Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast

There's something really special about knowing your friends and family are waiting for you out on the course. It's a feeling of excitement and belonging that's difficult to replicate. Today, we look at ways to find similar moments in training while most races are off the board. We also challenge you to ask if you're wasting time and finding excuses. Plus, will Ironman offer better races under new ownership? Topics: Reminded of how important the sport is to us The trouble with chasing “balanced” Keep chipping away Living in the present but being aware of what’s coming When priorities shift Complimenting Life with Sport The feeling that takes us back to racing How it feels to see loved ones on the race course These are the good old days How to appreciate TODAY We have no idea when we’re gonna see the finish line Why it’s so hard right now It’s the suffering that brings us together No finish line has been set up It feels like the old Louisville Run Course “I never would have done this on my own” How others rais

Chronic pains and fighting through injury don't have to be a way of life. Today we walk through all the little things that could be a big deal regarding your triathlon health, including the single most underrated part of healthy running. We get into flexibility, the bike's impact on your run, sleeping position, counter balance exercise, and noticing when you compensate. All of this aimed at helping you be the best and healthiest triathlete you can be moving forward.  Topics: Happy Birthday Hayden Mike’s Plantar Fasciitis getting better? No rushing back from setbacks The Bike’s Relation to the Run Are you “always hurt?” Taking a step back and addressing injuries Running injuries from bad bike fits Fitness takes time to build AND go away Being healthy AND Availability to be your best This is the only body we have - “no just get by” What’s the happy medium for not losing ground? Run through it?? Usually a bad idea Double check your bike fit for running Addressing “niggles” in the beginning The run takes the bla

The hits keep coming, the latest Chattanooga 70.3 and Full, but we keep pushing on because we see the OPPORTUNITY. Whether it's time for a change in your life, a chance to fully heal those nagging injuries, or work on your weaknesses, now is the time. We get frustrated too, but life is so much easier when you create your own finish line and see light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully you find something in here to spin a string of negative events into positive. Topics: The next phase of this year  Will the kids be back in school  More “body shots” in Chattanooga  It’s easy to find problems . . .  Don’t bring problems, bring solutions When I was a kid, we didn’t race . . . we made shit up Being a kid again  Saving a year of triathlon expenses  This year is about finding a net gain  This year is also like the back half of an IM marathon  The “good news” in cancelled races for athletes There is a danger in “turning it off”  Are you really happy with your reality? What if your Final Exam in your college got pos

Struggling with motivation? You're not alone. If we were boxers this would be known as the Summer of Body Blows. Cancellations, adaptations, and heat have made it tough and today we acknowledge that while trying to talk ourselves into a positive space. Hopefully you can find some motivation, and get a better grip one how this bizarre little stretch of life can help us become better athletes and people.  Topics: You are not alone with struggles Lack of motivation is normal right now  Your number 1 goal right now should be . . .  Injuries, setbacks, daily trouble shooting The hardest week of a training year  Everyone has a plan till they get hit in the mouth The year of body shots  Breaking down your objectives  Vulnerability is a sign of strength Open up and let it out  I’m not gonna sign up until I can do this . . .  The three sport “comeback dilemma”  The hidden fitness we don’t lose  Fitness all adds up Seeing huge gains down the road  The Law of 7’s  Train so you can train how you need to train  Is taking

Today we cover a lot of ground. Heat and humidity's impact on swimming. Best hill workouts. How to manage strength, speed, and PRs as you age. Switching gears from triathlon to ultra marathons. Popularity build of "alternative" races. Ironman brand going forward. Supplements. Hiking vs. Running. Core temp recalibration. Strength training. Going from a 70.3 to a Full.  Questions from Athletes: How is it that humidity has an impact on swimming? I mean, I’m in water... 100% humidity…. What are the best run workouts to fit in hills/elevation Help me with the mindset around getting older and slower. When I was younger every race was a PR, shoot... every workout was a PR. (Maybe exaggerating) Now that I’m starting over every workout and every race can feel like a disappointment, regardless if I gave it hell or not. If you are trained for an Ironman Race and it gets cancelled, how would you change up your training to do an 45 mile ultramarathon instead and how long would you need to get ready? Asking for a friend 

Ironman Louisville holds many special memories for us and today we look back at the good, the bad, and the ugly. We also talk about the impact of Ironman on our daily lives and how races bring out the best in total strangers. From the swim line trepidation to the electric finish line, Ironman has a contagious energy that can literally change your life. Today is a sad day, but we use it to move forward and appreciate what we have.  Topics: Sun at the end of the tunnel? The Race cancelation yo-yo Finding an outline to move forward They’ll say it was COVID, but .  . The “old” Louisville Heat Did the move from August ruin Louisville? Easier isn’t always better Support from total random strangers boards at Louisville -  “that’s how life should be” An addictive energy that’s impossible to describe What if no one was there cheering? Contagious energy Ironman race energy in every day life It’s about the experience, the perspective and what you get out of it Finding presence at your race It’s all about the faces in t

Working out is essentially damaging you body so it can heal and get stronger . . . so don’t hammer so hard that you lose the nail. This is a GREAT time to find yourself and build your body for the long run. Quick fixes and hacks are popular because they don't work and we keep trying something new. Step back and be one with the process. Find the joy and love in the sport along the way to transforming your life.  Topics: The C26 Hub Training Center is looking good in Chattanooga Getting lost in going big or going home Don’t skip steps Robbie’s first race Athlete development Do you need to feel shelled The hidden story of going too fast Working off small sample sets It’s not always about getting there fast The best triathletes start short Fast at long distance? Rejecting the impulse Master small ball Short story, novella, book “I hope I’m ready” The Ironman buzz Nothing Truly Great Happens Immediately  It’s time to do your inventory progression This is all a great excuse to be doing base work You won’t see impr

We just finished our June Volume Camp and learned a lot of lessons about facing challenges and leaving our comfort zones. Today, we talk about how pushing yourself into unfamiliar situations can be can help you be a better triathlete, grow in life and get closer to the person you want to become. Normalizing discomfort can be how we get better.  Topics: The things that matter A do or die high Re charging your life Trying to control the narrative around comfort levels How action meets accountability Why work so hard with no races? Growth opportunities in Triathlon Familiarity and comfort Varying courses and challenges Being totally comfortable is active recovery Taking pain and discomfort as danger Perceived and real fear feel the exact same Growing with uncomfortable situations “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?” Are you progressing or regressing? Comfortable being fine? What challenges do for us Possibilities are unique to ourselves “We barely scratch the surface” - you’re truly never done Our experiences are

It's better to be undertrained than 1% over trained. Today, we talk about how fatigue and stress mask fitness and why it's often more important to get your mind and emotions straight. We get into the freedom of training "light" and why adding more isn't the answer. Are you chasing all the time, or trailing with poise?  The baggage we carry Stress is Stress What’s a Day Off to you? Fatigue Masks Fitness Stress to soak in  It’s hard to be objective - 9 Hours in the car shelled me - looking from the outside I have a lot of shit going on - I need to ask for help  Go run with someone else Take time to connect with people Good stress is stress too Minimal effective dose  When we think more is more is more Addictive personality - being “fine” with feeling “fine” - getting used to feeling Juiced . . . Burn your matches on Race Day When your mind blows before your body “I didn’t have it today” - athletes say that on 1 hour runs The mental and emotional weighs you down It’s better to be undertrained than 1% overtraine

There are so many distractions that suck the energy out of our lives. Are you focused on what’s really important? For many, this has turned into the longest “off-season” in our triathlon careers, so how do you find that race community energy more often? Changing up workouts, focusing on little things that help you escape from the grind, be a better and happier person? Today we look at some of the traps we’ve fallen into and how to escape them. Topics: Self-supported Ironman How do you handle not having a race? Endurance sports let you race by yourself Addicted to headlines What’s REALLY important to you? Spending energy vs. being busy Trying to make money, arguing about sports or politics you’ll never solve Obsessed with showing our work The extended “off season” Shifting gears to create new habits  The Ironman weekend “escape” It’s your chance to escape  Triathlon to top off energy stores Mike’s Bungee cord analogy How much tension in your life? Be in the moment, but get OUT of it Major sports and do we car

Most of us get into this sport to change something in our lives, and that process can make things more uncomfortable. Sometimes we lean in for upper cuts instead of managing the body blows. Today, we talk about learning what we truly want and how training should help that process vs. digging a deeper hole. We also look at how Ironman is used as a mask or shield and how to let that go by showing yourself grace.  Topics: Robbie hits a new age group Mike is a beacon of hope in his 50’s Camp is coming Normalizing discomfort People come to triathlon because they “want something” Craving more training to alleviate the discomfort What is so impactful that it can change the way you live Changing pain thresholds You can’t train your way into being happy Taking body blows vs. upper cuts Are you jazzed to wake up to an average day? Triathlon as a band aid vs. true healing Ironman depression The quest to be happy Using Ironman as a mask or Shield Looking at the past to justify What’s important to us is always changing R

There are many racing questions out there, so we brought on Race Director, Ken Hammond (Race Director of Ohio 70.3 and Musselman) for an in-depth conversation on how he, his staff, and Ironman have been approaching a race season hampered by a pandemic. He talks about the current state of racing, registration trends for upcoming races, and what changes might stick in the sport. He also gives us insight into a lot of challenges they've faced that most of us don't think about, like why Muncie 70.3 is on, but Ohio 70.3 isn't.  Topics:  What’s a race director do without racing? how did he deal with the final cancellation of his races? Race directors relationship to Ironman Protocols with cities Ironman’s mindset from the beginning of Pandemic How open are cities to changing dates? How does he mentally handle losing TWO races? How they’re figuring out what actually works and makes Why some cities are racing, some are not Muncie is going, why can’t Ohio? Discussion points for possibly localizing races Medical suppo

No racing, camps, and limited group functions can really play with our minds. It makes an "isolated sport" even trickier. Today, we talk about the power of people and the group. How racing and camps and group training can get us out of our heads, funks, or lack of belief patterns. It's up to us to keep this sport going in a positive way. If you love triathlon and want it to come back better than ever, dive in.  Topics:  Big guest next week Race Directors manage the Ironman franchise It’s not always their fault Extreme opinions The truth is somewhere in the middle Misery loves company Connection The New Routine Easing back into tri-lifestyle Letting go of control Variety vs. Routine Multiple choice or True/False Coaching is Advocacy I might not know anyway (out) Injury vs. slight discomfort Get caught up in positive energy Other people take you out of your loop Trapped in your own mind The challenges of training solo the power of the group negative impact or positive impact (out) it’s the group … it’s the peo

Do you wonder why you blow up in certain races? Do you struggle with pacing? You make hundreds of decisions throughout a race and they all matter. Saving 10 seconds now could cost you 2 minutes, or more later. Today we discuss those decisions and race day mentality. It's all about the back half of the run, but what happens along the way will determine how that goes. It's playing a game of chess with yourself and today we look at the best moves.  Topics: FOMO Social media reinforcement of habit Step back and think it through 10k Test 10k is a tough distance Questioning your training in the Pandemic Challenges and restrictions Why did I blow up? The Mentality of race day isn’t predictable When too much taper can backfire When you should try to fail How to understand EFFORT Matching physical threshold to mental ability Feeling out your run Mountain biking and threshold Talking about terrain and conditions Pacing on hilly courses How to keep a reserve Blasting a hill bites you later The non expectation coach In

We start with MTV unplugged and Cubs baseball and end with some great discussion of how to be positive and embrace changes in racing no matter what they might be. We cover how racing may “look” in 2020 and how to be ready. We also explain the new C26 Community Hub in Chattanooga and why it would be a great getaway for anyone who loves this sport and wants to build their community. Topics: What the C26 Hub is all about No strangers Getaway “camps” One on one Home away from home Triathletes and bike shops Racing Positivity Racing is happening - Lubbock is on Brand New Experience for everyone Minimizing touch points Transition & Course Changes Be thankful even if it’s not perfect We can’t take this for granted How can it not be exciting? The Woodstock of Triathlon General Lesson - It’s What You Make of it Be grateful for the opportunity to be there 36:00 Embrace “surprises” Free yourself from “expectations” The Experience is what it is Change is constant Deciding your passion The C26 Online Hub is now open

This is a positive look at pursuing YOUR life and dreams. The pandemic has done a lot of things, but today we look at how it may have eased us into a comfort zone that makes it harder for us to make that transition back to training, racing, and life. How maybe we have built in excuses to procrastinate, rationalize, and not do the work. None of us knows how this will play out, but we are in control of our of our passion, desire, and dreams. Today is the day. IRONMAN CEO Message If the city says come, they are coming A child’s re-entry into Daycare Fear of the unknown We’re going back to school and work Living in a bubble We have to take chances Are you rationalizing your way out of things? Community is king You’re becoming so comfortable in your home . . Friends and families as enemies Be empowered to be your own person living YOUR life Are you seeing a negative pattern? Are we blurring Comfort with Safety? People working hard and being aggressive are the anomaly What’s your response to the obstacles? Feeding

Heat hits quick, your pace crumbles . . . and we always seem to forget the dew point, our ability to fuel better, and slow down make a huge difference in our long term health and recovery. Today we look at what's going on when Spring turns to Summer and our body wants to protect itself. Good stuff in here about acclimating to heat, hydration, why body weight and body fat matter, and why your "easy runs" may be the long term culprit.  Topics: Overnight habit changes? Deceptive mornings Wrapping your mind around Dew Point Digging massive holes (two ways) Getting in shape and acclimating at once Chasing paces “I’m losing my fitness” Humidity and Dew Point affect your breathing So much water in air it’s harder to get oxygen Cooling effect of sweating is negated Keeping ego in check Your pace could be 1:30 slower! How your body protects itself Heat affects people differently Why Starky probably won’t win Kona Body type matters Body weight, fat, and heat How to be a better athlete in the heat Core temp and acclima

Do you get caught up in the numbers or look at the body of work? Athletes have to understand that fatigue masks fitness and shooting for numbers or speed on every workout is a losing proposition when it comes to racing. Today we talk about training in heat, preparing for specific courses and why understanding accumulated stress is the secret to racing. Your race isn't today, so what are you doing to get better? Topics: Podcasting future Losers on Netflix The Heat is on . . . did you just get slower? Judging fitness in a vacuum General fitness vs. Performance Fitness It’s how your body handles stress Do you recover well after intervals? Can you replicate intervals? You can’t always chase a speed or a number We become our own reality of who we think we are Your fastest days could be more about conditions Creating fitness for Wisconsin or Florida? You hit it in training but not the race Training for specific race courses Fitness is about ability to bounce back Time running vs. distance Stress score points Tired

We love you all! Thanks for listening to our podcasts. Today, we look at winning and how that means different things to different people. We talk about ways to reframe your definition of winning, and how we confuse sacrifices with making choices. Some of this is focused on "The Last Dance" documentary with Michael Jordan and how he shaped competition and winning. Most of us can learn from that, but . . . it's also important to realize we are not Michael Jordan. There's also stuff on how to make faster transitions.  Topics: How racing may look different this year You need to become self-sufficient at races Being faster in transition - Walk the swim to transition path Count and landmark your bike Towels aren’t just for kids Helmet on bike shoes Walk the bike-in Keep it lean Leaving transition with ice Pick up your water bottle if you drop it  In-race is not the time to wing it What is winning? Michael Jordan’s Last Dance Discussion Winning is relative Michael Phelps struggles The mental side of winning How

This is different for everyone and definitely a "control the controllables" situation. It's important to take lean toward the positive because misery loves company. We all want to race and want them to be safe. Race directors are making tough decisions. It may seem naive to be optimistic, but you'll never regret hoping for the best and the gains you made along the way. Triathlon is a never-ending challenge. Find what inspires you today and let that be your motivation.  Topics: Ironman used to be like getting tickets for a concert Is Muncie ready to set the tone? It’s important to support the sport however you can Race management companies trying to find a way There’s gonna be some changes Race Directors and tough decisions The most important thing for your life right now This is tough for EVERYONE Take care of yourself first but don’t judge anyone else Different ways we handle stress Reseting your brain after a race is cancelled Misery loves company Races are now like pop quizzes Stepping out of the comfort