The Middle Miles

We are excited to share our conversation with Pro Athlete Rebecca Rusch. Rebecca is a 7X World Champion, Mountain Bike & Gravel Cycling Hall of Famer, an Author, Emmy Award Winner for her documentary Blood Road, and founder of the Be Good Foundation . Her nickname is the Queen of Pain, because she has the ability to push though mental and physical barriers and come out stronger on the other side....

We are very excited to have Andy Blow on the podcast this week to talk all things hydration and fueling. Andy talks about how managing your sodium and fluid intake while you train and race can lead to better performances and better recovery.   We dive deep into the science of sweat tests and talk about real race scenarios. We talk about carb consumption and why their gels and blocks do not have so...

Today's podcast is inspired by an email (yay for listener emails!) that talked about the struggles we face trying to juggle training and racing with all of what life throws at us- whether that be challenges at work, at home, or mental or physical struggles. And how sometimes it seems like professional athletes live outside the realm of these obstacles, which of course isn't true. She asks Amy and...

Bob Babbitt- a name synonymous with triathlon.  Bob was one of the original Ironman athletes, before it moved to Kona, before timing chips.  When you stopped at gas stations while you were riding to find food.  He is in the Ironman and USAT Hall of Fame.  He started Competitor Magazine and of course, you might know him from his famous "Breakfast with Bob" series.  He also founded the Challenge Ath...

Straight from Emporia, Kansas, Angela and Amy recap their race experiences at the Unbound Gravel Race, the second race in the Lifetime Grand Prix series. It was an awesome weekend of gravel adventures. There was some rain, a lot of mud, and a few cows. Have a listen!

We talk all things "race week" in this podcast, and whether you are doing your first race or your 10th race, there is something in here for everyone. Need to calm race week jitters?  Unsure of when to get to a race or what to pack?  We've got you covered.    And after you listen to us talk about race week, we would love to hear your tips and tricks for race week, so send us an email at iracelikeag...

In this episode, Christine Saleeba, fellow triathlete, I Race Like A Girl teammate, and physical therapist answers all of our most pressing PT questions.  It's like having a PT in your living room, and we cover it all!  Some topics: lower back pain while riding best exercises to prevent running injuries Achilles pain How much pain is okay when recovering from an injury Bone pain vs muscle pain IT...

Looking for ways to get stronger and faster on the bike?  This episode is for you.  We cover everything from training to equipment.  Some highlights: Consistency/Build your base Interval work Lower cadence work Strength training, but with a caveat   How aero do you go? Equipment: disc wheel/ front wheel Bike fit - how you should feel on your bike   How to find a bike fitter   Using Power/HR/RPE Pa...

Hot off the race course, Angela and Amy bring you a recap of the Ironman World Championships, where amy spectated and Angela raced!      If you didn't follow the coverage on Saturday, it was a brutal day. Hot, hilly, and windy, this was an epic day on an epic course.    Congrats to all of the athletes who attempted to conquer #UtahKona. The grit and determination we saw out there was unparalleled!...

We talk all things swim this week on the podcast!  We answer listener questions about everything from drills to swim sets and pool toys to wetsuits. And we learn why Angela doesn't wear a watch in the pool (!!!). Have a listen!

Amy and Angela talk goal setting in this podcast, but we hear you- no more SMART goals!    So in this podcast, they look at new ways to set goals, from short term goals to medium sized goals to long term goals.  They touch on the difference between objectives vs. targets vs. outcomes. G oals don't have to be performance based; they can be about focus, or nutrition, or mindset. But most importantly...

This week, the podcast is split into  two parts- First a quick recap of the first race in the lifetime Grand Prix series,   an 80K mountain bike race at the Sea Otter Classic, a massive bike event in California. Angela raced hard and crashed hard, but made it though! Then we move in to the second part of the podcast, an in-depth interview with Jonathan Scheimann of Nella Probiotics, which is a pro...

In this episode, Angela and Amy interview professional triathlete Pedro Gomes, who has been on the podium multiple times in his career. In this conversation, they begin by recapping Oceanside 70.3, and then get into the realities of being a professional triathlete and the sacrifices you have to make to be at the tippy top of the field.   Pedro then shares memories from his childhood in Portugal an...

In our first conversation with Scott Tindal, sports nutritionist and founder of the Fuelin program,   we take a deep dive into race nutrition and fueling, covering everything f rom carb amounts for racing and training to sweat testing and sodium intake. Toward the end, we start to get into body image and the female athlete, which is where we intend to begin the next time we talk to Scott.    Some...

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...

In this episode, Angela recaps her first race of the season, Mid South, a 100 mile gravel race in Oklahoma. Angela  talks about why she loves gravel so much and why it's good for triathletes to get off their TT bike sometimes. Then the conversation shifts to March training- things to focus on right now and how to be patient with training so you don't burn all of your matches by July. 

In this episode, Angela and Amy take a deep dive into the science of ketones. Chrissy Ensley from Ketone-IQ, a company that produces an exogenous ketone product that you can drink, comes on the show to explain how ketones work. The latest research has shown that ketones can improve athletic performance and also enhance muscle recovery, as well as bring you better mental clarity and focus. There ha...

This episode tackles the fine art of coaching, from both sides of the training plan- as coaches and as athletes. Amy and Angela cover a lot- from the merits of having a coach, why and how to switch coaches, how to trust the process, the importance of communication, and how a good coach can save us from ourselves sometimes.   Highlights: When to get a coach Training plan vs coach vs customized plan...

In this episode, Amy and Angela explore mental toughness.   What it means, how you find it, and what happens when you lose it.   Lots of good stories in this one, as well as a couple of books on grit and resilience that Angela and Amy use and love.  Show notes: where Angela finds grit as a pro   task vs outcome   managing ego letting go/ don't think Angela's best and worst race mentally Amy's wors...

Today, Angela and Amy focus on fueling during racing and training.   They answer some listener questions and share their own fueling strategies.   Full disclosure: I Race Like a Girl is sponsored by Powerbar and both Angela and Amy use Powerbar in training and racing so you will hear them   mention those products.   However, you will also hear us talk about other brands, as well. Here's what's cov...

It doesn't matter if you are a pro or an age grouper, your first Ironman (or any Ironman) is an experience like no other. Angela and Amy share stories from their first ironman experiences, while also giving tips and tricks to help you prepare for race day. Angela's first Ironman was as a pro in 2013, while Amy's was just last year in 2021, in Arizona. From flat tires to fueling issues to being nak...

This podcast centers around dealing with injuries.  Amy talks about her current struggle to heal from an ankle injury, as her Boston Marathon gets closer and closer; while Angela (who is unfortunately no stranger to injuries) shares  words of wisdom to help with the mental and physical issues that arise when you are injured and can't do what you love to do. Toward the end, we also touch on recover...

In this episode, we answer training questions from our I Race Like A Girl athletes. Angela shares her deep well of knowledge from a coach and pro standpoint. Topics covered: Running in cold weather Using power as a running metric Strength training in the pool and on the bike The importance of the aerobic zone  Planning your race season  If you have any questions you want answered send us an email...

Ever wonder what goes on at a training camp?  Or even what makes a good training camp? Angela and Amy recorded this podcast the day they got back from their I Race Like A Girl training camp in Clermont, Florida. They talk about the structure of   training camp; what makes a good camp; how to recover when you get home; and how to find a camp that's right for you…or even make your own training camp....

Angela interviews Amy, your other co-host.  Amy shares her story of how she went from avoiding the mile in high school gym class to qualifying for the Boston marathon. Angela and Amy also talk how Amy got into triathlon (which started with a dog beating her in a swim), the balancing act of motherhood, and how Amy keeps such a positive mindset in her teaching and racing.