during the taper. Patience, execution, and belief.  - The biggest mistakes coach's make  - The perfect analogy for approaching your Ironman race - How much should you run before an Ironman?? - Ways to break out of y

Do you trust your training on race day? Are you married to your devices? Could you do the run without looking at your watch? On today's podcast we get into the mentality of trusting yourself, your training, and your abilities. We look at what it's how to minimize the importance of your race to perform better. We dig into why it's important to let go of BAD and GOOD workouts. And we also look at how we can come together as a group to help people in Houston. If you like the Crushing Iron podcast, you can support us here. Thanks for listening! Please subscribe to Crushing Iron on YouTube and iTunes. For information on the C26 Coach’s Eye custom swim analysis, coaching, or training camps email: C26Coach@gmail.com Facebook: CrushingIron Twitter: CrushingIron Instagram: C26_Triathlon www.crushingiron.com

Ironman is about the hours and hours of training and the celebration of race day, but it’s also about friends and family . . . maybe more. The last thing you want is for your mom to be standing on a 15-hour-island looking at a confusing tracking app. Ironman Spectating is about setting up friends and family for an enjoyable weekend! Set them straight ahead of time with friends, locations, and info. Connect them to others and help them understand what they’re getting into ahead of time. Share this with your loved ones and make your Ironman weekend an experience everyone will remember forever.  ------------------ If you like the Crushing Iron podcast, you can support us here. Thanks for listening! --------------- An article Mike wrote about Spectating Ironman Louisville back in the day.  ------------------ Please subscribe to Crushing Iron on YouTube and iTunes. For information on the C26 Coach’s Eye custom swim analysis, coaching, or training camps email: C26Coach@gmail.com Facebook: CrushingIron Twitter: Crus

Are you already thinking ahead to next year? What's the rush? Many triathletes severely underestimate October through February. If the reason is . . . you are loving the sport and making a long term commitment, that's probably a good thing. Or . . . are you looking for the next race-buzz? Today we're talking about the "Q-4" or the "Triathlon Transition Phase." How to be in the moment with the process. How to think about training in the sport without saying "I have to do this . . .and I have to do that."  Many of you may be done with your season, or close, and have a race for next year, an off-season marathon, or . . . nothing. And those can be dangerous places. Plus, we look at what to do in your off season and why it could be CRITICAL for next season's goals.  How to make the focus of every training season, week, and day be, "I'm gonna do the best I can today, and keep getting better." How and when to focus on your weakness. ------------------------- If you like the Crushing Iron podcast, you can support us 

If you enjoy the Crushing Iron podcast, you can support us here on Patreon and help us give you a full time commitment. Thanks for listening! In today's Crushing Iron Podcast: We pay a lot of money to "do Triathlon" but what we get in return is invaluable. Today (which happens to be Total Eclipse Day) the guys talk about the journey, the struggle, and keeping your eyes on the real prize of doing Ironman. The motivation, the friendships, the connections, and the experience. There's also a lot of swim talk here, including an exploration of Total Immersion, including the real reasons it's so popular.  - What's with all the buzz surrounding the eclipse?  - What are the most common swim myths as discovered at C26 Swim Camps - Total Immersion swimming and why it's not for you - Taking The Complication Out of Swimming - The High Elbow Out of The Water illusion - Is your motivation unhealthy? - How great friendships emerge through training - How do we connect when we're on an island? - The feeling of crossing the Iro

Emotions tend to rise and energy tends to fall when you're 30 days away from your Ironman or other A-Race. It's easy to give in to a make-shift taper and even easier to waste all the hard work you've put in for months. Coach Robbie and Mike break down the last 30 days and how to make sure you stay healthy and are fine tuning your fitness instead of getting soft and lazy.  - Exploring "False Depression" - Reducing Stress and Staying Focused - The two biggest things to worry about at the athletes meeting - A smart approach to tapering - How to be aware of signs of overtraining and fatigue - The difference between tapering and rest - Why you should be swimming a lot as the race nears - Eggs are bringing me down - What you should be spending your time researching before the race - Taking the Guess Work Out of Transition and Special Needs Bags If you like the Crushing Iron podcast, you can support us here. Thanks for listening! Please subscribe to Crushing Iron on YouTube and iTunes. For information on the C26 Coa

It's very easy to isolate in triathlon, but when we truly recognize that we're not alone in this journey, it changes the game. Today we take a look at how that happens . . . usually over time . . . and what it can mean to our overall satisfaction in life. Triathlon is just one part of our lives, but it can be very fulfilling if we approach it from an angle of connection. Mike and Coach Robbie dive into their past struggles and explore the role triathlon has played in shaping a more positive outlook for their lives.  ------- It's not too late to fix an element of your swim before your next race. Find out how dozens of people have shaved seconds off their 100 time with one C26 Swim Analysis. Contact C26Coach@gmail.com for more information. -------- Follow Mike and Robbie's Journey to Ironman Louisville by subscribing to Crushing Iron on YouTube. Daily videos of 100 Days to Louisville. -------- There are still a few spots open for the 2018 C26 Triathlon Camps in Nashville, but they're filling fast. Contact Coach

The Ironman Swim is typically the highest anxiety-moment of the race. Today we look at ways to be ready, calm, and smart with your swim. We focus on specifics for Ironman Wisconsin, Chattanooga, and Louisville Swim Courses, but there is a ton of general Open Water tactics and techniques that will transfer to any race.  - Where to position yourself in a mass or wave start - The best way to find good lines and stay on course - How to use the buoys correctly - How the day before the race can give critical swim information - How to deal with a bright sun and waves - Making sure you're in the right position to corner the Red buoys - When seeding yourself last might be the best decision - When to put on your wetsuit - How to get a good warm up - How to relax before the start If you'd like to dial-in or fix your swim stroke, check out the new C26 Coach's Eye Swim Stroke Analysis that's helping dozens of triathletes get faster and more efficient in the water. It's simple, fast, and effective.  If you like the Crushi

There are a ton of ways to get derailed on your triathlon training and racing. Today, Mike an Robbie look at how they're training smarter for Ironman Louisville by breaking down an Olympic they did on Sunday. - How to think about positioning in the water for a swim - How to swim in river current: with, against, and across - Executing a nearly perfect river swim - The power of training in Aero - How to save your legs on the bike - Why the most important part of racing an Ironman is strength - How not to get distracted by insignificant details - How to attack a run by feel - Why most triathletes train too much - The importance of "waking up" your muscles - Running your race - Train for the course you're racing If you like the Crushing Iron podcast, you can support us here. Thanks for listening! Please subscribe to Crushing Iron on YouTube and iTunes. For information on the C26 Coach’s Eye custom swim analysis, coaching, or training camps email: C26Coach@gmail.com Facebook: CrushingIron Twitter: CrushingIron Ins

It's it possible your thoughts and goals are holding you back? Today on the Crushing Iron podcast we look at why trying too hard might be slowing you down. With so many outside distractions these days, it's important to listen and learn things for yourself but at the same time, not put too much stock in what you think. It's a slippery slope that takes practice just like swimming, biking, or running. We look at how embracing "surrender" in your training and racing can release you to levels you might not believe you can attain. There are thousands of philosophies surrounding swim, bike, and run, but ultimately it comes down to yours. What's best for you and how you can pursue the right road, all while not being chained to doubt.     - The Ups and Downs of Training  - The importance of Clarity, surrender, patience  - Don’t give up on your swim, change your perspective and get faster - The Training Plan Puzzle - Why you should NEVER train Just To Make The Cutoff - How to uncover your real goals - Go with the groo

If you like the Crushing Iron podcast, you can support us on a monthly basis here. Thanks for listening!   This was a great weekend for the C26 Triathlon Athletes. There were some podiums, first timers, and PR's, but it's how everyone racing "went about" their race that caught our attention. Despite some pain and struggle, everyone genuinely seemed to have rewarding and fun races. This got us thinking about the grounding question of, "Why Do We Do Triathlon" in the first place? We are very excited about the supportive C26 community and it's definitely having an impact on us as we train for Louisville. Lot's of good stuff in here as we just went down the road of racing with gratitude and appreciation for the process of our sport.   - What brought you to triathlon, and what keeps you here?  - How triathlon helps us figure out who we really are - Why it's so hard to run slow in training - We can always get better, but race day is the day to celebrate how far you've come - Rebounding from a disappointing race by

If you like the Crushing Iron podcast, you can support us on a monthly basis here. Thanks for listening! On Today's Crushing Iron Podcast we welcome Age Grouper Jaime Lopez. He talks about his entry into the sport, his obsession with YouTube swim videos, and walks us through his first painful 70.3 in Muncie. Then he shares how he cut a full hour off his time, including nearly 20 minutes in the swim, on the same course. And You Must hear the story of his pre-Ironman Louisville breakfast. We can't imagine anything worse, but his perseverance that day is something we can all learn from, including using cough drops for his run nutrition. We love to share good stories of people who have decided to change their lives for the better and show us how far they've come since they got into the sport. We hope you enjoy it too... guys and girls just like us trying to be the best we can be. Enjoy! For information on upcoming C26 Camps email C26Coach@gmail.comJoin the dozens of triathletes cutting their swim times with C26 C