Scott Johnston, co-author of "Training for the New Alpinism" and "Training for the Uphill Athlete," shares insights on recovery strategies for ultramarathon runners in this new podcast episode. Johnston emphasizes the critical balance between rest and performance, outlining how factors like central nervous system fatigue, motivation, and age influence post-race recovery. The conversation highlights actionable strategies, including subjective feedback tracking, active recovery, and the...

Listen in as indieVelo creator George Gilbert and TrainingPeaks president Lee Gerakos break down the reasoning behind the acquisition of the virtual riding platform, now named TrainingPeaks Virtual, the opportunities for coaches and athletes and how the ethos of credible virtual racing is a part of the DNA of the merger.  They share with Dirk the importance of community feedback in shaping the platform's development and commitment to creating inclusive and credible virtual racing...

Gale Bernhardt's insights on effective coaching, balancing technology with human touch, setting long-term goals and tips for aspiring coaches. With over 35 years of coaching experience, Gale Bernhardt has guided Olympians and World Championship athletes and played pivotal roles as the USA Triathlon Olympic and Pan American Games Triathlon coach. She shares her incredible journey from a mechanical engineering background to becoming one of the most respected figures in endurance sports as a...

Understand the essentials of athlete fueling, including RED-S and the importance of tailored nutrition plans, with sports dietician Kylee Van Horn. Kylee Van Horn, CEO of Fly Nutrition, specializes in helping athletes optimize their performance and manage eating disorders, including RED-S (relative energy deficiency in sport). She's also an ultrarunner and running coach based in Colorado, looking to simplify nutrition for athletes and steer them away from fad diets. You can also hear her on...

Heart rate variability (HRV) is unique to each athlete. Learn how to effectively measure and use HRV data alongside subjective feedback to optimize your training and recovery. Our guest for episode 10 is Marco Altini, a scientist, app developer and expert in using data from wearable devices to optimize health and performance. Many will recognize his name from the app HRV4Training, which integrates with TrainingPeaks. Marco's background spans computer science, human movement and...

Explore insights from top coaches Ryan Bolton and Erin Carson on preparing U.S.A. triathletes for the 2024 Olympic Triathlon competitions and, in one instance, the individual time trial in cycling, through coaching collaboration and training techniques. In this episode, Ryan Bolton and Erin Carson discuss the details of preparing athletes for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Triathlon team in Paris. Ryan Bolton, Director of High Performance for U.S.A. Triathlon and owner and founder of BEST Coaching...

In this special episode for the Tour de France, Iñigo San Millán, a performance coach for UAE Team Emirates, shares his expertise on how race-day nutrition is meticulously planned and adjusted using race data from TrainingPeaks. We'll discuss the critical differences in fueling demands for various stages of the Tour, the importance of individualized nutrition strategies, and why maintaining weight and muscle health is crucial for rider performance. From pre-race breakfasts to post-race...

In this special episode, we explore the insights of Amine Issa, Ph.D., on the intersection of gaming and numerous disciplines, such as esports, Formula 1, and even the military. Amine has spent 25 years obsessively playing video games and even competed professionally. He spent five years researching the extremes of human performance at the Mayo Clinic. His findings help develop new technology and techniques to assess human-integrated physiology, specifically in mobile health and remote...

In this episode, we sit down with John Wakefield, the managing director of Science to Sport and performance coach with the Bora-hansgrohe World Tour cycling team. John, from Cape Town, South Africa, shares his insights from years of coaching and an advanced training facility in Girona, Spain. Understand why recovery is the key to progression and how ignoring it can impede an athlete's performance, no matter their level. John believes recovery is the critical element in athlete training. He...

Björn Geesman is a German-based sports scientist and coach. He is also the CEO of HYCYS coaching company and co-founder of power & pace. He works with pro triathletes Patrick Lange and Kat Matthews, among other big names in endurance sports.  In this episode, Dirk and Björn dive into everything from wind tunnel testing tunnels and bike selection based on data to the importance of sports psychology to his potentially controversial approach to the "long run" — even at the professional...

Dr. Will O'Connor takes us through the nuances of using running power in training. Will and Dirk get into the scientific side of power meters, discuss the accuracy and data consistency from devices like Stryd and other wearables, and learn how to use critical power zones to break down the metabolic costs of running variable terrain. Will also touches on some of the lessons in his Fundamentals of Running Power TrainingPeaks University course. Will is a running scientist and former triathlete...

Kristin Armstrong talks coaching strategies in a data-driven world filled with wearables and social platforms. With the advancement of technology and platforms, there is a growing tension between positives and negatives when it comes to data, wearable devices and social media. The challenges of managing this tension have become heightened for younger athletes who may feel pressure to maintain an online persona of success and accomplishment through sharing data and results. How can a coach...

In this episode, we have none other than Joe Friel, a legendary figure in the world of endurance coaching. As the co-founder of TrainingPeaks and author of several seminal books on athletic training, Joe has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of endurance sports. The fifth edition of the Triathlon Training Bible hit shelves earlier this month. Plus, he has kept his peak health and participation in the sports scene into his 80s. In our conversation, Joe takes us on a journey...

In this episode, Dr. Brian Gearity, professor and director of the Master of Arts Sport Coaching program at the University of Denver, talks with Dirk Friel about the intersection of sociology and coaching. Dr. Gearity, with his extensive experience in sports sociology, coaching and exercise science, provides valuable insights into the complexities of coaching that come from social constructs. The thought-provoking discussion also delves into the difference between sports psychology and sports...

Dirk Friel digs into Chris' approach to strength training. His philosophy is underpinned by thorough body movement assessments, identifying and targeting an athlete's limiters, and a belief in the vital role of strength work for injury prevention and performance improvement. He points out that he advocates year-round strength training tailored to each phase of an athlete's season. Lee, the director of Sports Performance at Kinesis Integrated, holds a physical education and exercise science...

In this episode, Lance and Dirk discuss the importance of cultivating a multidimensional sports foundation for young athletes before zeroing in on a particular sport. Hear about the upsides of a mixed sporting background and the risks of early specialization. Lance also shares insightful experiences as a coach (guiding Brent McMahon from the junior ranks to retirement from the pro circuit) and a parent of two high-performing kids. When is the right time for a young athlete to specialize in a...

Mike Ricci, founder and head coach at D3 Multisport and After 40 Reboot, joins the CoachCast this month to talk all things triathlon offseason. Mike shares several tips that any athlete can do to take the offseason into race season with more momentum.  With over 20 years of coaching experience, Mike has worked with IRONMAN age group winners and national champions. He believes in working on weaknesses during the offseason to set up the coming season of success. From goal setting to blood...

Whether you're a coach looking to navigate the business landscape or an athlete considering hiring a coach, this episode offers valuable insights and perspectives from seasoned professionals. Three diverse coaches in business structure, sport type and location open up to shed light on their sources of income, ranging from subscription-based coaching to book royalties and bike fits. Learn the differences between U.S.-based and European-based coaching businesses. They discuss the challenges and...

The physical demands of cyclists and cyclors take center stage in this episode of the CoachCast. Ben Day, a retired pro cyclist and head performance coach of the American Magic team, shares his insights on his transition from pro cycling to yacht racing and the advent of cyclors crewing race boats.  Cyclors, using their lower-body strength, can produce 30-40% more power than arm grinders, making them more efficient in manipulating sail shapes and setting up the boat for optimal performance....

In this episode of the TrainingPeaks CoachCast, host Dirk Friel interviews Jill Colangelo, a researcher focusing on mental health in endurance athletes. Colangelo shares insights from her ultra endurance experiences, sports psychiatry work and research, highlighting the higher prevalence of mental illness among ultra endurance athletes.  She discusses the need for recognition and treatment of exercise addiction, as well as the importance of balancing athletic pursuits with a fulfilling life...

Renee Eastman explains the details of the five mistakes people make in losing weight as endurance athletes, which she published in a blog post on the CTS website. From overcompensating for nutrition deficits to fad diets to short-term fixes and misplaced belief that cardio drives weight loss, learn how to use slow and boring tactics to have the best results in losing weight while maintaining performance goals.  Eastman is a Premier Coach for CTS with over 20 years of experience coaching...

In this episode, Gordo Byrn explains the importance of base training, which he defines as "the ability to move for the duration of your goal event." Highlighting that athletes should focus on building general capacity before moving on to specific capacity training. He believes that many endurance athletes make the mistake of focusing too much on specific capacity training and not enough on general capacity training, which can lead to overtraining and injury. Byrn has been called the Tony...

David Babbitt is an American ultrarunner living in Nepal and racing some of the most difficult multi-stage races on the planet. He's doing this at age 75. With the help of his long-time coach, Land Heintzberger, the duo have focused on core training basics to keep David in races and finishing faster than many younger competitors. Babbitt completed the seven-day Manaslu Mountain Trail Race, which covers 122 miles, 35,000 feet of elevation gain and tops out at 17,000 feet above sea level. He...

Listen in as Amanda Brooks and Dirk talk pre-hab, fueling as an aging runner, perimenopause and menopause and how she prescribes intensity even to those 60 and 70+ runners. Amanda Brooks is a running coach and author who has helped many runners achieve their goals. She is a perpetual blogger and author of several books, including "Run to the Finish: The Everyday Runner's Guide," and has contributed to several publications, including Runner's World and Women's Health. She focuses her coaching...