The Middle Miles

In this episode, we have an open and honest conversation on body image and sport. This episode was so long (and we could have kept going), that we are putting it out in two parts. In Part 1, we talk about body image and its impact on athletes and the pressure of performance. We delve into how childhood affects the way we see our bodies, as well as societal influences on body image. We even talk ab...

In this episode, we explore the idea of being a lone wolf- whether that means training alone, or if you are single, or if you feel like you are alone even while in a relationship.  We dive into how to communicate with supportive and unsupportive partners; how solo racing and training can instill confidence; how to balance time and relationships; and how to embrace independence and self-love. Have...

Season 4 of the IRLAG podcast is starting out with a bang (pun intended)!  How does being an athlete affect sex and libido? Does it differ by gender or training season?  We talk about all of this, plus the topics below.  Trust us, you don't want to miss this one! Sex as a performance booster   The role of sleep and stress in sexual arousal   Understanding emotional connection Role of communication...

In our last episode of 2024, we ask the not-so-simple question of "Did You Get Where You Needed to Go?" Perhaps it wasn't where you wanted to end up, but is it where you NEEDED to end up. We also talk about the two different interpretations of the word "need," and how that impacts how we view want vs. need.  And on another note, THANK YOU for listening to us for another year!  Please hit that foll...

What happens when pain and injury become chronic? When the structural issues have healed and when doctors and PTs can't find anything else wrong, yet there is still pain? In this episode, we dive into the pain/brain connection as it relates to athletes with special guest, Daniella Deutsch. Daniella is the Co-Executive Director of WellBody Psychotherapy  and the Co-Founder of the Pain Reprocessing...

December is a strange month in the athlete universe.  Most athletes have come off a rest block or are about to take one; the days are almost at their shortest of the year; winter training groups might be on holiday break; and there may or not be any rhyme or rhythm to training.  We are here to help you through this month. Topics covered include how to come off a rest block, planning 2025, coaching...

Angela and Lindsay Long (coach and athlete of Angela's) join Amy for a race recap of Ironman Cozumel.  And although there is talk of the gorgeous swim, the 3 loop bike, and the hot run, the conversation detours into adjacent topics- how to do 3 Ironman races in 4 months, colliding with a truck (!!), and debates on carb consumption and hydration and fueling. So much is covered in this podcast and a...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Suzanne Dyer Wise an 80-year-old triathlete whose journey redefines age, endurance, and the human spirit. We talk about how she got started in sport and triathlon; her training routine and how she keeps herself healthy and strong; her involvement in helping those in recovery on Cape Cod; and her last race at USAT Nationals where she placed 3rd in the nat...

The end of the season is a good time to think about what worked and did not work, in terms of training, racing, and then budgeting for all of that training and racing.  In this episode, we talk about how to save money and time in these aspects.  We give concrete examples for how to structure a week, the bare minimum equipment you need to succeed, and other tips and tricks for time crunched and bud...

The tag line of the Norseman Triathlon is "This Race is Not For You." The Norseman is a full distance triathlon in Norway comprised of a freezing cold 2.4 mile swim, over 10,000 feet of climbing in 112 miles, and a marathon with a hill called "Zombie Hill." Over 5000 people apply each year for only 250 slots. So what motivated Frankie Forzoni, as a newbie triathlete,   to enter the lottery and cla...

This past weekend, it was the men's turn to have their World Championship at Kona, and Angela was there for the race week build and for race day! She tells us what the vibe was like, the pre race details, and what she saw on the ground on race day. We also discuss the merits of a split World Championship.  Lots of great performances on race day on a tough course.  Have a listen! 

The off season can be a tricky time for an athlete. In fact, we don't even love the phrase "off season", so we came up with a NEW name halfway through this episode! While some athletes may look forward to a break from training or more unstructured workouts, other athletes may want to keep a schedule of swim, bike, run and are still motivated to train through the end of the year.  So what's the rig...

What happens when an injury becomes chronic and the way out is not what you envisioned? This is not just an episode about recovering from an injury (or in Amy's case, perhaps two injuries). It's about the journey into Amy's chronic injury, how it progressed and became constant, and the frustrating mental toll over 18 months that included multiple doctors, treatments, false starts, fear, doubt, and...

It was a great day for Angela Naeth at Ironman Chattanooga with a 6th place finish at her first Ironman after recovering from a broken hip and surgery in March.  And what a comeback!  She averaged over 25 mph on the bike and ran a 3:12 marathon. In this episode, we talk about the wild week before race day, how she approached a time trial start with no swim, her execution of nutrition and metrics,...

Fresh off the race course in Nice, France, we have an awesome interview with teammate Silver Bohn, who just completed Ironman World Champs!  This was Silver's 16th Ironman (!!) and one of the most challenging courses she has ever raced.  We talk about her build as she worked through back and knee issues, the vibe in Nice, and the race itself.  We also spend some time talking about how someone who...

We have some fantastic listener questions for the month of September!  Topics covered in this episode: Adding extra races at end of the season that you were not planning on doing? Mental attitude when training in the heat   Will heat training make you more sensitive to the cold?   How do you have enough energy and time to get everything done?   How do you take the leap into gravel if you don't hav...

Two-time Ironman Chattanooga winner (2014 & 2019) Angela Naeth talks all things Chatty in this course preview.  We talk about why this race is so special to her and then go through everything from the layout of transition to the hilly run course. And yes, we talk about the NEW bike course, which is now only 112 miles and is mainly on a highway.  Whether you are about to race Chattanooga or are thi...

Do you ever find yourself bogged down by the "what ifs," or being held back because of a lack of confidence or uncertainty?  We all have moments of anxiety and fear, but often those worries hold us back from moving forward and being free- in sport and in life.  This episode takes a deep dive into the role of fear and how powerful a hold that emotion can have on us. Topics covered: Fear and the rol...

Whether you have a coach, are a coach, or are thinking of hiring a coach, a successful coach-athlete relationship relies on many factors.  Yet even the obvious parts of coaching, like putting in a week of training, is more nuanced and multi-faceted than just putting in workouts.  In this episode, we cover everything from the behind-the-scenes decision making, to the best ways to communicate, to wh...

The dog days of summer are here, and with them come the "dog days of training"- when the novelty of those blissful warm summer days wears off; and instead, we find it harder and harder to stay motivated to keep the training going through heat, summer activities, and a month where there isn't too much racing happening.  In this episode, we cover ways to combat summer fatigue. Topics covered: Naviga...

In February of this year, as she was training for Ironman Texas, pro triathlete Angela Naeth suffered what could have been a career-ending injury: a femoral neck stress fracture.  In March, she had to have surgery in order for it to heal properly. Just last week, she raced Challenge Cap Quebec, a half-distance triathlon, which proved to be a successful rehearsal for bigger goals ahead.  But how di...

Everyone has a story, and Sara Davis's story is pretty remarkable.   At 17 years old, Sara watched her sister battle a severe eating disorder, and then take her own life. When Sara went to college, she used alcohol and drugs to avoid feelings and grief. In 2006, months after her father passed away from a heart attack, Sara decided to get sober and found meaning in helping others. This is also when...

The phrase "try hard" is ingrained in sport.  We "try hard" to hit our numbers. We "try hard" on race day. We "try hard" to stick to a nutrition plan...to make it to a track workout...to finish that interval.  You get the idea.  So what if we tried "less?" What if we let go of the combination of the word "try" and "hard" and just....let go? In today's podcast, we talk about just that.  Some topics...

The Tour de France is considered the most prestigious cycling race of the year. For three weeks in July, 20-22 professional cycling teams, each comprised of 8 riders, complete 21 stages of riding, covering about 2200 miles in the Alps and the Pyrenees.  And while we may not be able to sprint like Biniam Girmay, or climb like Tadej Pogacar, or time trial like Jonas Vingegaard, or win 35 stages (let...

You have done the training.  You have followed the plan. You think you are ready for your race.  But are you truly setting yourself up for success or are you possibly getting in your own way before the race even starts.  In this episode, we talk about some common issues that (conciously or subconciously) might be sabotaging your race day before it even starts.  From mindset to maintenance, it's al...