The TriDoc Podcast, triathlon and health in one place

It's holiday season and off season for many so drinking alcohol is very much on the menu. But when training begins again and races are on the horizon, should drinking alcohol remain part of your routine? What is the evidence for how alcohol impacts performance and recovery? The Netflix documentary the Game Changers was a hugely controversial film but still thought provoking. In this episode I begi...

Recovery is an important part of training for triathlon. Can supplementing with branched chain amino acids (BCAA) after intensive or prolonged exercise help enhance that process and does it confer any performance benefits? Iliac artery endofiobrosis id a devastating diagnosis increasingly affecting cyclists and occasionally triathletes. Although it still remains rare Dr Kent MacKenzie a vascular s...

The GO2 breathing device has been swamping social media advertising with bold claims about how using it can dramatically improve performance. What is this device and how is it supposed to work? More importantly is there any evidence that it will do what it's makers claim? Part 2 of my interview with medical students and IM athletes Beth Ashinsky and Elisabeth Sorenson on balancing busy academic li...

Triathletes do strength training but most ignore their respiratory muscles. Is this a mistake? Should triathletes be concerned with training their diaphragms to be stronger and have more endurance? The Airofit is one device that promises to do this but what does the science say? Beth Ashinsky and Elisabeth Sorenson are medical students who have managed to fit Ironman training in to their busy sche...

Regular exercise can boost the immune system but high intensity exercise can suppress it. So is it safe to exercise when you are already sick with a cold? The TriDoc looks at the evidence to help you decide when you can get that workout done or when you should pass. Ken Benesh was one of the creators and directors of the SBT GRVL race in Steamboat Springs. What was involved in making this race suc...

Cold water immersion or garments are becoming a hot new idea in recovery for cyclists, runners and triathletes. But what does the evidence say? Is there support to this idea or will the TriDoc throw cold water on the notion that this can improve performance? Triny Willerton survived a terrible collision with a truck while out riding her bike training for an Ironman. She is back riding and racing a...

The TriDoc podcast investigates the evidence behind the practice of dry needling. What is it? Is it helpful in rehab for injuries and chronic ailments? Lance Panigutti is a race director in Denver and leads Without Limits Productions. He talks with me about the logistics of running triathlons and other multi sports events and opines on the future of the sport. The Triathlete Routard goes off road...

Clavicle fractures are an unfortunately common result of even minor bicycle crashes. For decades conservative management of these injuries was all that was needed but in the past fifteen years a move to surgical management has been slowly gaining popularity. What does the science say? If you have this injury should you go for a sling or go under the knife? Cameron Dye had a successful career as a...

Athletes have been using heart rate monitors as part of their fitness regimen for years. Recently, there has been a move to measure heart rate variability-a measure of something more complicated than heart rate itself but possibly more revealing about an athlete's overall state of training and fatigue. Is HRV all it is cracked up to be? Should all athletes be using it? I look at the evidence to tr...

Despite being good for you, high intensity exercise can pose risks to susceptible individuals. Deaths, while rare, do occur with some degree of frequency during all manner of endurance events and triathlon has the unfortunate distinction of having a higher death rate than other types of events mostly because of the risks associated with the swim. On this episode, the TriDoc answers a listener ques...

It's hot out there and it's getting hotter. How does the body handle increased temperatures and is there anything that you can do to improve performance when training and racing in the heat? Lisa Bentley, with two decades of racing triathlon as a professional at both the 70.3 and Ironman distance had a storied career but it never should have been because Lisa has cystic fibrosis. Hear Lisa's story...

The TriDoc podcast goes to the mattresses in this episode to uncover the truth about sleep and performance. Is the well rested athlete really the better performing athlete or is this just a dream? Dr. Craig Smith and Nate Corsi from the Smith Performance Center in Tucson, AZ discuss strength, movement analysis and injury as well as a novel approach to managing athletes with exercise induced muscle...

Carbohydrates have a sometimes undeserved reputation amongst athletes but the fact of the matter is they remain the single best source of energy for when high exertion efforts over a prolonged period of time are the order of the day. But which types of sugars are best for the triathlete during a race or long and arduous training session? The TriDoc helps you understand the simple truth behind simp...

In this episode, the TriDoc investigates the reality behind the hype around sunscreen. How does it work? Does it really do what its makers claims it does? What about its effects on us and the environment? USAT certified coach Tim Crowley is a specialist in strength and conditioning. He joins me to talk about how building in strength training in to a regular part of triathlon training can make an a...

In this episode the TriDoc gets wet looking at the evidence behind intravenous hydration. Companies have sprung up all over the place offering mobile IV hydration services and are starting to market to athletes. Is there anything to this or is this just one more way to separate hard working and training athletes from their money? Daimeon Shanks is a former bicycle mechanic for EF Education First a...

The TriDoc looks at the evidence around supplementing with beta-alanine. Is there any science to support the claims that this can improve performance and if so, in who? Part 2 of my interview with multiple Ironman and Ironman 70.3 world champion Ellen Hart and, the Triathlete Routard goes to Europe with a trip to the spring cycling classics Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. These races are s...

On this episode of the TriDoc podcast, I answer a question about creatine supplementation. It is legal and it is beneficial in some sports but can it help triathletes, cyclists and runners improve their performance as endurance athletes? Age group world champion across numerous distances and disciplines Ellen Hart joins me to discuss her fascinating life story and how sport has played a major role...

The TriDoc Podcast goes Roman Numerals with Episode X! In this episode, a discussion of Exercise Associated Hyponatremia (EAH) how big a problem is it and what can be done to prevent it? Para-triathlete and para-olympian Liz McTernan talks Ironman, the Para-Olympics and the day to day challenges of living in rural Britain as an elite challenged athlete. Finally, the Triathlete Routard leaves the c...

The TriDoc podcast explores how the female athlete triad has been expanded to cover men in a form known as the Relative Energy Deficiency Syndrome (REDS). It is not without controversy and much remains to be understood but the principles are clear and its impact on women remains a big concern. Mat Steinmetz discusses the importance of bike fit from selecting the right bike to getting the most out...

In this episode the TriDoc does an investigation to uncover the facts underlying adrenal fatigue. What is it? Does it even exist? Should you be worried? Matt LeGrand, podcaster, triathlete, coach and YouTube personality is here to discuss how barriers to entry can be overcome in order for new triathletes to access an exciting and fulfilling sport. Finally, Sean Hale joins me to discuss Eagleman 70...

There are many reasons to train and race but one major one is for the health benefits. However, can hard training or racing actually contribute to making you sick? I look at the evidence behind prolonged intense exertion, immune suppression and the likelihood of getting sick. Dr. Brian White a Denver area orthopedic surgeon and specialist in hip labral reconstruction is here to discuss the femoroa...

Episode 6: What is the Female Athlete Triad? How can it be detected, prevented and managed? How big of a problem is it? Nathan Carlson from Runningmate PT and Performance Coaching discusses the importance of strength training for runners and triathletes in preventing injury. More Reels for Wheels with Janetta Iwanicki.

In this episode the TriDoc answers a question about a specific nutrition strategy for training. We all work hard to go fast but should we consider the fast to go...faster? What is the science behind not eating and performance? Triathlon Canada Hall of Fame coach Lance Watson is by to talk about coaching athletes of all levels and abilities as they manage chronic lifelong illness or short term inju...

In this episode: the TriDoc looks for evidence to support or refute the claims made by online lab and nutrition counseling service Inside Tracker. Everyone wants to do well on a test but is this a test that you really need to take? Sophomore professional triathlete Maddy Pesch is by to discuss her rookie season and all that she learned in going from top age grouper to pro and what it is like to pu...

The TriDoc Podcast returns with a look at the evidence behind the use of pneumatic compression garments. Is there science behind the hype or is it all hot air? Ryan Ignatz from Colorado Multisport is by to discuss the science of sweat. If you know what you are losing then you can know how to replace it and train and race to your potential. Ryan tells me why that's so important and how to get it ri...