Purple Patch Podcast

There is a common thread that unites all Purple Patch athletes, and likely, all athletes in general - the desire to IMPROVE. Whether winning a world championship or optimizing energy throughout the day, we, as humans, embrace and enjoy the journey more when we improve and when we see progression. So, if you want to improve and go faster, you need to train faster, right?? Well, yes, sometimes . But...

You may be committed to, or thinking about committing to, your very first IRONMAN® event. You might be salivating at a return to racing following a very dry 2020 season, or, you could be committed to making this your best race season ever and are desperate to get it right. What does it take to have your best performance at IRONMAN® racing? There is no escaping the requirement to thoroughly prepare...

Wearables, FTP, Sleep, HRV, Pace, Power, Sleep, Calories... There are so many opportunities to track things. As an athlete and a performance-minded fitness enthusiast, what are some aspects of your training and performance that you might consider tracking? And, most importantly, in what context? Today, we dive into data and provide a performance lens to create a workable marriage between those fee...

Who is the 'King of Toughness?' The 'Queen of Managing Adversity?' Who had an almost mystical ability to focus on a task, even as stress and distraction amplified? Which of the Purple Patch Pros is the 'King of Lazy,' all the while finding consistent world-class performance? Enjoy this rare coach's insight into some of the special traits, skills, and elements of the pros (well beyond physical prow...

The premise of the Purple Patch podcast is all about performance and helping you enhance your performance journey to become the best that you can be in sport and in life. This week is part two of the in-depth performance discussion with Alex Hutchinson, who is a leading researcher on everything cutting-edge in the world of athletic performance. Hutchinson is a science journalist who writes about f...

The premise of the Purple Patch podcast is all about performance and helping you enhance your performance journey to become the best that you can be in sport and in life. As the performance engines rev up in 2021, it is more vital than ever to educate and empower all human beings to reach their athletic potential because, through the lens of athletic potential, you reach your human potential. For...

Yes, we're still in the midst of it all and racing feels like a way off, but it is time to begin to build your base for performance. Yes...starting NOW. I don't want you to let this opportunity bypass you. Admittedly the postseason/prep-phase of training is not usually the favorite of athletes and yet, it's so critical that you can't be race-ready without it.  The problem with this kind of prepara...

Matt lays down a solid foundation on STAYING POWER - creating and cementing performance habits, especially in the popular areas of nutrition and strength. First, though, we must differentiate between a habit and a resolution. A habit is something that stays with you - becomes a part of you -- for the long-term.  A resolution , conversely, is quite often a self-imposed intervention and reeks of uns...

A coach is not the catalyst to your success and breakthroughs don't lie in a software platform or a wristwatch. You are the one who determines if you achieve success and, in this episode, Matt provides perspective and three steps to find the best coaching fit for you. Ask yourself: What are your needs and what type of support do you need? Go shopping to find the best relationship that meets your n...

Matt Dixon is back with his 2020 Holiday Gift Guide and, in a year that was anything but ordinary, we hope these gift ideas spark a little extraordinary creativity, love, and thought. We also hope they ignite a little positive motivation to start your own performance journey in 2021. Sport has the potential to amplify life, happiness, resilience, and adaptability and we're here to provide the tool...

Some athletes think about "strength" in terms of push-ups and pull-ups, others think about bodybuilders and weightlifting. Strength training for multisport development is NOT strictly weightlifting. Matt talks with long-time Purple Patch Coach, Mike Olzinski, about the role of strength training in endurance sports and life performance. According to Olzinski, a comprehensive strength training progr...

Let's set a framework for 2021 and to do so, it's important to know that what you do in the next nine to 12 weeks will likely determine your performance success for all of 2021. This year especially, you cannot rely on re-running prior experiences or approaches to thrive going forward. You must learn lessons from adversity, plan within the context of your realities, and you must deploy some increm...

What would you do if you were born without a femur in one of your legs and told you would never walk, especially, if you were born into a modest Moroccan family with no access to technology or real health assistance? What if you had to endure the ridicule and shame that comes with rejection and exclusion from schoolmates and teachers who won't let you participate in organized sports? Like today's...

Are you frustrated with a lack of improvement in running? Do you suffer from a history of running injuries when you try and stick to a traditional running plan? Have you found yourself saying, "I've tried, but running just isn't for me?" Today, Matt breaks down proven different approaches to running faster- with less injury risk -while avoiding fake promises, quick fixes, or any of the fads that p...

Growing up on a farm in Finland, Sami was always intrigued by health, wellness, and athletic performance.  He did ride his bike or cross-country ski to-and-from school most days, after all! He moved to the United States in 2003 to attend  Stanford Business School , and it's there where he met his friend and business partner, Pete Flint, and, together, they founded  Trulia , eventually turning it p...

Matt welcomes Six-Time IRONMAN World Champion, Mark Allen, to the podcast. In 2012, ESPN named Mark Allen the Greatest Endurance Athlete of All-Time and he's been inspiring and motivating people of all backgrounds for decades.  Mark is known as the 'Master of Mindset.' His views on what it takes to be successful in any endeavor, how to navigate adversity, how to establish the right perspective whi...

Bob Babbitt is, simply put, the lightning rod of the endurance world. In 1980, he participated in his first IRONMAN on the island of O'ahu, Hawaii, and has been making history ever since. He'd never call himself an elite athlete and yet, he's a member of the USA Triathlon and IRONMAN Triathlon Halls of Fame. Why? Because he believes that sport is essential for all and changes lives every day. His...

As we finish 2020 and gear up emotionally for bigger and better times in 2021, we've got a chance to RESET, to lay the groundwork of mindset, habits, and action that will equip us to thrive next year - no matter what is thrown our way. Matt put this mantra to action at a recent 50 Mile Ultra race and shares the poignant, painful, and powerful life lessons he learned running for over 12 hours in th...

Purple Patch is proud to announce Performance Reset 2020 , a 3-Day Virtual Conference taking place live from San Francisco. Now is the time to reset from the turbulence of 2020 and take aim at performance. Join us for this immersive conference that will equip you with the planning, mindset, habits, and execution you need to unlock performance in the years ahead. Engage with leaders in the performa...

Yes, it's the week that triathletes, coaches, and spectators usually descend up Kailua-Kona for the annual IRONMAN World Championships.  This week, Matt looks back on six memorable stories from his 20+ years of heading over to Kona for the big race. Some stories involve lessons pros like Chris Lieto, Rachel Joyce, and Sarah Piampiano. Other takeaways center around age-group athletes that Matt has...

Our children have faced change across various arenas of life and, for most, it has been incredibly isolating. Many parents are struggling with how to support kids through the turbulence that we find ourselves in these days, especially in terms of talking about Covid-19, supporting their education, and addressing the common fears of social, sporting, and emotional development due to the detours tha...

We've got one for the geeks this week as I welcome Ivan O'Gorman of IOG Bike Fit and Consulting to the podcast for a deep dive on bike fitting and performance. Ivan regularly works with recreational cyclists and triathletes of all levels, as well as World Tour professionals and Olympians. As a seven-time IRONMAN World Championship finisher and two-time LT 100 MTB finisher, Ivan has significant fir...

Today, we take off the heavy cloak of 2020 and begin to set our path toward high performance in 2021. We do so in style -- via YOUR questions. Yes -- today's show is a chance for Matt to sink his chops into questions delivered by the listeners. Matt addresses listener questions around: Trends for performance in 2021 How to address the stress of 2020 with our children Getting a chance to race in 20...

Matt Dixon and Scott Tindal return with Part 2 of their Coaches Conversation around Performance Nutrition.  Today, they get specific on three important modules. The Importance of breakfast - What and Why? The Role of Protein and How Much is too Much? Nitrates and Beets? What Are They and What Are the Benefits?   Episode Resources: Matt Dixon Bike Clinic - September 16th Ivan O'Gorman Bike Fits at...

Matt Dixon and Scott Tindal break down an often confusing and complex topic in this two-part podcast series on Performance Nutrition.  Today, they lay the groundwork. Why is this topic so confusing? Why is performance nutrition an afterthought for many? What are the dangers of over-obsessing? What should athletes look for in a nutrition plan? What are the strategies of nailing nutrition basics? Ep...