We start with the pros and cons of the new Ironman Chattanooga bike course. We look at whether or not these courses are really that crowded. We talk unorthodox training as a strategy for health and long term enjoyment of the sport. We also look at Ironman branding and our C26 community. We get into the challenges of late and early season races. We …

The heat is back but the stress never left and it’s a good reminder. We talk open water swim and your pace and if it’s right and if training in the pool is better than OW. Are you wiped out or just fueling poorly. What happens when you face the Training Peaks Hell Week Council? Are metrics making us lazy? Maybe you just need to open up your legs. T…

Focus on the details is very important when it comes to your race, but what are the right details? Today, we get into the “no man’s land” of training. Pre-race planning, effective taper, and post race discoveries. Data can be important, but obsessing over collecting information has nothing to do with racing well. How are you using your data, and be…

The inaugural IM Louisville 70.3 kicked off with a bang and we have an on location report. We’ll talk about all the expectations and the realities and how they turned this into an even better experience than we predicted. The slow swim, the “fast” bike, and the challenging run. Everything’s on the table including the business acumen of the infamous…

C26 is in Louisville in big numbers and today Coach Robbie joins from the Omni Hotel lobby to talk about the vibe for Louisville 70.3. We talk about the swim potential, bike strategies, and the run challenges. We also talk about how to lead up to your races without getting drained so you can leave it on the course. We’re also joined by C26 Coach, C…

Today we break down how volume and intensity overlap. Just because something is defined as “easy” doesn’t mean it’s not intense. How do you think about intensity? Do you train in a way to build fatigue resistance and hold form? Some of these thoughts may surprise you. Topics: Shout out to a friend of the podcast Volume or intensity? Age groupers vs…

A lot of us really complicate things in the water, but today we’re looking at a few “simple” concepts that can really make a difference in your swim speed. We’ll look at how and why to master these techniques and what it will mean for your overall enjoyment of the sport and the swim. These are not drills, they are effective and relatively simple te…

Everyone has different life scenarios and it’s up to you to figure out what works best in training. Is it not enough, too much? Why do you think that? Today, we look at carving your own way within the outline. Things to look at as you train for different distances. How to be confident you’ll be ready to perform on race day. We talk about mental ban…

We talk Olympics’ triathlon. We get into the heat. We get into adjusting for the heat. We talk Norwegian method as a strategy or burnout? Adrenaline as your only fuel. Swimming in a pool before a race if the swim is cancelled. Post race recovery food and methods. The goal is not the session. Downward spirals. And your NEED TO KNOWS about Louisville…

Great questions from the listeners. We get pretty deep into HR training and testing, along with intensity control and duration. We look at prescription load model, reading HR. Are you getting fitter or just tired? Swimming less for easy swim races?? How much racing is too much or too little? How to keep your head in the game. Typical amount of trai…

Topics: C26 Camp in Madison Lake Placid, Ohio, Oregon Ironman Branding problem? 20-30 Hour Weeks Extreme results The need to be expensive Appreciating free time Adaptive training Using race day as a metric for success The process as the success Excited to train - invigorated Sacrificing a whole season for one day When something just ain’t right Mor…

Many of us can look at the metrics, but how deep is our understanding? Today, we look at the decorations of triathlon in your training platform. Are you just becoming addicted to new numbers for the sake of it? Are the numbers confusing you more than letting you be your best? Do you really understand how you feel during a given workout? Should you …

How do you think about training? Are you going for race times or truly working on things that will make you better? Today, we look at different mindsets and how to not get trapped in training paces and performances. We look at the full forest of a race and how you can have a more objective view of your training, your progress, and future racing suc…

Yesterday, the two greatest riders in the world charged toward the finish line in Stage 11 of the Tour de France with completely different styles. Today, we look at both approaches and use it as an analogy for how you can go about your training and racing. There’s no one right answer for this sport, and we can all get better by taking little pieces…

Today we look how to get effective volume and why recovery should be an instrumental part of everything you do. We look at why it’s important to be aware of how and when you workout. We look at falling in love with the weather, good and bad. We talk about why summer can be the best time for base training. We look at making swim, bike and run EASIER…

Topics: Do you know in your heart it’s the right thing? Challenging our listeners Being proud of yourself Keep showing up Make one clear goal The joy of the work The perils of comparison Podium from the chin down Back of the pack from the chin up Not many “ups” Can you reflect on the good things? Only commenting on the bad days Easy needs to be eas…

Topics: Predicting your race Detached from expectations Taking a week away from podcast for Triathlon Camp New 70.3 coming close to Mike? Typa A Insecure? Olympic Trials Lack of objectivity Why do you think you should be faster? Is it more a wish, or want, or hope? Tri-calc Potential is different than reality Reverse engineering goals Having a goal…

This one is all about getting more results and enjoyment out of your training. Be creative and make things work. Don't trudge through training tired and uninterested. A little undertrained is always better than being overtrained. Both for the race and your longevity. Do this for the right reasons and find ways to make training GIVE you energy, not …

***Be sure to stay tuned at the end of the podcast for an interview with C26 Coach, Erin Koerner. Topics: Are you trying too hard Swimming harder, but slower Coming back from an injury Our data is often inaccurate Treadmills, wearables, power meters Are food labels precise? Tracking food macros Is the answer really more? Over-stimulated Low expecta…

Whether it’s a niggle, injury, anxiety, or fear, there’s always a way to spin things in a positive direction. Today, we look at the wide range of challenges triathlon delivers, and offer several solutions for how to make setbacks work in your favor. One of our favorite mantras is, Do Something. Do something that will create momentum, or simply drag…

In the world of Apps and Special Offers, we present . . . cutting through the clutter. We start with the simplicity of the early days of Training Peaks and weave our way through Instagram Ads, Lactate testing, and other crazes and phases. In the end we boil this sport down to something really simple, which we believe can be the difference between t…

Are you throwing in the towel right before a big breakthrough? Today, we cast based on a quote, "The magic you're looking gor is in the work you're avoiding." We look at the concept behind patient training, and what breakthroughs look like. We talk about race expectations and how they should rarely, if ever, be the main goal. This is about enjoying…

Today we look at how workouts weave together with soothing, straining, and stressful sessions. The C26 Triple S! This one is great for all athletes and at the center of how to be consistent, improve, and not go through life shelled. Stress on the body is definitely the way to get better, but if you're not recovering, or understanding the concept/di…

Whether we’re a front pack, middle pack, or back of the pack athlete, we can all learn from each other. Today we look at the different ways to think about racing based on your experience. We dig back into finding satisfaction in your training, re-cultivating your “why” and what it takes to break free from your current pack, or even get over the hum…

Today we dovetail off Chattanooga 70.3 and Moro Bay. We start by talking about swimming and how it should not be taken lightly. We ask if shortening the swim cut off would make people train harder to be stronger swimmers? We also talk about bike congestion and if it’s really that bad or many people just aren’t prepared with their bike handling. Thi…

Today, we look at energy breakdowns for your swim, bike, and run. We also get into how to handle A, B, and C races. Are they really different? Are you setting goals for today or down the road? We also look at A, B, and C goals for each individual race. Do you want to see how much you can push the bike and still run? Swim hard or reel it in? How do …

Today we give you all the secrets to more enjoyable training, which will obviously transfer into better racing . . . and maybe even a happier life. Are you going about your training in the right places with the right approach? Topics: Summer is here . . . Finding routes you enjoy Having great training options It’s hard to get burned out Finding a g…

Lots of talk about open water including, how comfort, how to approach workouts, and length of stroke. More discussion about the feel for water today, and a sidebar into the feel for the bike and run. How often should you use the pull buoy? What about paddles? How to breathe right and fix dead spots in your stroke. Topics: Weather and running and em…

Are you struggling to get faster despite thinking your form is correct? Are you an adult onset swimmer that just can’t seem to solve the riddle? This podcast is for you. We go deep into being a stronger, faster, and more relaxed swimmer. We talk about the things you should actually be doing vs. spending your time on drills you don’t understand. Swi…

Today we dive into Iroman Texas 2024. We get into the race venue, the conditions, etc, but largely talk about Coach Robbie's decision not to start. Topics: Ironman Texas Venue Mike's Trip Robbie Talks about his experience Taper/Pre-Race What's been hard/frustrating Race frequency Race pressure vs. nerves When we're focused on performance Perfection…

This is a re-post of another of our favorite episodes/concepts. Off a great, but tough weekend at Run Camp, we reflect on how and when to push and why it’s important to have fun in your life and training. We talk about your big race is “Just One Day” and how it’s better to be undertrained than burned out. Also, the little signs in your training wil…

This is a re-post of one of our favorite C26 Ironman stories. This is an Ironman story for Everyone. If you've ever stayed until the end of an Ironman you know the level of emotions. But have you ever been out in the dark on the last few miles with someone who isn't sure they will make the cutoff? Today, we share the story of how one of our C26 ath…

Are you ready for your hot race? Today we look at physical and mental approaches to staying cool on the race course. From whether or not to wear a wetsuit to freezing your bottles to pulling back a little on the bike. Once you get too hot, you can’t cool down, unless you stop or walk. We’ll look at ways to keep your core temp down as long as possib…

How do you “get through” tough situations in training? Today, we look at the emotional roller coaster that is triathlon and some of the traps we all fall into, especially when chasing those elusive highs. Do you push harder when you’re struggling, or step back and let the body re-calibrate? What’s the deal with feeling awesome one day, then being r…

Check out our NEW coaches We answer a ton of questions today, including a rapid fire ending you won’t want to miss. We get into the challenges of riding with wind. How do you handle tail, head, and cross winds? Is aero always better? What about your grip on the bike . . . why it matters. Do you need more or less rest on your swim sets? Today, we lo…

The first question set off a great mini-topic for the day. What the new tactics/trends that are pros doing these days that age group athletes can emulate to get faster. The discussion is an important one and centers on arguably the best triathlon coach right now, Dan Lorrange. We also look at the importance of becoming a better bike handler and how…

This title is an homage to one of our favorite YouTube channels, you can find it here: Seek Discomfort The Seek Discomfort crew is always looking for things that intimidate them. Experiences that lead to growth. And we should do the same within our comfort zone, especially when it comes to conditions. The more you get out into “imperfect” weather, …

The most successful athletes play free and without fear. Today, we look at how you can train and race better when you realize you have nothing to lose. This isn't about taking it for granted, but channeling pressure and anxiety in the right way. It's all energy and the more we can us it in our favor, the better we'll be. We look at the 24 hour rule…

Triathlon training should be structured, but we're all about keeping the fun alive. Today, we talk about weaving them together to make the process more enjoyable and effective. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to show up green in Training Peaks, but aren’t a bunch of oranges and yellows better than a week of red? Do we move to change our mood …

Efficiency might be the biggest key to you having a successful race and that all starts in Zone 2. Yes, we know it’s “boring” but today we give you other ways to think about it, specifically as in, why do you not enjoy doing something that is good for you and your health? We talk about teaching the body to burn fat so you’re not so dependent on cal…

(We have C26 Swim School this week, so this is a reposted podcast). Ever feel the pressure of too much going on? That anxious feeling is getting out of the moment. Today, we look at how that affects training and how we THINK about training. It's easy to get caught up on race day when it's 5 months away, but today is all that matters. Do something. …

(With March Madness upon us and C26 Swim School in progress, we thought it was a good time to revisit an old podcast with Zak Showalter and how he started training for Ironman after playing in the Final Four). Sorry about the intro music. haha. Imagine playing basketball in front of 70,000 people and millions on TV. Today's guest, Zak Showalter, di…

(We have C26 Swim School this week, so this is a reposted Podcast and we will not have a booth at Chatt). We begin with the Swim Start, including when to get there and how to fuel as you position yourself in the massive field of athletes. Then to the “fast but fair” bike course. We break it out by section and look at where to push and when to hold …

(We have the C26 Swim School this week, so this is a reposted podcast). Today we focus on Ironman Texas strategy, but this podcast is great for anyone racing an Ironman, especially when it’s hot. We always talk about not obsessing about the weather, but when you know it might be hot, it’s smart to prepare. We look at all kinds of hot racing strateg…

Are you running on gas or fumes at the end of your races? Today, we take a deep look into how to start the season smart and snowball that into better races as the year goes on. We talk about creating momentum and how to use your first race in a way that will actually teach you something about getting better. We look at heat, wind, dew point, along …

Today, we go over important “ah ha” moments in our racing and coaching career. Things that changed the game for us as athletes and coaches. We look at why working on your strength is so important and can set the tone for your training. Also, why we tend to skimp on one of the sports. We talk about understanding effort and pacing and why being obses…

Today we give you the power to make your own decisions in training. As coaches we think it’s important for athletes to learn through trial and error. As in really learning . . . along with, believing in your gut. We look at an example of someone who was coming off being sick and due for an FTP test. Did they rest, or know deep down that they were r…

We both felt like we needed attitude adjustments today, so we dove a little deeper. We look at some of the stresses we feel when thinking about our training, races, and life. In other words, figuring things out on our own. Robbie talks about the challenges he’s facing with Ironman Texas and how he’s stepped back and found positive solutions. Mike h…

We had a blast with this one. We start with transition tips, and end with giving you a whole new perspective on how to think about T1 and T2. We also get into the theory behind how to handle missed workouts. Should you make it up, create a hybrid, or just move on? Then we deal with the ever-present topic of how to train in cold weather for early se…

Great questions today, and a call for you to find your racing super power. Is it a good idea to burn your biscuits before you take a relaxing vacation? How is Robbie approaching Ironman Texas and does he get nervous? What’s the best way to improve your run speed? Racing Ironman with your spouse. What do we think of caffeine gels and when’s the best…