Purple Patch Podcast

The backbone of the Purple Patch Podcast is education around performance in both sport and life, and Matt hits it head-on this week in this conversation with Andy Blow, former professional triathlete and Founder of Precision Hydration.  The topic? Hydration in sport, work, and life. If you're a pro athlete, an amateur athlete, a fitness enthusiast, an executive or a busy professional looking for better energy management in life, you'll love this coaches conversation on the impact that hydration (or lack thereof) can have on our daily performance. Not only do they discuss hydration strategies for early morning and late afternoon training, but they also discuss the implications of: Walking through life in a dehydrated state Caffeinated beverages on performance Extended Travel Excessive Alcohol Consumption Dehydration is, simply put, a performance limiter and both Andy and Matt provide practical advice and guidance on proper hydration in both training and daily life to help you reach your athletic and human po

Welcome Back to Season 2 and our first Purple Patch Podcast of 2019! This is the time where people are choosing to be coached for the first time, transitioning to a different coach, or even refreshing their relationship with their current coach. There is a real role for coaches to play in framing the art of coaching and creating a culture of success. On the flip side, the athlete has a real responsibility as well. How can you be coached best? This episode is not just for coaches, but also athletes and fitness enthusiasts who are in a coaching relationship or in charge of their own performance journey. In "The Art of Being Coached," Matt dives deep on: The Roles of a Coach Setting up a Culture of Success From Both Coach and Athlete Perspective Additional Tips on How Should You Be Coached and How Should You Coach?  He also gives listeners a peek into the Purple Patch coaching window with a real-life case study. The quest and hope for this episode is that you see the performance journey as a whole and have the

This week is a special episode for Purple Patch. It's our 50th episode! We launched in January 2018. and as we approach the end of the year, we thought it was a good time to take a step back and have a little review. Today, it's Matt's picks from some of the episodes of the last few months that are anchored and channeled on global life performance and reaching your potential via an athletic mindset. Purchase a copy of Fast-Track Triathlete and Receive a Free Swim Cap Learn More About Purple Patch One-on-One Coaching Email info@purplepatchfitness.com to hop on the San Francisco Camp Waitlist   Episode Highlights: Taken from Episode 31 - Fighting Fatigue - Knowing When to Push Through or Back Off Fatigue is not a negative word. In fact, it's a part of growth and you should lean into it. It is earned from hard work and the adaptions can be positive, but you must make smart decisions in managing your fatigue. In this segment, Matt provides context around “fatigue” - both anticipated vs. unanticipated-and discusse

This week, we provide a little fun (and hopefully a little inspiration) for your holiday lens and gift giving! Matt and his team of coaches came together to provide you with some of their holiday performance gift recommendations centered around our Four Pillars of Performance: Endurance Training, Strength and Conditioning, Nutrition, and Recovery.  These ideas aren’t quick fixes or magic shortcuts to performance success. They are simple, actionable, and authentic ideas for your performance-driven loved one. We hope this list provides inspiration, ideas and even, perhaps even a little positive habit change for the New Year. Happy Holidays! To receive a list of our recommendations go to: https://purplepatchfitness.com/gadgets    To ask questions, email: questions@purplepatchfitness.com  Follow Purple Patch Fitness and learn more about our Coaching Services, Training Camps, Promotions and Matt's Latest Book, Fast Track Triathlete: Purple Patch Fitness Website Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Thanks for tak

It’s hard to argue with the concept that you will get more out of a project, workout, meeting, or book if you are fully immersed and focused in the endeavor. Being distracted or having your mind elsewhere is hardly a logical path to success and we are all susceptible to becoming distracted, especially with all the competing demands that our big lives tend to bring. For most of us, the buy-in for presence and focus is there, but the mind is often polluted. Diluting focus will NOT increase productivity in work or sport. This episode will empower focus in both work and sport with specific strategies to arm you for success. Adopting this game plan will open up a pathway to presence and create a positive impact for maximum effectiveness. Remember:  “Presence is effectiveness and effectiveness leads to capacity.” Bad habits simply create bad output and the only way to create capacity and to execute high-quality work is to become an assassin of effectiveness.   To ask questions, email: questions@purplepatchfitness.c

Take a moment to revisit your childhood. Do you recall spending hours on end riding your bike around the neighborhood, exploring backyards for unknown treasures, splashing in the pool with your friends, or playing in the snow without thought or fear of the cold? Ahhh…the glory days of childs’ play. Hopefully, you engaged in a variety of activities, both structured and unstructured. You likely played soccer, or little league, or swam on your swim team. With luck, those days provided positive memories and awarded many positive traits that you carry with you today related to teamwork, leadership, creativity, passion, resilience and the importance of failure. Yes, the importance of failure. That is the framework for Matt’s highly personal episode this week about childhood development in sports: the value of sports for children, setting up your kids for long-term performance, and the mindset and approach to being a supporting parent in their journey. Matt takes on this important topic from three perspectives: as a

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”  - Isaac Newton The power of a mentor or coach cannot be overstated and to truly maximize the benefits of a professional coach, you, the athlete, must be a major stakeholder to ensure the relationship is fruitful and beneficial to your performance. In this episode, Matt discusses the importance of finding the right coach for you. What are characteristics of a great coach or mentor? How do you find the right coach for your needs? How do you maximize the relationship to allow performance gains? What are some of the qualities and red flags you should look for? Does the coach’s philosophy align with you and your needs? What is your role in this athletic journey? Being a great coached athlete is not about punching the clock and simply checking off workouts prescribed like a list of tasks.  Life is not a spreadsheet, and therefore it is tough to apply a strict spreadsheet of training to life. And, remember, having a coach isn’t just about get

Download our Sample Post-Season Workouts There couldn’t be a more valuable part of the season to make fundamental groundwork changes to who you are as an athlete.  Purple Patch views the post-season as perhaps THE most important block of training which includes preparation for the heavy lifting ahead, technical and skills development, and critical ‘building block’ work of good habits that pave the way for greater yields from the training that will come later.  Consider it as the first part of your annual performance journey, and the absolute bedrock and foundation of your construction project as an athlete.  In this episode, Matt Dixon dispels myths around this phase by talking about two real-life Purple Patch athletes and how they've traditionally approached post-season. A small shift in focus yielded much improvement for the next season. How important is post-season? What is the mission of post-season and what is your mindset? What type of workouts should you do? These topics and more are built into this

To evolve and improve long-term REQUIRES blocks of serious rejuvenation and rest. In work, sport and life, it is impossible to optimize performance if you never get off the hamster wheel. Quite simply - to grow requires rest. But, how exactly should you integrate blocks of rejuvenation without throwing away all of the blocks of solid training in the last months? In this episode, Matt talks about the dangers and pitfalls of an "all in" or "all out" attitude. He also stresses the benefits that a short break can have on post-season training.  Why do you need breaks both physically and emotionally? How exactly should you approach a season break? What can you expect from a short break away from training? What exactly is post-season and what type of training should you do when your next race is still months away? Should you expect dips in fitness?  Why are scheduled breaks so hard for athletes to embrace? Why shouldn't you turn into a sloth for a few months? Remember, life is not a hamster wheel. In the cycle of

We revisit an insightful conversation with three Purple Patch Pros who are competing in this Saturday’s IRONMAN World Championships - Laura Siddall, Kevin Collington, and Sarah Piampiano. They recorded this interview (Episode 5) in January at the Purple Patch Pro Camp in Scottsdale, Arizona when they were just starting their 2018 season. In this episode, they talk about goal setting, managing fears, mindset, key lessons, and finding world-class performance every time they toe the line at a race. Clearly, these three have put their words into action and we wish them all the best on the Big Island. Purple Patch is behind you and we can’t wait to follow along! IRONMAN World Championship Kevin Collington Website Sarah Piampiano Website  Laura Siddall Website   Follow Purple Patch Fitness and learn more about our Coaching Services, Training Camps, Promotions and Matt's Latest Book, Fast Track Triathlete: Purple Patch Fitness Website Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Thanks for taking a listen and, if you like

The IRONMAN World Championships take place on Saturday, October 13th and Matt has dedicated this entire episode to the lore and lure of this 40-year-old magical race on the Big Island.  Listeners get a glimpse of the race course from his perspective. What makes it so special and, at the same time, so difficult? Why do the best athletes in the world seem to struggle in this unique setting?  It is, as he says, an event like no other and spectators have the privilege of watching the battle unfold throughout the day.  During this episode, Matt also divulges: How to avoid the common mistakes that athletes make in their training, the week of the race, and even the day of the event that can impact their performance. Critical components of success and how to approach the race from a performance perspective. Advice and recommendations, especially for first-timers  It is a magical event and the stakes are high for these privileged athletes who have punched their ticket to the World Championships. And as Matt advises,

We've received so many great questions to questions@purplepatchfitness.com and Matt is answering several of them today surrounding season planning and continuous progression as an athlete.  Topics include: How to approach your first 70.3 distance Advice on peeing during a race- should you stop? Approach and philosophy of the long run in Ironman or Marathon training Maintaining fitness without the pressure to race Tips on continuous progression after a breakthrough performance Season planning and laying out a race plan for optimal performance Matt has put together a video that explains the Purple Patch season planning methodology, specifically the endurance training component and how we can help you develop your best season of performance. Visit https://purplepatchfitness.com/seasonplanning to unlock the video.   Follow Purple Patch Fitness and learn more about our Coaching Services, Training Camps, Promotions and Matt's Latest Book, Fast Track Triathlete: Purple Patch Fitness Website Facebook Twitter Linke

In part one of the Purple Patch Podcast with Gerry Rodrigues, Matt and Gerry reminisced about each other's careers and how coaching and training methodologies have evolved, especially for the multisport athlete. In part two, they dissect the recent IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship race and discuss the natural evolution and progression of these world championship athletes. It should come as no surprise that there are common elements of their success that are applicable to athletes and performers at all levels.  Finally, Matt and Gerry look ahead to the future of the sport: What is the process of longevity and long-term success? What are the characteristics of great athletes? How is sport such a conduit for life? What is one of Gerry's favorite coaching phrases? Most Importantly, What would Gerry bring on Dixon's Desert Island?  We hope you enjoyed this Coaches Conversation with two of the greats in the sport of triathlon.    Tower 26 Online Swim Program Follow Purple Patch Fitness and learn more about our Coa

Did you know that Gerry Rodrigues coached Matt Dixon in swimming when Matt was a professional triathlete? Their relationship and mutual respect span decades - as does their knowledge of the sport.   Of course, this isn't a typical conversation about swim form and technique. This is a deep dive with two triathlon experts through their lens of performance and coaching.  In part one of this two-part series, they reminisce about each other's careers and how coaching and training have changed, especially for the multisport athlete. In addition to great stories, they discuss: Gerry's swim career and race memories Open water race tactics and strategy advice Components that have facilitated the success of Tower 26 The importance of nailing the basics  Athlete development, the lure of lofty aspirations, and why coach hopping is detrimental to success The role of a coach and collaboration between coach and athlete   In part two, they'll discuss the future of the sport. Stay tuned! Tower 26 Website Tower 26 Online Swi

To submit your questions for future episodes, email: questions@purplepatchfitness.com   Click Here for Matt's article on Sauna Protocols mentioned in the Question of the Week.  At just 34 years of age, Anna Hertel will likely never compete at another IRONMAN.  Five years ago, that concept would’ve been devastating and unimaginable because, like a lot of people, triathlon was her identity. Anna’s story is one of growth; growth as a human even in the midst of overwhelming adversity, which has come hard and fast in all facets of her life. This is also a story of finding your place within endurance sports even when the sport you love must cease. What has emerged from the chaos is a mature and patient mindset - a mindset filled with purpose and gratitude and her lessons resonate universally: Stop being in a hurry Meet your body where it’s at - not where you think it’s at Check your internal health and journal your personal progress; not just the data Don’t take yourself too seriously And, as Matt Dixon says, “Ke

Cramping is a frustrating part of endurance athlete life for many, amplified by the fact that there is seldom a quick diagnosis of cause, nor an easy solution for most.  The whole area of cramping tends to be an ‘experiment of one’ -- with plenty of conflicting or shaky research, interesting concepts and ideas that emerge, and different preventions and remedies that work for some athletes, yet fail for others.  We still cannot definitively establish what causes cramps -- and many of the anecdotal preventions and fixes to cramping could as easily be attributed to the all-powerful placebo effect as they could be the effectiveness of the intervention. This episode is outlined from a collation of conversations with passionate experts in the field, review of existing literature, as well as coaching observations and review.  Matt takes a deep dive on: The Causes and Types of Cramps Ten Contributing Factors that May Lead to Cramps How to Mitigate the Risk of Developing Cramps in Training and Racing What to Do If a

“The best success you can have in any race is knowing that you remained open to performance and that when you crossed the line, you took all the steps in your control and ability to maximize your performance.” This is a true Championship Mindset.  Speaking of, Best of luck to those athletes heading to the 70.3 World Championships in South Africa. A World Championship. Wow! For some, it will be a celebration of being present, and they simply hope for the best. For others, there is an ambition to create a massive personal performance that can project themselves onto the podium. Regardless of your "main event," you will arrive with the physical resources that you have, and you have to set yourself up with the best performance you can have on that day.  How do you achieve this? Today, Matt breaks it down in a few categories -- to help promote a positive mindset and enable you to free your body to do what it is prepared to do.  By focusing on planning, mindset prior and execution, the chances of you having your be

“The list of what I want to accomplish continues to grow,” says 64-year-old Purple Patch athlete, Rick Wimmer. “Society expects people to retire, but this is how I get the most out of life!” Maintaining a growth mindset is everything - at any age. In this episode, recorded on location at the recent Purple Patch Training Camp in South Carolina, Matt converses with two Purple Patch Masters athletes, Rick Wimmer and Ken Pagliughi, about their recipes for success and longevity in sport and life. Both are highly successful individuals — Rick was a partner at Ernst and Young for 35 years, Ken a District Attorney in New Jersey — but they also continue to thrive and improve in their athletics, health, and mindset.  With Rick at 64 and Ken at 71, they both have so much more to accomplish and refuse to settle for stagnation. This conversation is packed full of humor, personal anecdotes, inspiration, and education for athletes of all ages. You, too, can develop a path to longevity and excellence at any age as long as yo

To submit your questions for future episodes, email: questions@purplepatchfitness.com    This week, Matt goes into the weeds with his first official "Athlete Q&A" Episode dedicated solely to recent questions from real athletes. He covers off a variety of topics including: Maintaining Strength in the heart of your racing season What Bike to Use in Training - Do you always need to practice on you Time Trial Bike? Matt investigates the use and benefits of mountain and road bikes in your training Fueling in Races and that dreaded bloating. What causes it and how can you avoid it? Vacation Blues - This question is centered around the panic of an athlete who finds himself without a bike for six days! Will everything fall off the rails? How do you compensate for holidays and travel? Equipment and Wheel Choice - Tri geeks will love this one as Matt answers a question on race wheel choices and decisions around this technical aspect of racing. To submit your questions for future episodes, email: questions@purplep

Today’s focus is on…well…FOCUS... and remaining present in your training in order to maximize your training yield. Something that is often overlooked in training by both athletes and coaches is the importance of presence - focused awareness on the task. Whatever your quest or goal, being focused and present is a critical piece of the puzzle to maximize your precious training time. This becomes even more critical when you are time-starved. Being focused and present ensures the best execution and the biggest performance yield. In this episode, Matt discusses the many reasons to be present and the best path to set up these habitual practices during your training. It is often said that, “As you train, so shall you race.” If you don’t train with presence and focus, you can’t expect to have mental resiliency on race day. Focus helps you develop your innate sense of pacing and effort and, with practice, can become habitual automation. Quite simply, you develop your inner animal.  Tower 26 Podcast with Gerry Rodrigue