Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast

Listeners drive today’s topics, including the highly debated topic of weight training. We also take a deep look at the swim and discuss whether it’s worth working overtime to save a couple minutes. Also, how do you keep motivated and inspired when something like injury takes you away from triathlon. Should you bilateral breathe in the swim? The best ways to work strength training into your swim, bike, run training. Topics: Fall weather Is the extra work worth saving 2 to 3 minutes in a swim? Crashed bike, what now? How do you keep going? Using triathlon to figure out who you are I’m not a triathlete, I’m a person who challenges myself and does hard things Bilateral breathing worth the time? Finding your best swim stroke Adult onset swimming Q4 the time to focus on weight training? Replacement or compliment Core work? Mike Tarrolly - mike@c26triathlon.com Robbie Bruce - robbie@c26triathlon.com

Sometimes we talk with each other in a way to figure things out. Today, we dive into staying in the game, being in the moment, and living a life of experiences. We talk about letting outcomes ruin great journeys. We look at moving through things that give us fear. We get into shifting perspective on races that didn’t quite go our way. We look at how being in person is so much different than an experience on a screen. It’s so easy to fall into a comfort trap and it rarely gives us satisfaction. What will you regret if you don’t try it? It’s easy to think about a vacation or a big race all the time, but don’t miss what’s happening right now. Topics: Letting outcomes ruin great journeys Is this even real? How much we avoid Talking yourself out of something you want to do Being there is way different There are no wrong or right answers, there only is what is Choosing comfort Not learning for yourself Moving through what gives you fear Age group finish placement We have to shift our perspectives on accomplishment

We talk the best Z1 and Z2 ratios for the off season. We look at Training for unique races like the Triple T. We get into the best ways to attack ultra run training. We talk the loss of swim feel and the way to get back in the groove. Losing weight for performance or health? Time to upgrade your bike? Prepping for cold water swims. How to learn from under performing in your race. Plus a little MLB and Pete Rose. Topics: Z and Z2 training ratios for off season Finding a love of Z2 Is Z2 boring or just hard? Figure out your zones Tabata style workouts for long course racing Z2 Ramps Triple T - Train to be fatigue resistant Why is it so hard to pick up swimming after a break? Feel for the water, the pedals, and the ground How much should heavier athletes work on losing weight for racing? Hungry or thirsty? Not “trying” to lose weight Bike upgrade time?? 90k trail race training volume How to be ready for a cold water swim Dealing with under achieving in your race Blow ups as unreal expectations Mike Tarroll

Now is the time to look deep inside and figure out where you want to go, what makes you happy, and how to find love of the process. We look at the post season mindset and investigate how what we learned can be a catalyst going forward. What do we really need to work on? Strength, endurance, overall health, attitude, our why? We also talk about how just sticking around and staying in the ballpark can make you a completely different athlete next season. We are often too deep in the inertia to realize how far we’ve come and how this sport and training has made us stronger and healthier people. It’s a time to reflect, appreciate, and keep moving forward. Topics: We failed in our Chart predictions “I swear I’m never doing this again.” Testament to the human spirit Ironman finishin lines The red carpet feeling Post Ironman mindset Going out into the wilderness that is an Ironman Post race roller coaster The best way to having a short build Starting a new season in the same way but expecting change Year round consi

Success and getting better takes the ability to be willing to fail along the way. We can play it safe, but we’re training for Ironman, not SoftMan. On the other hand, it’s just a race and we pay to do this, so let’s take some chances? Have a plan, then a back up plan, and a back up plan for the back up plan. Roll with what’s in front of you. Quitting isn’t an option. But “giving in” on the course is the real demon. What are you going to do when things aren’t going your way? Figure out a solution, or give in? What should you be visualizing fifer a race? Easy and hard are not paces, they are efforts. Topics: The INSIDE scoop on Chattanooga weather for the weekend. It’s just a race that we pay to do Prepare for the day to be HARD and CHALLENGING no matter the weather. Plan A, B, and C If something goes wrong, move on Giving up vs. Giving In Recliners on the race course What Mike things made him a worse athlete How your watch gets in your head SoftMan The best athletes know how to pivot Creating experience so yo

If you thought we would have a big celebration for #800, you are absolutely right! Today, we talk about how doing hard things like triathlon can be fun, even when they’re not on the surface. We look at defeating race anxiety, lowering expectations while still performing well, fr-framing fun and what that means inside a race. We talk about respecting the distance and creating a healthy amount of fear no matter how confident you are. We look at the power in embracing the mystery, finding wins in figuring out the process. We talk about brining solutions and not problems into your life. Raising your mental game, breaking through the comfort zone, different levels of pain tolerance and if what we did was really hard or not. Celebrate 800 podcasts by shifting your perspective. Topics: Ironman vs. 70.3 distance Fall Season kick off Maryland flooding Late season race anxiety builds . . . NICE - descents Lowered expectations “I Just want to have fun” Re-Framing fun Once you’re in it, you’re in it Treat races with res

Want to race better? Master the principles in this podcast. Today, we look at what’s really important for long course triathlon. The ability to hold form and effort over a long period of time. You can make it rocket science if you want, but the principles are pretty easy. Don’t break down. But how do you get to that point? We talk about how to get there and nail the omnipresent philosophy of: It’s not how fast you go, but how little you slow down. We look at how fatigue masks fitness, how it’s important to test with fatigue, holding form when you need it most and the the real concept behind being “strong” in triathlon. Topics: 800th podcast all star cast?? Re capping our favorite podcast guests Fueling and fat oxidation All this information and people are still as confused as ever Fitness, form, and fatigue resistance We all like to test fresh, but . . . Measuring and training your ability to resist fatigue Pros are one thing, but how does it apply to age groupers? Closing the gap between fresh and fatigue e

Are you too hard on yourself? Today we look at the challenges of consistency and commitment to racing and living free. It’s easy to burn our consistency matches by layering pressure on the daily. There are so many distractions and experts in the world, but ultimately this comes back to us. What works, what doesn’t, and how do we keep moving the right direction. We all have more potential than we think and sometimes it means taking a shot at breaking through your own Roger Banister 4 minute mile wall. Seeing and feeling it for yourself. Pressure is self imposed. Race and live free. Topics: Positive feedback Driving good discussions So many experts in the world What’s right and what’s wrong?? All athletes have different agendas Research proves what it wants to prove Tunnel vision Distracted by things that don’t work for us Transitions in training and life Take your time with junk food Go easy on yourself Addictive nation Comfort food The rebel inside Progress over perfection Filling a voice Sugar addiction and

Today, we give you a little food for thought on day to day nutrition and race fueling. We sort of explore the traditional triathlon thinking process and ask if you’re really doing what’s right for your long term health. We get into how to think about what’s working and how to recognize what’s not. On some levels it’s complex, but it can be really simple if you start putting yourself first in the equation. We talk about fitness over nutrition and how to build your body for long distance triathlon. We get into glycogen, fat oxidation, and ask if training your gut is really a logical approach. We look at bonking, periodizing carbs and ask you to think about how you’re fueling and if it really makes sense. The modern diet is filled with synthetic ingredients and proving to be a failure. Are we as performance athletes falling into the same trap? Topics: Critically thinking about your nutrition day to day Do you believe something is wonky? Nutrition for triathlon Not just a triathlete, but a human The highest perf

We go deep into what was Ironman Wisconsin and 70.3 weekend in Madison. C26 had a great showing again with over 40 athletes racing and a 2nd place tri club performance in the 70.3 and 4th in the full. Stay tuned for a deep dive into race fueling.  We talk about why the perfect weather wasn’t exactly perfect. We look at the two loop swim challenges and why it takes more out of you than you think. We get into the bike and the constant need to be engaged. The challenges of the roads, the terrain, and the wind. We get into the bike and the course changes along with why it can sneak up on you. Then, there is an intense discussion bout Ironman Nutrition. We dive into sodium, carbs, sugar, and water and ask the question: Are most of us taking in too much? There are a lot of schools of thought and we explore why so many people have issues with their nutrition on race day. It’s a long one for us, so if you stick around till the end, we’ll be impressed. Topics: A whirlwind of a weekend and huge showing by the team. Co

Looks like it will be cooling down for the weekend and today Mike and Robbie walk through what that means if you're racing. If you handle the little things well, the weather may just turn out perfect for your needs. But, if you're cold and don't fuel, hydrate correctly, it could be an issue.  We go through how to handle the morning swim, including when to put on the wetsuit, we'll take you into transition and out on the bike course with the right clothes. Then we'll look at the run course change along with how what time you finish the bike will make a big difference in how you should address the run.  For more insights on Ironman Wisconsin, please see these interviews with 3 of our coaches who were on the podium last year at Ironman Wisconsin: Erin Koerner: https://youtu.be/B0VByQ_cTBM CJ Castle: https://youtu.be/gXu32A5-0LA Parker Watt: https://youtu.be/jj5w6RRcp_Q Topics: Wisconsin course preparation How the cooler temps will affect your race decisions Coach interviews: see above links Going from training

We start with the pros and cons of the new Ironman Chattanooga bike course. We look at whether or not these courses are really that crowded. We talk unorthodox training as a strategy for health and long term enjoyment of the sport. We also look at Ironman branding and our C26 community. We get into the challenges of late and early season races. We talk about finding what you really like and how that can be the fuel. And we get into getting better in the off season. What are the goals, and how do you make them work. Topics: The NEW Ironman Chattanooga Bike course Are courses really as crowded as we think? On your left . . . and staying in your lane Unorthodox training  Reinventing philosophies as a coach What would Rocky do? Goal of staying healthy and finding long term enjoyment Brand problem when it comes to triathlon Breaking traditional training patterns  What we love about the C26 Community The challenges of early and late season races Setting off-season goals and hitting them Find something you like  Se

The heat is back but the stress never left and it’s a good reminder. We talk open water swim and your pace and if it’s right and if training in the pool is better than OW. Are you wiped out or just fueling poorly. What happens when you face the Training Peaks Hell Week Council? Are metrics making us lazy? Maybe you just need to open up your legs. The most important variable when it comes to volume and or intensity. Re-testing your run, plus, will Chattanooga have a new bike course? If so, what do you do? Topics: Heat and cortisol 2:45 swim pace in OW Chattanooga bike course change? Run course?? Training Peaks Hell Week Council Wiped out or bad hydration/fueling? Carb intake two days ago Metrics make us lazy Power meter or smart trainer? How much is too much Opening up the legs Fast twitch vs slow twitch IM Kansas? Coaching or plans? Volume and intensity - absorbing is what matters When’s a good time to re-test your run     Mike Tarrolly - mike@c26triathlon.com Robbie Bruce - robbie@c26triathlon.com

Focus on the details is very important when it comes to your race, but what are the right details? Today, we get into the “no man’s land” of training. Pre-race planning, effective taper, and post race discoveries. Data can be important, but obsessing over collecting information has nothing to do with racing well. How are you using your data, and better yet, what are the major things you need to nail down before you go on to the minors? What are you going to do if something goes wrong in a race? How can you make this race feel easier? Data is like the ingredients for a recipe, but how you put them together is the most important part. Topics: Trips into town and hoodie weather No man’s land of training Taper - So easy to lose focus Race analysis When the race blows up or did it just hurt? Information overload Collecting data and using it the right way Data is like meal ingredients When race times stay about the same for you Inside the race is a puzzle Had a good race, but think it wasn’t? Laying an egg when “p

The inaugural IM Louisville 70.3 kicked off with a bang and we have an on location report. We’ll talk about all the expectations and the realities and how they turned this into an even better experience than we predicted. The slow swim, the “fast” bike, and the challenging run. Everything’s on the table including the business acumen of the infamous Love Boutique. Topics: What is “pre-peak?” “Think” bars Louisville extroverting Local Politics and racing 5 year contract? Going in with low expectations Swim fears The swim was on all along? Swim current “indicators” Wetsuit optional a good choice?? The swim was actually an equalizer Headwind in the water Even 45 minutes is a long time in the water Long transitions and swim could have meant 10 minutes When and how to mount your bike No turns, speed, and normalized power Lots of gearing Challenging run Aid Stations and volunteers 6 podiums for C26 Overall even rating is . . . Athletes like a challenge Highlighting areas for you to improve   Mike Tarrolly - mike@c

C26 is in Louisville in big numbers and today Coach Robbie joins from the Omni Hotel lobby to talk about the vibe for Louisville 70.3. We talk about the swim potential, bike strategies, and the run challenges. We also talk about how to lead up to your races without getting drained so you can leave it on the course. We’re also joined by C26 Coach, CJ, who is racing Louisville. He gives us his insight into how he’ll be tackling the bike course with HR and Power. We also hear from C26 athlete Brian Snell who just finished Lake Placid and will be doing the swim relay. Topics: On site at Louisville 2800+ racers lining up What’s going on with the swim?? Louisville is back in August where it should be Temperament of the city having a race back How does downtown Louisville look? Temperatures look favorable, but . . . Elevation profiles Fair and challenging course C26 Relay Team Burnt Buscuits Coach CJ interview C26 athlete Brian Snell joins the show to talk Ironman Blues We only have so many matches Tempering your e

Today we break down how volume and intensity overlap. Just because something is defined as “easy” doesn’t mean it’s not intense. How do you think about intensity? Do you train in a way to build fatigue resistance and hold form? Some of these thoughts may surprise you. Topics: Shout out to a friend of the podcast Volume or intensity? Age groupers vs. pros. We think of volume as time . . . but . . . 2 hours easy vs. 1:30 intensity Volume of time or intensity? What’s the difference? Fatigue resistance and keeping form When you can’t hold form over duration Holding Z2 forever Breaking up your swim, bike, and run during a race Durability with form.   Mike Tarrolly - mike@c26triathlon.com Robbie Bruce - robbie@c26triathlon.com

A lot of us really complicate things in the water, but today we’re looking at a few “simple” concepts that can really make a difference in your swim speed. We’ll look at how and why to master these techniques and what it will mean for your overall enjoyment of the sport and the swim. These are not drills, they are effective and relatively simple techniques that you must make second nature before you will get faster. We also look at Louisville 70.3 and the panic around water and road conditions. Topics: Louisville 70.3 Race water quality Facebook panic Road conditions Online swim school What we see in swim analysis Early vertical forearm Breathing Tucking chin Out of breath? Sink to the bottom Lungs too full of air? Hydrodynamics vs. aerodynamics It’s all about the drag Going out too fast Finding good breathing BEFORE the race When drills make no sense Firm but not rigid The Clock analogy Do drills WHILE you’re swimming Swim slower and own your form   Mike Tarrolly - mike@c26triathlon.com Robbie Bruce - robb

Everyone has different life scenarios and it’s up to you to figure out what works best in training. Is it not enough, too much? Why do you think that? Today, we look at carving your own way within the outline. Things to look at as you train for different distances. How to be confident you’ll be ready to perform on race day. We talk about mental bandwidth and stocking tenacity for race day. Looking for flow state, key warm up thoughts, and ways to not leave your race in training. Topics: Why am I doing this? Not enough or too much? Assuming e should feel bad during Ironman training Volume dependent on the race distance? Olympic distance training similar to 70.3 Different life scenarios Creatitivity and letting out the athlete Enjoying the sessions. “I feel like I need . . . “ Every workout doesn’t have to be crushed Athletes needs are different Flow state “I don’t want to know” The loudest tend to be more insecure Believe in your training resume Leaving your race in training Mental bandwidth We take the loss

We talk Olympics’ triathlon. We get into the heat. We get into adjusting for the heat. We talk Norwegian method as a strategy or burnout? Adrenaline as your only fuel. Swimming in a pool before a race if the swim is cancelled. Post race recovery food and methods. The goal is not the session. Downward spirals. And your NEED TO KNOWS about Louisville 70.3 Topics: Monogetti in the heat Elimination of toxins Coconuts What if your race was pushed back a day? Olympics’ Triathlon Norwegian method Red - Color for RPE Hard work, consistency, communication Longevity goal: Be in for the long run Adrenaline for fuel The ease of consumption Swim in a pool if IM Swim is cancelled? Post race recovery foods and methods Adjusting your zones times for heat How to keep enthusiasm after a race In the run lab When we see yellow in TP The goal is not the session We care about your race . . . and health Pom pon megaphone coach Downward spirals Need to knows about LOUISVILLE 70.3 How to stay cool   Mike Tarrolly - mike@c26triathlo