Purple Patch Podcast

Some athletes think about "strength" in terms of push-ups and pull-ups, others think about bodybuilders and weightlifting. Strength training for multisport development is NOT strictly weightlifting. Matt talks with long-time Purple Patch Coach, Mike Olzinski, about the role of strength training in endurance sports and life performance. According to Olzinski, a comprehensive strength training program consists of FIVE Basic Biomotor Building Blocks: Mobility + Stability Balance + Coordination Strength → Endurance = Ability to do work Power → Power Endurance = Ability to do work over time. Speed → Speed Endurance (aka getting faster in a RACE) = Ability to do work over time while in motion Matt and Mike discuss each of these elements in detail, along with common mistakes endurance athletes make in the process, how to incorporate a routine into a busy schedule, hormonal benefits, and why you shouldn't worry about gaining too much bulk. Strength training is a Purple Patch Pillar of Performance that req

Let’s set a framework for 2021 and to do so, it's important to know that what you do in the next nine to 12 weeks will likely determine your performance success for all of 2021. This year especially, you cannot rely on re-running prior experiences or approaches to thrive going forward. You must learn lessons from adversity, plan within the context of your realities, and you must deploy some incremental aspects of your performance that -- perhaps -- were not important to you in prior years. This episode is all about the Postseason, or the Preparatory Phase. We don't train in the upcoming months. Instead, we prepare to train for the year ahead. How? Providing specific focus and action items to focus on NOW -- and the coming two-three months. Ensuring that our training and habit creation in the coming weeks and months are not rushed. Applying focus with a long-term lens. Developing a mindset of preparing the body to do the work over DOING the work. Matt dives into two case studies of real-life athletes

What would you do if you were born without a femur in one of your legs and told you would never walk, especially, if you were born into a modest Moroccan family with no access to technology or real health assistance? What if you had to endure the ridicule and shame that comes with rejection and exclusion from schoolmates and teachers who won't let you participate in organized sports? Like today's guest, Mohamed Lahna, you would hopefully adapt and rise above. You would visit the local cobbler and develop your own ill-fitted shoewear. You would attempt to play sports and participate in soccer and swimming just like all of your friends - even when the odds are stacked against you. You would dream big and, if you're anything like Mo, you would work your way to the Paralympics with a meteoric-like rise in endurance sports and, once again, against all odds, you would succeed. Today's episode is not only a celebration of athletic achievement but also a recognition of emotional and physical resilience. Lahna provide

Are you frustrated with a lack of improvement in running? Do you suffer from a history of running injuries when you try and stick to a traditional running plan? Have you found yourself saying, “I've tried, but running just isn’t for me?” Today, Matt breaks down proven different approaches to running faster-with less injury risk-while avoiding fake promises, quick fixes, or any of the fads that permeate the endurance industry. Let’s shake up your definition of what you might think of as a “healthy approach to running.” Donate to Challenged Athletes Foundation Subscribe to the Purple Patch Podcast: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music  

Growing up on a farm in Finland, Sami was always intrigued by health, wellness, and athletic performance. He did ride his bike or cross-country ski to-and-from school most days, after all! He moved to the United States in 2003 to attend Stanford Business School, and it's there where he met his friend and business partner, Pete Flint, and, together, they founded Trulia, eventually turning it public. Today, he is the CEO and Founder of Virta Health, a company on a mission to reverse Type 2 Diabetes in 100 million people by 2025. It was a revelation about his own health that was the catalyst for this new mission. You see, even though Sami was and still is a top performer both in sport and life, he made the mistake that so many of us make: burning the candle at both ends. “In 2008,” he says, “I had a view that the more hours you train, the faster you become, and the more hours you work, the more effective you are.” That way of life led to frequent bouts of flu and fever. Even worse, he recalls, he was forgetting

Matt welcomes Six-Time IRONMAN World Champion, Mark Allen, to the podcast. In 2012, ESPN named Mark Allen the Greatest Endurance Athlete of All-Time and he's been inspiring and motivating people of all backgrounds for decades.  Mark is known as the 'Master of Mindset.' His views on what it takes to be successful in any endeavor, how to navigate adversity, how to establish the right perspective while remaining calm are exactly the reasons why Mark is one of the featured keynote speakers at the upcoming Performance Reset Virtual Conference.  Who better to provide some lessons and perspective in a turbulent time than 'The Grip,' Mark Allen.  Purple Patch Resources Register for Performance Reset 2020 Mark Allen Website Thanks for taking a listen and, if you like what you hear, please subscribe, share, rate and review. Your feedback is appreciated. Subscribe to the Purple Patch Podcast: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music

Bob Babbitt is, simply put, the lightning rod of the endurance world. In 1980, he participated in his first IRONMAN on the island of O'ahu, Hawaii, and has been making history ever since. He'd never call himself an elite athlete and yet, he's a member of the USA Triathlon and IRONMAN Triathlon Halls of Fame. Why? Because he believes that sport is essential for all and changes lives every day. His name is synonymous with the sport of triathlon along with his long-running Babbittville podcast, radio, and tv show. In fact, it is Babbitt, more than anyone, who has given voice and image to this crazy event in Hawaii that no one could really wrap their mind around. He is the heartbeat of multisport/triathlon and, in our sport’s story, is the main character. Nope. He's the hero. Through his efforts, he has exposed endurance sports to everyone - literally - everyone, as co-founder of Challenged Athletes Foundation, founder of Competitor Magazine, and more. "When you go from your gut and when you go from your passions

As we finish 2020 and gear up emotionally for bigger and better times in 2021, we’ve got a chance to RESET, to lay the groundwork of mindset, habits, and action that will equip us to thrive next year - no matter what is thrown our way. Matt put this mantra to action at a recent 50 Mile Ultra race and shares the poignant, painful, and powerful life lessons he learned running for over 12 hours in the mountains of central Oregon. This very simple event acted as a lightening rod and helped with so many other positive habits around flexibility, patience, accountability, and community. He leaned into the power of sport and it provided much-needed purpose to enable excellence across all aspects of life. This is the heart of the Performance Reset 2020 - experts and companies sharing their thoughts on the role of sport because, make no mistake, sport is powerful. You might be feeling rudderless. You might be tired of this carnival and the uncertainty. But, we have no doubt you have a performance-driven mindset. You ma

Purple Patch is proud to announce Performance Reset 2020, a 3-Day Virtual Conference taking place live from San Francisco. Now is the time to reset from the turbulence of 2020 and take aim at performance. Join us for this immersive conference that will equip you with the planning, mindset, habits, and execution you need to unlock performance in the years ahead. Engage with leaders in the performance space, world champions, and premier brands and walk away with a toolkit for success in 2021. Featuring World Class Speakers and Presenters Matt Dixon, Founder of Purple Patch Fitness Mark Allen, 6x IRONMAN Champion and Coach Bob Babbitt, Triathlon Hall of Famer, Co-Founder of Challenged Athletes Foundation Sami Inkinen, Founder Virta Health Pros - Jesse Thomas, Sarah Piampiano, Sam Appleton, Kevin Collington ...and experts across all disciplines of nutrition, hydration, strength/mobility, women's health and more. A portion of every ticket sold benefits The Challenged Athletes Foundation. Purple Patch R

Yes, it's the week that triathletes, coaches, and spectators usually descend up Kailua-Kona for the annual IRONMAN World Championships.  This week, Matt looks back on six memorable stories from his 20+ years of heading over to Kona for the big race. Some stories involve lessons pros like Chris Lieto, Rachel Joyce, and Sarah Piampiano. Other takeaways center around age-group athletes that Matt has coached at the World Championships.  Each story is poignant and full of life lessons for all of us - stay calm, stick with the process, nail the basics, get your attitude right, and, most importantly: NEVER Stand Down Wind.  We know you'll enjoy this look back at some of the moments that make this race so special, sufferable, unique, rewarding, and totally unforgettable. We don't even blame you if you feel a wee bit of nostalgia. We miss it too.

Our children have faced change across various arenas of life and, for most, it has been incredibly isolating. Many parents are struggling with how to support kids through the turbulence that we find ourselves in these days, especially in terms of talking about Covid-19, supporting their education, and addressing the common fears of social, sporting, and emotional development due to the detours that we are navigating. Today, Matt provides his lens on how to support children emotionally, through his unique coaching lens: fostering development in our kids through sport, and creating fun and inventive ways to drive them forward. Kids are observant, smart, and adaptable. We cannot hide or gloss the situation and they are more equipped than we realize to handle a tailored version of the realities we face. Purple Patch Resources Learn More about Purple Patch 1:1 Coaching Learn More about Purple Patch Squad Thanks for taking a listen and, if you like what you hear, please subscribe, share, rate and review. Your feedb

We've got one for the geeks this week as I welcome Ivan O'Gorman of IOG Bike Fit and Consulting to the podcast for a deep dive on bike fitting and performance. Ivan regularly works with recreational cyclists and triathletes of all levels, as well as World Tour professionals and Olympians. As a seven-time IRONMAN World Championship finisher and two-time LT 100 MTB finisher, Ivan has significant first-hand knowledge of the many factors athletes must consider to maximize results. Plus, did we mention that he's engaging, animated, and incredibly smart? Bike fitting, one would argue, is equal parts art and science, but as you'll hear, it's much more than just changing a saddle position and sending you on your way without regard to comfort and performance. If you've recently purchased a new bike (and we know many of you have), or if you want to get dialed in for 2021, now is a great time to get your equipment in order. It doesn't matter if you're a competitve triathlete eeking out every last watt, or a recreational

Today, we take off the heavy cloak of 2020 and begin to set our path toward high performance in 2021. We do so in style -- via YOUR questions. Yes -- today’s show is a chance for Matt to sink his chops into questions delivered by the listeners. Matt addresses listener questions around: Trends for performance in 2021 How to address the stress of 2020 with our children Getting a chance to race in 2020 Navigating a difficult work schedule that makes traditional training impossible Managing Daily Energy Levels ...and more It's a fun one that is anchored around navigating the turbulence of 2020, while still looking ahead to 2021.   Purple Patch Coaching Resources Learn More about Purple Patch 1:1 Coaching Learn More about Purple Patch Squad Thanks for taking a listen and, if you like what you hear, please subscribe, share, rate and review. Your feedback is appreciated. Subscribe to the Purple Patch Podcast: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Google Podcasts

Matt Dixon and Scott Tindal return with Part 2 of their Coaches Conversation around Performance Nutrition.  Today, they get specific on three important modules. The Importance of breakfast - What and Why? The Role of Protein and How Much is too Much? Nitrates and Beets? What Are They and What Are the Benefits?   Episode Resources: Matt Dixon Bike Clinic - September 16th Ivan O'Gorman Bike Fits at the Purple Patch Training Studio - October 1st-3rd, 2020 Scott Tindal Performance Nutrition-Book with Purple Patch   Purple Patch Coaching Resources Learn More about Purple Patch 1:1 Coaching Learn More about Purple Patch Squad Thanks for taking a listen and, if you like what you hear, please subscribe, share, rate, and review. Your feedback is appreciated.   Subscribe to the Purple Patch Podcast: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Google Podcasts  

Matt Dixon and Scott Tindal break down an often confusing and complex topic in this two-part podcast series on Performance Nutrition.  Today, they lay the groundwork. Why is this topic so confusing? Why is performance nutrition an afterthought for many? What are the dangers of over-obsessing? What should athletes look for in a nutrition plan? What are the strategies of nailing nutrition basics? Episode Resources: Matt Dixon Bike Clinic - September 16th Ivan O'Gorman Bike Fits at the Purple Patch Training Studio Scott Tindal Performance Nutrition-Book with Purple Patch   Purple Patch Coaching Resources Learn More about Purple Patch 1:1 Coaching Learn More about Purple Patch Squad Thanks for taking a listen and, if you like what you hear, please subscribe, share, rate, and review. Your feedback is appreciated.   Subscribe to the Purple Patch Podcast: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Google Podcasts  

If 2020 was a chapter in an athlete story, it would be classified as a massive challenge and a setback that includes disappointment and most certainly failure. But, the great athlete would navigate, learn, and overcome. A great athlete has the tools and wisdom to realize the path of performance is never linear. Today is Part Two on our series of performance culture and the athletic mindset. Last week, we dug into the cultural model of performance. It's the model that we utilize at Purple Patch and it is a way of doing something that unites individuals and creates a collective resilience. And at the end of the day, the individuals that thrive within that culture lean into a suite of traits and characteristics that make up what we call the athletic mindset. Now, we've learned over the last few months of turbulence, that these traits are the very traits that foster the resilience, adaptability and the growth needed, not to just navigate, but to thrive through these times. What are these characteristics and trait

In Part 1 of this Two-Part Series, Matt presents a Model of Performance Culture for coaches and businesses. He defines each step and illustrates how he has applied each phase with Purple Patch since the start of 2020.  North Star Mission - Ensuring the team is in complete alignment with purpose, direction, and outcomes.  The Path To Success - Setting up a roadmap, removing roadblocks, creating an intentional focus on the NOW Performer Development -coaching, provide feedback and course corrections, creating conditions to thrive Critical Review and Re-Engagement  

We’re midway through the year and now is an appropriate time to take a step back and reflect on the unpredictable and unprecedented year we’ve had so far. For better or worse, it has forced change, but it is not too late to step up and lead.  This "Best of" revisits a few episodes on the importance of strong leadership and building resilience. Even if you’ve already listened, we invite you to: Listen again now that we’re a few months into this new normal Absorb and take what is useful to you and your current situation Use it to support each other, your friends, and your family Share this episode and apply to your teams Take note, coaches and managers: It isn’t all a disaster! It is, however, time to step up and lead. You have tools at your disposal to help and it just takes a little dose of clarity, communication, planning, and leaning into your biggest assets you have: your athletes. Leaders? Same applies. It is time to plan, communicate, and lean into YOUR biggest assets - your employees. Help them to dev

Despite the turbulence and despair of 2020, the challenges, and the crumbling race plans, we commit to making the end of 2020 all about performance excellence! We create PURPOSE.  We create DIRECTION.  We create MISSION.  We deliver personal ACCOMPLISHMENT.  AND we do it TOGETHER. Sounds super.  BUT HOW you ask? That is the theme of this episode.

Matt welcomes Purple Patch athlete, Heather Grahame, to discuss her adventurous multisport journey to joy. Based in Helena MT, Grahame spent 100k miles on a plane last year as lead counsel of a publicly-traded public utility. Now, in 2020, she finds herself grounded (literally and physically) because of our new normal. Instead of going random, Heather doubled-down on her training regime and growth mindset. Her varied life's journey included financial and emotional instability as a child and teenager, but in conflict, came resolve and a work ethic that led to a stint at Stanford University, and athletic achievements in field hockey, soccer, cycling time trial championships in Alaska, dog sled racing, and, of course, triathlon -- all while traveling extensively for her work and raising two daughters with her husband. If you are looking to set your path for the rest of 2020, you could do worse than draw from the lessons and perspective of Heather. She has found joy, direction, purpose and FUN through her trainin