Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast

Today we tackle more hard hitting questions from the listeners and Mike celebrates the Brewers World Series win. We get into AI coaching and human coaching. We talk about "reverse periodization" including what it is and why as usual it depends. We look at the Base, Build, Peak periods and how to best approach them. We talk about cold weather riding, things to consider when thinking about a new bike, and why a new bike can be the best or worst decision you make. We look at the strategy behind running off season and in season marathons vs. half...

In some ways the off-season is the hardest season, so what do you do when motivation is fleeting? Today we look at the Yo-Yo approach to tackling training and why it never works how we hope it will. We talk about how to actually change a lifetime of thought patterns into something that sticks and builds. We get into goals and why most have a tendency to start with the hardest part. We look at extremes in training and why many times a new goal wasn't even on our radar 2 minutes earlier. How do we build internal clarity and...

Today, we look at the new races Ironman has announced and tell you which one we think will sell out fast. We also talk about the what could be behind the locations along with how we think they'll do. We also explore the popularity of the sport and speculate on some of Ironman's recent decisions. We look at some races gone by and ask whether these races are really selling out or they're creating demand.

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Today we look at honest and genuine self reflection about what path will truly make us better. Are you training to train improve weaknesses or do you always have one eye on the race and lose the script for why we're doing this in the first place? What do we really need to work on this off season? What mistakes keep popping up and how can we fix them?

No race result is ever truly guaranteed and getting caught up with the end result can lead to sketch decisions in October and November. Being your best usually...

Today we look at the Ironman World Championship Men's Race and the level-headed, consistent performance of Vincent Luis. We get into his disciplined training and his biggest focus while on the course. We talk the swim push, biking your own race, and saving something for the last 5k. We discuss the heat and different cooling methods along with why ice might not bet the best choice. These pros go all in, sometimes with a bad hand, and sometimes the bluff doesn't pay off.

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Today we dive into an unbelievable Women's race at the Ironman World Championship. We talk about what went right and what went wrong and offer our humble opinions. It was a great day for Ironman in general and the attention these races got is sure to have an impact on the sport. We talk Lucy's swim, Taylor's poise, and Solveig's finish. We also look at technology and how it keeps pushing the envelope but not always down the right road. We get into sodium, heat, and why we wonder if the calorie intakes might be too much.

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We're ready for Kona! Today we go through possible strategies for the men and women along with how different variables could impact the podium. The field is deep and the excitment surrounding the Ironman World Championship is higher than ever. How will the race unfold and what are the C26 predictions?

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• Deep field
• Front pack
• Who's gonna lead it
• Expect fireworks
• Brewers
• Play the right way
• Will they ride as a pack?
• Salt water buoancy
• How much can they push themselves?
• What is the limit?
• It's all abou...

Well, we waited 959 episodes to realease this info, but here it is. 

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Today we look at protecting and maximizing your time and effort so that you can be faster next year. We talk about the importance of "raising your floor" so you are ahead of the game and late season training doesn't feel so pressure packed or overwhelming. Now is the time. We also talk about diet and our cultural push to eat out of habit instead of needs. We look at shrinking the gap for your next PR, avoiding burnout, and rekindling the love of training. We explore training Monday through Friday only. We talk about mental and emotional flexibility...

Today, we explore the concept of going back to the Ironman Drawing Board and working on the small things that lead to big results. We explore creating your own specific challenge, talk an out being afraid of different zones, and creating a new ceiling that attracts your floor. We get into how to build and HOLD your gains. We look at going longer vs. training smarter. We get into fear of strength and intensity and how/when to overcome it. The struggles in triathlon are all part of the fun and mystery and today we look at ways to...

You gotta be faster to be faster . . . but how do we get there? For a lot of us, that process starts now and we have to cut through the noise to figure out what we need to work on. It can be anything from form and technique to diet and nutrition to endurance to strength to mobility and flexibility. But it can't all happen at once. How do we set ourselves up to stick with desired changes? Triathlon is a complex puzzle that mirrors life. It's not always fun or easy, but we get into real approaches that can...

Today we go through all things Ironman Wisconsin 2026. We talk 70.3 and full. We look at the race itself, how people fought and battled, and why Ironman seems like it's gaining steam again. We talk about the power of support from a team, get into why the bike is so tough for most, and whether or not it's the legs that give out or it's simply the tension and repetition of race day. We talk about the concept of leaving your "fight" in training. We look at how the society can stack the deck against us and why Ironman is...

In 5 Days Mike and Robbie toe the line at Ironman Wisconsin. Today, they talk through some of the thoughts and strategies for their races. Gear, fuel, effort, game plans, it's all here and they can assure you one thing . . . they really can't be sure about anything.

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More great questions from our listeners today! Is the pull buoy a crutch? What's it take for a 15k swim? First 70.3, here's what you need to know. How important is high cadence on the bike? How much should you share with your coach in Training Peaks? Gator Skins in a race? Best way to get better at the swim in the off season. Is racing more mental or physical? And much more! 

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Today we look at what's going through out minds as Ironman Wisconsin closes in. This will be the first time we've raced Ironman together in 10 years. We look at Expectations how to reframe the stress in a way that's more about being grateful and why it's important to not try being someone you're not. We look at the "purpose" of these races and why competing in something so hard is, in many ways, sacred. Taking the selfishness out of the equation and soaking it all in. We also talk about our favorite parts of the race and give some...

What do you love about triathlon? We think this is an important question to ask and an an even more important concept to protect. There are levels of going to the well and levels of stress we can handle in a functional way. Today, we talk about the power of elimination, and even more importantly when to recognize that it's needed. We argue that it isn't the races that wear us down, but the constant level of stress day after day. How do you protect your love of the sport? How do you get the most out of training...

For all of you enamored and in love with AI, here's your AI podcast summary:

This episode dives into the mental shifts and unconventional strategies needed to revitalize your triathlon training and racing experience. The discussion begins by addressing the "Dog Days of Summer," a period when athletes often fall into a slump, lulled into a routine of long, slow training sessions. However, the hosts suggest that you might not actually be tired of training itself, but rather bored of the monotony. By introducing concepts like "waking that sh*t up" with dynamic efforts, embracing unusual topics...

Today we look at how our confidence can rise and fall based on the simplest things.. Taper is a good example, but it also happens in training and racing. We use a couple of analogies, golf and gambling, and how they can teach us lessons on being steady and racing the right way. How do you know if the stars are aligning in a race and you can go for it? We talk about staying within yourself and the me vs me philosophy… we talk about when to go for it and when to "lay up." We look at co...

A lot of things can happen in your last month of training before a big race. Today, we talk about what some of them are and why the last thing you want is to start dreading the sport. How do you keep your body and mind right as training gets more intense and the weather heats up? Burnout is a slow burn and often starts with obsession. Obsession to the outcome instead of what's happening today. As coaches it's likely we'd rather have you miss a few days here and there than get into a funk of dread. We...

Today, we take you through the bike and swim and talk about all kinds of ways you can be smarter so you're ready to run off the bike. We talk about handling hills, keeping the ego in check on flats, along with effort indicators that you may be digging a hole. We look at how to gain time, how to breathe, and the worst way to try and gain time. We talk about the concept of burning "mini-matches" in the swim and bike. We look at ways to save fatigue, climbs vs. descents, and being in the right gear...

Today, we talk about Wisconsin, but once again these topics are good for most Ironman courses. We look into personal needs bags and what to put in them. We talk about where most people go wrong on the bike course. We also discuss why it's so ripe for making bad decisions. We look at the C26 race weekend activities. We also give some input on doing the Wisconsin double. And we get back to the bike and how to mentally and physically handle bumpier roads. How do you get to Mile 20 of the marathon ready to bring it home...

Today, we talk about some things we learned at our Wisconsin Camp, including dealing with choppy water and training in bad conditions. Robbie declares he's not wearing a wetsuit at Ironman Wisconsin. We look at the complexities of triathlon and how to keep things simple. Are you living in your head? And we look at the concept of being cautious or conservative and what that really means. Is it the safe approach or are you making things harder than they need to be? We look at energy. We talk about what is pissing Mike off… And Leaning into your co...

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Mike Tarrolly - [email protected]

Robbie Bruce - [email protected]

We start by talking about Garmin buying Training Peaks then everything goes to hell in a hand basket (in the best of ways). We talk about how it affects Strava, we look at all the noise in training and discuss technology as good or bad. We look into training and racing by feel and the Tour and Challenge Roth. We take a deep dive into metrics and which ones you should be training with and how to add more. We talk HRV and adjusting workouts each day or on the fly. We look at the trend of forcing more...

Today we look at the nuances of looking forward to training each day as it comes. We talk about the importance of training where your fitness is vs. cramming for a race and why that will serve you better in the long run. We look at feeling younger as you get older. We talk about Guess Jeans, the Tour, and how a lot of times you're competing against ex-pros. We look at the faults in being obsessed with race times, especially when they may not be realistic. We talk what it takes to be the best in the world...

Today we look at how the little things matter. Quality over quantity is a good benchmark, but how much actual quality work are you doing? And, how do we actually define quality?

First we discuss whether our old podcasts hold up and where we think our positions have changed over 10 years. Then we discuss things like is 5 x 1200's in the pool better than 2 x 3000 per week? Or what about 5 x 30 minute runs vs. one 2:30? We get into how to build confidence, familiarity, and muscle memory go a long ways toward your goals, and even confidence in...

Back again with some great questions from you!! We start with the ongoing dilemma of speed work and how to handle it best when training for long course racing. We talk with what we thought was an ex-Badger lineman about how much to increase bike volume from a 70.3 to a full. We discuss what makes a race course "fair" vs. something we feel is getting dumbed down. We talk about the warm up as it relates to racing and how we can somehow feel better after going deep into training sets. Plus, much more sprinkled in to take you...

The first of two Q&A's and we start with the obligatory heat discussion. We'll have another Q&A on Thursday, then hopefully a traditional cast on Friday to help with your long ride or run. We talk about getting back into training after a break. We look at life's challenges with training. We get into how to let the workout build on its own. We look at the challenge of being enthusiastic but not getting faster. How to fix your swim one point at a time. What about training for a marathon and using the triathlon mix? His...

We all like to say we like doing hard things, but are we cherry picking those experiences? Today, we dive into how most of us tend to create the best conditions and chase good days by taking shortcuts. We argue that creating friction in training is really the ultimate way to prepare for the hardest days - race days. How long can you go without reaching for a training crutch when things aren't going well? Do you figure out a way or just take the easy route? Doing something hard usually means it's uncomfortable and today we look at...

Today is part 2 of listener questions and we spend a lot of time talking about the monumental nature of doing an Ironman. Is it absurd, simply a conquest, or a means to an end? There are tons of little training nuggets weaved inside of this cast, including, how to build an effective swim training package, is it worth the time and effort to be your absolute best in this sport? Triathlon vs. other priorities, and Taper combined with race week stress. We definitely hit on many interesting topics including weak feet and Lionel Sanders syndrome.

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Today, you drive the cast with your great questions, but stat with a discussion about the whole Buc-ees thing and how and why Zoot keeps dominating the Tri Club Awards. Then onto Coeur d'Alene and mostly the tough swim conditions. We look at whether or not you're swimming enough, or if you can approach tough open water swims from a different perspective. We look at how to deal with the disappointment of not being able to do a race and what to do instead. We talk injuries and the many different ways you can approach training (and life) while...

Today we look at all the unnecessary stress triathletes tend to put on themselves. We talk about why it's not only bad for performance, but general health and happiness. We get into panic training and over training. The effect of accumulating stress. We look at rest vs. over-rest. We get into how being "afraid to lose" wears on your mind and overall energy. We talk about the myth of losing your top end. Why we downplay short workouts…

And finally the importance of doing work simply for the sake of work.

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Fresh off a "jump in" race in his former stomping grounds, Mike talks about his experience at Ironman 70.3 Rockford. We get into pre-race, the strategy, adapting strategy, the current, the wind, the roads, the volunteers, and much more. We really dive into some tough questions/decisions for triathletes about how to be "satisfied" with your effort. It's a lonely place on that second loop of the run and it's usually the time in a race when you make or break the day. This cast is really a good place to ask yourself some questions and figure out if you're...

The guys discuss Mike's last minute registration for Rockford 70.3 and the concept of jumping into a race on a whim. They go through the challenges but mostly the benefits and why he'll approach it more like a practice test than a training day. There's a lot to be said for feeling the race environment. The nerves, the speed, and the race energy. It's all waiting and it will be a great 10,000 foot view for an A-Race later in the season.

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Many times frustration is caused by exhaustion or overstimulation. Today, we look at real ways to reduce your distractions, find a calmer mind, and be stronger in training. We are under a continual assault of information and, at some point, we have to ask: do we have enough information yet? So much of training and racing is being in the moment and at one with yourself, but how do we get there? We'll talk about some good ways to find your true self, appreciate who you are and respect your journey. Training should be a vehicle to build your...

Our listeners step up today with some great questions in an extra long cast for you.

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Sometimes we have to understand why we're bitching all the time and uncover the best way to enjoy training and life. Today we start by discussing dopamine detox and how that might help us enjoy the simpler things in training. It sort of morphs into this discussion about how we can create an excitement trap that has us satiating the ego vs making progress. More races, more intensity, more burnout? More depression? How do we snap this cycle and find satisfaction with a Zone 2 buzz? We also look into the power of training by breath alone. How it can...

After a weekend of racing and our Nashville Triathlon Camp, once again, we're reminded that we got into this sport for the challenge. This is really the best thing to keep in your mind whenever we tackle something difficult. There are no guarantees other than the opportunity to grow and be stronger. We do this for the opportunity and the more challenging the training or race, most often, the more memorable. Triathlon lessons never stop, it's up to us to embrace them.

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Today, we talk about a topic that a lot of us who've been in the sport a while need to think about. How to break ourselves down like we did in the beginning. Life is about being alive and challenging ourselves. We take a look at the lure of comfort and how to shake things up. Once again, we explore the reasons why we do this, and how the edges of challenge and pain shift. We look at why it's so important to face simple fears and things we don't want to do and how to use these wins...