The TriDoc Podcast, triathlon and health in one place

In this episode: Fall is here and with it comes the switch back to standard time. Why do we go through the annual changing of the clocks and is there any effect on health of doing so? I look at the evidence and include a discussion on a similar subject, crossing time zones for travel. How it impacts performance and why as well as what you can do about it. Plus, a conversation with six time Ironman...

In this episode: Are you a morning person? An evening person? Something in between? Whatever it is, that chronotype has implications for when you are likely to best perform as an athlete during the day. Circadian rhythm refers to our internal clock and it has control over many physiologic processes. It turns out that it also has effects on athletic performance but it can be manipulated. In this ep...

In this episode: In the third and final episode looking at novel treatments for injury, I look at the evidence supporting the use of Low Levels Laser Treatment (LLLT). This is a widely available procedure with no really well understood mechanism of action. Is there evidence to suggest that it might be useful? Plus, a conversation with up and coming Australian professional triathlete Steve McKenna....

In this BONUS episode: Tim O'Donnell had a heart attack during a race and just recently announced this to the world. Now, collectively, the triathlon world is quite justifiably freaking out. If this happened to him then couldn't it happen to anyone? In this special bonus episode I discuss what it all means and why most people don't really need to worry. I am also joined by interventional cardiolog...

In this episode: Continuing the series on alternative therapies for injuries I look at the evidence in support of platelet rich plasma injections (PRP). While it has attracted a lot of attention and is advocated as a near miracle cure for all sorts of ailments, is there any research that actually bears out some of the claims? I take a look and give you a summary of the findings. Also, a conversati...

In this episode: No one wants to get an injury as an athlete let alone be faced with a prolonged period of recovery before being able to return training. For this reason, those with injuries, especially of the chronic kind, are always looking for ways to hasten the healing process and get back to it. On this episode I begin a series of segments looking at the evidence for or against some of the mo...

In this episode: In episode 66 I covered the benefits of massage as well as the risks if used too close to an event. On this episode I look at what has been done to evaluate the use of massage guns and vibration massage tools. Are they helpful? Are they any different than standard massage? Plus a conversation with High Intensity Interval Training expert and consultant Paul Larsen. He literally wro...

In this episode: Injuries are a constant threat for endurance athletes including triathletes but many don't consider swimming as high risk as biking or running because of the no-impact nature of the activity. In reality, shoulder injuries are very common among swimmers including triathletes. I review the evidence on just who is likely to be affected, what kinds of activity in the water is highest...

In this episode: It has long been held that what surface you run on is a major contributor to injuries in running. Harder surfaces lead to more injuries than softer ones. Or is the other way around? Is it possible that we have this upside down? Newer analyses and thinking on this matter posits that in fact, the biomechanics of running on softer surfaces might actually be worse for injuries than wh...

In this episode: Tapering is a well accepted part of a triathlon training program leading up to an event. But how should a taper be structured in order to get the most out of it and how long should it last? There is actually a fair bit of research on these questions and on this episode I take a look to help answer them along with some others like whether or not the 'taper tantrums' are a real thin...

In this episode: Massage therapy does a body and mind good but is there any science to support the gestalt that we all may share that it really improves recovery or performance? Despite the fact that it has been around pretty much forever and the fact that there are many technological aids that leverage massage to purportedly enhance recovery, the truth is, evidence to support these claims is pret...

In this episode: Humans domesticated wheat millennia ago and in so doing created a civilization. Despite a harmonious and fruitful relationship, the past decade has seen a revolution against the grain precipitated by one man and his book 'Wheat Belly'. The subsequent rush to a gluten free lifestyle has been as rapid as it is mystifying. Is there any scientific evidence to support the claims in Whe...

In this episode: Cold has long been advocated as treatment for sore muscles after a hard workout but recent research is beginning to suggest that heat may actually be a better way to go. Can heat decrease the soreness associated with delayed onset muscle soreness and actually accelerate recovery to improved performance? I review the evidence. Sara Gross and Sarah True are the dynamic duo behind th...

In this episode: Nutrition is often referred to as the fourth discipline of triathlon and for good reason but there are so many things that can contribute to undoing the best laid plans for a well fed race. On this episode of the podcast I am joined by Patrick Wilson PhD who has done a lot of research on how mental state can play a major role in affecting how the gut reacts during a race. We talk...

In this episode: Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory conditions in the world and although it affects more children than adults, a large number of adults still suffer from its effects. In this episode, I look at the evidence that refutes many of the myths associated with asthma and endurance sport such as asthmatics have less ability to perform than non-asthmatics and exercise may...

In this episode: It's finally time for the TriDoc to take on the keto diet. Although you likely have heard all about how keto can fix pretty much anything that ails you AND make you faster at the same time, the reality is somewhat different from the sales pitch that keto adherents love to espouse. The evidence on keto is actually really consistent: yes you can lose weight quickly but you won't kee...

In this episode: Caffeine is one of the most frequently used drugs around the world and apparently for good reason. New research suggests that drinking coffee with caffeine can reduce heart disease and all cause mortality. There is also research that demonstrates that caffeine can enhance athletic performance. I review all the details and let you know how much coffee you should be drinking in orde...

In this episode: More data is more better right? Maybe, and then again, maybe not. Just because you can measure something doesn't necessarily mean that you should or that knowing that measurement is necessarily helpful or beneficial to performance. In this episode I review the evidence and discuss the physiology on continuous glucose monitoring. Is this a metric that can be helpful in informing tr...

In this episode: Bicarbonate is the latest in a long line of supplements to get the TriDoc treatment. I review the physiology to support the theoretical benefits and then review the scientific evidence to answer the important question: does it work? Then, I have a conversation with Tom Miller, a Colorado ultra-distance cyclist who learned last year that you should always listen to your body and se...

In this episode: The pandemic continues to be a scourge around the globe but even for those who recover the virus often leaves significant disability for many, many months. I discuss what is known of the post-Covid syndrome and why athletes need to be especially wary of contracting this virus if they haven't already. Plus, I speak with Colorado State University Triathlon coach Jon Mason. Mason is...

In part 2 of her interview with Dr. Michael Papadakis, Helen Murray of the Inside Tri Show explores the association between endurance sports and atrial fibrillation and gets some insight in to the risks for sudden cardiac death that while rare are obviously important! The doctor addresses the ideas behind screening and whether or not athletes should concern themselves with this risk to any great d...

In a collaboration with Helen Murray of The Inside Tri Show, I present part 1 of her interview with Dr. Michael Papadakis, a leading cardiologist and expert in sports cardiology on the impact of exercise on the heart and the risks of cardiac issues with exertion. In addition, I have a conversation with Iggy Perillo. Iggy has worked with world champion athletes and people in corporate spaces a...

Deep vein thromboses are potentially dangerous clots in the large veins of the legs or pelvis that can break and travel to the lungs. Treatment is to take a blood thinner for at least three months. But is it safe to get back to training after this diagnosis is made? I review the evidence. Tim Crowley is a successful triathlon and strength and conditioning coach. He recently published his first boo...

The Lumen advertises itself as a handheld device that is the first of its kind able to help users 'hack their metabolism'. What is it, how does it work and more importantly is it of any use to the endurance athlete? Also, Mario Mejia embodies the saying 'triathlon changed my life' in every possible way. From the depths of despair, he leveraged everything that multisport has to offer to turn his li...

In winter when daylight hours shrink and temperatures drop we tend to get much less sun exposure due to staying indoors and putting on more clothes to stay warm. While this obviously has the benefit of keeping us from freezing to death it can also decrease the amount of vitamin D that we are able to produce in our skin. Vitamin D deficiency is a real entity but it is not nearly as common as is the...