Purple Patch Podcast

In part 2 of our observations and lessons of 2022 so far, Matt takes a step beyond life performance and focuses on endurance sports and triathlon performance. After two years without specific goal-driven events to anchor training to, many athletes are either searching to build on the positive adaptions made during the shutdown or are looking to get their training back on track. Matt shares key ins...

As we approach the midway point of 2022, it is important to pause and reflect on the challenges we faced and lessons we learned throughout the year surrounding our overall performance in life, and the habits we can establish moving forward to set ourselves up for success. In part one of our two-part series on Lessons from 2022 so far, we look closely at how we were able to adapt our lives to the s...

For the time-starved athlete, the traditional approach to training for an Ironman or half Ironman can sometimes feel like a part-time job. Some athletes struggle to meet the demands of programs built on a foundation of accumulated weekly training hours. They often come up short when attempting to balance the demands of life and sport. Many athletes come away feeling as though the training is consu...

Matt welcomes Ironman World Champion swimmer and CEO and founder of Sailfish, a triathlon performance apparel company, Jan Sibbersen, for Part 2 of their discussion in which they focus on success in open water swimming. With more than 35 years of competitive swimming experience, Sibbersen shares his insights and best training practices for athletes both with a swimming background and without. In t...

Matt welcomes the founder of wetsuit company Sailfish, and Hawaii Ironman World Championship swim course record-holder, Jan Sibbersen, to the show. Part 1 of this 2 part series covers Sibbersen's road to conquering the Kona swim record in a comeback performance at the age of 43 and how his swimming background influenced his success in the water and inspired him to build a business from the ground...

If you are reading this, it's likely because you share a common thread with many athletes, which is the desire to improve your athletic and personal potential. Dedicating yourself to learning and applying best practices and methods for achieving enduring health and high performance seems straightforward enough. Unfortunately, the challenge many people face is being able to filter through the blizz...

So you've gone all-in and put your training in the hands of your coach. It's their role to build the framework of performance and provide clarity, accountability, and guidance through your evolution as an athlete. But how does a coach evolve beyond education and experience to become a more effective pillar of support? How do they improve themselves and grow in order to help you, the athlete, thriv...

Welcome to another "Ask Matt Anything" edition of the Purple Patch Podcast. In this episode, Matt answers your voicemails and emails on all topics related to run performance. In this installment, Matt answers questions related to: Running with a high heart rate Coming back from injury Dealing with the incessant niggles Fostering a lifelong love of running potential in children Arriving on race day...

Does it sometimes feel like the training you've been prescribed doesn't fit comfortably into your life? Does your training volume have you feeling like a zombie rather than a finely tuned athlete? Did your coach still schedule a bike workout even though you made clear notes that you had a work trip with no access to cycling? Do you struggle to understand the big picture of your training? Does your...

The endurance training circles are buzzing again about this (not-so-new) trend - Let's call it Zone 2 training, or to put it another way, training that is high in volume in low in intensity. There is inherently nothing wrong with this style of training unless it doesn't work in your time-starved life. Today, Matt discusses training optimization and getting the most out of your training time as a t...

Athletes often hear coaches talk about the importance of remaining focused and fully present in all of their workouts, but should this apply to every single training session? Should every training session really demand your full attention? The mission of this episode is to provide a framework around your training mindset that will both optimize the results from your training and also prevent the p...

Matt welcomes back Kyla Channell and Stevie Lyn Smith, for Part 2 of a discussion around nutrition for female athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Part 1 is HERE. Both Stevie and Kyla bring with them a wealth of expertise, passion, and decades of experience in this particular area of fueling for the female. Stevie Lyn Smith, MS, RDN, CSSD, CDN, is one of the lead dieticians with our partner, InsideTr...

On our final Race Ready Replay, Matt provides his insight on successful race day execution . It is a "Dixon Deep Dive" into all of the elements to ensure you are able to meet your trained potential with race day performance. It is normal and common for you to feel a little anxiety, even fear, when you return to racing. You are rusty, it has been a while, and the event feels bigger because of the g...

Right now across athletes, leaders, employees, parents - many folks are overwhelmed and struggling. Between a return to the office, school, financial uncertainty, global unrest, training, and more, you may find yourself in a state of anxiety, descent, or even apathy. You are STRESSED. Today, we explore this word,  STRESS , and unpack the pros and cons. We want to ensure you have an empowering atti...

The Purple Patch Race Ready Replays stride towards the finish line this week where Matt takes you through all you need to know to help facilitate hitting your potential on the run - including shoe choice, nutrition, terrain, and even walking your way to your fastest run performance. It is a triathlete's guide to run success. You come out of T2 and all you need to do is run to the finish.  What cou...

Welcome to another "Ask Matt Anything" edition of the Purple Patch Podcast. Matt answers your voicemails and emails on all topics related to training and performance. In this installment, Matt answers your questions related to: Prepping for a wetsuit legal swim when you don't have access to open water In the spirit of the Purple Patch ethos, "evolve or die," how have Matt's books evolved? Handling...

The Purple Patch Race Ready Replay Series rolls on this week with an hour of power on all things related to bike performance and race-day execution. Optimum bike fit, posture, equipment, and pacing strategies are all covered in this episode that features two of the best in the industry, Ivan O'Gorman and Chris Soden of IOG Bike Fit and Consulting . As you'll hear, IOG's approach to consulting is i...

Matt welcomes two powerhouses of nutrition, Kyla Channell and Stevie Lyn Smith, for a deep-dive discussion around nutrition for female athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Both Stevie and Kyla bring with them a wealth of expertise and passion in this particular area of fueling for the female. Stevie Lyn Smith, MS, RDN, CSSD, CDN, is one of the lead dieticians with our partner, InsideTracker . She's a...

The swim leg of any triathlon is one that elicits stress and fear. You're entering into murky water with the blinding sun in your eyes. There are choppy waves that are seemingly predestined to make their way into your lungs. All the while, you're getting very physical with hundreds of your closest friends. Swim anxiety is real, especially in open water swimming. Today, Coach Matt Dixon and Coach J...

As an endurance athlete, it's not uncommon to experience niggles in training and racing - tightness, numbness, discomfort, lack of mobility, and - yes - pain. But, is all pain bad? Does it always mean something is wrong? Pain is an important positive sign to highlight issues that are going on with your body, and there isn't anyone that knows more about pain than Dr. Tim Deer,  President and CEO of...

This week, we built the show for those getting ready to launch into their race season. Races are coming thick and fast and, for the first time in a couple of years, we are charging ahead at full steam. We know you have questions. How should I pace? What should my mindset be for this first event of the season? What lessons will I draw? How can I assess the success of my race? What if I don't reach...

The last two years have been turbulent and full of forced change. What was normal, suddenly wasn't and, whether we liked it or not, almost all of us had to evolve and change. We also know that by listening to these podcasts and following Purple Patch, you want to thrive and amplify your performance in your health, work, and life - all while getting faster. It sounds too good to be true, but is it?...

Welcome to a special "Ask Matt Anything" addition of the Purple Patch Podcast. Matt answers your voicemails and emails on all topics related to training and performance. In this first installment, Matt answers your questions related to: Best Practices on Heat Acclimation for Hot Races What to Expect When You Transition from Road Bike to TT Bike The Minimum Amount of Running to Be a Successful Tria...

They say sport is a metaphor for life, so today we apply those lessons of IRONMAN athletes to build a pathway for predictable performance in work and in life. Realize, you don't need to be an athlete – or even an IRONMAN – to draw the lessons and strategies to apply to your own life. If you want to show up, excel, and thrive, then this is for you. The best IRONMAN athletes develop an IRON MINDSET,...

Matt welcomes Cardiologist, Brian Keeffe MD, to discuss heart health. During the episode, they discuss the surprising prevalence of heart issues and potential concerns among the athletic population. Many athletes assume they are "heart-healthy" because they train, but this may not always be the case. Don't leave your heart health to hope and assumptions. This conversation will shed light on consid...