Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast

We all like to say we like doing hard things, but are we cherry picking those experiences? Today, we dive into how most of us tend to create the best conditions and chase good days by taking shortcuts. We argue that creating friction in training is really the ultimate way to prepare for the hardest days - race days. How long can you go without reaching for a training crutch when things aren't goin...

Today is part 2 of listener questions and we spend a lot of time talking about the monumental nature of doing an Ironman. Is it absurd, simply a conquest, or a means to an end? There are tons of little training nuggets weaved inside of this cast, including, how to build an effective swim training package, is it worth the time and effort to be your absolute best in this sport? Triathlon vs. other p...

Today, you drive the cast with your great questions, but stat with a discussion about the whole Buc-ees thing and how and why Zoot keeps dominating the Tri Club Awards. Then onto Coeur d'Alene and mostly the tough swim conditions. We look at whether or not you're swimming enough, or if you can approach tough open water swims from a different perspective. We look at how to deal with the disappointm...

Today we look at all the unnecessary stress triathletes tend to put on themselves. We talk about why it's not only bad for performance, but general health and happiness. We get into panic training and over training. The effect of accumulating stress. We look at rest vs. over-rest. We get into how being "afraid to lose" wears on your mind and overall energy. We talk about the myth of losing your to...

Fresh off a "jump in" race in his former stomping grounds, Mike talks about his experience at Ironman 70.3 Rockford. We get into pre-race, the strategy, adapting strategy, the current, the wind, the roads, the volunteers, and much more. We really dive into some tough questions/decisions for triathletes about how to be "satisfied" with your effort. It's a lonely place on that second loop of the run...

The guys discuss Mike's last minute registration for Rockford 70.3 and the concept of jumping into a race on a whim. They go through the challenges but mostly the benefits and why he'll approach it more like a practice test than a training day. There's a lot to be said for feeling the race environment. The nerves, the speed, and the race energy. It's all waiting and it will be a great 10,000 foot...

Many times frustration is caused by exhaustion or overstimulation. Today, we look at real ways to reduce your distractions, find a calmer mind, and be stronger in training. We are under a continual assault of information and, at some point, we have to ask: do we have enough information yet? So much of training and racing is being in the moment and at one with yourself, but how do we get there? We'...

Our listeners step up today with some great questions in an extra long cast for you. Topics: Clay Courts, the French Open, and Mike's Tennis past Should you race short course more often? Triple-T  Do your own sprint Easier to put on a tire or go tubeless? Does Mike still burn his biscuits? Losing fitness on vaction? Using different bikes in training What to we recommend for listening on long runs...

Sometimes we have to understand why we're bitching all the time and uncover the best way to enjoy training and life. Today we start by discussing dopamine detox and how that might help us enjoy the simpler things in training. It sort of morphs into this discussion about how we can create an excitement trap that has us satiating the ego vs making progress. More races, more intensity, more burnout?...

After a weekend of racing and our Nashville Triathlon Camp, once again, we're reminded that we got into this sport for the challenge. This is really the best thing to keep in your mind whenever we tackle something difficult. There are no guarantees other than the opportunity to grow and be stronger. We do this for the opportunity and the more challenging the training or race, most often, the more...

Today, we talk about a topic that a lot of us who've been in the sport a while need to think about. How to break ourselves down like we did in the beginning. Life is about being alive and challenging ourselves. We take a look at the lure of comfort and how to shake things up. Once again, we explore the reasons why we do this, and how the edges of challenge and pain shift. We look at why it's so im...

On some level we all dread the wind, the heat, the cold, the rough water, and the hills, but how do you learn to love it all for training benefit? Today, we look at the transition from indoors to outdoors and why it can be a shock to the system. We look at ways to build confidence and calm while preparing for anything in a race environment. How do you break out of your own personal matrix and crea...

Today, we brainstormed to give Ironman (at least) 10 great ideas to increase excitement, revenue, and branding at their races. We talk about ways to increase age grouper engagement and retention. We get into on course changes to make the races tougher, more memorable, and safer. We look at getting the fans more invested and involved. Some of these are a little out there, but all good ideas start w...

Are you always trying to be perfect? Every day we face thousands of decisions that can either help us break free or tie us in knots. Today, we look at the sometimes overwhelming decision process that can affect triathletes in training, racing, and life. We get into premature optimization, how you should build your cake (base), and eventually ask if it's "decision" fatigue or "precision" fatigue. W...

Today, our goal is to help you prepare for a solid swim by learning to like, and eventually love the water. We talk about many things you can be doing right now to make your swim as strong as possible. We look at how to approach training: swim hard, swim long, swim often. We get into ways to calm anxiety along with how to handle race morning. We talk a lot about the importance of warming up the pr...

We start today with a proclamation that Mike is throwing out his power meter and Robbie has a surprising reaction. We ask, what's your preferred way of suffering? We get into climbing hills and getting too caught up in the numbers. We talk about the importance of breathing and its relationship to your heart rate training. We talk about keeping things simpler to avoid mistakes. We address enjoyment...

Today, we preview Ironman Texas, but this is great info for any Ironman you might be racing. We include strategy for the age groupers and take a look at the stacked pro field and give predictions. We look at the wind and potentially "mild" weather and talk wetsuit or not, how to approach the swim along with the last stretch in the canal. We get into bike strategy for your first and second loop. Th...

Are you paying compounding interest on fatigue and recovery? We look at several different ways to address today's workout depending on where you are mentally and physically. Just because something is in your Training Peaks doesn't mean it's perfectly crafted for you on that day. We always want to encourage athletes to make the right decision based on how they feel, what is going on in their lives,...

We all want to be faster and today we look at the right ways to go about speed in triathlon. We talk about pushing the limits along with how putting in easy miles mix. We talk about building habits that matter and why you always have the time to do the extra things that will make a difference. New the "latest and greatest" training methods, the simple power of repetition, and why most triathletes...

Today we take athlete questions and compare our answers with A.I. We get into how long to train for an Ironman after taking a chunk of time off. We look at what makes a race attractive. We look at trimming your time in an open mile run. Stationary pool band swimming. Double runs on the same day. Double rides. Along with biggest mistakes athletes make in the first Ironman. Topics: How much NIL woul...

Most of us have moments within a race where things aren't going as planned. The question is, how do you handle it? Will you throw in the towel or try to figure it out? What does that even look like. We make hundreds of decisions within a race and today we're looking at how to make the best ones you can in the moment. We look at why not wearing a watch in the swim can give you a better mindset. We...

So many people want to put limits on our potential, but are we really going to just settle for someone else's opinion? Today, we talk about the unexplored potential inside of you and belief systems that will help you tap into it. Anything Is Possible might be overused as a phrase, but it's definitely not over attempted. Let's take a look inside at ways you're wasting your energy and potential. Let...

We're not here to sell you the top hacks for getting on the podium. Today, we advocate for the long game. Often times the quicker you gain, the quicker it can go away.  Building and keeping and making life/triathlon feel easier and more enjoyable. How do we find joy in the "boring" stuff we feel like wastes our time? Slow gains are hard to notice, but they last longer. We know it's not exciting, b...

Expensive wetsuits, Disc wheels and carbon shoes only matter if they matter. Today, we look at true free speed within better posture and form. When you boil it down, a faster race comes down to holding solid form and all three events affect the other. We'll look at simple ways to improve your form and get free speed over time by simply holding it better. We talk about drills to incorporate in your...

Today we talk about how to think about riding the trainer so you can be more prepared for the reality of the course. We talk about hills, wind, aero, cadence, and much more. We take a look at the last hour of your race and how you can work on being stronger as you come into T2. Do we all complicate specific workouts when the reality is we just have to be stronger both physically and mentally to de...