The TriDot Triathlon Podcast

Power, pace, or heart rate? Learn how to choose the best metric based on the type of session to manage your workout and achieve the desired physiological adaptation. Join TriDot coaches John Mayfield and Elizabeth James as they share how and why each of these metrics are best used for different types of training sessions.

Start your race day strong. Learn to conquer the open-water swim. Coaches John Mayfield and Jeff Raines share their first experiences with open-water triathlon events and provide recommendations for sighting, breathing patterns, stroke rate, and wetsuits. Next they discuss how to adapt to open-water conditions such as water temperature, current, or lack of visibility. Gather tips for your particul...

What is the most valuable training block of your season? The answer might surprise you! Most athletes believe that the few months immediately preceding their race are the most important. However, there is greater opportunity for performance improvement in the training further removed from race day. Join TriDot coaches Jeff Booher, John Mayfield, and Elizabeth James as they uncover how and why the...

As Coronavirus continues to impact nearly all areas of our lives, many athletes are working to navigate this strange and unprecedented time. Not only has COVID-19 caused the cancellation or postponement of numerous races, but it has also caused a shut down of most local businesses, including gym and pools. The TriDot team addresses athlete questions about how to adapt your triathlon training in th...

To reap the full benefits of a training session, you must recover properly. In this episode, sports nutritionist Dr. Krista Austin details the importance of post-workout nutrition and how it impacts recovery. The TriDot team discusses how factors such as the time between training sessions, time to the next scheduled meal, and overall nutrition goals impact how you should fuel after your training....

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed as you enter the sport of triathlon. Balancing swimming, biking, and running is already a lot to take on even before considering the gear requirements for each discipline. Join us as we discuss the essential (and optional) gear for completing your first tri. Spoiler alert: you don't have to spend a fortune for your first race!

Improving your run efficiency with better biomechanics can dramatically improve your triathlon run performance and reduce your injury risk. In this episode, Coaches Jeff Raines and Elizabeth James dig into run biomechanics and discuss running cadence, arm swing, body lean, breathing patterns, vertical oscillation, stride length, and more. Learn to identify inefficiencies in your run form and how t...

Olympic Gold Medalist and former World Record Holder Brendan Hansen is "allergic to average." In this interview, Hansen describes his competitive instincts and underdog work ethic in preparation for the Athens, Beijing, and London Olympic Games. Hansen also shares his experiences as a triathlete and unveils the importance of focusing on the training process and how the best athletes respond to fai...

Open-water swimming can be a new, and often intimidating, experience for triathletes. In this episode, Olympic Gold Medalist and former World Record Holder Brendan Hansen recalls his first experience with triathlon's open-water swim. Hansen and Coach Jeff Raines discuss common swimming mistakes, open-water skills that can be practiced in the pool, and other considerations for your upcoming open-wa...

Dr. Krista Austin cuts through the noise of sports nutrition marketing as she offers insight about what a triathlete needs and the guidelines for using nutrition products. Join the TriDot team as they discuss shopping for sports nutrition products, sweat testing, electrolyte replacement, and determining the best use of particular products based on their molecular weight, osmolality, and carbohydra...

Strength training is a key component of a well-developed triathlon training regimen, providing not only increased power generation but also enhancing muscle recruitment and encouraging proper technique. And yet, few triathletes make strength sessions a priority. Today's episode discusses how to balance strength training with swim, bike, and run sessions as well as tips for implementing this import...

Artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies are not only changing triathlon training for athletes, they are significantly changing the role of a triathlon coach itself. Today's athletes are re-assessing the value of a coach and their expectations of what a coach brings to table. In this episode, we discuss how technology is changing the triathlon coaching environment, how athletes can de...

We all know there can be great power in goal setting. There are few things more satisfying than achieving a lofty goal after significant hard work and sacrifice. But the mere establishment of a goal rarely results in goal attainment. Today, the team walks through a practical process for effective triathlon goal setting that leads to successful follow through and increased likelihood of achievement...

Knowing how many watts you're producing on the bike gives you both insight and control during your training and racing. And with power meters and smart trainers becoming more and more affordable, training with power is more practical than ever. The ability to train with power is undoubtedly one of the most beneficial training investments you can make. In this episode, we discuss the intricacies of...

Data and analytics have become an integral part of triathlon training. Yet, most triathletes don't recognize the true power of their data or realize the incredible results they make possible. In this episode, we cover analytics for triathletes in a way that is highly insightful for both novices and techies. We separate the meaningful from the clutter. We overview advanced analytics technologies su...

Nutrition is often referred to as triathlon's fourth discipline. There is undeniable value in properly fueling your body for training, racing, and a healthy lifestyle. Join us in this episode as sports nutritionist, Dr. Krista Austin, digs into performance nutrition and how to establish and maintain proper macro and micro nutrient intake relative to your resting metabolic rate and energy expenditu...

Since its origin in 2011, The Preseason Project has been a powerful triathlon training research environment and a catalyst for continuous improvement and innovation. The participating athletes themselves have made this possible. Training data and direct feedback from more than 15,000 triathletes has driven significant measurable improvements over industry norms in training efficiency, race results...

Whether you're training for a local sprint or a full IRONMAN, training at the right intensity levels in your run sessions will pay off big time! But how do you know when to run 'hard', when to run 'easy', what exactly is 'hard' or 'easy', how long to hold different intensities, and when it's better to use heartrate or pace? In this episode, we'll drill down on these and other topics with run exper...

Assessments are about much more than just benchmarking your progress. Learn mental strategies to embrace the challenge of the week and practical tips for getting the most out of each session, We'll reveal many hidden benefits of your assessments, if performed correctly, and how they are used to optimize your training and increase your performance.

Significant improvement in your race performance requires training that is counter-intuitive for most triathletes. They are trapped in the Power-Stamina Paradox and will never realize their performance potential until they escape the mindset and training habits that undermine their progress. In this episode, we explain the paradox and how you can escape it's crippling effect on your training and r...

Do the right training right to reach your performance potential and get the most out of your limited time and energy. This doesn't happen by just "working hard" and putting in "more time." There are specific things you can do to ensure your training is the best quality possible and that you complete it in the most effective way. We'll discuss tips and tricks for getting the most value out of indiv...

Training for a triathlon can be a challenging balancing act of swim, bike, and run sessions. Travel, for holidays, family time, or business, can further complicate this. Join us as we share top tips for training while traveling. Know when to skip a session, what sessions to prioritize on the road, and how to find the best places to train away from home.

Your genome contains the specific code for how you respond to training, how quickly you recover, how predisposed you are to injury, and so much more. Genotyping services like 23andMe and Ancestry.com give you easy access to your genome. Learn how TriDot's Physiogenomix technology unlocks this code to leverage your DNA so you can train more efficiently and stay injury free.

Signing up for an IRONMAN® is a big commitment. Some athletes have dreamed of a particular finish line. Others agonize over the decision about which race to place on their calendar. Considering factors such as course difficulty, strength of field, location, and your own goals can ensure a memorable and enjoyable experience. Join the TriDot Podcast hosts as they discuss the tools, tips, and strateg...

Improve your training results by better understanding the "how" and "why" behind your training. Get behind-the-scenes insight into the training optimization that produces your training each day. Learn how to get the most out of your training when life happens and things don't go as planned.